Greatness Is Not Where You Stand, But By Which Direction You Are Moving

Okay, so far tonight I've read two posts comparing students who study in Kuwait and students who study abroad. Both were leaning towards those studied abroad. Besides those two posts, I have friends who left and now seem to think they're better than me because they left. Just because you changed your destination does not make you better or superior to me, in fact, in this case, it made you shallower for thinking so.

I swear it's not jealousy, or attacking, or saying one's better than the other. This post might seem biased, but it's only because I'm defending my position. :P

I don't complain about those who study abroad but when someone starts talking negatively about those who stayed here, it gets to me. Not everyone who left is or turned out to be a good person. And not everyone who stayed is a bad person. And people who left and give me the "I'd rather be a loser among the 'winners' than a winner among the 'losers'" - you're simply pathetic, you know who you are. And yes people, that was an actual quote! It pisses me even more when people who don't go clubbing or drink or dance or do anything no permissble here and bitch about how "ilKuwait maaalllaaaqaaa! Mako shay asaweee!" - Well, what did you do there? I am perfectly sure all I heard you say was study, yam3at, movies and eating.

One blogger bought up the issue of how people complain about those studying abroad complaining and comparing Kuwait to other places, and how it's only expected of them. Most Kuwaitis have seen and been other places; we're a "worldly" nation. We do know a lot about the world and what's going on, and in this area, we're less ignorant that a LOT of other countries, I'll give us that. Criticizing and comparing is one thing, and always bitching and acting like you're above this country is something else. Everyone complains, even people here. Even people who have never left here. Let's face it, it's in our blood :P We're always complaining about one thing or another, and we always find something wrong about something or another. Don't point your guns at me just yet, I'm not attacking, I'm just stating the facts very bluntly, so bear with me.

The only time I complain about those who came back and complain is only when they complain using the reason "I'm open-minded" without them respecting the culture or being open-minded themselves (hypocrisy).

One of my friends who studies abroad came back last Christmas to complain about every single aspect of the Kuwaiti culture, including personal decisions by its people. One of my friends recently wore the hijab, she's the youngest of 5 sisters, and the rest are all non-covered. It was her personal decision. Even her family asked her to wait and think about it some more. But she was determined. Now the friend who was back kept bitching about how "mitkhalfeen" people like her are, and how close minded they are, etc. etc. Another incident is when one of our classmates got engaged to an older guy, whom she already knew, and wanted. It was her decision, and she was the happiest I've ever seen her. He was her choice, the timing was her choice, and the girl was almost flying min happiness. My friend's reaction? Bitching and complaining about young marriages, and about how she's not done with her studies yet, and how he's an older guy, and that it's close-minded, and takhalof, etc, etc.

See my point!? Both of those girls did something they WANTED to do because they were content with it, but she kept complaining and comparing and kept on saying, they're close-minded and mitkhalfeen. And there's over a 50% chance that if she had the right guy and the guts she would have done the same. Now someone bitching and complaining about everything, including personal decisions such as those, is NOT OPEN-MINDED! In fact, it's the exact opposite. A third incident was: her argument about wanting to wear a mini skirt and revealing top on a weekend in Marina Mall. She didn't want to do it, but she was arguing that if she wanted to she'd be stared at and commented on. I understand freedom of expression, and I'm the kind of person who doesn't mind revealing clothes, walk naked for all care, but it's not because I can't or will be bothered, it's just that I'm RESPECTING the surrounding and the people I'm around. I'm sure I'll live if I wore a longer skirt. That way I'm doing what I want to do without disrespecting those people who'd rather not see my upper thighs. Basically, just like you'd like to be respected, respect those around you. It's not mandatory; it's being civilized and acting on reciprocal respect.

What I'm trying to say, not everyone who studied abroad changed. And change and change to the better are two different things. Not everyone here is good, but not all of them are bad either. Most of my friends are studying abroad, and I stayed here thinking I'm going to be surrounded by pathetic losers. Funny thing is, when I see the brilliance of the people I met, and compare them with my old friends when they're here, I'm sad to say, I'm MUCH PROUDER that I know people like the people I initially labeled as losers before even knowing them. And I'm sad about the way my old friends are.

And while I'm at this, let me explain Kuwait University. When I knew I was staying here I thought that I was going to ace all my classes without even trying much seeing that I graduated from a respectable private school. And I heard how bad Kuwait University was, etc, etc. Before uni, I was an AP classes, straight A student. In Kuwait University I'm was a C student in the beginning (general classes) and an A/B student now (major classes). Not because I wasn't studying or trying, not because it was unfair, but because it isn't as easy as everyone claims it to be. As much as I don't like Kuwait University I had to give them that. The subjects are well taught, the professors are really good, they are fair, you don't get more than you deserve and you certainly don't get less. Yes you here about those incidents here and there, but come it's found everywhere. And seeing that we're a culture that always complains, you ALWAYS here complain. The only complains I have is about KU's administration – soo2 takh6ee6 and closed sections. That's it. Min na7yat ildirasa, trust me people, it's almost the equivalent of that elsewhere, slight differences here and there. A point to make, most, if not all of my teachers graduated from very respectable universities in the States. So if you claim our education is not good, then you're saying the education you received wasn't good as well. I'm not saying KU is the next Harvard, or that it's amazing, but let's acknowledge its education standards. About its extra-curricular activities such as sports, clubs, etc, well, we have none! And that’s something to bitch about :P


First year I stayed here I was sad about all the opportunities I was going to miss if I was elsewhere, 4 years later (now) all I can say is I'm glad I didn't go. I'm still in the same place I was, but I took every opportunity that came my way, I did a lot of things, met a lot of people, experienced and joined a lot of things that made me grow as a person. When some of my friends come back and I hear about how all they did last semester was eat in this and that restaurant and watch movies, all I can think is, how sad for someone to be living miles away from home where every turn there's an opportunity and yet be doing the exact same things we've been doing since we were 13? Well okay, so they went places in breaks, but that's about it.


People who want to learn and grow as a person will do that anywhere with the bare minimum! People who don't simply won't no matter where they are and no matter how many options, and opportunities and facilities he has. Einstein, Bill Gates, the Write Brothers, they all shined because they were passionate about what they were doing, none of them finished school.

All I'm saying is, changing the skies above our heads will not change the people we are. It's OUR willingness to change to the better and making use of what we have that will. It's not about studying abroad or studying here, and for the love of God, let's stop comparing the two! One's not better than the other, they're just different. Life's what YOU MAKE IT! It's not the location, it's the destination, the outcome of it.