For a bank teller society.. what's next?

The financial crisis could prove to be a good thing for Kuwait's youth. Banks and investment companies are hard hit, and they aren't hiring. The trend was, go to college, study business, work as a teller and see where that takes you. Oh, and start a cupcake company on the side.

In a culture of "haba" or following a trend, the trend was to join the financial industry whether you are interested or not, because its perceived as the best alternative and the most coveted.

The next "haba" was to become an entrepreneur, i believe it is the current trend, as i am still hearing almost daily about "toota's kaika" or "daloo3a's dara3a"... this trend i applaud, albeit it be done with a little more creativity.. all of you are good at making cookies? Really? was it your mother who suggested it? or your bestfriends? ahhh.. yes.. ofcourse you're good.

Why not a personal trainer? A chef? I respect Burger hub, prime and toast, slider station, these guys deserve a standing ovation, they made it. Their concepts are original, interesting and i know that both guys are true chefs who take pride in each ingredient.

The financial crisis is a good thing, because now, instead of having a teller who is a part-time cookie baker, we get a cookie baker only. Who will end up competing with the other cookie bakers, this will spur competing on differentiation, and may the best cookie win !

Point is, eventually there will be some filtering, and the next big "haba" will come, perhaps "Fatooma's samboosa", and soon instead of being a cookie cutter society, we will have true characteristics..

Perspective- Expatriate thoughts on Kuwait

I recently met an Arab-American who has never set foot in the region and moved to Kuwait for the experience.

Unfortunately, he was a victim of the recent lay-offs due to his high cost to the firm, he holds multiple designations that require proper compensation.

I found his comments on Kuwait's culture to be hard to swallow yet quite accurate in some cases. A few highlights:


"I had an unfortunate incident at the airport in Kuwait prior to my
departure because I refused to let someone with "wasta" pass in front
of me in the line to board the aircraft.

I guess you could say I never adjusted to the way things function in Kuwait.

I think my time in Kuwait was a wonderful experience if only because
it taught me how fortunate I was to live in a country where everyone
is equal before the law, and how truly priceless this is.

I did not come to Kuwait to make a quick buck and mingle exclusively
with expats like most foreigners do. I had truly come hoping to make
meaningful friendships with Kuwaitis.

Unfortunately, I have come to the realization that this is simply not possible, either with my female acquaintances because of the rigid social structure; nor with my male friends who despite being extremely friendly at work would not
welcome me in their diwaniyas or their beach houses - let alone their
actual houses."

Why is it that we as a culture prefer to stay in our little shells and never leave our comfort zone?


BQ

The evoloution of values

A simple exchange that i thought to be worth sharing, for clarity, one person is in the states, the other is in Kuwait (me).



"Dear BQ,


.... You know living here, when i look back at Kuwaiti politics and the agenda, we really seem very shallow and not worth even following. But the states has 3rd world characteristics in my opinion as much as we do, only theirs are in disguise. Capitalism is backfiring. All parties and interest groups are backed by the business men, and with lobbying, the US government and its policies are monopolized. Individualism is backfiring, as people have more love to there pets than people, relationships are diminishing and couples live with each other for reciprocal convenient benefits (sex, paying half the rent etc.) but strictly benefits, but the real love is for their dogs and cats. So we are truly blessed with our cultural characteristics of collectivism, generosity and respect for the elderly. The elderly here live their last years in solitude and nostalgia which is a shame.

The US is about to burst in my opinion, post cold war there was a huge gap of superiority between the US and other nations, so its easy for them to jump in to any conflict. now all modern countries are very independent and strong. Poor America, there dealing with everything all over the globe, and with the economic crisis, wars, now the recent oil boycott from Venezuela, $470 billion in debt, its like they're being punched all over, so they will either burst or die, which one who knows? i think democratic or republican victory will play a big role in dealing with these punches. But the world needs Obama now, not just America, they need a true diplomat that can resolve things peacefully and that’s exactly what he is capable of doing.

Considering McCain has passed the average death age, and Palin's ......no comment, I hope Obama can win, I am curious to see what diplomacy at its best can do to the world."



