Author Archives: faithq8

Farewell readers!

Posted on by

2

After one year of blogging for the18thproject, I am sorry to announce that I have decided to leave the blog. Although for the past year the18thproject felt, in many ways, a lot like home to me, my time here is done and I will be moving on to my own independent page soon. I would like to thank MadReds for giving me the opportunity to write under this domain and I appreciate all your comments and hope you enjoyed my posts.

For anyone who had any issues with my posts, I am not a restrained writer and I do not apologize for it. The views and opinions I expressed in my posts are, however, strictly my own.

So wish me luck with my own page and I hope you will continue to read my posts once I’ve set that up, but in the mean time I wish the18thproject all the best with its aspirations. MadRed, JustTruth, Bo.3zez, it has been a pleasure writing with you. Goodluck!

And farewell from me :)

Media Sexual Abuse

Posted on by

5

We’ve all seen it around, some of us notice it and take offense, and some of us enjoy it and are compelled by it. It’s no secret that sex sells. Especially when the object of this compulsion is women. Whether it be the music industry, airline industry, car industry, fashion, domestic products, food or even furniture, having a semi naked woman on the ad pretty much attracts buyers.

Now while that in itself is a sick fact of global society- and yes I do say global because I do believe it is present in all cultures to some extent- I will not go into that, but rather question the ethics of this matter as a whole.

We all know its wrong. We do! Some people have the excuse that these women are there on the ad under their own will and that they are well aware of the image they are promoting. So, marketers invite these ‘women’ to car auctions and have them dress in bikinis, get them to wear extra short skirts on airline ads and pose in undermining positions in ads just to get you to get off your couch and buy a can of coke!

Now the real question is, where do you draw the line from where it is “okay” to use women’s bodies to promote your products or services to where it begins to become abuse? It’s a huge controversy and although Europe and the West claim to have moved far from sexism in the last 30 years, it is quite clear that that is not the case. Women in their media are used to sell products and services that in many cases have nothing to do with women – as far as I’m concerned. Products like men’s shower gel, chocolate, cars and fashion.. it’s all become a magnet to women and the ads of almost every ad I see nowadays screams “sex”.

One of the most recent tag lines I saw on an ad for Axe the men’s deodorant was “Even Angels Will Fall” with the picture of an innocent-turned evil looking girl :s Really? You need that to buy deodorant guys?

Another ad by Dolce & Gabanna:

I mean.. one look at this ad and you’ll know what I’m saying. Undermining the image of women and making statements that women are beneath and controlled.. most ads show women as nothing more than a sexual figure. It’s disgusting, unethical, and false. It has a huge impact on the image of women in society whether you chose to admit it or not.

<<Ad removed>>

There was also an ad by LYNX shower gel where the actual product makes for less than 20% of the ad. Because really, you need a ‘dirty’ woman in the shower to get you to scrub yourself. – sorry, “wash” yourself. More and more, sexuality has become the actual object of ads rather than the actual products they’re promoting. I guarantee you that about 4 out of 7 men would see that ad and not realize what it was actually selling!

Now this classic ad by TopShop should be sent to troubled services office somewhere. The poor thing looks miserable and sick. Yes, sick. Like you want to take her home and feed her. This, in my point of view, is another form of women’s abuse. Not because they’re using a woman but rather because of the image they portray -and TopShop is not alone in doing this. Girls all over the world look at these ads and the images portrayed in the media and it penetrates this image into their mind of what an ideal girl should be like. Skinny. Sexy. >> Now some of you may have your own opinions about this image, but the image above, according to any health specialist or sane person is “SICK”. Like, in need of food disorder rehab.

But to be fair to men.. they can be sometimes abused in the media too .. I was actually surprised to see this.. I had always thought that women were the main focus of the media buuut.. turns out they are used to sell the goodies too!

<<Ad removed>>

aaaand ofcourse.. the goodie everyone loves.. Chocolate!

though why you’d need a guy in a towel to promote chocolate is beyond me!

Thank god we live in a country <<Kuwait>> which prohibits the use of men and women in media as sexual objects and preserves the dignity of its people. The women in our countries are not “oppressed” or “abused” as they quite openly are in West.. our women are simple dignified and preserved :D

Q8Flowers, NEVER AGAIN!

Posted on by

2

I guess this will be the first service review from the18thproject and sadly it isn’t one which met with satisfaction.

Being a student abroad sucks when it comes to special occasions, because there isn’t much we can do. So, I decided that maybe there was an online delivery website in Q8 which could at the very least, allow me to send a bouquet to “express myself”. I was surprised to find that there were quite a few.. but most of them seemed exceptionally tacky.

Then I found Q8Flowers. I was impressed by some of their bouquet designs and they even offered same day delivery, cards, balloons and other extras to your order. It seemed to be a good choice, and being the picky girl I am, I spent hours going through every single bouquet available on the website until I chose the best one I could find and personalized it.

My first problem with this order was with the payment, but after contacting their shop in Q8 they informed me that the orders were overloading their server and that I could pay at another time. I had no problem with that and I was happy enough to know my order had gone through.

And now, it is almost 8pm in Kuwait and my order that was set for 2pm has not yet been delivered. I’ve spent hours calling and every time they tell me the order is on the way. When I finally spoke to the manager, he suggested sending something else for now -which STILL hasn’t been delivered- until they locate the car which has my order.

He offered me a refund for half the price I paid this morning for my order or a choice of vouchers.

I cannot believe they think I’d ever put myself in such a humiliating position to order from them again. On a previous order, a card I had selected was found to be a birthday card they glued paper on to say Congratulations. Absolutely ridiculous, unacceptable, tacky and quite a rip off for the prices they charge if you ask me!

My last conversation with the guy in the shop: “sorry ma’am but I called the driver 4 times and told him to deliver your order but he is not listening! He is going somewhere else” WOW babysitting employees are we?! Seriously inefficient managing. If they cannot handle a number of orders why take them!

My word of advice, never ever make an order from this website. If you cannot make the order yourself, get someone back home to deliver it for you. The humiliation and frustration with Q8Flowers is simply not worth it.

