TriniMario

Pikme "Do you think Caucasian farang with out connection will be considered by a potential employer?" In short, YES. The general preference is WHITE, WESTERN and slightly WORN. WEALTHY is also good. Even without connections, a caucasian ... Read More

My two cents worth. There are jobs around BUT and this is a BIG BUT you need to have the main qualifications LOOKS, passport and Connections in that order. You might be lucky to get a job otherwise but that is the exception. I spent over a year ... Read More

Good day Tuan I would say no to learning English in Thailand. Quality is limited. Standard are mixed. If you live in Thailand an have no choice then okay. I would suggest Malaysia (especially among older Malays) or even the Philippines though ... Read More

Good day Dkv_82 Unfortunately Thailand does not recognize the concept of online work by foreigners. There is no work visa for self employed independents. As you are under 50 worst yet as retirement visas are out. As mentioned an education visa ... Read More

I would say outside the top 5 or 10 Universities in Thailand it is not worth the effort. There are a few good programs but as mentioned are where are the programs accepted and what is the reason for doing a degree. Learning Thai is another issue. ... Read More

People are especially friendly is one. I moved to Bangkok two weeks ago after just over a year in Pattaya and think people are not as friendly as said. In New York or even Kuwait (at least the men did), when I say hello or good day when meeting ... Read More

Traveller61 I have been in Thailand full-time for just over 1 year now (on-and-off 12 years) and I could say racism exist. It is not blatant by very covert. As a Canadian you have a slightly upper hand. Passports matter. Forget the smile to your ... Read More

Where to start. Driving training is limited. Even the instructors break the rules and teach students to drive badly. Learning to drive in Kuwait is essentially how to use the accelerator, brake and horn. Position, road safety, courtesy, parking, ... Read More

Good day Julie Though a revived thread I will let you Know about my experience. We use the Ahmadi Hospital which is a public hospital partly due to the company and convenience. The good is that they appear to have most of the facilities here. ... Read More

After typing I saw your response. What type of admiistrative positiion? Corporate - example Petroleum training Insitute - here in Kuwait or Educational - at a school or University. To each he own but you could use an online degree as a self ... Read More

Good day You could do your masters part-time (if not local then on-line perhaps). Thus earning an income and experience while getting further qualifications. Again what specific master's do you want to do? Depending on the focus of the ... Read More

Go Tina Support you more than a 100%. Yes, equality is required - we are all humans. Comprehensive EDUCATION is require however not dispensed. However what I found interesting that similar ideas written by @taahariz15 echoed by women who are ... Read More

Good day Ribosom Thanks for the information. Strange (or not) that we got different info from the same place about the same thing. Oh well once I am able to travel :sosad: will look further into this. The mystery continues. Let us know when you ... Read More

Your right Tina I am going to do something about it. We wrote the building management and mentioned that there will be cookies, eggnog and singing round a Christmas tree in the lobby on Christmas Eve. No response as yet after four days. ... Read More

Thanks Inalsa One thing I found was actually Kuwait has the third highest Christians population in the region and perhaps highest in terms of percentage. See ... Read More

Thanks Nancy, we may drop by. Inalsa, its not about religious freedom its about the spirit of Christmas. A time of joy, togetherness, sharing, etc. And even that shopping extravagance. If we look at Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and from what I hear, ... Read More

I think it is a good idea, especially if university students are involved. Student who work while at university are generally better prepared for the world of work and know what they want. Persons thinking of career change have the opportunity to ... Read More

Hey Tina The airport..... and the road to the airport.. is a truly Kuwaiti experience especially on a Thursday or Saturday evening :) . Why are there so many people leaving? Why does the police allow these individual on the road? Oh they are ... Read More

Good day Ironicaardvark As JJJjony said "Kuwait is different." Good phrase. I had a UAE license and had it "exchanged" for a Kuwaiti License last October-November (took a few weeks). Try again the rules, the interpetation ... Read More

Good day All Has anyone noticed the ability to drive, understand and follow road regulations do not feature much in getting a license here. Defenisve driving non-existant. No wonder there is so much traffic issues. Parking is another area that ... Read More

Good day Thinking about doing it just for fun and to push along my weight lost (7 down 3 kgs to go). Did the 5K last week so will see as I have not ran 10 km in years. By weekend I'll make a decison but most likely yes. Mario Read More

Ribosom In the cultural appropriate form I will atttempt to answer your question. There are translation services in Fahaheel. From the coastal road heading towards Al Kout Mall turn on the street with LuLu hypermart (Str 63). At the end of ... Read More

Good day ironicaardvark This should not be a show stopper. Most forms are not read even when translated into Arabic. All the guys look for is "no major crime." Anyhow the driving here is not that great to begin with so might be a ... Read More

