CityPages March 2015 Issue

MAGAZINE ISSUE No.

63 BADER AL KHARAFI, SARAH AL MUTAIRI, MARCH 2015

issuu.com/citypageskuwait Scan this QR code with your smart phone /tablet and enjoy reading CityPages. To read it on your computer, simply visit the web link above.

AND SHAMLAN AL BADER

FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS

pinterest.com/citypagesmag

Scan this QR code with your smart phone /tablet and enjoy reading and sharing slective pages from this issue of CityPages.

To read it on your computer, simply visit the web link above.

LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION

100% SPANISH FASHION BRAND The Avenues mall The Mall - Mezanine Nº 140A. Fifth Ring Rd. High Street KUWAIT Phone: 22200650 The Avenues Mall.

@TRUCCOKW

truccoshop.com

‫مجمع االفنيوز‬ ‫ ميزانني‬- ‫ذا مول‬ ‫هاي سرتيت‬ 22200650 :‫هاتف‬

25

Year GUARANTEE

contents ISSUE 63, VOLUME 5, MARCH 2015

76

16

36

AUTO

98. Porsche 9/11GT3 RS

122. Summer 2015 Must Haves 124. Fashion News

BEAUTY

FEATURES

66. Process Description For Perfume

ENTERTAINMENT 83. Top Music Charts 84. March Movie Releases

FASHION

101. Stylish Bumps 102. Photo Shoot 112. Mercedez Benz Fashion Week NY 116. CityPages Fashion Report 119. Winter Highlights Featuring Ft. My Cashmere Sweater 120. Fashion Editors Around The World 121. Iris Apfel

22. Great Memories...No Regrets 25. ‫خطوة جديدة‬ 26. Mad March 28. #HappyNanny’sDay 30. Unlikely Couples 32. Geriatric...In A Delicate Shade Of Green 34. Successful Hotelier 82. Moving Into The Future Of Film

HEALTH

44. Dry Eye Facts 46. The Stomach Bug 48. FAQs By Boushahri Clinic 52. Preparing For The Unexpected 54. Side-Lying Spells 64. Arthritis Only happens When You Are Old...No!

68

LIVE YOUR

PASSION

MANUFACTURE SLIMLINE MOONPHASE Handcrafted in-house movement.

Manufacture Collection: in-house developed, in-house produced and in-house assembled movements.

More information on www.frederique-constant.com

Al Hamra Luxury Center: 22270206 : • Al-Kout: 23930338/9 : The Avenues: 22597727/8 : • Marina Mall: 22244839 / 22244882 : Souk Sharq: 22433770 / 22433500 : • Laila Gallery: 25719780/1 : Behbehani Complex: 22406795 / 22453863 • The Gate Mall: 22056366 :

contents ISSUE 63, VOLUME 5, MARCH 2015

56

50 INTERVIEW

16. Future Entrepreneurs 36. Good France 42. Q&A With Usain Bolt 50. One- On-One With Kinda AlFaris 56. Ivy Laughton 68. Greek Embassy 76. D.J.Aki 108. Charlotte Balbier

KIDS

145. Kids Pages

LITERATURE

86. Short Stories By Nadia AlHassan 87. Poetry By Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar

108 88. Breaking The Deadlock By Nada Faris

NUTRITION 62. The Cubical Diet

TECHNOLOGY

92. Cool New Gadgets 94. Six Online Tools To Simplify Your Life 96. Tech Updates & News

REGULARS

72. City Guide 74. Travel With MuzMuz 90. March Book Releases 91. Book Club 100. Adopt A Street Princess 127. Events 136. Press 142. Say Cheez With CityPages 144. Homework For Grown Ups 146. Horoscopes

MAGAZINE

From the Editor Dear Readers…

Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief

Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor

Eng. Homoud AlMuhareb Publishing Director

Kinda Al-Faris Executive Editor

Muhammed Altaf Sr. Sales Manager

Claudia Farias Content Supervisor

Tanya Burns Creative Director Graphic Designers

Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi

Happy March or Mad March as our regular writer Peregrine Spode puts it in his article.

