Eidkom Mubarak September 29, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Announcements, Kuwait, Special Occasions.25 comments
After 29 days of fasting for Ramadan, what does Eid mean to us in September 2008?
What will you be doing during the Eid holiday?
HIV/AIDS in Kuwait September 26, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Health, Kuwait, Life, Links, News.Tags: Add new tag
21 comments
Alia was nervous when she called Abdulla and told him she had been to the gynecologist and had something very important to tell him.
Abdulla sounded very grave but gently encouraged her to tell him. What Alia couldn’t see was the sudden break out of sweat on his forehead.
“It is a serious infection, she told him, and you need to take medication also,” she said in a low, frightened voice. “It’s called….” and she gave him the name of the STD she had been diagnosed with that morning by a stern looking doctor.
“Phew!” exhaled Abdulla. “I thought you were going to say AIDS!” He pronounced it “Aidis” but it still resonated threateningly through the airwaves between them. “OK, I’ll go to the clinic today and do some tests too.”
With Alia and Abdulla, it sounds like Russian roulette: promiscuity, uninformed and unprotected sex may have very real health consequences.
HIV/AIDS could happen to anyone. A person with AIDS is not a monster but a real person with needs and feelings like any other person.
In Kuwait, we are generally shielded from the statistics and lack information on how to deal with people who have the virus.
Living With HIV/AIDS in Kuwait is a personal account by Hussain Al-Qattari of his interview with a young man who has AIDS. The details of the account are sad and reveal how much stigma patients must endure.
(A recommended read. As for the interviewed patient – I wish him strength and positive outlook and hope that his story will have an enlightening effect on others).
Even as a journalist, Al-Qattari, reveals his own confused reactions in a frank manner that leaves us wondering why he was not more compassionate when dealing with the AIDS patient he interviewed. (This is in the print version of the Friday Times)
But honestly, how would the average person react? Are we educated enough on the subject? Can we be if we have no interactions with AIDS patients?
I came across an old study (published in 2002 but conducted several years earlier) on the knowledge and attitudes held by Kuwaiti family physicians towards HIV/AIDS and patients. (Survey of HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudes of Kuwaiti family physicians.)
This study reveals how some Kuwaiti family physicians lack proper knowledge about HIV and how they may even harbor negative attitudes towards AIDS patients . Hopefully this has now changed somewhat with a unit that oversees patients and their needs. Trust is an essential factor between doctor and patient.
We all need to be more informed on the disease and on how we can interact with patients in a way that will help them and not cause them to feel like outcasts.
A matter of contemplation September 21, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Faith & Spirituality, Film & Ads, Internet, Life, Links, Men, Music, News.9 comments
The topic of discussion this morning on the radio was the subject of “contemplation”.
Specifically, the topic dealt with the benefit of quiet contemplation upon the synchronicity of life and living beings on earth and in the universe. I stopped at this radio station to listen further, as these types of spiritual discussions appeal to me.
During one of the breaks, this nasheed by Mishari Al-Afasy called Yadal Ibda’a which glorifies nature and the cycle of life.
These types of songs are called anasheed in Arabic and a cappella in English
I was driving along, feeling all warm and fuzzy and spiritual, listening to callers sharing their positive sentiments about the topic when suddenly a woman called up sounding very tense. After the usual customary greetings, she very quickly asserted that she wanted to discuss her deep seated anger and disgust at a certain poet from Al-Madinah and went on a great harangue about how disturbed she was and offended. The talk show host tried several times to veer her away from the subject and after several attempts, he managed to get her to comply. He was very patient. My interest was piqued of course but still, my serene mood had dissipated as I stepped out of the car, having turned off the radio, not wanting to listen anymore.
Much later, I recalled the woman on the radio and her anger and I only knew that the poet from Madina had written a poem about the Turkish actress Lamees who starred in the popular dubbed Turkish soap series Sanawat Al-Daya3 in which he had given her godess like qualities.
My online search led me to find out that he is a 25 year old Saudi Arabian poet called Abdul-Hakeem Al-Ofi who published his erotic poem about Lamees on several online sites. The young man claims his poetry was satirical and aimed to mock those who were enthralled with the Turkish TV series. However, the words and expressions used only served to inflame the feelings of Muslims in the Arab world as the poem spread on the Internet. In the poem, he compared Lamees to the Ka’abah and how one would make her breasts the object of his pilgrimage in addition to using religious references to her person in an erotic manner.
