KuwaitASecond: Politics and Camel

It has been really busy around here lately and February is a big month in Kuwait. The country is all lit up with lights and decorations along the streets, houses, local businesses and entire buildings throughout the financial district. The 25th and 26th of this month are National Day and Liberation day, respectively. This year will mark 51 years since Kuwait was released from British protection of it's borders, and 21 years of their independence from Iraq, in 1991. National Day is the most celebrated holiday in this country.

Outside the House

Recently last week there were also Parliament Elections. Typically, elections are held every four years, unless they can't agree or are having issues. In that case, the Parliament will shut down, and hold re-elections. Apparently there have been many issues with this in recent years, as the Parliament has held elections approximately five times over the past six years.

After the day after the elections, I was in the car with my boy Rasheed, and saw a few men cutting into a dead camel on someones driveway. Apparently, this is a huge honor, and it was there because that man had been elected to the Parliament. I wish I had been able to take a photo. HOWEVER, as a side, I did go visit some Camels in Messila just the other day....

Look at that runway walk

Female Camels are lighter, like this

And coincidentally was forced to TRY camel that night at a dinner party... for the record... it's not half bad if you can get past that idea that you are, in fact, eating camel. Tastes a lot like lamb.

Anyway, in Kuwait, the Al-Sabah family has ruled and been the royal family in Kuwait for.ev.er, since 1752. So the "Emir" (President) is always an Al-Sabah, as is the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister. Then you have the Parliament members who are elected by anyone of Kuwaiti nationality. Many Saudi's have dual nationality, (because of they are family members with certain "tribes" in Kuwait (don't have a full grasp on this yet) and some 26,000 people crossed the border to vote on the election day.

The Emir is nominated by members of the family council, and the original merchants and prominent Kuwaiti families. This position is not hereditary per say, but the family will choose a new leader from a succeeding generation. Although it rarely happens, the Parliament does have the right to disapprove of the Emir's appointment. The Emir does not have a house that every Emir lives in, like the White House. They will just stay in their own house. Emir, like a King, will stay in power until they pass.

During the Iraqi evasion, the Iraqi's made the former Emir's palace in Messila a base. So when the Al-Sabah family members returned, the palace had been destroyed and set on fire, etc. Many people had lost their lives and been tortured. So, they had the entire palace (housing parents and children and grandchildren, etc) leveled so that people would not drive by and remember the palace as a place where their family members or people they knew were killed and tortured. Then the land was then divided up and individual houses for the Al-Sabah family members were then built. Many of the people from that branch of the family still live in the area which is now neighborhood-like area for a large, extended family. Everyone knows everyone, well because they're all related.

Most Muslims are Sunnis as in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and in the United Arab Emirates. Iran was like this as well until the 70's when they felt it was too liberal and western, now you will find mostly Shi'tes in Iran. Shi'tes are the second largest denomination of Islam and are highly conservative and have some differences in their belief systems.

My favorite Mosque in Kuwait. Gorgeous.

Kuwaiti's will also refer to the "Bedouin's", which are the tribal population in Kuwait. Things start to get confusing for me right about there. It's really interesting though, and it's funny to be in the middle of the mall and even when you seen men and women walking around in traditional clothing Kuwaiti's are able to differentiate between Saudi's, Egyptians, Emirates... etc based on their skin color or the exact way they wear their clothing, or different types of collars. This is a skill I am yet to acquire and feel is probably not in the cards for me.

I've also been brushing up on my Arabic. I'm able to follow some conversations a little better, if I know the context. In Kuwait, when you enter a room or a house, or in general are greeting someone you say "Salam Alaikum" which means "May Peace be upon you". Apparently, this is a must. If someone says this to you, you MUST say "Wa Alaikum Asalam", which essentially is saying "the same you to you". Also greeting means everyone will give kisses. Two cheeks. I'm getting better after a few awkward nose grazes here and there. So embarrassing. However, you never kiss at the table. The first thing the kids will do when they come to your house will come say Salam and give you kisses. Also, out of respect, whenever a parent or someone of an older generation comes into a room, everyone will stand to greet them. I like it. Kuwaitis also don't general hug or say goodbye. They will "Ma asalama" which means more like go safely on your way/may God watch over you.

Two weeks ago I went for lunch at the Kuwait Towers with my host and the director of the Kuwait Dream Center which is like a preschool/nursery for children with special needs. The towers are beautiful and right on the sea. One of them is actually a water tower, and the other has a lounge, a restaurant and an observation deck. This is Kuwait's big national landmark. It was destroyed during the evasion and then redone.