SOOOOO sorry it's been a while! Gosh it's been so busy! Between unpacking (yes still) going out shopping to get things for the house, myself & the baby, taking care of the baby (so time consuming) meeting people and exploring it's been a jam packed time. But an awesome time! I'm slowly discovering more about Kuwait & it's a pretty cool place. It has a lot of what the Western world has to offer as well as all the Arab world which is cool. How cool is it that i can go into a supermarket & have everything that is available in America as well as everything I need for an Arabic household? Usually I would have to go to 2 separate locations but nope all in one! I love that.
Living in Kuwait offers a VERYYYYY easy lifestyle. It has such a large labor workforce (mostly Indian & Phillipinos) that everything can & is done for you. Need dry cleaning? Just call & they will pick up from your home, dry clean it & bring it to your doorsetps the next day! Any (okay MOST) restaurant offers home delivery. Yup they will deliver it for you. All for a very minimal fee...like $.50 equivilant. yes fifty cents lol
Housemaids & Nanny's are a plenty. And they are cheap. I have someone coming weekly to clean now. But am looking for full time. Just gotta find the right one. So far what I've discovered..Labor is cheap, restaraunt food is a bit more expensive but the increase is justified since you don't pay taxes and you BARELY tip, i mean like 200 fils which is like $.50. SO I guess you could say it's almost equal as the states (once you add taxes & tip) Maybe a 10% markup. Grocery food is a bit higher as well. Depends on where you go. I like the Sultan center which is an upscale grocery store, kind of like a Bush's or Vons. They have all the American brands & if they don't have it you can order it & they will get it for you! How cool is that. Clothing & house stuff is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more expensive. I miss HomeGoods LOL I'm shocked at the mark up. I'm disappointed in the baby stuff selection. They have some American brands but overall disappointed :( I wish I would of brought more with me. I'll just have to deal & BEG whoever is making a trip to the states to bring me stuff back.
I finally got ViVi a crib!! I ended up paying more & getting one from Pottery Barn Kids...yes they have one here. The cribs in Kuwait are weird. They are all like mini cribs and i felt she would jump out of it in a few months lol So I ended up getting an American brand crib..but I LOVE it! and yes they deliver it & set it up for you in the room for free! So again i guess the service part makes up for the increase in prices.
This past week I have been consumed with getting stuff for the house & Victoria. Ikea is my new best friend. So weird in the states I would of been like eowwww IKEA? but LOVE it here lol
I've started driving! & OMG!! That will be a blog on it's own!
We've gone out to eat..A LOT but I've also cooked a lot. I now have a gas stove again vs an electric..LOVE it. I've shopped a lot, met a lot of people. The malls are crazy! Can't get over them. That will be an entire blog on its own. Also they have like these HUGE super centers in the malls. Compare them to a super Walmart or Target. LOVE them. Also at al lthe super centers & grocery stores a clerk walks your shopping out to your car & loads them for you :) EASY!
Things I miss from the U.S. not in Kuwait..Coupons! No coupons lol No discount retailers like HomeGoods or TJ Max. GARBAGE disposals!! LOL OMG I miss my garbage disposal. Those are the few things I can think of now.
Ill write more tomorrow but here is a few pics for now :)
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| Arabic grains, Freeke, Burgol, Lentils |
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| Sushi? Yes please! At Sultan Center..ON a belt :) |
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| Spices from all around the world |
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| Nuts, Nuts & more Nuts! |
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| Driving |
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| Vivi @ the Avenues! |
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| Awesome Cafe. Dean & Deluca's! |
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| Amazing Meat Pie |
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| Eggs Benedict. No ham LOL |
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| Omlett, Salad & Mushroom Melody |
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| Lamb Freeka! |
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| Desert! Pinkberry is EVERYWHERE in Kuwait |
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| Nice Brunch. Paul, Me, ViVi, Kaitlyn & Rami |
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| Dean & Deluca..So Fancy |
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| Flat Escalator to take your shopping carts & strollers on |
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| Geant! & some Khaleegis |
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| Duncan Donuts! |
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| Outfits to celebrate Kuwait National & Liberation Days |
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| Mojitos! Got so excited then realized they were virgin :( |
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| Manjisteen fruit..Thailand..avail in Kuwait |
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| So small & SO delicious! |
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Jomana I love your blog and have to say I think you're really good at this!
ReplyDeleteSandra
Hi Joumana! I am enjoying your blog! I lived in Jordan for few months and can relate to many things you've mentioned. The driving was defiantly crazy! I think I could drive anywhere now. Also regarding the disposal some members of my family in Jordan actually had someone bring a garbage disposal with them from the states & installed it there. That is defiantly a convince we take for granted...haha. I wish you & your family the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandra! Glad to see people are reading it lol
ReplyDeleteThanks Annonymous! Please reveal yourself :)
ReplyDeleteLove the pics!!!! Keep them coming!!! LOL
ReplyDelete