The Wandering Violet: My apartment in Kuwait

View from the 18th floor of my apartment building at night

I received a letter before I left home telling me about the accommodations I would be using while I was here. It said I would have shared accommodations in a 2 bedroom apartment with another person from the US. They even sent me pictures. From the looks of them they would be clean, I would have a pool, a restaurant downstairs and a dry cleaners next door. Well by the time it was time for me to leave, a girl from my groupme group contacted me and told me we would not be staying there but that our accommodations were just as nice. This made me nervous. Once I landed at the airport, it was like someone shouted "let the games begin!" I quickly eased my way through security check points and was released into a huge room of people all trying to do the same thing at the same time. There were people everywhere trying frantically to find their luggage terminal. I felt a little like a fish out of water. But you know me I strutted through there like I knew where and what I was doing and retrieved my luggage without too much of an incidence. The men dressed in all white from head to toe seem to disregard me and my little 4ft 10in. stature and reach around me to grab heavy bags or they had what I found out later where drivers doing it for them and stacking the bags onto carts. Once I got my luggage with the help of an attendant, I left that room and into another open space I went to search for someone searching for me. When I arrived I was greeted by people holding a sign with my name on it....my name...lol I got a kick out of that. The lady dressed in traditional Kuwaiti garb greeted me with a kiss on each cheek (Loubna she's amazing and funny). The tall man (Paul, he's very nice) however, gave his hand for a simple handshake...I could tell right away that he was American. In any case I was relieved to see them because the airport was a mad house! I was whisked away to a car that was waiting outside with a driver. The lady paid for the services of the attendant and away we went. Approximately 30 minutes later my eyes had seen enough and I was arriving at a tall building surrounded by exchange shops, cell phone shops and restaurants. Everywhere I looked I saw men standing in long lines waiting for their turn for who knows what and cars driving crazy up and down the streets. Although I was fascinated by all that was happening around me I couldn't wait to get inside my building and see my new apartment.

It turned out great. It's clean, spacious, has a pool, a gym, a store for food items, a dry cleaners, and a lovely sitting area/lobby full of pluff chairs and couches. It even has security, internet and cable....and it's all included in my stay here. Paid for by my new employers.