Beyond Stupidity: My Reply.

Dear ****,

I am writing you in response to your article "What not to do in Kuwait", published on June 2nd.

I personally found this article to be EXTREMELY insulting, both to expatriates as well as locals. Your content has little factual basis, and your tone is extremely derogatory. I have read the article again and again, and i am astounded that the editorial staff at the Kuwait Times allowed you to publish it.
In summary, your article basically states that anything you do in Kuwait will either get you raped or deported. This is ludicrous!

Your "tips for survival", so to speak, paint expatriates as moronic individuals who have no common sense, and portrays Kuwait as a backward sex-crazed society. This is not so.

"Avoid the use of the term why? In your stay here in Kuwait, you will experience a lot of things that you could never imagine to experience."

Culture shock is a normal part of any expatriate's life, this is a given. Certainly, coming to Kuwait from a western society is a slightly more jarring experience than if the expat were to come from a neighboring Arab country. But the "use of the term why" is a necessary part of every society on the planet. All of us MUST question things in order to make our society a better and more comfortable place to live in, in all aspects of life. This must apply to expatriates as well, as they are an integral part of the society in Kuwait. While they may not have the power to vote, the alternative should not be "if you don't like it then get out". This is not a healthy attitude to have, and certainly not the government's stance.

"Avoid showing dissatisfaction about the country's work laws -- the country's regulations such as requirements of visa entry, or obtaining driving license, the corruption, the abuse of housemaids and etc. It implies that you do not appreciate how lucky you are for the gift of being in Kuwait and that you deserve to be deported or jailed for being ungrateful. "

Showing dissatisfaction to who?
It is true that there are certain procedures in Kuwait are difficult, such as visa requirements and driving licenses. This is also true of almost all Arab countries, and there is nothing we can do about it. Of course we will show dissatisfaction, it is only human nature. But to imply that we live in a country where we will be deported or jailed for being "ungrateful" is a joke, and most of all an insult to the Kuwaiti constitution and people. You imply that there are secret police lurking around street corners looking for people who show signs of "dissatisfaction" and "ungratefulness". We are not in Nazi Germany, nor in Communist Russia. Your claims are absurd!

"Avoid making complaints against your superiors. Your residency in Kuwait will be a threat if you complain or if you make fake cases such as a false absence report."

While this may have been true in certain instances, it is most definitely a generalization, and does not happen often.

"Avoid fighting with a Kuwaiti. He simply wouldn't hesitate to use any wasta to make you the wrong person of the dispute and make you take the blame. You might end up begging to him just to let you go!!!!"

"Avoid trusting any unbelievable Kuwaiti promises with quick wealth and success. Some Kuwaitis may use your daydreams as a tool to make some money by doing illicit activities. You would be the criminal, while he will be set free."

This point, i believe, is a grave insult to the Kuwaiti people. Again, it may be true in some instances, but it is certainly NOT what happens the majority of the time. It seems the recurring theme in your article is that Kuwaiti people are backward monsters whose only agenda is deporting expats and getting them into trouble! That is a disgraceful implication, and one that is not at all true.

"Avoid saying yes all the time especially when you do not want to. Although it shows the objectivity in ones personality, it doesn't make sense for someone to like everything he sees or hears with no reaction, especially in Kuwait. Always saying yes can lead to lots of problems such as sexual harassment or abuse or rape, this can even can encourage others to think you are weak and easy. This can cause real troubles for anyone specifically for women."

Words fail me when responding to this point. I do not see any meaning whatsoever in what you have written. Avoid saying "yes" all the time?
Human beings have opinions, likes and dislikes. I am pretty sure that no one wants to be raped. But i fail to see how saying "yes" all the time, unless you are some kind of machine, will lead you to be raped? The expatriate community are not idiots, Muna, and you cannot presume under ANY circumstances that they are. Your claims are unbelievably demeaning.

"Avoid starting friendly conversations with taxi drivers. This would give him the impression that you want him to have sex with you.."

"Avoid accepting gifts or laughing over sexual jokes with your boss unless it is really okay with you and this is what you want.."

"Avoid trying to look sexy by showing the sexiest parts of your body. You may think that you have a sexy body and want the world to see that because it is okay for you, but do not do that here. Lots of men here would think of you as a prostitute.."

While i understand the underlying message in your article, which is to give tips to expatriates so that they can avoid trouble, i think you have failed miserably. Again, i will tell you that you have painted expats as clueless, idiotic people with no common sense, the Kuwaiti people as sex-crazed monsters, and the country as some kind of backwards, lawless, dangerous, miserable place.
If I was a western expat new to Kuwait, having read your article, i would pack my bags and leave as it would seem that i would not be able to do anything without fear of being deported, jailed, raped or abused somehow.

I do not blame you for this article, but i blame the editorial staff for not guiding you properly while writing it. The result is that your article is the butt of many, many jokes across blogs in the country. And people are insulted.

I hope you acknowledge my comments as constructive criticism - i do appreciate your efforts in guiding the expatriate community in Kuwait, as guidance is indeed required, especially for the new ones. But your article was totally over the top, misguided, ripe for misinterpretation, and insulting to ALL members of society.