So thanks Q8Flowers for a failed Mother’s Day, and here I am, expressing my feelings!

Healthy 15-min pizza!

Posted on by

3


Serves 1

Ingredients:

Dough:

1 sachet soup mix – you can use any flavor you like (I used Tony Ferguson as it is high in fibre)

1 table spoon of fibre (I used Tony Ferguson fibre but you can use any fibre available at your local health store)

¼ teaspoon of baking powder

1 table spoon of water – or more as needed, but make sure your dough is still thick

Toppings:

Old El Paso Salsa – or you can make your own sauce using red onions, tomato paste, olive oil, crushed garlic and seasoning to taste

Bell pepper strips

Low fat cheese (preferably low fat ricotta cheese)

sliced mushrooms

*I also add chopped chili peppers if you want to spice it up!

Directions:

1- Preheat oven

2- Combine the dough ingredients in a bowl until it forms a thick dough mixture

3- spray olive oil onto 2 wax paper sheets and put the dough mixture in between. roll out to form a circular pizza base

4- place a separate wax paper with a spray of olive oil in a baking tray and place the dough in the oven for around 10 mins

5- take out the dough, flip, and bake the other side for 5 mins

6- while the base is in the oven, prepare your salsa and  choice of toppings

7- take out base and place salsa, toppings and cheese on the 5 min baked side and leave in oven until crisp and ready

8- Serve and enjoy!

Egg Sandwich

Posted on by

2

Prep time: 12 mins

Serves: 2

 

 

 

 

 

You will need:

2 eggs

4 slices of toast

lettuce

mayo

pepper

salt

Directions:

1. boil the eggs for roughly 7 minutes until hard

2. cut lettuce into strips and slightly toast toast slices and cut off crust

3. once eggs are ready, use an egg cutter to cut the egg into small sqaures

4. mix lettuce, eggs, mayo, salt & pepper in a bowl with a fork

5. make 2 sandwiches using the mixture and toast

6. if you prefer a warm sandwich, microwave sandwiches for 30 seconds

7. cut toast diagonally, making 4 triangles and enjoy!

Classic Chicken Fajitas

Posted on by

1

Cooking time: 35 mins

Serves: 2

For this dish, you will need:

1 large chicken breast

1 paprika pepper (use a mixture of different colored peppers)

Olive oil

1 red onion

Hot sauce

Paprika spice

Cinnamon

Black pepper

Salt

Sour cream

Tortilla bread

For the toppings you may have the following:

Sour cream

Lettuce

Old EL Paso salsa sauce

Shredded cheese (you can get mixes of cheddar and mozzarella)

you may also want to try guacamole

Preperation:

1. Wash the chicken breast well and remove any skin or fat, then cut into strips

2. Cut the onion and peppers in strips

3. Heat the olive oil and stir fry the onion. *to prevent the onion from burning, add a few table spoons of water

4. In a separate pan, stir fry the chicken in olive oil. Add half a tablespoon of cinnamon and stir

5. Add the rest of the seasoning: paprika powder, salt, pepper, hot sauce

6. When the chicken seems almost fully cooked, add the strips of pepper and stir fry till tender

7. Add the cooked onion strips and 2 full table spoons of sour cream

8. Serve with tortilla bread and sides, wrap and enjoy!


 

Something Borrowed.

Posted on by

4

Before I introduce my topic, let me begin by saying that I will not apologize. I refuse to apologize for my feelings, my anger or my criticism. Now that that has been said, allow me to take a moment to thank my lucky stars that my father is as loyal and as sacrificing as he is. I love you baba.

Some of you readers will sympathize and agree with me,  some of you wont. Fair enough. Some of you may be victims, bystanders or some of you may even be the very ones I will openly attack in this post as the selfish, arrogant beings you are. There are some who may be cowards and others who I have yet to decide on a name for. In any case, something despicable.

Before I talk at length about this, may I also add that I do not criticize my religion. I love my religion. But there are those who abuse our laws by twisting them to their own advantage -excuses, if you may- and pledge that they are living to the accordance of Islamic laws.

My topic dear reader, is multiple marriage. Now I will talk at length, so read closely.

Let’s start with religion shall we? Before we get into the web of feelings.

The first excuse a man makes when he takes on a new wife is “the shari3a allows me to have 4 wives and therefore I have done nothing that violates my religion.” Yaay! So you think you know your stuff eyh? Do you also know the conditions on which you may take on a bride while committed to another? The most basic principle is equality. I know, you’re thinking “well I divide my days and money blah blah”. No buddy. You can’t ever be equal. You can never ever evenly divide your love between two (let alone 4) women. You cannot. Don’t kid yourself.

Excuse number two: “she doesn’t give me what I need”. You have clean clothes in your closet? Food on the table when you’re hungry? Conceived kids? Does she not smile in your face?! Does she not tend to you when you’re ill? Yes? No? Re-prioritize your needs.

Excuse number three: “I can’t stand life with her” Did you talk to her about your problems? Did you try again and again to make your life a better one for your family’s sake? DiD YOU?! I assume not. Because if you had done so and failed, you’d be divorced. Or, you wouldn’t have lived a secret parallel life if you had felt justified. I know some men do not keep their marriages a secret, but the common case is that they do.

Excuse number 4: “She’s grown old and unattractive” Lovely. And you’ve gotten younger? Is she not still by your side accepting Your old age? Is she in a wheel chair? Take a good look at yourself, you aren’t exactly a Tom Cruise double are you?

Excuse number 5: “I fell in love” Seriously, this is one of the excuses that more than any other, would make me itch for a baseball bat to club the face of the guy who says this. You are a cheating, disloyal liar. You were married. You were married and you were able to CONSIDER looking at someone else. You had an emotional affair. An affair that is condemned by the religion you so confidently blanket yourself with. You favored your lust over the stability of your family.

You see that woman? The woman who you see as old, too busy for you, unattractive and maybe angry? Go kiss her hands that you think are too rough because they got rough scrubbing and cleaning for you. Go kiss those eyes that you see as too aged because they aged crying out of agony because of you. Go kiss the head you see full of grey and white for those hairs are a result of raising your children while you were tending to your secret life. Maybe she’s been busy and tired raising a family that you thought was not enough. On second thought, don’t kiss any of those things. Because you don’t deserve to.