"Dear Friend,

Your analysis on issues in the states politically and personally was truly refreshing as you have consolidated thoughts i have always had. "but the real love is for their dogs and cats" this was sad but very true, it stems from how evolved their society has become, exhibiting the demise of emotional values, they have been stripped of the possibility of being worthy of that much affection and have lost the capacity of giving that much affection to someone at the risk of being emotionally blown to shreds, discarded simply when the benefits stop being benefits and they suddenly become an inconvenience. i can understand that world very well, as I don’t think we are living in the "collective" culture you described, instead i see that we are a society that is swaying toward rigidity and "convenience"..

Individualism can put a person in a box, demanding acceptance from others and pushing those who don’t agree simply because they value their individuality.. This creates the most dangerous feeling in the world, indifference...

Kuwaiti politics, American politics, World politics, start with issues, and end up being about money..


i fear that Obama doesn’t win... i don’t see it happening.. at the end of the day Americans are mostly republicans.. and they continue to choose leaders who appear less radical.. Palin after all is a safe soccer mom.."

Tolerance

In an islamic country such as Kuwait, I have observed the lowest rate of tolerance, a concept prided by Islam. Yet remains ubiquitous in non-islamic countries. 

We are proud of being a part of a religion where men from all walks of life stand together in prayer side by side, yet we choose to distance ourselves from those we differ in opinion with? No wonder we are a society that is lagging in development. 

I am not discussing religious tolerance. I am discussing something simpler. Tolerance for mindset, taste, societal association. 

An example to clarify. I was at an event recently, where groups of different circles and mindsets were present. I was conversing with a group that happened to be on the conservative side when a beautiful young lady walked in, its worth noting that she was a girl known for her accomplishments and not merely for her personality.

The group i was sitting with all greeted her warmly, and as she walked away they were commenting in unison about what a great girl she was, not only smart but also a true sweet heart. But there is always a BUT. They added that the only thing wrong with her was the fact that she is a "a little too open minded". She doesn't smoke or drink, but she has no issue going out in mixed events, or traveling alone and she mixes with all types of people. ( i am sitting there thinking, how is this a crime?)

Apparently, you are not supposed to be open and tolerant. So the girl in question, if she chose to socialize with people who are a bit different and have swayed from the norm, even if about timid topics such as books, life, etc.. this in itself was wrong. 

In developed countries, the techie, the conservative, the fashionista and the nerd work together and make progress happen. Until we get of our high horse, we will only be remembered for our oil and impeccably dressed women.

My secretaries diet

As my friends know, i am known for my sugar free life and endless diet theories, experiments, etc.. it is a spot of amusement for me, like my insistence on wearing high heels everywhere, its possible i enjoy a constant challenge.. That being said, i am very open to change and prone to it, i am wearing flats to work today..

That said, my boss's secretary at work had an upcoming trip to Lebanon, and wanted to loose some weight to get her body beach ready so that she can feel good about herself around her family and friends who haven't seen her in 7+ months..

knowing that this is an area i enjoy discussing she came to me with her query of losing weight, 2 week timeline, the catch was that she wanted to keep the weight off and she did not want to eat anything boiled or steamed.

SO i started my search, and found something called the Paleolithic diet, which is basically a caveman's diet (will explain below), and this eager beauty started the next day once i explained it to her.

The results: 7kg loss, 15 pounds, in 2 weeks

She has now been in lebanon for 2 weeks and has kept it off because she has maintained it as a lifestyle.

WOW?

Here is the diet:

Breakfast: Non-fat latte or nescafe, no sugar, or preferably water..

No lunch.. you're at work so you're already busy.. may consume additional coffee, but again h20 recommended..

Eat one meal anytime, after work, around 4-whenever.. consume whatever you want at this one sitting..

example meals of secretary: Big Mac, small fries
sushi, some choc cake

we even took her out to slider station the day before her trip, she had fries, onion rings, a slider, and some vanilla ice cream.. result? lost one more kilo


YOU decide whether u eat healthy or not on this diet

Why this will not ruin your metabolism? Because low-calorie is what puts your body on a slow metabolizing state, NOT frequency of meals as previously alleged.


unfortunately, i am a breakfester, i love breakfast and leave bed to breakfast, thus i can not adhere.


the site i used for info:

http://fitnessblackbook.com/?s=one+meal

For men, Success is the Substitute for Love

Just a thought.

A family member of mine asked why I havent married yet, and I answered the standard answer of "I havent found the right person". And she remarked that its not that I haven't found the right person, its the fact that my criteria doesnt make any sense, I should be happy to marry someone that has the following specifications:

1. good + compatible family
2. good person, good future potential
3. Acceptable looks

I agreed to get on with it, and later mentioned it to a close friend who shocked me by answering that I am only interested in people who are not interested in marriage to begin with, meaning to serious, too interested in their work, no time for relationships.

