What is it like to live in a Muslim Country?

Today is September 11th.  If you are an American and born in the 90s or earlier, then you probably know exactly where you were and what you were doing on September 11th, 2001.  This was the day when our country experienced a series of airplane attacks resulting in crashes into the World Trade Center towers and The Pentagon.  Thousands of lives were lost.  Americans mourned collectively and wandered if we would ever feel safe again after such senseless acts of violence.   We stayed glued to our television sets listening to accounts of the events from survivors and rescue workers.  I began to hear new words that would be repeated countless times by news reporters all over the world. Words like "Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, Taliban, and Islamic-Terrorist.  Those attacks were inexcusable. A small group of people we identified as terrorist caused a tremendous impact.  The impact was so tremendous, that some people generalize that small group of extremist and assume that Muslims from the middle east are to blame.  Muslim DOES NOT equal Terrorist.  Muslim DOES NOT equal ISIS.

Kuwait is the small gray country between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

I am beginning my second year living in Kuwait.  Here is an example of how people react (in America and when traveling to other countries) when I share that I live in Kuwait.

Me:  I live in Kuwait and work as a teacher
Them: (with look of horror or curiosity) What made you choose Kuwait?
Me:  I did research and found that it was a great job opportunity with nice benefits and opportunities to travel all over the world
Them: (usually in a whisper) you are so brave.  Is it safe over there?
Me: I don't feel unsafe.  I use universal precautions wherever I live.
This is usually followed by questions about being a woman in a Muslim country and whether I must dress modestly.

The fact that my safety is still a top question is likely due to the fact that people still assume that every part of the Middle East is experiencing violence and unrest.  While there are certainly parts of this region of the world dealing with war and repeated Isis attacks, that is not the case here in Kuwait.    

Kuwait is a Muslim country.  This fact is evident from the national holidays observed, to the Mosque on every other block.  Here are some of the things that I observe here that are common in Muslim countries.

1.  Call to prayer and prayer rooms are everywhere
There are prayer rooms in shopping malls and in the school where I work.  5 times daily, the call to prayer can be heard throughout the city.  I can't hear it in my school building.  I can hear it when I go grocery shopping, walk along the beach, and walk through the malls.  It is a part of daily life.  In many taxis, you will notice a little rug folded on the dashboard.  This is so that the driver can pull over or run into a mosque during the call to prayer.  I accept when a driver says he will be late because of prayer time.  This is a part of his observation of his faith.

The mosque across the street from my apartment

2. Muslim holy days are national holidays
I don't work this week.  It is the week of Eid.  I will not give incorrect information by trying to explain it's significance, but all schools are closed during this holy week and friends who work in other jobs tell me that they are also closed or have shortened hours.  The month of Ramadan is a holy month and the whole country goes on full or partial holiday.  Restaurants cannot legally serve food prior to sunset.  You are violating the LAW if you eat or drink publicly before sunset and can be penalized with jail.  Most jobs have a shortened workday.  Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter are just another day in this country.

This is a store display during Ramadan

3.  Modest dress is observed
Many people wonder if I must wear a hijab or head covering.  I don't.  The modest expectation for women here is that we cover from our shoulders to our knees.  Showing cleavage is not appropriate.  Short shorts are not appropriate.  In Kuwait, you will see women in various forms of modesty and coverage.  On a typical day in a mall, you will see women from here and abroad who dress in everything from skinny jeans and t-shirts to a full Niqab covering in which there are only slits for a woman's eyes.   Trust me when I say that I see many Muslim women SLAYING in their fashionable modest dress and hijab.  Fashion labels and high end brand names are very popular in this part of the world.

4. Religion is taught in schools 

In America, I can lose my job for teaching my students to pray in public schools because of our laws that separate church and state.  In Kuwait, my students have an Islamic studies period in which they learn prayers and traditions.  There are Islamic Studies teachers who teach these classes.  My small number of non-Muslim students are given an alternative activity during this period.  

5.  Names related to Islamic faith are very prevalent

I taught 1 Mohammed in my 10 years as a teacher in the United States.  Now, there could very well be 5 Mohammed's per grade level in my school.  A few days ago, I found myself stumbling over the names of 3 boys playing together on the playground.  Abdulaziz, Abdulrahman, and Abdulrazar were all near one another on the playground.   I recently looked up Abdul to find it's meaning because it begins so many names in this region.  It means "servant of".   Abdullah is servant of Allah. Abdulaziz means servant of The Almighty.   These names have religious roots just as James, John, and Paul have religious roots for Christians. 

6. No Pork or Alcohol

I forget about this sometimes because I was never a big drinker.  Bacon in this country is beef or turkey.  Although restaurants have bars and stores have non-alcoholic beers, alcohol is not readily available in this country. 

This is an aisle in the grocery store with "mock" alcoholic drinks 

As a Christian woman, I am in the minority in this country.  I have not ever felt attacked or persecuted for this reason.  Christians are allowed to gather for church services or the purpose of worship/Bible study.  However, you will not find large free standing churches with a steeple and the church name out front.  I don't know if it is illegal to display church names, but it certainly isn't common.  The church services I have attended have been in gathering halls.  It is illegal to purposely attempt to convert others to Christianity.  Standing outside of a Mosque and trying to convince people  to come to Jesus can get you deported.  

What have I learned about Muslims since moving to Kuwait?  

Muslims are people.  What, is that it?  Yeah, that's it.  Some are rich and some are poor.  Some observe each holy day with sacred awe and some use them as an excuse to take a trip.  Some are funny, some silly, some super serious.  Some are generous and loving.  Some are self-absorbed jerks. They are people just like everyone else.  In Kuwait, the Muslims I encounter are caring Kuwaiti parents of my students.  They are taxi drivers from Pakistan and Bangladesh. They are security guards from Egypt.  They are Indians who attend Zumba classes with me.  They are fellow teachers from Jordan and Lebanon.  Are you getting my point?  The people that I encounter are so very diverse, that sometimes the only thing they have in common is a common religion.  

Just as extremist in any groups do not represent the whole, terrorist do not represent Muslims in my eyes.  In fact, as a teacher of small children, I get the cutest representations of little 5 year old Muslims every day.  My country currently has a presidential candidate by the name of Donald Trump, who uses a platform of fear and gives a message that Muslims in the US and throughout the world are    not to be trusted because of the actions of a few.  It scares me that he has a LOT of followers.  This little blogpost is my way of sharing that I live in a Muslim country and I DON'T experience terror and fear on a daily basis.  I experience diverse individuals living their lives. Do you have questions about life in a Muslim country?