If your wife left you when you took another, I salute her. She should have given you the boot long ago anyway. If you’re happy that she hasn’t.. be grateful ’cause trust me she didn’t do it for you. You see that little boy that grew into twice the man you think you are? That little girl who grew into a wonderful woman? That’s who she did it for. Not for you. She didn’t do it so that you wouldn’t have a family, she did it so that her children wouldn’t grow up wondering why They didn’t have one.

I know some men feel justified; like they have a thousand excuses or maybe even one good one. But the truth of the matter is that you don’t. No matter how horrible your wife was or how badly you wanted someone else, you made a commitment in front of God and everyone else to honor your wife. Your family. You were weaker than to save your marriage and your children. You didn’t save them. You can’t. Because nothing you do can erase the pain you brought on them for having a “borrowed” father. You took the easy way out.

Being a father – a parent – is NOT a part-time job. It ISN’T. And it sure as hell is not part of dividing your life between two different women! Whether you get divorced, married, remarried or decide to hitch it with a bloody frog your kids have NOTHING to do with it!

You can’t win both ways. You won’t.

I’m going to apologize now, but not to those unforgivable men. I will apologize to those women who became victims.

I have never known your pain and I hope I never will. Perhaps I don’t even fully understand it. But I’m sorry. Because I used to judge you. I used to think that staying with a man who has betrayed you was foolish. I now realize just how wrong I was. You are not foolish. You are brave. You are the strongest women on earth because you’re strong for those kids. Because unlike your ungrateful husband, you still have not given up. Because your heart is bigger than his soul. You are brave, wonderful women and nothing will ever demean that. If someone chooses someone else over you, they have bad taste. Be proud of who you are and what you’ve done for your family.

And you Mr? Shame on you. Shame on you for doing what you’ve done to your family. Shame on you for breaking their hearts and letting their tears fall and for ever making them feel like they weren’t enough. Shame on you for hurting the woman who sacrificed their youth, sweat, blood and tears for you. She is much more beautiful than any woman you’ll ever meet because she is the woman who stood strong, held her family together and didn’t tear it apart no matter how much it hurt. I can’t understand what beauty there is to see in a person who would allow herself to be the cause of ruin in another woman’s life.

There is no excuse. So don’t make them.

I really do hope that by the end of this post, all those men who have done so will understand what they’ve done. If you have built new families, be good to your children and make it up to those you’ve hurt. Tell them they deserve better. Tell your children they’re more than enough. Because they are. Do something to make things right before you leave this world.

If you want to strangle me (as I think you might), let me put it this way. Look at your daughter. Look at the joy of her young innocence. Would you allow it to be stolen away? Would you allow someone to hurt her and scar her heart? I didn’t think so. So why let it happen to your wife? She was someone’s little  girl too.

Your children should never have to feel like you’re something borrowed. Make sure they don’t. It’s the least you can do. None of you kids should ever have to feel like they can’t reach out for you. Don’t bring them into the world just to make their world fall apart.

..It’s amazing what strength God has poured into us women. And they call us weak. Hmph. Look at your wife if you don’t believe me. She’s a breathing example. She can swallow her pain and forgive and still be loyal. She can still love wholly with her broken heart. She can still smile at what I cannot imagine surviving. I wish I was as strong as her. I just pray that I never have to be.

A wife is not a slave. She is not some wrapper u can use up and throw aside. She should be treated as the queen she rightly is.

Dalg S’hail – A “cultural” experience

Posted on by

0

I decided to make this my first review upon returning because I simply could not let it wait. I wanted to share my thoughts on this erm .. ‘cultural’ expeience as my parents call it while the memory was still fresh in my mind.

Now, first of all, warning to all fathers who would love to play this prank on their daughters in the future: if you decide to take your unexpecting daughter to this restaurant under the impression of what the general term of  “taking you out for dinner” implies, do give her some hint as to what to wear (or not wear, as it might be the case) so that once she shows up on this ..scene, she would not arrive feeling misplaced and totally overdressed T_T

Before you gasp with insult, dear reader, do not take my review personally. It is simply my personal reflection. So.. allow me to share my story at this place..

On a hot and humid night.. My parents decided to take me to what they promised would be an “authentic” dinner. So, naturally, Kuwaiti me got all dressed up for the night out. I had no clue what this place would be like, so as my mother commented that we might not get a table, I reassured her that my father had probably booked us a table.. Now for those of you who have been there, you would understand why my parents burst out laughing at this predicament. I, on the other hand, was clueless.

So we arrive at Souq ElMobarakiya – my first visit to this famous part of Kuwait.. and being the girl that I am.. I almost screeched. Now this says a lot as I am not usually the screechy type of girl. I stood outside the car.. shocked. To say the least that is.

My pretty shoes were dragged through an excuse of a sandy parking lot to  a cluster of garden tables, which I might have been able to describe in more detail if it were not for the water sprinklers above our heads (yes.. above) spitting water in my face. This was apprently “pleasant” to my family who sat down joyfully thinking they were on a picnic beside a waterfall or something.

So I sit down stiffling a groan to humor my father and as the waiter approaches I silently pray that they atleast have an english menu. Very foolish on my part. So as it played out, the restaurant only had a couple of menus anyway (apparently their food was so famous you are expected to sit there and just know what you want).

I ask my waiter.. “what do you reccomend?” he flashes me a smile “fee chabda w galb mashwee waaayed helo” TRANSLATION: Liver and barbequed heart.

Ok so maybe some people find that a major delicacy, as JustTruth and MadReds do enjoy other strange foods “bacha” do..I, however, do NOT. So you can see my utter state of misery.

ANyway.. I go ahead and order the first chicken platter I could think of  “sheesh 6awoo8″ as my theory is ‘atleast you know if chicken is chicken.. meat on the other hand could have come from anything.’ Again, I do apologize. I do not wish to demean the integrity of this popular establishment, these were just the thoughts that came to me in my stunned state.