March is always an interesting month with so many celebrations and important events. We observe this month as the women's month as we just celebrated the international women's day on the 8th. Further ahead we have the mother's day on 21st March. A day that is very important to me and I am sure to all of you. And on March 28th, we will celebrate the Earth Hour at 8:30pm.

This month, we wanted to give a young and fresh look to CityPages and decided to have the FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS on our cover. FE is a young team of three best friend: Bader Al Kharafi, Sarah Al Mutairi, and Shamlan Al Bader. We really enjoyed interviewing them and hope you all will enjoy reading it too.

I also had the great opportunity to interview D.J. Aki from the breakfast show at Radio Kuwait FM. He is an extremely talented young guy and I was really excited to know about the different talents he possesses. Make sure to read his interview and know him more.

This issue is also special as we have two important diplomats interviewed in this issue. Both of them are very interesting. We interviewed H.E. the ambassador of France to Kuwait - Mr. Christian Nakhlé to learn more about the GOOD FRANCE or GOÛTDEFRANCE event coming on the 19th of March.

We also once again interviewed Chef. Faisal AlNashmi who will also participate in this event from Kuwait.

We then interviewed His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Kuwait - Dr. Theodoros Theodorou and his lovely wife Fenia Theorodou. Through this letter, I also wish them and the people of Greece a happy independence day which they will celebrate on the 25th of March.

This issue is also special as we officially launch our extended FASHION segment featuring five fashion editors bringing you the best in fashion from Kuwait and around the world.

The issue has much more for everyone so go ahead and enjoy the read!

Jameel Arif General Manager & Editor

jameelrf@citypageskuwait.com Published by:

Reduce Waste Pass me along to a friend or recycle me after reading

DISCLAIMER

Extra care has been used to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this magazine. However, the publisher will not accept responsibility for errors and omissions in the publication. In addition, the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Photos have been altered to comply with the Laws of Kuwait.

COPYRIGHTS

All rights reserved. No part of this publication including pictures, articles, artworks, and overall design may be reproduced, copied, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated in any language in any form or means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the written permission of the editor or the publisher. Copyright © March 2015

Al Fanar Mall: 25731077 | Baitak Tower: 22257908 | Behbehani Complex: 22403954 | Symphony Mall: 22441614 www.ybsco.net

Free Copies of

are Available at:

Hawally - Zawya Center

(Kuwait International Airport)

Fahaheel & Jabriya

(British School of Kuwait)

New LAFEM

Salon & Beauty Co.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

If you would like to receive copies of CityPages magazine at your location as distribution point or reading material, please get in touch with our distribution team at: subscriptions@citypageskuwait.com

The Avenues 22597197 • AL Bairaq Mall ,Fintas 23824057 • Al Salam Mall,Salmiya 22285884

MAGAZINE

The Team! #63

MARCH 2015 Kinda Al Faris Executive Editor

Dear Readers, I'm writing this letter while doing three things simultaneously and must admit am starting to resemble that headless chicken. Its been a busy month, I recently took on a consulting position as Head of Marketing and Media, organizing the Gulf Leaders Summit in May, featuring Dr. Mahatir Mohammad who will be the keynote speaker. Its been a wonderful experience organizing a summit of this size and am excited to meet this wonderful icon.

ON THE COVER: BADER AL KHARAFI, SARAH AL MUTAIRI, AND SHAMLAN AL BADER PHOTOGRAPHY Hamad Al-Qaoud @hamadalqaoud

This month CityPages celebrates Women's month, and Mothers day where all of us should be buying flowers and sending chocolates to our irreplaceable mothers God bless them all. When I think of all the things my mother did for my brother and I, I wonder how she ever had time for herself. I will most definitely be sending her a huge bouquet and gift to say thank you.

I interview the talented musician Fabrice, whom Ive also struck up a friendship with. What a lovely man he is and what amazing talent too. We will keep you posted of upcoming gigs that he will ne participating in. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

Make sure to enjoy our expanded fashion segment as well, its Spring and we all need some inspiration for our closets.

Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Abdalla AlMuzaini Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar Ali - DJ RAVEN ASAMA Perfumes BirthKuwait Deema DeCaux Dr. Nazia Nausheen Faisal Al-Dhofari Erika Habig John McArthur Julieta Altamiranda Layali AlKanderi Layla Harmony Maha Al-Rashed

Photography Team Abdullah Hamadah Abdulaziz AlSoraya Abdulaziz AlShayaji Natalia Sitcai Othman AlMishaan Dalal AlDhughaishem

Mouza AlShareedah Nadia Al-Hassan Nada Soliman Nada Faris Nour Al-Zaabi Paul Tunbridge Reshmi Revi Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sandra Bakhamian Sherihan A. Hassabo Talah Alabdulaaly Tassnim Hassoun Zahra Ashkanani Zahra Taqi

Distribution Team V. Rajan S. V. Gopal

Corporate Copies and Subscriptions Distributed through:

Have a wonderful month ahead, I know I will be!

Social networking shizzle

Sincerely,

Be our friend and we'll tell you secrets

Kinda Al Faris

@citypageskuwait @citypageskuwait /Citypageskuwait citypageskuwait.com /citypagesmag /citypageskuwait 66973003

MORE NEW CONTRIBUTORS

Are you a local writer or artist? If you're passionate about your work we want to showcase it, so get in touch and get involved in 2014:

FEATURE

INTERNSHIPS

If you are an artist with work to exhibit, an event or entertainment organiser with an event coming up or a business with some exciting news or a new product to feature, get in touch.

We're keen to feature anything of interest that will entertain our readers.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO INTERN AT CITYPAGES?, EMAIL: info@citypageskuwait.com and let us know what is your area of interest.

CONTRIBUTE

ADVERTISE

Rip it, scrap it, comment, critique, research, report. Opinions wanted on fashion, lifestyle, business, news, home, music, gadgets, sports, and culture. Something annoyed you and you want to tell? We're here for you. If you'd like to see your name in... er... print, get in touch.

We understand that the medium is the message. The quality of a magazine reflects on the businesses that advertise within it.

CityPages is Kuwait's highest quality magazine and premium print media option for stylish and progressive brands. If you have a business or strategy to promote to Kuwait's forward thinking consumer, get in touch. Call us on 66973003 or drop us an email...

submissions@citypageskuwait.com

info@citypageskuwait.com

CityPages 75371D01 Citypageskuwait @citypageskuwait citypageskuwait citypageskuwait ARE YOU IN?

submissions@citypageskuwait.com

advertise@citypageskuwait.com

‫ﺩﻭﺭﺍﺕ ﺍﻟﺘﻘﻮﻳﺔ‬ ‫ﻟﻠﺜﺎﻧﻮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺒﺮﻳﻄﺎﻧﻴﺔ‬ LEADERS IN TRAINING

IGCSE Home Study 70 Hours Courses Plus Past Exam Papers

Cambridge & Edexcel O Level, As & A Level

Learn Exam Strategies Highly Qualified Instructors

Visit us at Symphony - Salmiyah ‫ ﺍﻟﺴﺎﻟﻤﻴﺔ‬- ‫ﺯﻭﺭﻭﻧﺎ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺠﻤﻊ ﺳﻴﻤﻔﻮﻧﻲ‬

Training with Modern Techniques Kuwait, Salmiya, Salem Al Mubarak Street, Symphony Complex, 2nd Floor.

Phone No.: +965 22245222 - 99994602 Email : info@ihikuwait.com www.ihikuwait.com

Youth is one of the pivotal components of more prosperous societies and it is now widely accepted that there are many good reasons to promote entrepreneurship among young people. Brimming with potential and energy, theirs are activities — if nurtured and supported correctly — that can lead to meteoric growth, jobs and success across societies. In spite of the increasing recognition of entrepreneurship as a source of job creation, empowerment and economic dynamism in a rapidly globalizing world, no systematic attempt has been made to provide a guidance platform. Recognizing this deficit, three friends put their heads together to find a solution and came up with a brilliant idea - Future Entrepreneurs that can change the entrepreneurship scene in Kuwait. The idea started way back in January 2014 and led to a successful event – Future Entrepreneurs Diwaniya, a platform where future entrepreneurs can share their thoughts and discuss their ideas with more experienced and successful entrepreneurs and in return they can offer mentoring and business advice to the young entrepreneurs.

