TO THOSE WHO CAN`T ADJUST WITH LIFE IN THE GCC((WITH PERMISSION FROM Mr.AL MOJIL.

How to Enjoy Your Time in Riyadh and Everywhere??

By Nabeel F. Al Mojil

First of all, I have to congratulate you, Mr. Ruwaih, for your sense of humor and sarcastic piece of writing. You are truly talented especially when you wrote from such a bad experience while staying in Riyadh. As a matter of fact I do share with you some of the 10 points you mentioned in your article and they made me, at the beginning, laugh from the bottom of my heart. However and as I got closer to the end of the article I've noticed that it is more than just a funny article as it appeared to be. For some reason, I've noticed that it was articulated not only to make fun of the conservative Riyadh, but it has gone way beyond that and inferior the people of Riyadh in such a cheap and ridiculous tone. This is a bit annoying and difficult to tolerate. Before I go any further, I'm pretty sure that the hundreds of Kuwaitis who go to Riyadh to receive various treatments from its gigantic medical facilities don't agree with your point of view here.  I know many of them and they consider Riyadh their second home!

You said " Riyadh sucks, it sucks big time".  I received so many comments from many Saudis who read your article and they all reached to a conclusion that Kuwait is one of the top or a developed civilized country from the first world while its big neighbor is still living in the dark ages! Sad conclusion, isn't? One comment from a Saudi girl "Is Meshary Kuwaiti or is he Swiss living in Kuwait?!" Although I disagree with this sarcastic tone, her comment is self-explanatory and needs no further explanations. Another angry comment from a friend in Riyadh was bragging about how this "Sucking Riyadh" was the savior place for our dear Kuwaitis during the Iraqi crazy invasion of their country. This is also not acceptable as it was a duty we had to do for our neighbors!

While I might have my own views about certain aspects of our beloved capital but I couldn't see how words like "Riyadh Sucks" could be valid at all. Riyadh is not one of the world's most dangerous, polluted or less developed cities in the world. It's a modern and huge city with a number of populations that is almost 4 times the number of residence of state of Kuwait.  I fully agree with you that Riyadh, like most major capitols in the world, is not a prefect and an ideal place to visit let alone if the visit is as long as 10 days. Moreover, you come from a country whose people are well-known with their frequent travels whenever they have the smallest chance! I know some Kuwaiti friends spend 50 % of their weekends (not including long summer breaks, Eid holidays and sadly they have recently included their Independence & Liberation days) out of Kuwait; in Beirut, Cairo, Dubai, Bahrain and many here in KSA!! Can I, for instance, come to a conclusion that Kuwait sucks and a boring place because its own people can hardly survive living there? Of course not and I would be prejudice and a stereo typist if I did that as I always refrain from getting in this ugly business.

You quote "if you are a guy that likes women, be prepared. I've been here for seven days and I've only seen 4 women three of which have their faces covered. If you are a woman that likes men, then there are plenty of men here. But lets just say Kuwaitis would look like Italians for men like here" Unquote. well, I wish I could speak and write Italian to make my next point clear! It is funny though that I know some girls go to Kuwait and especially to shopping centers and say they saw women and only few men! In any case, both comments, yours and the girls', are prejudice and should not be given any significance but I must say that since both KUW and KSA are parts of the Arabian Peninsula (aren't they?) then we have a lot of similarities including but not limited to religion, culture, lifestyle, etc!

I don't go to Kuwait very often and I blame myself for that especially I have a lovely family and many good friends. But when I go, I carry with me a positive attitude meaning that I tell myself that I will have a good time. Guess what? It works. It is not Kuwait, New York , orVienna that makes you have a good time, it is you who can decide that even if you happened to be in the poorest country that lacks the basic needs let alone amusement places!! Goodtime is built inside our soul and if it is gone then goes with it everything beautiful around us. It seems my dear friend that this is something you've lost and I advise that you go and search for it.

You probably need to change the way you view others and accept the fact that goodtime is an easy thing to get once you have the desire to change. This is a wonderful privilege and believe me you will be a much happier person be it in Riyadh or in your home town.

It is your call!

Nabeel F. Al Mojil