I Love KDD

I'm a huge fan of many of their products. I grew up knowing this local brand and it's usually associated with the fondest of memories.


I guess the most famous of their products is the chocolate milk. Yum yum!


I have tried many versions of the chocolate milk from around the world but nothing beats the KDD Chocolate Milk.


Many students studying abroad usually take a whole box with them, whenever they leave Kuwait, its a taste of home I guess. I was once stopped at an airport for harboring such a product, I guess the way I wrapped it made it look like it was smuggled drugs or something, I could swear the officer who saw the unwrapping in front of him suppressed a smile after finding out what it was. If only he tasted it he would definitely understand. I was just glad it wasn't confiscated.


[link]

I Love My Country Dry

I love Kuwait because alcoholic beverages are illegal here, it is rare on this planet of ours to have such a dry land. It is very much like that quaint neighborhood coffee shop that was around for years and you really hope doesn't get bought up by these big global coffee names making it part of the "global village" instead of the actual village (in this case neighborhood). So yeah I really like that we are unique in that way and most importantly being a Muslim country and not contradicting that statement by allowing such contradictory chemicals to enter our unique and quaint land.

I once received an e-mail stating the opinion that legalizing alcohol will decrease the amount of people who drink in Kuwait.

I don't believe that legalizing alcohol in Kuwait will make people not drink. Legal or not legal, drinkers will be drinkers.

For starters (and here's the word some people dislike to hear) it is 7aram* (a sin). I'm proud that our Muslim country is one of the few that bans alcohol and we're not following the whole world into a new world order-globalization of morals type of way, and frankly I kinda like the fact that the smugglers sell their stuff at black market prices and forcing the drinkers to pay more, therefore touching them in their most sensitive spot (their purses, or wallets) and this actually minimizes drinking not increases it.

To answer the other question: "But I also see it as government not doing anything to deal with the issues of why do people drink?" The government's job is to enforce the law of an Islamic country, as to why do they drink? I don't know if anyone can answer that question, why do people lie? Why do people cheat? Why would I want to blame the government for everything wrong in my life?


*keep in mind that "7aram" is a word that is not said lightly in Islam only with solid evidence.
Solid evidence meaning the Quran and the prophet's sayings (hadiths) that have a well researched thread for their validity.

NB.  Photo of  SEI water bottle.

I love Justice for All

This does not happen in any Arab* country.

(A member of the ruling family) was convicted of trading in hashish, money laundering and the illegal possession of weapons, press reports said.

To read more...[Link]


*I've been told that it's been done previously in KSA (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

I Love The Article

Now if I were any good at writing and expressing my feelings towards my beloved Kuwait I would definitely write an article just like the one published in bazaar magazine (September, 2006 issue) called ‘Motherland’ by Hind Al-Mazeedi.

Here’s an excerpt:

If you had the choice, would you leave? If you got a great job offer, with a high salary in a country where the temperature never exceeds 25°C, would you move? Again and again, my automatic “No way” is blurted every time I’m asked these questions. And it’s funny because I haven’t always felt this way...

I Love the Number

5

For more information on what this number means to the Kuwaiti Parliament please click [here]

I Love the Unity

I love the fact that in Kuwait we don't have official political parties (the Kuwaiti Constitution, article 43). Creating parties and sects will only lead to labeling people as liberals, islamists, conservatives, communists etc. I hate being labeled as such, I do believe that people's cumulative opinions are like a fingerprint, no two think alike. Therefore everyone should be free to pick whichever combination of thoughts they want and that's what makes us interesting as human beings.

Forming parties creates division instead of unity amongst Kuwaties, and since it's election times already, I'm deffinatley not going to vote for the pro-partisan people and hopefully many people won't.


update: check out the downfalls of partisanship in a democracy older than Kuwait's.

Here's an excerpt from an interesting study done by ABC News (a US TV channel):

The research yielded some startling information. "There's a steady trend line from '76 to 2004 of the country becoming, pulling apart, becoming more politically segregated. We began to see this pattern that we eventually end up calling "The Big Sort," said Bishop. (...more)

I just hope this doesn't happen in Kuwait.