The poet is adamant that he is not enamored with Lamees but is in fact mocking those who are dazzled by her beauty.
I will be interested to see how this incident is dealt with.
Bloggers have in recent months referred to the two famous Turkish soap series being aired in the Arab world which have caused a lot of noise of late.
Hole with a View September 21, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Animals, Film & Ads, Humour, Life, Women.11 comments
There is a strange stereotype of women being afraid of mice or rats.
Once at work in Kuwait, I walked in to find all the women standing on their chairs or desks. The reason of course was a little mouse who had been scurrying about, most probably terrified by all the shrieks of terror its presence had caused. The Bangladeshi teaboy was called in to kill the “monster”.
Recently on a trip back from London, I was in Heathrow terminal 4 and trudging the long trek to one of the very last makeshift gates where the delayed British Airways flight back to Kuwait was located. As I sat down and made myself comfortable with a book, a sudden commotion stirred at the BA personnel desk, with muted shrieks and women in uniforms racing from one end of the counter to the other with hands poised so delicately against their lips, and eyes wide with fear. I looked up lazily from my book, wondering what on earth was causing these normally reserved BA employees to become so skittish. A bit later, it appeard to be a little mouse.
I am sure there are tons of tales to be told about mice and rats and people’s fear of them. Just yesterday I was reading up on the Ben (Mouse) Saga over at iRise’s blog. I suppose this post can be dedicated to her.
The video is certainly appropriate.
Arab Hip Hop September 18, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Film & Ads, Kuwait, Lifestyle, Links, Men, Music.6 comments
One thing leads to another. I was driving and listening to Marina FM early this morning and listeners were sms-ing the show about all the times they had “cheated” whilst fasting as kids (meaning breaking their fast eating or drinking furtively).
In the ensuing break in the program, the following Wedding Rap Song came up and I immediately perked up, wondering who this amusing hip hop musician was. It’s an interesting mixture.
It’s Qusai and the Jeddah Legends. Interesting material coming out of Saudi Arabia.
There’s some interesting reading material on the export of American hip hop music and culture and the effects on Middle Eastern culture in particular if any (See MyDelicious links). The above clip is fairly squeaky clean for a rap song. I was surfing YouTube listening to various Arab rap when I came across some disturbing, filthy Iraqi rap lyrics targeting Kuwait and Kuwaitis. It’s so unfortunate and disheartening that technology is misused as an instrument of hate in our region.
The only Kuwaiti rap group I am aware of is Army of One.
Video clip: Reprezentin
Is the underground popularity of rap music just another offshoot of globalization or another facet of cultural imperialism? Or is it just a normal result of the interaction of cultures?
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Related post: Instruments of Tolerance
Misyaar September 17, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Husbands, Lifestyle, Links, Men, News, Relationships, Women.25 comments
I recently read an article on a kind of marriage called “Misyaar” and an interesting trend that has developed much to the concern of some people.
Traditionally, the “misyaar” marriage occurs between a man an a divorced woman, a widow or an older unmarried woman. In a “misyaar” marriage, the woman does not move out of her home but receives her husband in her house from time to time when he is in town. It is also helpful in cases when a man cannot afford to keep a woman in a house of her own but seeks to be married. It is a unique arrangement for special situations in which marriage is a necessity but the situation restricts a normal union.
In the article, Rawa’a Saleh describes a new trend in which young girls are resorting to “misyaar” marriages as a means to improve their lot and to escape restrictions of the family home.
The journalist posed two questions: Why do young adolescent girls pursue a “misyaar” marriage? And why do their parents agree to such a marriage when it is normally the kind of arrangement a divorcee or a widow would agree to?
These are the girls interviewed by Rawa’a Saleh of Al-Riyadh daily newspaper:
Hanan L : 17 years old. A misyaar marriage appeals to her because she wants a husband to be both a father figure and a spouse and it does not matter if she lives with him or not; the important thing is to live with some form of freedom, to enjoy her life as she likes without restrictions or suspicion.
Hanadai H : 18 years old. I want a man that is mature and accomplished. I don’t want a man that is just starting out in life from point zero – I am tired of the zeroes on my life. Through such a marriage, I can gain a man who has everything.
Muna H : 17 years old. I predict that within five years, the misyaar will be the prevalent form of marriage. I am a strong proponent of this kind of marriage. I just want to enjoy a modern lifestyle and not be restricted by any responsibilities.
