I originally wrote this to someone on this list. I changed some things bust most of it, I realized is exactly what I intended to write to everyone so I just made it the first of my mass emails. If any of you want to be removed from this list just tell me. I tried to only include people that I thought would want them and would actually read it:
I need to get my writing juices flowing. I've been writing a lot out here but it's like I've lost my voice, or maybe my voice has changed dramatically and I am just getting used to it or something. He just sounds so adult and humorless. I hope that isn't what has happened. Am I now earnest, too earnest to write interesting prose? If I can't entertain myself with my writing, how will I entertain you guys?
Anyway, Kuwait is pretty much everything I was hoping it would be and more. We aren't exactly ON the beach but we are a block away, only no one goes in the water because it's filthy with waste and oil. BUT people go a mile in and have boat parties! There is supposed to be a guy that works with me that goes boating and wake-boarding though. I want to make that my new "thing", since my snowboarding will be pretty minimal and the marina is only a block away. It would be a shame to let that go to waste.
My job is awesome. Most everyone I work with is really cool, funny and chill. The team lead is a Puerto Rican and Japanese fella from Hawaii that kind of looks like Buddah with glasses... and a Hawaiin shirt. We get a breakfast break, a gym break and a lunch break during our 12hr shift so it feels like 8 hrs instead. The job itself is really interesting and I have a TON to learn... We'll leave it at that.
There are a ton of cute Filipinas everywhere that love Americans and there are also more hot American contractors than I thought there would be. It's a little weird, though, because everyone here seems to be getting married, probably because they can get a family package and move their significant other out here and since most people actually like it here, their spouse is more than willing to make the change. Leave it to the army to push marriage.
I think what excites me the most about Kuwait is the expat culture in general. Everyone travels all over the area to places I never even thought about visiting, like Bali, Bahrain, Turkey, Dubai and Lebanon. There are also people that go to places like Amsterdam, Egypt, Italy, London, Austrailia and Egypt. We are so much closer to everything here and many of the flights are inexpensive.
There is a "we're all in this together" attitude that pervades everything too. When I walk around on the streets and I see another westerner there is an implied understanding there. And there are a lot of us here. "We" all frequent the same American restaurants and live and shop in the same areas. I personally prefer the local restaurants and shops. Falafel and Shawarma (I prefer the chicken) are like Hamburgers and Hot Dogs here. They are everywhere and they are cheap and they are delicious.
Besides that, not a whole lot going on here, just been reading and exercising a whole lot, trying to get healthy from that 30-day drinking and pork binge, which is kind of funny because there is massive pork available here (on base in the PX)and there are lots of people that go Dubai on a regular basis to drink. and party, or they just go out into international waters, where it is legal. If I did it over... I'd probably do the same.
I have a something I'm working on but I am unhappy with because my "voice" seems empty and lifeless but I keep truckin' anyway. It will need a major overhaul when it's complete but I figure if I just keep writing and get the details down I can add the color later. When I get a piece of it to a point that it may be enjoyable to others, I will probably share it.
That's all I've got for now.
I need to get my writing juices flowing. I've been writing a lot out here but it's like I've lost my voice, or maybe my voice has changed dramatically and I am just getting used to it or something. He just sounds so adult and humorless. I hope that isn't what has happened. Am I now earnest, too earnest to write interesting prose? If I can't entertain myself with my writing, how will I entertain you guys?
Anyway, Kuwait is pretty much everything I was hoping it would be and more. We aren't exactly ON the beach but we are a block away, only no one goes in the water because it's filthy with waste and oil. BUT people go a mile in and have boat parties! There is supposed to be a guy that works with me that goes boating and wake-boarding though. I want to make that my new "thing", since my snowboarding will be pretty minimal and the marina is only a block away. It would be a shame to let that go to waste.
My job is awesome. Most everyone I work with is really cool, funny and chill. The team lead is a Puerto Rican and Japanese fella from Hawaii that kind of looks like Buddah with glasses... and a Hawaiin shirt. We get a breakfast break, a gym break and a lunch break during our 12hr shift so it feels like 8 hrs instead. The job itself is really interesting and I have a TON to learn... We'll leave it at that.
There are a ton of cute Filipinas everywhere that love Americans and there are also more hot American contractors than I thought there would be. It's a little weird, though, because everyone here seems to be getting married, probably because they can get a family package and move their significant other out here and since most people actually like it here, their spouse is more than willing to make the change. Leave it to the army to push marriage.
I think what excites me the most about Kuwait is the expat culture in general. Everyone travels all over the area to places I never even thought about visiting, like Bali, Bahrain, Turkey, Dubai and Lebanon. There are also people that go to places like Amsterdam, Egypt, Italy, London, Austrailia and Egypt. We are so much closer to everything here and many of the flights are inexpensive.
There is a "we're all in this together" attitude that pervades everything too. When I walk around on the streets and I see another westerner there is an implied understanding there. And there are a lot of us here. "We" all frequent the same American restaurants and live and shop in the same areas. I personally prefer the local restaurants and shops. Falafel and Shawarma (I prefer the chicken) are like Hamburgers and Hot Dogs here. They are everywhere and they are cheap and they are delicious.
Besides that, not a whole lot going on here, just been reading and exercising a whole lot, trying to get healthy from that 30-day drinking and pork binge, which is kind of funny because there is massive pork available here (on base in the PX)and there are lots of people that go Dubai on a regular basis to drink. and party, or they just go out into international waters, where it is legal. If I did it over... I'd probably do the same.
I have a something I'm working on but I am unhappy with because my "voice" seems empty and lifeless but I keep truckin' anyway. It will need a major overhaul when it's complete but I figure if I just keep writing and get the details down I can add the color later. When I get a piece of it to a point that it may be enjoyable to others, I will probably share it.
That's all I've got for now.