I Love Q8 but lets say I didn’t….

Lets say I didn’t love Q8 (God forbid!), and loved another crappy country (naming no names)…

… and lets say because I didn’t love Q8 I hate everything that resembles Q8 including every Q80 person in Q8, every cultural aspect …etc.

… and lets say I would always complain (and yes maybe write a blog) about every single thing in Q8, in every biased way possible that is.

Wouldn’t it be easier to just renounce my Q80 citizenship and leave Q8? To go away and live in my dreamland, wherever that is?

I mean if I didn’t like Q8, it wouldn’t be healthy for me to keep living in a country that I loathe.

I say pack your bags and leave to the people who feel that way.

It’s a lot healthier for all parties involved!

This post was written by an angry I Love Q8!

I Love Hip People (Part 3)

Someone else loves Q8, here are some excerpts from an interesting perspective:

"Most people I know here came to Kuwait, the Promised Land, for maximum two years, or "to make enough money'" and go back home.

Countless Falafel and Shawerma sandwich years later, they are all still here, grayed quite a bit, but very much here."

"Kuwait like a sandy desert spirit becomes ingrained into you, and fourth and fifth ring roads become your best weekend hangouts" [link]

to read the full article click here.

I Love the Solidarity

We loved him;

• we never lived in terror in our own country
• we never felt like we can't express our selves freely
  
• the money from our country's resources did (and still does) reach the people (unlike other regimes that hog all the money to the higher-ups in the ruling ladder)
  
• when we (people of Kuwait) didn't have a country back in 1990, we chose Sheikh Jabir as our Emir. He was the Emir before the invasion, and we wanted him to be an Emir during the invasion and after when Kuwait was liberated.
• he respected all the Kuwaiti families and always established contact with his people, he used to visit them during their festivities and in sorrow.

Some people want him to be perfect, no ruler is! ... and we still LOVE him.

Sheikh Jaber AlAhmad AlSabah 1926 - 2006

I Love the Winter

I'm thankful that we have a change of seasons here, in my opinion it's a bit boring having the same weather all year round. Although winter in Kuwait is never too cold it is just cold enough to induce a change of wardrobe as well as a change of desert scenery, and THAT just makes it a little bit less-boring.

Lovely things that announce WINTER HAS ARRIVED in Kuwait:

• duwaa (a mobile charcoal stove)
• chestnuts
• heaters (all types)
• desert treks
• the loved ones abroad come back for their winter break
• the sweet smell of rain
• desert truffles
• others that I'll try to add.

I Love the Little Things that Matter

I was Looking around for a new laptop sleeve because my old, fancy one doesn't really fit the new laptop.

Since I'm not a big fan of the complimentary black bags that are given out whenever you buy a new laptop, sleeves help me use any bag I want as a laptop bag, it basically just adds padded protection, the high quality stitching and material is not that important in this case. So I shopped around many electronic stores in Kuwait, online (briefly) and in a few countries in Europe but I just couldn't find one that fits, (so here's the I love Q8 part) finally I found one* at one of those bargain stores that sell stuff mostly made in China.
It was exactly the same size I was looking for, nothing fancy just padded protection, and now I'm set to use it with any bag I want. The other amazing thing about it is that it was just 2.500 KD! Way below what I expected to pay for a sleeve.
I like it when I find things in unexpected places, and this is just one recent example of things that I only find in the Kuwaiti market.

(الله يعز الكويت)

*To be more specific my mom found it for me but that's another story. THANK YOU MOM, you're the greatest!

I Love Great People

You can't say I love Kuwait without loving the people that make (and made) Kuwait. These people constitute the backbone of Kuwaiti society, they are not average in their manners, good deeds, humility, sweetness, and honour. They have greatness inscribed in every aspect of their lives. They're called great people for a reason, and today Kuwait lost one of those great people.
Her name is Lulwa Al Nassar, loved and respected by everyone who knows her. [link]

إن لله ما أخذ, وله ما أعطى و كل شيئ عندة بأجل مسمى
اللهم أغفر لها, اللهم ثبتها

May Allah grant her family and friends great strength for their loss.
She will be missed deeply.

