Job Discussion Forums

[sarakershaw]

I'll be going to Kuwait soon and I'm really stuck on what to pack in my suitcase as regards clothes. I read in another thread that showing minimal skin is the norm. Does this mean only trousers and skirts down to the ankles with long-sleeved baggy shirts which cover the bottom? Are knee-length skirts and short-sleeved fitting shirts out of the question? What about footwear? I assume sandals showing toes is ok? Would boots be necessary for the winter months? Please excuse my ignorance but this will be my first experience of the middle-east and I don't want to leave a bad impression. I don't normally wear miniskirts or tops revealling my bellybutton but I'd still like to have a choice as to what to wear.

[trapezius]

[sarakershaw]

Honestly, trapezius! The subject of this thread is NOT where and where not I would wear a miniskirt and tops which reveal my bellybutton

[veiledsentiments]

It would help us if you told us a bit about yourself and why you are going there. Although we are an English teaching board, not everyone who joins and posts is a teacher. Usually your employer is your best source on any wardrobe restrictions they may have.

I wore sandals 365 days a year in the Gulf. Kuwait can get a bit chilly for a short while in the winter, but I think of boots as something one wears if it snows.

I taught university level with both men and women students in the classes. The students wore anything from the black abaya and hijab to skin-tight outfits that would not have been out of place in a US mall. Personally as a guest in the country, I felt it was proper to err to the conservative side. Normal dress for me was skirts to the floor and sleeves no shorter than my elbow. On the rare occasions that I wore trousers, I wore long tunic tops.

But no one ever told me that I must dress this way. I felt more comfortable being on the middle ground.

VS

[sarakershaw]

Thankyou for your comments VS.

I'll be taking up a teaching post in Kuwait and was more concerned about what would be deemed appropriate dress for the classroom. I'll follow your advice and once I get there I suppose I'll get an idea of what I can get away with without creating a bad image.

[veiledsentiments]

If you can, try to get in touch with the other teachers at your school before you go. Schools differ a great deal in their levels of conservatism as to teacher dress, and as you can see from the teacher being detained in the country, parents' attitudes must also be considered.

As they say, "you're not in Kansas anymore"

VS

[miski]

[tundrateacher]

Please tell me...as this AMERICAN does not know what a sleep suit is...what is one???

[miski]

LOL - I remember a friend who taught for about a month at Future Bilingual School before leaving , who said that this American teacher used to turn up in a tigger/pooh pyjama type sleepsuit thing............

[sarakershaw]

Miski, thankyou for your comments.

With due respect, I do not intend to wear the hijab! However, I do want to be able to have choice in what I wear and maintain the respect of my students and the kuwaiti society. If I can attain this by wearing trousers or 3/4 length skirts and shirts with 3/4 length sleeves, then I think I can manage. Though, I don't tend to wear skirts above the knee, I do like to wear my shoe-string-strap tops in hot weather. But, I guess I'll have to give up on those if I decide to go.

Despite the negative press, in particular Katherine's case, I have not been deterred from going to Kuwait. Ok, what Katherine went through was an ordeal to sympathize with, but this "wasta" thing, which I assume refers to nepotism, is prevalent not only in the ME but also in the majority of Mediterranean countries, be it Spain, Italy, Turkey...

Anything can happen anywhere. I think it just sticks out when the country in question is an Arab/Islamic one.

I think the most important thing is to respect the religion, culture, traditions and way of life of the country you're going to, especially if it's an Arab/Islamic one. Of course, you should also be prepared for what you may come up against. If you're not, then don't go! It's as simple as that.

[miski]

[quote="sarakershaw"]Miski, thankyou for your comments.

With due respect, I do not intend to wear the hijab!

LOL- no I wouldn't expect you too. I do because i converted 6 years ago!!!


Enjoy your time- which school , if you care to mention it ?

[veiledsentiments]

Don't worry sarakershaw, no one will expect to wear hijab. A large number of Kuwaiti Muslim women don't wear it.

You are correct that there is wasta everywhere, otherwise we wouldn't have the saying "it's not who you are, it's who you know" in English. But, it does go to a whole new level in these smallish countries where the old traditional tribal system is still strong.

The key to making your stay in this part of the world successful is to just do your job and try to be patient with the things that we often find frustrating. And hope that you don't run into the odd situation of the teacher in the other thread - which is thankfully rare. Through the years, the most common situation that got a teacher into a legal problem that led to deportation was related to religion or politics - incognito missionaries or wading into local politics - or current US activities. Current events and religion are usually easier to avoid in schools, but they can be a minefield teaching at university level.

Afraid you won't have much use for those strappy tops - perhaps hanging out at home. But... don't be surprised if you see a few Kuwaiti girls wearing them in some of the shopping areas. No one will arrest you or them for wearing them, but it will send the wrong message for you.

VS

[sheikh radlinrol]

[veiledsentiments]

Ya Sheikh... you're over-reacting. She didn't diminish Ms Phillips situation. She is correct that there is wasta everywhere to some extent. And, I think that she means that it takes more effort for many Westerners to avoid making mistakes in Islamic countries as we so often don't understand the limits.

She's a newbie... give her a break... she has preconceptions... at least she is asking.

VS

[sarakershaw]

Dear Sheikh Radlinrol,

Let me get one thing straight. I, in no way whatsoever, undermine the ordeal that Ms. Katherine Phillips has experienced. Nor am I, in any way, sticking up for the Kuwaiti government. In fact, as I said in my previous posting, I totally sympathize with Ms. Phillips and what she went through.

What I said was that "nepotism" exists in many Mediterranean countries, and I base this on my own experience. In all the Mediterranean countries I have taught in - Italy, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Greece - nepotism is rife. The peoples of these countries too will not refrain from admitting that this is the case in their country. According to your personal info., you're based in Spain. Now, unless you haven't been there long enough, you should know that nepotism exisits there too. I spent 6 years there and I love the place, but nepotism does exisit there too! If you're not aware of this, then ask any Spaniard and you'll get the same response.
As VS quoted: "It's not who you are, it's who you know" in these countries. And this holds true for most Mediterranean countries.

Now, regarding the issue of respect, all people should be respected regardless of religion and regardless of where they are. If a muslim goes to the UK, he should respect the people and their way of life, just as a Christian should when going to an Arab/Islamic country. I said "especially in Arab/Islamic countries" because one may have more of a culture shock going to an Islamic country than one would have going to Spain for example. Or, to give a more concrete example, where the former would not tolerate kissing your partner on the lips in public, the latter would. So, in some countries,i.e. Islamic ones, one ought to be more culturally aware and sensitive.