Thankfully, I always remember to have my ‘Detol wipes’ in my purse (as every lady knows she should), and it gives me some comfort in knowing my hands wont be the source of my then-expected poisoning.

The food arrives in all its “sya5″ and stuff and my joy rests on discovering that they atleast had propper hot sauce. Thinking that salt and spices must be what kills bacteria (don’t laugh, I am not a bio student) because well ..pickles last forever don’t they? — I attack my chicken with all the salt and “sha6a” that I can handle without burning a hole in my gut and smile sweetly at my father “yumm” all the while thinking ‘why daddy why?!’

My mother sitting next to me is enjoying her barbequed heart (poor sheep or whatever heart it was) and I take a deep breath.. it can’t be that bad right?? I mean this is.. part of being a proper Kuwaiti and all etc etc..

I lift the chicken…

move it close to my mouth..

and a cat suddenly runs under my chair.

erggh. Ok. Take II

I lift the chicken.. move it close to my mouth..

slowly put it inside..

and..

it wasn’t all that bad to be honest!

I still drank a can of coke for sterilization though! Just in case! ..but all in all.. I survived!

I can now say I am a ’culturized’ Kuwaiti who’s seen it all – and survived it too!

So.. I cannot  promise you that it would be an experience you’d wish to repeat quite often, especially in this heat, however I can see why my dad thought it imperitive that every girl survives her “Dalg S’hail” dinner. It’s as my mother says, ”a cultural experience”.  I just wish the cultural experience was less germy.

To be fair, I don’t feel sick or anything and they do offer an indoor dining area.. so if you do wish to visit this place -and I do advise you to because it’s so very different- just bear in mind that you should not dress up, wear heels or your favorite shoes, do take your sanitisers and go when the weather is a bit cooler. I also suggest you don’t sit under the over-head sprinklers.

Oh well.. atleast it was an experiennce.

I still think I deserve a badge for putting up with it!

A ‘Must Hear’ for all students abroad </3

Posted on by

2

These two links are in arabic .. heart breaking and will make you cry to the words.

This is a dedication to everyone living away from their parents or who’s lost a father.

Truly burned me to the core.. Very moving.

Love you mom and dad and miss you so much.. I really wish we didn’t have to be so far apart.. thank you for everything..

‘Remember Me’ – movie review

Posted on by

2

Starring: Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan and Chris Cooper.

This heartbreaking romantic drama is set in New York City, where Tyler (Robert Pattinson), a rebellious young man, meets Ally (Emilie de Ravin) through a twist of fate. Her spirit helps him heal after a great family tragedy, but soon, the circumstances that brought them together threaten to tear them apart.

Remember Me was so far the best movie I’ve seen this year and had me crying my heart out. I’d be surprised to hear of someone who saw it and didn’t cry through the whole thing!

Not only is the actors’ performances strongly moving in this movie, but the story also puts a lot in perspective and shows how every big or small thing we do in our lives and towards those we love, can have a huge impact even long after we’re gone.

Like Ghandi says: “Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it’s very important that you do it.”

I suggest you take a whole lot of tissue and make sure you have a cheer up plan set up for afterwards! .. Seriously worth watching though.


View the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMBfTdm9ALk&feature=related

MS Treatment – Stolen Hope?

Posted on by

8

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a nervous system disease that affects your brain and spinal cord. It damages the myelin sheath, the material that surrounds and protects your nerve cells. This damage slows down or blocks messages between your brain and your body, leading to the symptoms of MS. They can include:

  • Visual disturbances
  • Muscle weakness
  • Trouble with coordination and balance
  • Sensations such as numbness, prickling, or “pins and needles”
  • Thinking and memory problems

No one knows what causes MS. It may be an autoimmune disease, which happens when your body attacks itself. Multiple sclerosis affects women more than men. It often begins between the ages of 20 and 40. Usually, the disease is mild, but some people lose the ability to write, speak or walk.

This disease was once very rare in Kuwait, but the number of MS patients in Kuwait has escalated rapidly to 18,000 cases of Kuwaiti Nationality only. No one knows why the number of MS patients has grown so viciously in recent years, but the effects of MS on its victims are brutal. Any possible neurological symptoms can affect an MS patient, including but not limited to, extensive depression which can even lead to eventual suicide.

However, when Dr Paolo Zamboni’s wife, an Italian professor of medicine in the University of Ferrara, was diagnosed with this disease, he was determined to find a cure. In 1995, Dr Zamboni discovered a breakthrough that can change the lives of all MS patients drastically.

What was once seen as a potentially debilitating neurological disease and an autoimmune condition was proven to be a vascular disease.

Since 1995 no one has believed in Dr Zamboni’s research. But thanks to the strong faith of our skilled doctors, here in our own country, a clinical trial had begun little over a month ago in Mubarak AlKabeer Hospital.

Dr Tariq Sinan, Dr Abdulaziz AlMuzaini and Dr Hussain Saffar have successfully conducted their clinical trial on 12 MS patients. All 12 cases have witnessed miraculous results. Patients were able to move again and have full function of their limbs. Limbs which have been immobile for years.

The entire procedure takes no more than 15 minutes. 15 minutes that can change thousands of people’s lives and end their suffering. The procedure is pretty simple. They begin by preforming a doppler, a sonar investigation, and an MRI of the veins, to see if there is a narrowing in the neck veins, then go on to dilating the veins to relive pressure. The patient is cured instantly on the table once the dilation is complete.

Patients who have not been able to walk due to loosing sense in their legs are now able to wiggle their toes and weep at the sight. Patients who have not been able to feed themselves because of lost sensory in their arms are now eating happily and independently.


Dr Zamboni has come up with a miraculous cure that no one had considered, and Dr Sinan, Dr Almuzaini and Dr Saffar have begun to spread the cure here in Kuwait.

So.. where’s the problem, right?

If a cure has been found, a clinical trial has been conducted with successful results.. then where’s the problem?

That’s what everyone is asking the Health Minister of Kuwait after he ordered the clinical trial to be shut down.

Why cut off the only hope all these young patients had? The excuse so far is that the trial is still considered in its research stages and the minister has deemed it “risky”. Where the sense in that is, I don’t know!