Salma A : Men are not reliable nor trustworthy. I don’t want to dedicate my life to a man who may deceive me. I just want to be married so that I won’t be called a spinster. I agree to this kind of marriage to fulfill a social factor and to satisfy my sexual needs.
Hajer K: 18 years old. Expressed surprise at the views made by the girls above stating that the way girls are raised in our society, they need a man around for everything and not just for a day or a few hours and spend the rest of the time on her own.
Manal B : 18 years old. I need a rich husband to help me realize all my dreams of being a rich married woman. I decided to accept a misyaar marriage with the following stipulations: that my partner provides me with a luxury villa, two maids, a cook, a brand new luxury car. I have been to several matchmakers but so far I have had no luck of finding a man with my specifications. I don’t expect him to visit me regularly. He can come whenever he likes. He can be as old or as young as can be. The important thing is for him to be a millionaire.
The newspaper interviewed a matchmaker called Um Thamer. She revealed that she had a number of Saudi women who did want a “misyaar” marriage but with certain specifications like: a dowry of 100,000 Saudi Riyals; a villa and a new car; paid accommodation; a monthly allowance; and most of these women ask to marry a millionaire. She further revealed that most applicants were young and could provide a preacher to marry them on paper without a need for formal registration in case the millionaire wanted to keep his marriage a secret.
Um Thamer said that the young girls are usually advised against this type of marriage as most of them end up in failure and do not last more than a few days or weeks at most. She further expressed suprise at the parents for allowing their girls to marry by misyaar.
There is too much that is wrong in this world September 15, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Kuwait, Life, Links, Ramadan, Special Occasions.10 comments
The fish died this morning.
I had come home the day before to find it swimming in slow circles in an old vase that a birthday bouquet came in not too long ago.
“It died.” I muttered out loud to myself this morning, as though to confirm what I had anticipated the night before as I rummaged for something to eat in the kitchen.
Where did this come from? I had asked. This being the fish.
“Oh, it came with Lamees’ Gergay3an for her baby boy. She thought it was a novel idea.”
In Kuwaiti dialect, this fresh idea is called “7haraka” which can be roughly translated into “new move”.
Gergay3an signals the middle of Ramadan. It begins the countdown till the end of Ramadan. And it is the climax of this busy month. It is a period of three to four days when kids go around from house to house doing something akin to the American trick or treat but it is louder and more fun. Boys in dishdashas and loot bags hanging from their necks go from house to house ringing the doorbells, beating on their little drums, and chanting the special Gergay3an refrain. It differs from the one that the girls chant as they also go around in groups, dressed in colourful thobes and head dresses with golden sequins.
Once they have rung the doorbell, and are allowed into the house, the adults in the house ask the kids to “bless” their children with a certain chant. The louder and noisier the kids, the more loot they get. At least that’s the way it works with me.
This loot traditionally consisted of a variety of nuts and some sweets. Frankly Gergay3an loot is not always the freshest or the best but it the fun of going from house to house and being given sweets that is the attraction.
For a long time now, many mothers have resorted to preparing expensive Gergay3an treats in the names of their young children and passing these on to relatives and close friends as gifts. Kuwaiti women strive for originality in all that they do so there is great effort to present original designs. Hence the abhorrent idea of presenting the unfortunate goldfish in a bowl with the Gergay3an.
The disregard for life disgusts me, especially on such an occasion and during such a month. There is no awareness, is there? As I flush the dead fish down the toilet, I remember an American girl in my botany class who was giving a speech about why we should not eat meat or chicken because of the horrific animal husbandry conditions and the means in which they are slaughtered.
And fish? Someone asked her.
Oh, it’s ok to eat fish. They don’t feel anything.
I wonder.
And below, a very eerie, very strange, and disturbing video showing the KTV2 coverage of a Gergay3an party at Camp Doha in 1997.
Hope in Qalqilya September 7, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Animals, Inspiration, Life, Men.2 comments
Last Monday, I heard a series of interesting news reports on the BBC World Service program Outlook. One of the fascinating stories was on the West Bank Zoo which is run by Palestinian veterinarian Dr. Sami Khader.
The West Bank Zoo is in Qalqilya, a town almost completely surrounded by Israel’s wall. In the interview, Dr. Sami Khader discussed the hardships of maintaining a zoo in tense political environment but at the same time of how much joy this little enclave brought to the children in the area. His dedication to the animals and the way he struggles to maintain the zoo is truly an inspiration.
His story is told by Amelia Thomas in the book The Zoo on the Road to Nablus: A story of survival from the West Bank
Happy Endings September 7, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Lifestyle, Sexuality, Women.17 comments
When I saw this article: Women get massages with ‘happy endings’ too two things came to mind.
