Well friends, this is the weekend in which Will and I will hideout in our apartment as often as possible and simply lay low. It’s National and Liberation Day in Kuwait, and guys- it’s freaking insane.
Alright, let me get all 10th grade English report on you guys for a second-
National Day is on the 25th. The short of this holiday is that from the 16th through the 20th century Kuwait was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the mid 1700s the Al Sabah lineage founded Kuwait (and the Al Sabah family still rules today). Kuwait was a British Protectorate until 1961 when Kuwait became an independent state. So, to sum it up- National Day is sort of like Kuwait’s 4th of July.
Liberation Day is on the 26th. This holiday is to commemorate the liberation of Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991.
Two major holidays back to back. Oh- and did I mention my sister has the whole freaking week off of school for these two holidays?! I’ve also been told starting tomorrow, the banks will be closed until Wednesday. Craziness I tell you. The whole place shuts down.
This will be my 3rd National and Liberation Day weekend and I’m sure, just like every year before, it will be insane. It becomes out of control in Kuwait pretty much from tonight until Wednesday. The streets and highways are heavily crowded with people hanging out of their cars with Kuwaiti flags, spraying silly string onto other cars, and driving even crazier than normal. Gulf Road, one of the most popular streets in Kuwait, is at a continual stand still. In fact, I don’t know why they just don’t shut it down to cars that weekend. It’s beyond chaos. Our company always advises us to stay home this weekend just because it’s so crazy.
I have to say, though, I wish we were the same way about our Independence Day.
I mean, imagine the camaraderie we would feel celebrating in such a jubilant fashion with people we’ve never met. What a way to bring a nation together, you know? Even though it’s a bit frightening here, I envy their patriotism and zeal and ability to make such a big deal about their love for their country.
This may sound crazy to you guys, but I feel like America has become such a politically correct society these days to the point where it’s almost wrong to feel excessive passion for one’s country. I mean, sure wear a tiny pin on your jacket lapel, put a bumper sticker on your car, but under no circumstances ever get excited- and I mean seriously thrilled and excited- to love and live in America.
Really guys, when is the last time you’ve seen thousands of strangers basically shut down a street, blare music, and totally show pride simply to be an American? Ha- granted, I’m pretty sure we have some ordinances that outlaw silly stringing while driving, and I would never advocate dangerous driving activities, but I think you get my drift. I mean, even a soccer game can unite a whole country. Granted, soccer is no American football (ha ha), and things are set up differently in the States, but I ramble all of these thoughts to say I totally love seeing the patriotism of other countries and I wish we would be just as aware of the greatness it is to be an American.
I seriously feel like we’re the JV cheer squad and are sitting on the bleachers watching all the cake-faced, tight pony tailed Varsity girls spout off all their cheers to perfection. I mean, sure we know all the cheers, but we’re just sitting back and letting all the big kids show their stuff. GUYS! America knows the cheers too! We know spirit fingers! We can totally do spirit fingers! We INVENTED spirit fingers!
Living abroad has definitely been such a great experience for me and has given me the chance to see such differences between live back home and life in another country. It has also made me thankful for where I come from.
So, in closing I love and loathe this weekend. I must admit, though, I’m a little envious of P. She’s skipping out to go to NYC for a few days- and she’ll be celebrating her 18th birthday there! Isn’t that crazy!? I guess I’ll save that post for next week. In the meantime I guess I’ll hold down the fort.
I hope you all are doing well and having a great week. More to come, and happy Liberation Day and National Day to Kuwait!
Come on America- show those spirit fingers.
I wholeheartedly agree! We need to have more spirit. Also, I wanted to share a story with you. You know the Kuwaiti patient of mine? I’ve decided over the last few days that I, in fact, love them. It helps that they now really like and respect me and I’ve learned how to handle them. Last night I was at work overnight and my other patient (their roommate) was told that a heart had become available for her and she could have her transplant that she was waiting for. The mom of this girl was by herself--no family around (from out of state) and she had some emotional issues and really high anxiety. As I was wheeling the patient down to surgery I hear the Kuwaiti woman call for me and I see her holding two boxes of Kleenex. She was coming with us to support the other mother who was by herself. She came with us to the O.R waiting area---cried with the mother when they wheeled her daughter into surgery (at 1AM) and then spent the entire night in the surgical waiting area with the mom. It was seriously one of the most kind things I have ever witnesses. And neither one spoke English very well, so it’s not like they were having conversations. She was simply being there for the other mom. It really touched me.