From The Kingston Whig Standard
Sometimes the world is big and sometimes it feels very small.
The below post was published in the Kingston Whig Standard on Friday March 13th 2009.
Living in the Middle East, people often ask if I feel safe living here. It is an understandable question. I wish I could just say “Yes” and be done with the discussion and the unfair stereotypes that some people have about the Arab world and the Middle East.
My hometown is Kingston, Ontario, a town that has nine prisons in the city and surrounding area. In Kingston, I grew up knowing that when someone escapes from a local prison you will hear the helicopters, perhaps see the search dogs and eventually there will be a radio announcement about the missing convict.
It brought me an odd sense of comfort to know that the escaped convict is looking to get out of town as soon as possible. If nine correctional facilities weren’t enough the city of Kingston has plenty of half way houses to help rehabilitate the men and previously the women who were recently guests of the local institutions. I used to volunteer in a homeless shelter that often helped ex-convicts. I remember a guest saying to me, ” I just got out of prison. My previous life of crime, before I got caught, paid very well. Who wants to work at 7-11 for minimum wage? It really isn’t that much of a choice to make. Crime pays. However I have enjoyed my time in Kingston. I think I will stay in the city.”
Kingston also has an active bar scene with fights and drunken Queen’s street parties that has in the past led to cars being flipped and incidents of violence. However people rarely ask the citizen of Kingston if they feel safe living there.
When I lived in Renfrew, Ontario it was a 45-minute commute to the tiny school in Denbigh, Ontario where I worked. In the winter the roads were icy and snow covered. Sometimes, even with my fantastic snow tires, I’d feel my car slip backwards. If you are looking for things to be afraid of, ice covered roads in Canada is certainly something to fear.
Driving in parts of Ontario you are prepared for the reality that one day you might hit a deer. Regardless, if you are driving in the morning fog or heading home late at night, when a deer suddenly appears in front of your car it can do a lot of damage–to you, the car and the deer!
In deer hunting season I used to wear an orange sweatshirt into work in the morning. Listening to the locals fire off their riffles in search of their big trophy buck put a special kind of fear in my heart.
For a time I also I lived and worked on a cruise ship, traveling in international waters brought about its own special challenges. Out running hurricanes, leaving a port when a government was being overthrown, waking up to Miami drug dogs searching your room and listening to safety officers talk about the hundreds of ways you could die at sea and what we needed to do to be prepared all made you appreciate your afternoon off at the beach.
My point is this. There are challenges no matter where you live. Kuwait is no different. It is a country filled with interesting people, new experiences, a lot of adventure and like every country or city around the globe it has some issues. No deer to watch out for, no threat of hurricanes and no drunken, fighting Queen’s students though.
For me the challenges living in Kuwait is that the driving here can be fast, furious and gives new meaning to the term road rage. People often drive with their lights off at night. Then when they get ridiculously close to your bumper they flash their high beams at you. Honk their horns as you move over they speed past your car coming dangerous close to side swiping you.
As well sometimes men in this country can be a little bit forward. Let me please stress–not all men and not all the time. However, like driving on snow covered roads you learn to deal with unwanted attention as a part of the country. When I walk in the city I get this look on my face that I refer to as the “Washed Out Western Women look.” It is the empty glazed over eyes. My facial expression says, “I am so not looking at you or remotely interested in you.” Without words I am trying to communicate the message that will clearly tell you,”don’t even think about telling me that you like my eyes or blond hair because I didn’t just get off the plane yesterday. I like to think of it like defensive driving, defensive walking keeps you safe before trouble occurs.
I enjoy Kuwait, the culture, the people and the new adventures. I feel just as safe here as I have felt anywhere else in the world.
No Matter Where In the World…
“When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable.
It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” -
Living in the Middle East, people often ask if I feel safe living here. It is an understandable question. I wish I could just say “Yes” and be done with the discussion and the unfair stereotypes that some people have about the Arab world and the Middle East.
My hometown is Kingston, Ontario, a town that has nine prisons in the city and surrounding area. In Kingston, I grew up knowing that when someone escapes from a local prison you will hear the helicopters, perhaps see the search dogs and eventually there will be a radio announcement about the missing convict.
It brought me an odd sense of comfort to know that the escaped convict is looking to get out of town as soon as possible. If nine correctional facilities weren’t enough the city of Kingston has plenty of half way houses to help rehabilitate the men and previously the women who were recently guests of the local institutions. I used to volunteer in a homeless shelter that often helped ex-convicts. I remember a guest saying to me, ” I just got out of prison. My previous life of crime, before I got caught, paid very well. Who wants to work at 7-11 for minimum wage? It really isn’t that much of a choice to make. Crime pays. However I have enjoyed my time in Kingston. I think I will stay in the city.”
Kingston also has an active bar scene with fights and drunken Queen’s street parties that has in the past led to cars being flipped and incidents of violence. However people rarely ask the citizen of Kingston if they feel safe living there.
When I lived in Renfrew, Ontario it was a 45-minute commute to the tiny school in Denbigh, Ontario where I worked. In the winter the roads were icy and snow covered. Sometimes, even with my fantastic snow tires, I’d feel my car slip backwards. If you are looking for things to be afraid of, ice covered roads in Canada is certainly something to fear.
Driving in parts of Ontario you are prepared for the reality that one day you might hit a deer. Regardless, if you are driving in the morning fog or heading home late at night, when a deer suddenly appears in front of your car it can do a lot of damage–to you, the car and the deer!
In deer hunting season I used to wear an orange sweatshirt into work in the morning. Listening to the locals fire off their riffles in search of their big trophy buck put a special kind of fear in my heart.
For a time I also I lived and worked on a cruise ship, traveling in international waters brought about its own special challenges. Out running hurricanes, leaving a port when a government was being overthrown, waking up to Miami drug dogs searching your room and listening to safety officers talk about the hundreds of ways you could die at sea and what we needed to do to be prepared all made you appreciate your afternoon off at the beach.
My point is this. There are challenges no matter where you live. Kuwait is no different. It is a country filled with interesting people, new experiences, a lot of adventure and like every country or city around the globe it has some issues. No deer to watch out for, no threat of hurricanes and no drunken, fighting Queen’s students though.
For me the challenges living in Kuwait is that the driving here can be fast, furious and gives new meaning to the term road rage. People often drive with their lights off at night. Then when they get ridiculously close to your bumper they flash their high beams at you. Honk their horns as you move over they speed past your car coming dangerous close to side swiping you.
As well sometimes men in this country can be a little bit forward. Let me please stress–not all men and not all the time. However, like driving on snow covered roads you learn to deal with unwanted attention as a part of the country. When I walk in the city I get this look on my face that I refer to as the “Washed Out Western Women look.” It is the empty glazed over eyes. My facial expression says, “I am so not looking at you or remotely interested in you.” Without words I am trying to communicate the message that will clearly tell you,”don’t even think about telling me that you like my eyes or blond hair because I didn’t just get off the plane yesterday. I like to think of it like defensive driving, defensive walking keeps you safe before trouble occurs.
I enjoy Kuwait, the culture, the people and the new adventures. I feel just as safe here as I have felt anywhere else in the world.
Kuwait City, KUWAIT
Christine Oastler is a freelance travel writer, teacher and artist, currently living in Mahboula, Kuwait. Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Christine obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Trent University and her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Currently traveling around the Middle East she finds herself riding the odd camel and embracing a new culture!