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=224802 Hey Drew There was another thread with some ladies asking a simialr question "Single female in Kuwait". Trawl through amd you may get answers. Kuwait is relatively safe for women just ... Read More

Good day Annadp I have not gone through the data and weighting so cannot say much on why the liviablity has gone up. Perhaps more infrastructure, the value of stability or some of the 30 factors the EIU used? For some reason cannot access the EIU ... Read More

Good day Annadp Not everyone comes here by "choice" per se even professionals. Company postings, a needed tick to move on to another position, financial crisisis, etc. I need the tick in a few boxes and Kuwait allows this. Would have ... Read More

Good day All I went to the Saudi Arabian Embassy yesterday to get some information on driving to Dubai, UAE from Kuwait. The one guy (?) who could communicate in English (to some extent) said it was no problem. The requirements are: • Copy ... Read More

Thanks legacy I was trying to avoid having to go to Kuwait City area (Sharq and Shuwiakh) but it seems there is little to no choice. Will let you if I reach these places. Will get out my car cleaning stuff and get my little one to clean up his ... Read More

Thanks Ribosom Yes, knowledge of what they are doing is important. Paying 5 or 10 KD is not the issues but getting Quality service is important. My Arabic, Hindi, Urdu is a tiny bit limited so posting ads in the appropriate place may be a slightly ... Read More

Good day Saro Amazon (USA) usually ships by DHL, Gruffalo Store (via Digital Stores UK) use UPS, and I have bought books from other bookstores that were delivered by Fedex. Quick is within 6 working days. Most educational books are delivered to ... Read More

Good Day Enigmausly Agreed. There is some room for interpretation. With American being replaced by Westerner or culturally attuned person. There is some flexibility in understanding. Hence in communication the direct words, the context and ... Read More

Hey Legacy Go easy. Lots of persons on this board need to work on their communication skills - myself included. Cuadate has specific aim; to improve his job chances. I think Caudate use of the term melt is understanderable. I you look at ... Read More

Good day All I think justfedup's statements, "Some of the activities are public, others are for small groups but in general it is easy (IMHO) to socialize. If you get to meet some nice people, things will be great I believe" sums up ... Read More

Hi Piwitotar Welcome to Kuwait. Yes Kuwait is a bit of a "step-down" from Oman. I lived in Muscat for many years and it is, to me, the best place in the Gulf. But we are in Kuwait.......... I would say, a year or two is required to ... Read More

Okay I'll suggest something. How about the Scientific Center and Aquariam off Arabian Gulf Street (https://www.tsck.org.kw/default.aspx) ? They are both near by and could be covered in two or three hours and there is Marina Mall further up ... Read More

Avoid. Good preparation for the priesthood/monk life/self contemplation/introspection. Basically could be very boring despite having some social activities. From experience and speaking to others you have to get into groups which tend to be ... Read More

Good day John I drove past Soap Courts in Abu Halifa (not far from Kuwait Magic round about), using the coastal road from Mahboula to Mangaf, around 8 pm and there appeared to be a football game gong on. I saw some guys kicking around there at ... Read More

Hey Natalie, As mentioned, by Ace117 and Insala, try some of the programs offered by recognized institutions. At these institutions, you could get further information on improving your language skills. Though I must admit some of those I meet, ... Read More

Inalsa Life is not as usual in Ramadan. Work hours change (10am-2pm or 9am-3pm). No eating or drinking in public. Food places close during the day. I respect those guys that fast in NY more now. Night time is even more chaotic with rushes to ... Read More

Good day Tina Yes you can get Angostura 1824 and 1919 in New York. I think you can also get it in Florida. Distribution is a bit chaotic at times but a friend of mine said she was able to get 1824 in NY. Drop by any Trini roti shop and I am sure ... Read More

Good day Tinataitlyn Yes, beside Bitters, Angostura makes great rums. Aged rums tend to be great, like Fine Whiskey, but most people do not know about them. Sad but true. I have not tried much Central American rums. The few I tasted tended to be ... Read More

Yeah Ribosom I noticed he was asking about non-alcoholic drinks but the "title" said beer prices so I was just playing on that. The "title" not the content. Anyhow now I had my beers and vodka, no need for bad jokes on ... Read More

Good day Vendman Consider this a sign of things to come. Things take time here. Very slow or very fast. As legacy pointed out we are entering the holiday phase with Ramadan starting next week (with shorter work days) so things are not going to ... Read More

Misleading title. Beer needs alcohol to be beer (definition from many sources and some experience). With desperation setting in this kind or title leads me to take (a) flight. Non-alcoholic drinks sounds much clearer. By Thursday afternoon I ... Read More

