Kuwait Way of Life



		Bench Front Of Home



	As a foreigner, in most cases, you will be invariably barred from any contact with the families of your Kuwaiti acquaintances. You will seldom see the inside of his home or be invited there. Any meals and social life will be dealt with in restaurants, hotels, or the more traditional diwaniyahs.

	These descendants of nomads’ usually set up tents for entertaining guests which are essentially male domains, usually located in front of a home in some shaded area. The gatherings take place in the evenings because of the daytime heat. A diwaniyah contains wooden benches with colorful cushions upon which participants may lounge. The benches are generally placed together end-to-end to form a square of some sort.

	Men come and go as is the custom. Much business is conducted in diwaniyahs, as is political discussion, but many come simply to get away from it all. Some may watch TV; others may smoke, gossip, consume nuts and other small delicacies, or just pass the time. All activities are lubricated

with hot, sweet tea. Smoking is often in the form of a water pipe (hubbly bubbly).


	There are coffee houses and restaurants which include diwaniyah sections for males. These are more commercial enterprises where families may congregate. It is at these places that a visitor may catch his only glimpse of a Kuwaiti family.



		Appliances, gadgetry, and electronic wizardry are fascinating to Kuwaitis. The motor car in particular is a status symbol, a hobby, and unfortunately, sometimes a source of unnecessary tragedy. Driving is a big social activity, especially among young people, and they undertake it very adventurously, to say the least.

	The authorities have clamped down on those who do not wear seat belts, and traffic education programs are becoming more common. Some drivers are considerate and well-versed, but those



		Family In Car

who are not require that you be at least positive and almost aggressive in your approach to driving. Above all, do not assume that any other driver will act in any particular way, especially on roundabouts and expressway entrances and exits. Stay alert.