CityPages recently sat down with the founders of Future Entrepreneurs - Bader Al Kharafi, Sarah Al Mutairi, and Shamlan Al Bader for an exclusive interview. Read on to know more about this brilliant team of three friends and learn how they came up with the idea of FE, the challenges they have to face and their future plans. citypageskuwait.com

FUTURE ENTREPRENEURS March, 2015

Photographer: Hamad Al-Qaoud - @hamadalqaoud

SHAMLAN AL BADER , BADER AL KHARAFI, AND SARAH AL MUTAIRI

Hi, please introduce yourselves to our readers: Sarah: I’m Sarah AlMutairi. I’m 18 years old and I attend the American School of Kuwait.

Bader: My name is Bader Al Kharafi and I am 19 years. I’m currently studying Marketing and in my second year at the Australian College of Kuwait. I graduated from the American School of Kuwait.

Shamlan: Hello, my name is Shamlan Al Bader, I’m an 18 year old studying Economics at the American University of Kuwait, also in my second year, and I graduated from Kuwait English School.

Tell us about your hobbies: Sarah: Ever since I can remember I loved playing soccer. And of course, 35mm film photography. I also like drawing and watercolor painting. I love movies; I’m a huge movie buff, from Tarantino to Kubrick to one of the Coppolas.

Bader: I am interested in many things, although the main thing I would express as a hobby is music. I love listening to music, creating music, admiring music basically. I’m also into technology and software; I really like trying out new applications and trying to develop new applications. If this is considered a hobby than can say development is also my hobby.

Shamlan: I like sports, anything super competitive I’m in!

How and when did the idea of FE come up?

Sarah: Bader called me late last summer with a “brilliant idea that would change Kuwait”. At first he didn’t tell me what it was exactly but a few phone calls later he explained what would now be FE. Bader: The idea of Future Entrepreneurs started way back in January 2014, it was just a small idea at the back of my mind and to be honest, I didn’t expect it to reach this level. It came to me when I was sitting in a Diwaniya hearing a lot of people complain about how there’s nothing to do here in Kuwait, nothing to promote here in Kuwait. It’s all the same thing when it comes to enjoying your time here in Kuwait, it’s only through food, malls, and repetitive things. So I said that it’s not possible that we’re sitting here in a country where we have so much talent, so much creativity. It’s not possible that all of these things aren’t noticed.

I started working on it in August 2014.

Shamlan: Of course, Bader told us about this. I thought that it’s what we needed in Kuwait, many people have million dollar ideas but are too afraid or don’t have enough funds to start or even receive recognition.

Although each of you had different perspectives to progress in life, how or what made you unite together to start FE? Shamlan: I’ve known Bader for a long time and was with him on the very first day he started working on FE, until the last. I met Sarah through Bader and to be honest, we are all different from one another, which is what makes us a good team. You have Bader with ideas that will astonish you and a design/marketing mastermind Sarah. With our talents together I think we can accomplish anything, and that’s what makes us successful.

Bader: I love telling this story. In the beginning, Future Entrepreneurs started just through one person. I began realizing I would always turn to consultation from Shamlan Al Bader and Sarah Al Mutairi. Shamlan is kind of like the motivator, no, he IS the motivator. When you feel like everything and everyone is against you, he would be that type of person that would say get back up and do what you’re trying to do, you’re not doing it for the people, you’re doing it for yourself and you’re trying to prove a point. Sarah, she’s if not the most, one of the most creative citypageskuwait.com

March, 2015

Photographer: Hamad Al-Qaoud - @hamadalqaoud

people I’ve ever met. People nowadays always say, “Think outside the box”, but after knowing Sarah, I learned that you don’t even need to involve a box when you think. You shouldn’t even have a box, creativity has no limits and that’s what Sarah’s putting into the next event of Future Entrepreneurs. So as a team we united through friendship, we united through consultation.