Just a note to other expats thinking of bring step-children here. Do not come unless you have some written garauntees from you company that if your children is not allowed in to have some alternative plans. According to the office of Sheikh ( or ... Read More

Come on Kuwiat has its limitations and people who live here have learnt to live with Kuwait's short comings. It is not about alcohol or leaving; its stating facts. Mature and civilised societies realise their short comings and learn to live ... Read More

Its not about the alcohol its is Kuwait is backward compared to Qatar, UAE and Oman. Simple as that. Having lived in UAE, Oman and visited Qatar several times I could say so. Even Oman, which is poorer than Kuwait, offers greater social options than ... Read More

Good day Jo-mo Coming from the UAE expect a large step down in quality of life. I used to live in Abu Dhabi before coming to Kuwait. If your Arabic speaker better. 1)Yes your wife could go to the park with your kids and generally be safe. Though ... Read More

Hey Newbie25 Like moving to a new place, you need to know what you want and what you willing to pay. I have been here about 9 months. I knew it was not that great but not this bad (compared to UAE, Oman). However, I tolerate the place because I ... Read More

Hey Ribosom, thanks for pointing out the obvious to me. Mea culpa mea clupa mea maximo culpa. There is a joint next to Al Jeezera Carwash, Ahmadi Industrial Estate (availabe via Google Maps) that sells some decent looking and tasting food. What I ... Read More

Lauren Check the vacinations. The prodcedure for vacinations here are different from other countries. I do not have the list and timings with me now so I cannot say what and when. My little one was schedule to have his OPV2 (?) at 18 months but ... Read More

@lotba I could understand what you say with not having the right job title. Ask you company to give you a temporary title, "Sales Manager" or "Service Engineer" that might help. Once there is Engineer or Manager in it should not be a problem, ... Read More

What is the problem? Does it not take three weeks, six visits to three different office buildings (forgot how many offices) and 16 signatures to get a license transferred where you come from? If not, I am sure you could afford the X00 KWD to buy ... Read More

How about volunteering at one of the women's shelter or labourers camp? From what I gather these shelther/camps alway welcome persons to assit in various aspects including fund raising, teaching skills so the men and women have more options later ... Read More

Basic Arabic phrases do not get you far here. I understand more Arabic than I speak and know the basic phrases. Having a conversation is something different? What most people here understand are basic phrases in English but cannot converse in it. ... Read More

To me the juxtaposition of modernity with traditional (?) practices is interesting. Reams of paperwork and bureaucracy yet the people have degrees, travelled internationally, computer literate (?) and using the latest smartphones, apps, etc. ... Read More

Good day Ribosom I will look into this a little further, make sure what are all the paperwork required, etc. and call the Saudi Embassy just to make sure. See if I could link up with anyone working in KJO to see what thier experience is. Would let ... Read More

In short, long time The on boarding process at KOC takes realistically around three months. I came from Abu Dhabi at the end of July and got my visa at the end of September. Then could apply for my family's visa's (another two weeks). From ... Read More

Hey NLW779 Thanks for detail info. I was thinking of linking with them to do some research in my spare time as they are across the road from me but now will reconsider. Anyhow, as to skin color, it’s an issue here in the Middle East though not ... Read More

How about starting a group or joining a group with similar interest. For example if you are studying engineering attend some of the engineering society talks, the Society of Petroleum Engineers hold monthly talks. Conduct classes in your field of ... Read More

It’s the country - a pervasive lethargic atmosphere - especially if you are single. You just have to fight it by going out and doing things even the gym for an hour or two. Contact your Embassy and they might be able to put you in contact with ... Read More

Good day Casper667 Some help You can get by with English but have an Arabic English book with you. Lonely planet phrase book is good. The level of English here is quite low even among those that claim to speak English. Romantic places are ... Read More

Good day Farhan From my experience there should not be a problem as Arabic is the main source of information. Thus the immmigration guys would look at the Arabic and then possibly the English. I had an issue with that and asked for my visa to ... Read More

Hi Hungngo As with most places in the Middle East the pay is relaed to your passport and much lesser extent qualifications. Working with KOC is painfully slow. Basically find a project you like and jump on it otherwise it can be very boring and ... Read More

Good day Sameh Thanks for the information. Unfortunately we placed our daughter in boarding school back home. We plan to stay in Kuwait until July next year then moved. The issues of trying to persuade government officals is too difficult when I ... Read More

Good day Sameh From my experience the most important thing appears to be having the letter from your step children father (stamped, attested, etc.). I am in/was similar situation last month and was told I could not bring my step daughter to ... Read More