I Love Going from Point A to B

It is a well known fact that Kuwait has a very sophisticated network of highways and expressways.
To travel from point A to point B you have a wide selection of routes to choose from to reach point B, and just the ability to have this choice is a blessing not many countries have.

I Love Hip People (Part 2)

She's a frequent traveller old lady, I got to know her onboard Kuwait Airways, seated next to me*.
She says have you heard of this campaign promoting the Kuwaiti products? I say yes. She says that's me! I'm all about the campaign.
She only buys Kuwaiti products at the Coop, and only flies Kuwait Airways despite the excellent competition, and no matter how bad the Kuwaiti Airliner can be she will still travel on it (really it's not that bad). Please keep in mind that her tickets are not bought at a special rate or anything she's just what they call a loyal citizen at the risk of being accused a sentimentalist.


*not the same flight as the previous post though.

I Love the Bling Bling

When the aeroplane is taking off and you forget your reading material temporarily stored in the overhead compartment, you have no choice but to reach for the inflight magazine provided. I recently read this article (in one of those magazines they hand out before boarding the plane [the name will go here someday]) about how unique the gold market is here. Although the prices and the high carat weight are a plus, other unique aspects distinguish the Kuwaiti gold market. The range in designs from the minimalist to the vulgar, each taste finds it's niche. The magazine mentions people who have tried to design their own rings (with the family crest and stuff) and others wanted to match a lost part of an heirloom earing, they tried doing that in other countries and many have told them that it's either too difficult to do or unreasonably expensive and time consuming, but that's not the case in Kuwait. According to the article it was done and with very high costumer satisfaction.

NB. In case you're wondering if the article mentions where the ring was custom designed, it was at a gold store in Fahaheel.

I Love the Neighbours

Almost every other day this Ramadhan, just before futoor... we would hear a polite knock or ring of our front door. It would be someone from one of the houses on our street with a steaming pot or plate of their home cooking. Although the dishes are all similar to ones we make ourselves, I love sampling these generous tokens of our neighbours' friendship because the differences in preparation make me rediscover some of my favorite meals as if tasting them for the first time. I also feel like, in a way, I have been invited into their homes and given a glimpse into the culinary aspect of their lives :)

I Love *I Love Q8*

I love the fact that there are people who love this small, great country.

I love the fact that there are people who appreciate everything this country has to offer.
I love the fact that there are people who can see the beauty and the goodness of this country's people.

I love the fact that there are people who, like me, don't follow the adage that "il-khair ekhu9 wil shar e3im", but who take that phrase the other way 'round:

"il-khair ohwa illee y3im"

Finally, I hearby proclaim that I LOVE KUWAIT!

-from Gigi, with love

I Love Ramadan in Q8

Most people prefer to spend Ramadan in their own country, I'm one of those people.


Note: today is the first day of Girge'an, celebrating mid-Ramdan and treating kids with lots of candy in return for their singing door to door.
...oh and BTW, writing is not my forte.

I Love Hip People (Part 1)

• It's made in Kuwait
• By a Kuwaiti (Mrs. Laila AlGhanim)
• Made of driftwood
• lampshade is made of recycled paper
• Proceeds go to Hayat Committee for Cancer Patients

I Love This Form of Advertising

Bridges in Kuwait are not that huge in fact they might be called an overpass for all I know. What I DO know is that they are the prettiest, most well maintained bridges I've ever seen. Since the Kuwaiti government does not take taxes from us to maintain the streets and highways, these bridges/overpasses are sponsored by any company in Kuwait, which in turn, paints the dull, grey cement a lovely colour (mostly light pastels) and adding the company logo (and sometimes their motto) on that bridge.
A good way to advertise and beautify.

Most bridges/overpasses I've seen in other countries are left unpainted, grey and rusty. Although the weather plays a role here, however they do collect taxes for their highways.