I mean, the doctors conducting the trial are extremely capable and have taken out all the necessary research! Other than the fact that all 12 cases have gone through successfully, the trial is ethically permitted since all patients sign a form of responsibility in entering the trial, after the risks have been explained to them fully!

So, where’s the problem?!

Everyone’s still waiting for an answer. Why ban a treatment which thousands of Kuwaitis and residents in Kuwait need so desperately? People are suffering. Young people. Their lives have been halted; they can’t walk, speak, remember the people around them, feed or dress themselves.. they can’t recognize their own children, get married, work, or lead independent lives.. and all that can stop. All that can be cured. For 12 lucky people, all that has already been cured.

We are asking the minister of health to give the doctors back their ability to heal. Give the people their ability to speak, walk and remember. .. Give back these unfortunate people the chance to live. To live a normal healthy life where they can build themselves and their lives anew. This clinical trial is the only shimmer of light they’ve got to hope on for a cure. So give them the option to choose it. These patients have nothing left to lose.. and they are willing to bet on any prayer they may come across. Give these patients the chance to choose for themselves whether it’s a risk they’re willing to take.

If your loved one is suffering from MS, or you know someone who is, join Scope TV in their petition to continue with the clinical trial. Contact parliament representatives, anyone who can help you push for treatment, and get the people you love the treatment they need.

Thank you Dr Sinan, Dr AlMuzaini and Dr Saffar for fighting for these patients and hopefully, you will have the opportunity to cure a thosand more than just 12 MS patients here in Kuwait.

Dr Tariq Sinan’s Website: http://www.drsinan.com/en/Default.aspx

Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kuwait/Kuwait-CCSVIMS-starting-community-to-MS-Liberation-research-and-treatment/261778096230

Documentary by  CTV: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100409/w5_liberation_update_100409/20100410?s_name=W5

Belated Mothers Day

Posted on by

1

It’s interesting how no matter how old you get, how big or famous or successful or stressed you become, the moment you’re in your
mother’s arms, you’re a kid again. Not because you’re small, inexperienced or belittled, but because once you look into your mother’s eyes or feel her warmth, you realize that you are so very small in comparison to her greatness. Her strength. Her wisdom. Her unconditional love..

Many cultures, including our own, have gotten used to associating women with weakness and dependence. They’re wrong. Our mothers are anything but week and depend on two things only; their faith and their love. They have shoulders that carry the worries of the whole world, arms that can comfort a whole family at once with the warmth of a hug, hearts that can forgive and forget and keep on loving.. They put their children’s needs before their own and don’t give up on us. They push us forward and sometimes, many times, we take that for granted.

When we’re little, we scream and cry because we don’t want to go to school, but they take us there everyday anyway so that we can learn. When they give us the best food we whine because we don’t like it and they patiently wait for us to take the next bite so that we can be strong and healthy. And when we’re young.. we think they’re mean. We do! And then we grow up and we see  the world, wish we understood them better when we were younger.

…All the times our parents told us we couldn’t go out with our friends or go to some parties, we cried and thought “I can’t wait to grow up and get out of here and do what I want” .. well.. now that we’re older, we see that all the tough love was protecting us. And I am bloody well grateful. I’m grateful that my mother loved me too much to want me to be happy all the time about everything I wanted. I’m grateful that my mother loved me so much, that she was ready to say “No”.

Our mothers.. the most valuable and most precious people.. the ones we sometimes take for granted.

They teach us how to speak and cry with joy at our first words.. and then we learn to say things like “leave me alone”.. They teach us how to tie our shoes and we end up thanking them by running in the other direction.. They teach us how to love with all our hearts, and we sometimes thank them by giving our love to people who don’t deserve it.. They teach us how to be strong and protect ourselves, and we sometimes thank them by putting walls around us and block even them out.

They feed us, clean us, bathe and clothe us with their love, and teach us all they know and in every way they know how and send us into the world.. and do we all remember? Do we all remember our mother’s love?

Sometimes we forget.

Sometimes we say it wasn’t enough.

But no matter what your own mother did to raise you into the person you are today, she did the best she knew how with what she had. And for that, be grateful. For that, remind your mother that you lover her too.

I have a mother who’s one in a trillion.. and everyone she meets loves her and looks up to her because of who she is and what she’s accomplished. Because she’s intelligent and strong and is simply her. And although I love my mother for the same reasons, I also love her for so much more. Because while others love her intelligence, I also love her humor and goofiness, and while others admire her strength, I also admire her softness and compassion. I love my mom not only because she’s my mom, but because she is a great mother.

Thank you mom, for everything. Thank you for understanding me even when I couldn’t understand myself. Thank you for helping me find my two feet when I stumbled.. Thank you for teaching me how to love with all my heart and how to be the best person I can be. Thank you for all the sacrifices you have made, and I’m sorry that it had to be so hard sometimes. Thank you for always giving me a shoulder to cry on and arms to hide in no matter how old I got. Thank you for pouring your strength into my blood. I may not be perfect, but mom, you did great.

So to all the mothers in the world, on Mother’s day and everyday, thank you. And may we all return your sacrifices by making you proud and at peace. May you live to the day we become mothers and fathers our selves, and may we find the way to forgive ourselves for ever making you struggle. For we cannot return any of your favors no matter what we do.

If you are unfortunate to not have your mother close or with you, may God rest her soul and pray for her peace and be grateful that she has brought you into this world and built you from scratch. If your mother is with you, go to her, call her, and tell her how much you love her. Don’t wait for an occasion to thank her for existing. And when you’re parents yourselves, look at your children, and only then will you ever understand what your parents love for you is..


Turkish delight? I think not.

Posted on by

0

Turkey officially has the craziest airport. Istanbul, to be precise. It’s quite funny actually. Of all the airports I’ve been to (and I have a lot of experience in airports to be able to criticize!), I have never seen so many people running around all the time.

