Job Discussion Forums

sharter · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 878 Location: All over the place

I recently arrived in Kuwait and I must say that it looks like Qatar or Saudi. The place is the usual mix of malls, nice hotels, fast food outlets, souks, compounds and migrant worker areas. The one immediately conspicuous difference is that classes are mixed.The other is that it's expensive if you've come from Asia but not so if you've come from Europe; actually, it's on a par with the latter.

I live in Al-Mangaf a satellite town, which is about 45 minutes south of Kuwait city. Previous posters have slated the place but in truth it's ok, you just have to explore. Downtown you have the Al-Khout mall, which has some really nice shops;Gant, Ralph Lauren, Zara, Athlete's Foot and a load of parfumeries and eating establishments. In particular there's a coffee bar called Tchie Tchie's, where you can watch the premiership in English live. It also does food and some pretty good hubbly-bubblies. Alongside the mall is a corniche and long, white, sandy beach, which is good for the weekends. Gymwise there are loads; the best in Platinum Gym, which has literally hundreds of machines and free weights, free martial arts classes and 3 good squash courts but the pool is small. However, if gyms and the sea are not for you and you want to swim laps, there's the Al-Sahel Swimming Club, which has 2 indoor pools and a diving arena. It costs 1 KD for 90 minutes. There's also the Al-Fahaheel sailing club for those who have the time and money. For the skinflints there are cheaper things to do like walking, gawking at the internet all day and eating in third world curry houses.

Workwise it's fine. The Kuwaitis I've met have been really friendly and seem less conservative than Qataris and Saudis. The company I work for, which has been wrongly chastised on Dave's in my opinion, has been extremely well-organised, honest and efficient. The flats are modern, very well-equipped and clean. Everything from the meet and greet to the induction went like clockwork. There was even food in the fridge for our arrival. Our paperwork is being processed very efficiently. The facilities are also good and being improved as we speak. There are plenty of supplementary materials too and the work environment is smooth. Credit where credit is due. My colleagues all seem pretty normal, which is a first in the Middle East.

I am happy to be here and happy to work for this company. I don't know why Joe Romano is so obessed with slating the outfit because it's been great.

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

What's the name of your company?

MEB Cool

sharter · Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 878 Location: All over the place

Begins with a T and ends in an S.

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

johnslat · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:57 pm Post subject:

Dear It's Scary,

And I could come up with only 4 or 5 posts by "Joe Romano," none of which contained complaints about a place (unless all the others got deleted Shocked

)

Regards,
John

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

johnslat · Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2011 10:37 pm Post subject:

Dear It's Scary,

A three-year old? Wouldn't he be 13 now?

Regards,
John

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

middeastgirl · Joined: 31 May 2010 Posts: 45

Captain_Fil

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

Mangaf was full of US contractors attached to the army. The soldiers flew into Kuwait before deployment in Iraq hence a lot of chicks around to wish GI Joe a safe tour of duty. I remember a few of them - chicks not soldiers - dropping pieces of paper with their phone numbers into my supermarket trolley. There was a huge black guy in my apartment block who had an endless stream of tiny women knocking on his door.