Its true, I am attracted to success, and not any success, success that has not been inherited.

Which brings me to the title of this post, for men, is success the substitute for Love?


I have met many successful young men, single young men that is, in my line of work and through family etc, and the common denominator was that they were all not interested in relationships or marriage, and they are close to thirty or even a bit older. One even told me in a discussion that "love, relationships are over rated".. is this true? Is it true that the over ambitious, cut throat competitors are not interested and not even thinking of ever having a family?

" if a man wants the power to build the highest tower, then that's his substitute for - LOVE"

Fatboy Slim - Bushes (Markus Nikolai) lyrics

Brain Exercises

My mom always encouraged me as a kid to solve puzzles, play scrabble, lego, etc.. games that involved exercising the brain, i didnt know that back then, but these activities helped with problem solving skills etc.

As an adult, the only solving i do outside of work or school is "how micheal is gonna get out of this one" on Prison Break, or how they are going to leave the island on LOST.

From meeting a challenging person through work who seemed to know how to the job and answer any question regarding an article they read even if it was 3 years ago, i began to question my goldfish memory.

After asking around and researching, i found two programs that can help with memory, cognition, and problem solving. Then i decided to put the programs to the test, and I can now confirm that they really do help. You will first notice small changes in the first week or so, then larger changes will appear.


1. a Nintendo DS game called BRAIN AGE 2, which has a daily exercise regimen, and which tests your "brain age".. i got a 82 first time, now i am in my forties :P (the ideal being 20)

2. a website www.lumosity.com which also has daily training.



ALSO, a handful of nuts daily, and some dark chocolate are considered brain food.

Cure for Cravings

We all go nuts trying to keep away from our cravings, but sometimes our bodies are trying to tell us something, and sometimes u just want chocolate :P

For all the other times, here is something useful i found:

If you crave this...	What you really need is...	And here are healthy foods that have it:
Chocolate	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Sweets	Chromium	Broccoli, grapes, cheese, dried beans, calves liver, chicken
	Carbon	Fresh fruits
	Phosphorus	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes, grains
	Sulfur	Cranberries, horseradish, cruciferous vegetables, kale, cabbage
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
Bread, toast	Nitrogen	High protein foods: fish, meat, nuts, beans
Oily snacks, fatty foods	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Coffee or tea	Phosphorous	Chicken, beef, liver, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, nuts, legumes
	Sulfur	Egg yolks, red peppers, muscle protein, garlic, onion, cruciferous vegetables
	NaCl (salt)	Sea salt, apple cider vinegar (on salad)
	Iron	Meat, fish and poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Alcohol, recreational drugs	Protein	Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, nuts
	Avenin	Granola, oatmeal
	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
	Glutamine	Supplement glutamine powder for withdrawal, raw cabbage juice
	Potassium	Sun-dried black olives, potato peel broth, seaweed, bitter greens
Chewing ice	Iron	Meat, fish, poultry, seaweed, greens, black cherries
Burned food	Carbon	Fresh fruits
Soda and other carbonated drinks	Calcium	Mustard and turnip greens, broccoli, kale, legumes, cheese, sesame
Salty foods	Chloride	Raw goat milk, fish, unrefined sea salt
Acid foods	Magnesium	Raw nuts and seeds, legumes, fruits
Preference for liquids rather than solids	Water	Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Preference for solids rather than liquids	Water	You have been so dehydrated for so long that you have lost your thirst. Flavor water with lemon or lime. You need 8 to 10 glasses per day.
Cool drinks	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
Pre-menstrual cravings	Zinc	Red meats (especially organ meats), seafood, leafy vegetables, root vegetables
General overeating	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tryptophan	Cheese, liver, lamb, raisins, sweet potato, spinach
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green, red fruits and vegetables
Lack of appetite	Vitamin B1	Nuts, seeds, beans, liver and other organ meats
	Vitamin B3	Tuna, halibut, beef, chicken, turkey, pork, seeds and legumes
	Manganese	Walnuts, almonds, pecans, pineapple, blueberries
	Chloride	Raw goat milk, unrefined sea salt
Tobacco	Silicon	Nuts, seeds; avoid refined starches
	Tyrosine	Vitamin C supplements or orange, green and red fruits and vegetables