I don’t get it .. does Turkish Airlines enjoy the rush of adrenaline of wondering whether passengers will be able to make it on time or whether they’d have to schedule an extra flight to get the miserable passengers home? Maybe they’re bored and like watching people freak out. I wonder. They have 80 minutes transit time. A big upgrade from their 45 minutes, which meant you most definitely miss your flight and end up stuck here for an entire day. Not fun. I speak from experience.

The other funny thing is that in an “international” airport such as this, you very rarely find any worker who can speak english! They change the gates every half hour and you have to run around trying to find it and board on time and when you get lost, you stop a security person or whatever and yell “KUWAIT GATE!” (as if saying it louder would make it less confusing for them), and they stare at you like you’ve suddenly turned into a monkey or something and go “euh??” So this once I tried to be smart and say “KUVEYT” (that’s how they pronounce it) and a lightbulb suddenly flashes in their skulls (as if Kuwait and Kuveyt sounds SO different) and they go “aaah!” so here I am panting and hopeful that the dude finally gets it, until he frowns and says “I don’t know”.

Come ON! How can no one in a huge airport know where to find the gates, let alone speak english?! So I’ve been sitting at gate 308 at Istanbul airport for the past 3 hours thinking “wow, I’m reaaally early”, getting all comfy with my books and laptop etc, when suddenly, the screen flashes ‘KUVEYT gate 212 boarding shortly’ -.-

I grab my stuff, and naturally, being a girl and all, I have a lot of stuff. Heavy stuff. I charge for the escalator, only to be approached by an angry looking security guard, trying to ask me in god knows what version of english, where I’m planning to go. Frantically, I tell him the gate has changed and point at the bloody screen. He gets me, bless him, but says “no… gate no change! Screen is not vorking.” Ok Ok, maybe these people aren’t really all that stupid or anything.. I mean, they have all the big shops and its really nice and clean, but honestly, an airport with flights coming in an out on extremely tight schedules and here I am sitting at the wrong gate for 3 hours not knowing that the gate I’m supposed to be at is on the other side of the terminal, and they decide to announce that the gate is somewhere else, after the pilot of the previous flight has announced the transit gates already, and no one gives a care in the world that people are missing?! I guess the only upside is I get on empty flights since no one as crazy as I am would suddenly decide to ditch and go home and so that leaves me as the only Kuwaiti student running around trying to get on an empty airplane.

As I type this, they announce that they flight to cyprus has changed from 104 to 317 (poor Cyprus people) and as expected, a rush of trolleys and distraught passengers rush by to the gate. I wonder why they only change the gates when it’s time for boarding -.-

So anywaay, as I finally make it to the right place and begin putting all my junk into trays, thankful that this nightmare is almost over, I reach the attendant that’s supposed to check my passport with a huge tired smile on my face (just happy that it’s the last step), and she looks at me with a bored expression and asks, “you have visa for Kuveyt?” I stare back at her, thinking SHE must be the monkey, “yea”.

“Vhere?”

“On the front cover!”

“Ok. Enjoy. Hope to see you again vith us”

Unfortunately, she probably will. You’re probably wondering why I’m still so loyal to the Turkish Airlines. Well.. they let me take along 40 kilos of luggage! Any girl will tell you that’s a dream come true. I can’t sit still and therefore I cannot handle long flights, so since the turks offer me the shortest journey, they score points. Aaand.. their food is good. Like.. really good. And I’m the type of person who absolutely abhors airplane food.

Asides from all that, I get bored fast. And with Turkish airlines, I never have to worry about being bored. Never a dull moment with the turks ;)


Re: Slavery.

Posted on by

1

BO3zez:

I would write in greater detail, but hoping that I don’t miss my flight, I will break it down into a list.

1. You are right about the porters having their “freedom”, BUT that is of no use when they have no means in which to escape their contract. Freedom, yes, but if they cannot afford to buy food, how are they to leave?!

2. 17KD is not exaggerated, you may believe so because it is so shocking, yet I assure you I have spoken to many of these porters and their salary is general knowledge to anyone who works in these hospitals.

3. We can condemn the employers and I do. Not for rape and murder, but for robbery, and any means in which they believe they can attain money. These people are so desperate that they HAVE to find any means to get food. I do not  say it is excusable, yet can we expect any better from someone who is exhausted and starving?! If the employers pay them their pitiful salaries, THEN we can say that they have no business stealing when they are receiving the salaries which they had agreed upon. And let’s not forget that they are promised meals which get deducted out of their salaries and rarely, if ever, get delivered to them.

4. The crimes these people commit are not applaudable yet if you step back for a second, you will realize that to them, it’s their ticket home. And getting rid of these workers? Not graceful. Stupid. Because we cannot function without them.

This is a fact. When they went on strike, before the temporary replacements were brought in, the hospitals were a disaster! So were the roads! Can you imagine that tests could not be sent to the labs in time, patients were lost and couldn’t find the right clinics and everything was filthy. We are talking about a hospital which should be -of all places- hygienic and sterilized.

5. Yes, Kuwait HAS donated to starving countries and HAS paid attention to them. But what good is that when they neglect them on their own land while they have come to serve us!? What they have done, as gracious as it is, is public. But this.. this is reality.

6. No it is not gracious that they are given jobs even if they knew that they couldn’t handle them. Seriously Bo3zez, what living being can vacuum and clean with his body !?!?!?! Are they supposed to lick the tables sterile?! Again, we are talking about a hospital! If they have no means to clean the place properly, then the Kuwaitis (and foreigners) who seek the service of these institutions are put into a filthy, infected, unsterile place. Health care huh?

7. The deserve our sympathy because if we sympathize and help them, then they won’t have a need to commit crime. And then, if they do, we can say we did our part and helped them get what they signed up for. Yes, they CHOSE to come to Kuwait, but they signed a contract that entitled them to food and proper shelter and no contract states that they will have to make do with their limbs and saliva to sanitize hospitals.

Slavery.

Posted on by

3

I was leaning against the walls of one of the halls in one of Kuwait’s hospitals when a heartbreaking scene caught my sight.. Two porters were  standing by the sliding doors of the ER and one of them had found an apple on a chair someone had left behind. He was about to take a bite into  the apple when he noticed the hunger in the eyes of his friend. He cracked the apple in two and shared it with him. The joy that was in their eyes to have been fortunate to eat half a left over apple broke my own heart in two.

