Driving on 4th ring road to take road no 602 to Jleeb, I cribbed about the traffic, the rush, the madness and the undisciplined driving due to which I missed the turn on 4th ring road to enter road no 60 and was forced to go through 602 or take a u turn to go back to 60 again. After dragging the car for about 5 minutes, I put the indicator and looked to the side view mirrors to slide the car to the right. The Sultan wholesale center caught my eye and a flood of nostalgia washed over me. Almost 8 years back, this was a place that I often got food from – when I worked in my first company – about 500 meters away. I looked through the rear view mirror, caught my daughters’ eye and asked her, “Would you like to see where mamma worked before you were born?” Excited, and fascinated about the prospect of listening to a story (she loves stories); she said without a moment’s hesitation “Yes mama. Tell me the story of your first job” I took to the road on the right, drove through familiar lanes and bylanes, explaining how I used to walk by foot - during those days when I wasn’t quite fortunate enough to afford a trip by taxi to work every day or have my own car. I drove past the familiar little shop (No bigger than 2 square feet) where they served Egg within chapattis – my “once upon a time” frequent lunch. I drove past the head office, showing Eva the entry, explaining the punchin systems catching the wonder in her eyes. Even though I was stalled various times because of the rush, the trucks and cars parked on either sides of the small lanes; it dint bother me anymore. I have come a long way – and I am in quite a fortunate situation now. Taking a deep breath, I whispered – “Thank You Kuwait! For the life I have today. Without the money I gained from you and the opportunities that you threw open to me, I wouldn’t have the standards of living that I have today. For that – my family and I are forever indebted to you”
I often think about John Q.; who I happened to help in getting a loan from the company as he needed help. The stranger who walked in to the company one day - grieved that he dint have the money for a personal emergency, as he couldn’t get a loan from the company that I worked in – one for whom I mediated to get the loan passed. He passed in and out of my life just as quickly as he came in – for our roles in eachothers lives were over. As far as we were concerned, I helped him, he was relieved, my role in his chapter of life was over. Following a grieved post of mine on FB one day, he messaged out of the blue.
John Q : Hey, all ok? I saw your post. Can I help?
Nancy Vijo : Hey John, I suppose there’s not much you can do, however – it’s about my husbands job and visa in Kuwait. I’m done staying away. The proposed job prospect dint work out in Kuwait. We’ve been living on either sides of the Indian Ocean since our wedding. Thank You for asking.
John Q messaged after 2 days asking for my husbands CV. I send it across anyway. He asked me to meet the owner of a clinic and explain my situation. I walked in at the appointed time, not knowing what to expect or what to say to a complete stranger. Where do I start? What do I say? I don’t even know this person. But for some strange reason; I trusted John Q who stood steadfast with me during the entire process. Vijo came to Kuwait in a work visa within 3 months of that talk. Kuwait, you’ve been instrumental in many people walking in and out of my life – all leaving an impact in some way or the other. For John Q landing in Kuwait for a job, for John Q speaking to me about his personal emergency and loan being rejected, for your world being so round, that the good deed that I passed on one day, came back in double the amount; my family and I are forever indebted.
Whenever we drive back home from City Centre in Salmiya, we look to our left – as we usually do when we reach the spot of this Clinic – for it has a very important place in our lives. The owner – the Kuwaiti who owns this clinic, is the reason why my husband came to Kuwait in a work visa – no wasta. Yes, you read it right – No wasta. No visa brought with money. Just a kind hearted man who saw my pain and grief in staying away from my husband after my wedding and asked to see Vijo’s CV and hired him immediately. Many a times, Vijo and I have talked about this man who happened to help us out of nowhere. A stranger who saw through another stranger’s pain. Kuwait – You and your people are blessed and have helped create a blessed life for me. For that, my family and I are forever indebted.
In 2014, wheeled into the Sabah materinity ward all alone; I was terrified. I dint know what the procedures were, I dint know anyone and dint have a familiar soul in the hospital. All throughout my delivery, kind hearted doctors and nurses held my hand and soothed my fears. The anesthetist kept whispering encouraging words to me during the caesarian putting me at ease. The nurses nursed me and my baby back to health. Kuwait, for the excellent health care and facilities that you’ve provided to me and my family so far, my family and I are forever indebted.
I happened to chance upon Crawford during a toastmasters meeting in Rhumaithiya. We started to speak and became acquaintances. As meetings progressed, we became friends. On coming to know that I write (anonymously); he requested to read my scribbles. Hesitantly, I send the link to him and he introduced me to IIK. IIK instilled the confidence in me to reveal myself. IIK opened up my world to the field of writing – where I write as I am – no more anonymous blogging or publishing in various media. Kuwait, for the various forums that you’ve promoted where I’ve had a change to reveal skills that I’d harbored deep within, I’m forever indebted.
Many a times, we crib about Kuwait – the heat, the people, the traffic, the expenses – the list is endless. We tend to complain about every unfortunate incident that has happened – blaming it on Kuwait and its people – forgetting the fact many a times – that all these would have happened in our homeland as well. We forget that this Land – which has been a home away from home – has provided us that money, with which we’ve brought our bread and butter… that… this land is where our children are growing up, that.. it is this land which has provided us with the money which we build houses in our homelands, that.. it is this land who made it possible to provide facilities and raise the standards of living for our beloveds back in our homeland.
It’s time – its time we appreciate the land and all that it has provided. It’s time we teach our children to appreciate the facilities and life given by this land. It’s time we turn all those talks on a positive side about Kuwait. It’s time – It’s time we express our gratitude to this country. It’s time and though late, I say this – “Kuwait; my family and I are forever indebted to you”