First, I remembered the time one acquaintance was aghast that the female therapist in the massage salon in Jabriya had offered to make her feel like she has never felt before (sexually that is) and openly admired her body. My acquaintance never went back despite having paid for a course of massages.
Second, I remembered the only amusing part of the film Don’t Mess with the Zohan. Zohan, the hairdresser, takes to pleasuring the female clientele as part of the hairstyling appointment. The sexual encounter is represented by loud noises coming from behind the rocking salon walls, and items falling off the shelves as the other hairdressers go on with their work.
Back to the linked article. Massages can be intimate but gratifying encounters that border precariously on the sexual if one does not maintain a certain restraint. I wonder if “happy endings” are indeed the unspoken new trend.
Dramatic Flair September 7, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Film & Ads, Lifestyle, Links, London, Women.5 comments
Agent Provocateur’s new collection with a dramatic flair for the unconventional. An interesting display.
El-Waardah September 3, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Film & Ads, Kuwait, Life, Lifestyle, Links, Ramadan, Special Occasions.13 comments
One of the most nostalgic and heartwarming sounds in Ramadan is the sound of the cannon going off at sunset just before the Maghreb call to prayers signaling the end of the fast for the day.
Kuwaitis have called it El-Waardah الوارده but is also known as the iftaar cannon مدفع الإفطار
I have never heard the cannon go off naturally. It has always been heard on TV as we wait after preparing the feast or on the radio as we race to make it – late – to fitoor at a relative’s house
The most poignant cannon sounds are in the last days of Ramadan because we know that this special time will be over.
I couldn’t find any online recordings of the Kuwaiti iftaar canon, but below is an excerpt from a Kuwaiti cartoon that can give an idea (bear in mind that it is a cartoon)
The second clip is not Kuwaiti but in an amusing way reflects the current situation of Arabs and weapons.
The third clip is great. It is from a children’s program and a little Egyptian girl explains the process of firing the cannon in Egypt. Her grandfather is the one who fires the cannon.
More on the Kuwaiti cannon in the Kuwait Times: Ramadan cannon ‘age -old tradition’
Smell the Coffee September 3, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Food, Kuwait, Life, Ramadan.8 comments
Fasting creates havoc in our olfactory senses. We are easily overwhelmed by smells we found acceptable when not fasting; we are also easily swayed by smells we find appealing and they may make us act irrationally.
Like the young man I saw the other day entering the local Co-Op (supermarket). As he passed Al-Rifai Roastery, he got a whiff of the freshly ground Turkish coffee beans with cardamom and he stopped in his tracks, rushing to the Philipina behind the counter and declaring robustly: “It is a beautiful smell here! What is it?!”
He rushed around to the other side of the counter while the employees explained to him it was freshly ground coffee and he bought some on the spot.
Ramadan ‘08 September 3, 2008
Posted by jewaira in Family, Kuwait, Life, Ramadan.3 comments
I’m looking forward to Ramadan ‘09.
Many Kuwaitis measure their lives between one Ramadan and the next. At the end of the holy month of Ramadan, they say to each other “3asakom min awadah” meaning loosely “I pray that you will fast Ramadan again next year”. Such is our fear and uncertainty of the future and whether or not we will be around to fast again or not.
And once they fast the first week of Ramadan, Kuwaitis bemoan the fact that the month is flying by, so fast.
But why am I looking forward to Ramadan ‘09? For one it will be during the summer. What a masochist, you must be thinking, to want to fast during the long, hot days of summer. But the truth is I will be glad when there is no school for the children during Ramadan. Over the past few years when fasting has occured during the school year, it has directly affected the way teachers teach and the ability of the students to perform well academically. Almost always students have not done as well as they could. This is not only due to the fasting which does not help their concentration, but it also has to do with staying up late and the festive air of Ramadan.
Some may raise an eyebrow or two at the word festive in a month of holy piety but in truth, there is a special ambiance about Ramadan that is hard to compare to other months. In Kuwait at this time of year, families get together more often over a meal. There is less takeaway food. There are special Ramadan foods. Neighbours and friends visit each other. There’s a lot of activity on the streets and in the markets.
More jama3a or group prayers are performed at the mosque. There are the extended taraweeh prayers which reinforce the sense of community and togetherness.
Overall, there is a lot of giving and generosity during the month of Ramadan that lends it its special festive air.