These porters are brought to serve us in our hospitals and they are made many promises. Promises of good pay, promises of a roof over their head; a promise that they had believed could be their chance at a better life. They pack up and leave their families behind; siblings, spouses and children who depend completely on whatever these workers can afford to send back.

Those promises are not kept. They are paid 17KD a month IF they’re lucky. Part of that 17KD gets deducted for a room which they share with no less than 10 other workers, and another part gets deducted for food that never gets delivered. They send what’s left back to their starving families and make do with the quarters they get from pushing wheel chairs around the hospital. This is how they survive. While we sleep in our warm beds on a full stomach, they starve and struggle just to make it through to the next day..

And as if that isn’t bad enough, the private companies who bring over these workers have withheld their salaries for the past 10 months. For the past 10 months these workers have received nothing. Not a fils. They’ve gone on from strike to strike and still, nothing is being done. Why? Where is the money? Allow me to explain.

Every year, when the state draws out its balance for the year, it pays these private companies  the full salaries for these workers for the whole year. So where does the money go? Where does over 250 million dinars go? It goes into a saving account in the bank where it accumulates interest and grows. So, while these workers fight their hunger and devastation just to survive one day at a time, while their families wait and receive nothing to relieve them from their poverty, some soul-less, conscience-less, money crazed somebody is making millions of dinars instead of providing these unfortunates their simple needs for basic survival.

The problem is, the banks benefit immensely from these saving accounts and an adjustment from the government to only release salaries on a monthly basis to these companies would cause a drastic fall in banks’ credit. The way these companies have been getting around prosecution is quite simple: whenever the workers go on strike and they are put through investigation by the insurance ministry, they pay off a couple of month’s salaries to these workers just to get themselves off the investigation list and the cycle goes on and on.

The funny thing is these companies try to compensate the health ministry with staff when the original workers are on strike, but supply them with nothing but gloves. This porter came into my mother’s office asking her where to start cleaning and he held out his gloved hands helplessly trying to figure out how he was to vacuum, scrub tables and dust with gloved hands only. .. Seriously?!

I do not blame any one of these workers if they had to steal! And they wonder what’s causing so much crime in our country? These workers are desperate. Not desperate for an escalade or a fancy new dress or a luxury duplex.. they’re desperate to stay alive enough to push around wheelchairs so that they can get something to eat or keep them warm! They are being pressurized to distribute drugs by dealers who know they’re suffering. And in effect? Our own youth are sinking and becoming destroyed.

An investigator once told me you would not believe the number of these workers who commit crimes and purposefully want to get caught. Why? Because that way they’d get deported, since they cannot afford to go back home, or put into jail where at least they know they won’t starve to death.

Why?! Why is a country as rich and educated as ours treating these workers in this barbaric inhumane manner while other countries raise campaigns and charities for them?! Why is the arab world becoming a society with the title of Islam but no Islamic attributes, while other nations are without Islam but live to all it’s teachings?!

It’s in our hands to push for change and increase awareness as people when the government turns a blind eye to these disasters. For the sake of not only these people and our conscience, but also for the sake of the future of our country.


Dublin winter !

Posted on by

1

Thought I might share some pictures of what it’s like up here right now! (Click on each image to enlarge it)

tick tock

Posted on by

1


Since the very beginning of civilization, people have endeavored to attempt to measure time. Some came up with sun dials, others with sand glasses and in our modern world, we have hours, minutes and seconds calculated for us by digital clocks. It must have been a jolly invention for those who came up with it as a useful tool to measure the intangible. But to a student dreading the moments till he/she leaves home, time is the cruelest thing.


I’m sitting in a boxed up plane with the craziest back-ache (courtesy of the concrete-like chairs) with frayed nerves at the wailing children, looking out of the window of what must be the millionth plane I’ve been on in the past two months alone. Everywhere around me there’s something that can tell me how much time we’ve spent on board or how much we have left; my laptop, my watch, my phone, my screen and the unfortunate air hostess that marches up and down the aisles.

I hate watches. Unfortunately I cannot seem to live without them, but I hate them nonetheless. I think every student studying abroad must feel the same way. No one appreciates or perhaps realizes the value of time as much as we do. No one like us appreciates the difference one day or half a day can make when you’re at home rather than at whatever miserable place you’re headed.

The ironic thing about it is, 99% of us wanted to leave home so badly to start our new lives so far away to get an education, and once we’re there, once we’ve looked around  and realized that all these beautiful streets and buildings and gardens somehow cannot replace the somewhat littered streets of our own neighborhood, our wonderfully sandy nature and safe homes, we ache. We ache to be back in our kuwaiti bedrooms with everyone waiting on our every need, we ache for the warmth of our mother’s arms and our father’s smiles, and I ache for noise.

Strange, yes. As much as my little tyrant brothers manage to drive me insane, I miss their noise. I miss their cheeky smiles and pertinent questions. I miss it all. ..because in a few hours, I’ll be back, and I’ll be dragging up my bags all on my own, and I’ll open the door to my apartment, and there will be.. silence. Silence and me. Silence, me and probably a whole lot of rain or snow. How uplifting -.-

Scary as it may be, we realize the importance of making every moment we spend at home the fullest because only we understand that, god forbid, we may not find everyone here when we come back. We know how important it is to actually tell our families exactly how much we love them, because we don’t get enough time to show them. I guess like all things in life, a good education has its price.

Sad thing is, if only a similar education was available in our own country, we wouldn’t have to go so far. Although living abroad has it’s many perks and educates us well in life, most of us would rather be home. Yes, we have many universities and colleges in Kuwait, but how many of them actually have proper accreditation? How many of them actually care about the student’s brain rather than their paycheck? NONE. Kuwait’s secondary education has become a commercial industry and Kuwait University is a completely different shameful story. We have professors hitting on students and vice versa and professors who don’t even have real certificates! Scandalous, but very true. Many teaching at Kuwait University have bought their accreditation from Egypt and the likes and are now given the responsibility of educating our youth. If I were to write of KU’s flaws and corruption, I don’t think this post would ever end.

