Friday, bloody Friday
The weeks are passing faster than ever, time being taken for farewells now. It is remarkable to think some people with whom I have grown close over the year will soon move on without a trace. It is an emotional time of fond memories, good laughs and excitement for what is to come.
The weekends are over before they even begin, it seems. I have so many social obligations these days, mostly for the aforementioned farewells, and typical year-end wind up style parties. This weekend, I attended a gathering at the High School Principal's flat. It was a lovely get-together. Last night was one of those typical loud parties, except we were mostly gathered outdoors. The temperature was in excess of 30C, I am sure, but that did not stop us from drinking homemade, massive headache producing sangria and talking loudly. That's just what we do in Kuwait.
To get to the party, though was a huge: ARG! as following directions here is a royal pain. The directions were as follows: the road curves right, then you take the first right (this was a sand road, not a paved road but this detail was not indicated in the directions), then the second left past the mosque. Then you go to the first pink building. Right. So my friend and I did not think the first right was where it was since we, North Americans that we are, took the PAVED road. Duh... So we found this large pink building with white trim and since there were about 8 vehicles parked outside, we thought, this is it??? Well, as we looked around we quickly deduced it was a private residence. So after getting ahold of someone at the party, we got some better directions- the buildings are across from a patch of desert land. We then found it no problem. Using mosques as landmarks, incidentally, is the equivalent of using my initial Parisian tracking system. "It's the white apartment building with the black iron balcony with a red flower basket, complete with a Patisserie and a brasserie". Right, that describes every block. Oh, and street addresses are optional here. The explanation is that numbers were removed from blocks and buildings so Saddam Hussein could not track people down during the invasion. Kuwait is set up in a confusing manner to prevent maniacs from finding people, or their way around. So you can imagine the flawlessness of this particular system of logic. Blocks are now often marked, in a neighbourhood there are several blocks (1-13 for example). But essentially, unless you know where you are going, you will get lost at least once in the process of getting somewhere. That even goes for people who have lived here most of their lives.
This week I will attend the grade 12 graduation, since I will be conducting the band with the ever popular Pomp and Circumstance, plus the national anthems of Kuwait and the USA. Hurray. I cannot wait to tell you about the event that is grad at ASK. I have heard but cannot imagine it yet. It's a real fashion show, apparently.
What I can tell you is Wednesday this week was the seniors' last day at ASK. For some reason, they do not have to write final exams like the rest of the High School. I don't get it, but I could write a book of things I don't get about this place. Anyway, at the end of Wednesday, the 12th graders were dismissed to the courtyard for a countdown. I saw them afterwards and never in my life have I seen so many teary-eyed young adults. Some were full-on bawling their eyes out, and this was not reserved for the female population. It was pretty touching, though I still find the magnitude of teenage emotion wrought with hilarity. I just cannot help myself, though I know I, too, am sentimental.
Well then, this concludes the weekend and today's edition of the blog. In two weeks and 12 hours, I will be in the Saskatoon airport, inshallah. I can promise you one thing: not matter the temperature, I will not complain.
all good things...
The weekends are over before they even begin, it seems. I have so many social obligations these days, mostly for the aforementioned farewells, and typical year-end wind up style parties. This weekend, I attended a gathering at the High School Principal's flat. It was a lovely get-together. Last night was one of those typical loud parties, except we were mostly gathered outdoors. The temperature was in excess of 30C, I am sure, but that did not stop us from drinking homemade, massive headache producing sangria and talking loudly. That's just what we do in Kuwait.
To get to the party, though was a huge: ARG! as following directions here is a royal pain. The directions were as follows: the road curves right, then you take the first right (this was a sand road, not a paved road but this detail was not indicated in the directions), then the second left past the mosque. Then you go to the first pink building. Right. So my friend and I did not think the first right was where it was since we, North Americans that we are, took the PAVED road. Duh... So we found this large pink building with white trim and since there were about 8 vehicles parked outside, we thought, this is it??? Well, as we looked around we quickly deduced it was a private residence. So after getting ahold of someone at the party, we got some better directions- the buildings are across from a patch of desert land. We then found it no problem. Using mosques as landmarks, incidentally, is the equivalent of using my initial Parisian tracking system. "It's the white apartment building with the black iron balcony with a red flower basket, complete with a Patisserie and a brasserie". Right, that describes every block. Oh, and street addresses are optional here. The explanation is that numbers were removed from blocks and buildings so Saddam Hussein could not track people down during the invasion. Kuwait is set up in a confusing manner to prevent maniacs from finding people, or their way around. So you can imagine the flawlessness of this particular system of logic. Blocks are now often marked, in a neighbourhood there are several blocks (1-13 for example). But essentially, unless you know where you are going, you will get lost at least once in the process of getting somewhere. That even goes for people who have lived here most of their lives.
This week I will attend the grade 12 graduation, since I will be conducting the band with the ever popular Pomp and Circumstance, plus the national anthems of Kuwait and the USA. Hurray. I cannot wait to tell you about the event that is grad at ASK. I have heard but cannot imagine it yet. It's a real fashion show, apparently.
What I can tell you is Wednesday this week was the seniors' last day at ASK. For some reason, they do not have to write final exams like the rest of the High School. I don't get it, but I could write a book of things I don't get about this place. Anyway, at the end of Wednesday, the 12th graders were dismissed to the courtyard for a countdown. I saw them afterwards and never in my life have I seen so many teary-eyed young adults. Some were full-on bawling their eyes out, and this was not reserved for the female population. It was pretty touching, though I still find the magnitude of teenage emotion wrought with hilarity. I just cannot help myself, though I know I, too, am sentimental.
Well then, this concludes the weekend and today's edition of the blog. In two weeks and 12 hours, I will be in the Saskatoon airport, inshallah. I can promise you one thing: not matter the temperature, I will not complain.
all good things...
posted by Granola Girl at
7:23 AM
1 Comments:
Hey!!
Just thot I'd let you know that I've been lurking on your site for pretty much the entire last year. I'm Nerna's friend, we met when you stayed at my place for Folk Fest, remember?
Anyway, I just thot I'd finally let you know that I've been reading, and that I've appreciated your insights and honesty. Good luck with the rest of your time there, and remember to enjoy the process of leavetaking!
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Twinkle, at 1:11 PM
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