– Apparently there’s less than 40 minutes to landing now. Great, another timely interruption. Time hates me.

For those of you smugly sitting in your homes with everyone around, be very grateful for living with your families. Make the best of it. For those who, like me, are forced to live elsewhere, pick up the phone and tell your family how much you love them, and when you’re home, treasure every moment you get. Time flies. Literally.

You never know when or how or where a loved one may be taken. Time is short and evil and before you know it, it would have robbed you of your youth and all that comes with it. Be stronger than time. Be prepared.

Never leave home without hugging your parents however awkward it may feel at first. Never leave or let them go or sleep with them mad at you or hurt. Because when the sun dawns, you may not get that chance to say “I’m sorry”. Don’t leave your siblings thinking that they don’t matter or that they’re unappreciated. If you’re mad at anyone, don’t carry that hurt around. It’s too heavy and it will eventually break your back. Forgive. Because forgiveness is not saying “what you did was okay”, it’s saying: “what you did is not okay, but I can move on and value better things”.

Nothing is worth a rift with those closest to your hearts. Nothing. Don’t wait till it’s too late to realize that. Live, laugh, forgive, forget, and most important of all, no matter what, never go without saying “I love you”..


To segregate or not to segregate !?

Posted on by

2

As the world moves forward in its education and intelligence, our dear country takes a zillion steps back.

If you’ve been to the cafeteria in Kuwait University’s Faculty of Medicine, you will know exactly what I mean. They’ve put up a retarded old office partition to segregate the girls and boys while they munch their lunch. Because really, that is SO mature.

The tragedy of this isn’t just the fact that its ugly and seriously retarded how you can only see half of Burger King’s overhead menu thanks to the kick-ass wall, but because of all students to segregate, these students will be working long, devastating shifts once they graduate and they won’t have a clue how to act around each other!

The problem with these uneducated minds, is that they take an islamic concept they do not fully understand and go wild with it. They approach the need for segregation by linking it to “5olwa”. 5olwa is what the Prophet PBU warned from and it is the tension that grows when a man and woman are alone. But he did not say put walls in public places and ignore the fact that sooner or later these students will have to work together!! .. let alone that there are OTHER ways they could meet up and get together? :S

I, personally was always part of a mixed environment as I attended a mixed school and now study abroad in a mixed university (obviously), and yes, there are things that do go on that are of question but that is not always the case. If a child is raised well to respect her/his self in the means of dealing with the opposite gender, they will not go crazy. I guarantee that! If a child however is not made to understand the limitations in dealing with the other gender, then they (excuse my language) will experiment whatever crosses their mind and naturally be attracted to do so.

I’ve seen how people here gasp when witnessing any boy-girl interaction and to be honest, I can’t really blame them. Why? Because they do not understand it. They’ve been raised in gender-segregate environments and attended segregated schools and perhaps their interaction with the opposite gender (other than family of course) was not introduced till they were either in university (back when classes were not segregated) or when they got their jobs.

As a student who has worked with guys, I can speak from experience and say that there CAN be a responsible, professional, respectable relationship between the two genders when taught how to respect those boundaries! The need for young minds to be trained into being able to work together without tension with the other gender is crucial for their career lives.

Now, some of you may be thinking that I am “westernized” or straying from our culture, but I am not! I am not saying let’s dance around the fire and not get burnt, but mix in moderation. Mix for the right purposes, under the right conditions.

I left Kuwait University for many reasons, one being that when my friend and I walked into class, everyone started whispering. Literally. Not because either of us shared their skin tight outfits, killer heels, bright red lipstick or huge heads (god knows what they stuff in them!), or because we had a bad reputation (god forbid), but because we spoke english and were known as the ‘mixed school girls’. Some of you may think I exaggerate, but I kid you not! This once, the girl sitting in front of us turned around and randomly asked us “you went to a school with boys in it right?” so I say “yea.. ” she gasps and says “like.. in the same room?! They could be sitting on the table next to you?!” I didn’t know whether to laugh or be insulted. Seriously, what is with this image people have about private schools?? The sad part was I sat there in that seat in KU and I was only sixteen years old while this girl was probably  twenty and I was studying in the Faculty of Engineering -.-”

Here, if you ask a guy for a pencil in the library or a reference, 99.9% of the population will think you’re asking for a number! ..but wait.. that can’t be.. because the libraries are segregated too !!! :0

I think who ever set these rules has gender issues or perhaps is simply paranoid. Segregating college students is taking away your respect in them and their values! Sure, not everyone is “honorable” and yea I get the “better safe than sorry” theory they have going on but what about preparing them for the real world? College should not only be about text-book education.

I remember seeing a bus full of senior high-school girls from a government school stopping by our university gate that year and the girls piling up for a tour on the campus and I was truly shocked beyond words at what we saw. I am not generalizing that all government school girls are like this, but stating what I saw! The girls were giggling and squealing like god knows what, some were attending to their pocket mirrors, blush, mascara and it was .. sad. Really sad. I was probably younger than all those girls but I seriously pitied them. I pitied all our country that this is what we are coming down to. Desperation. These girls are just that; girls. They have not yet seen enough of the world or begun to understand anything beyond the walls of their playground and yet they are throwing themselves in every direction because they DON’T know and they DON’T understand.

It’s the same with guys. I live in a community in Ireland which is strongly concentrated in arabs. There are three categories in which the guys fall into: the nerdy who don’t have time to change their socks, the wild guys who can’t control themselves because of the cultural shock, then, there’s the group of guys who are far too young but run away from it all and get married *smacks forehead*

So am I what they call “free” as is the popular term they use nowadays for untraditional people ?? No, I am not. Do I say yalla, let’s all hang out and be chums? No! The problem is most people do not recognize that moderation is important! Do not become an extremist in anything! It’s unhealthy.

We’re losing our youth and the logic in some of the men running this country is slowly driving our society to the ground rather than protecting it. I say: do not open up too much that you cannot stick to your path, but do not shut your eyes so tightly that you trip over your toes.

None of the content of this blog is intended to insult any of our readers and is only the point of view of the author.