Sarah: Bader and I knew each other since high school, so when he graduated and I continued school we still kept in touch. He always taught me to aim higher and really trust myself and that the more I believe I could do something, I’d own it. He’s always had those philosophies in his head, that he can change the world, it balances us all out. I never would’ve thought that within few years time, we’d work together creating something so lovely. I met Shamlan though Bader in October I think, when they both pitched the idea to me. Shamlan’s really cool, he’s probably the best out of all of us, I always feel super unproductive when he’s around, and he’s pretty inspiring. We’re all really good friends now and it’s good to work with wonderful people who you can learn from.

Who or what has been the inspiration for you in coming up with such a concept?

Bader: Honestly, just the people around me that pushed me to do this. I wanted Kuwait to expose its true roots. I’ve been inspired by the amount of originality I’ve seen that maybe the person beside me hasn’t. We want to uncover what usually, regular Kuwait won’t see.

In a nutshell, what is FE and what are some of the services it offers to young entrepreneurs?

Sarah: FE is too well thought out to be a regular event, we make sure each and every participant is local and as innovative as possible. Our objective is inspiring and teaching the young people of our community, even the older ones maybe! We’re actually hoping we could integrate workshops in the second event. So young entrepreneurs could learn from more than just a conversation with a successful person at the FE Diwaniya, they’d work hands on.

especially at night, with all the lights and simplicity of the arches as booths.

Bader: I’ve had a number of people ask me about when the second one will be, which is incredibly positive. FE is an interactive event, it involves the consumer. Events around Kuwait usually just have you come and go, buy something and leave, but with FE it’s different. Even if it was just a start with only Art Space offering incomers to paint, and the games section teaching you to shoot into a target. We tried to give as much as we could, which is why the Diwaniya was a huge success.

Next time we hope to educate the attendees even more, with more workshops and ways to feel more inspired.

What is the Diwaniya concept?

The Diwaniya is pretty simple really; we’ve gathered a well known amount of Kuwait based entrepreneurs to speak to the event goers, setting up a beautiful tent with spacious seating for the attendees and successful entrepreneurs. We had the attendees openly come and speak with these various types of brilliant people to receive some advice and input on how to start up a business. It’s like a workshop with lots of chilled out atmosphere, making it comfortable for both parties.

Do you have any upcoming events planned?

Yes actually! We’ve set the official date for the next FE event on the 27th & 28th of March.

It’ll be held at the Discovery Mall garden again.

What are some of the challenges that you have to face?

Shamlan: I found it difficult to manage university, leisure and work. I’m already taking 6 courses in university that take three years to complete being a young university graduate.

Working with FE means I’m either constantly working or constantly studying. I enjoy this though, because I feel that it’s creating my future as I gain experience in Kuwait. It can be tough dealing with different people but you’ll learn a little bit from everyone you meet.

Shamlan: What differentiates FE from other events is that we are trying to motivate and show the people of Kuwait what they are capable of and what other people are doing and helping small businesses that can’t afford to expand to have an opportunity to be seen by the public.

Sarah: To me, developing the confidence to work openly like this. I’m naturally very shy so it was hard for me to even post on the FE instagram in the beginning. Once I was building something very different, a project I was working on for a few weeks, and before I could post about it, another company posted something a little similar. I felt like it kind of all went to waste because it wasn’t as unique as I thought. But when I told the Shamlan and Bader they were all very supportive, letting me know that things like that are alright. They’d just have this charismatic way of assuring the talent towards my work, and it really helps me grow and look past a lot of things.

Sarah:

Bader: One of the main challenges I faced

Your first event was a great success? What made it different from other exhibitions held in Kuwait and what according to you was the reason for its success?

The

citypageskuwait.com

setting.

It

was

beautiful,

was people letting me down, whether it was the sponsors, or others saying I can’t achieve, or it’s too hard to do, or too silly to do. So in the end, it’s people that were standing in my way.

I want to prove to many people that nothing comes easily, there will be a lot of obstacles you have to face, even if everything is standing in your way, you have to believe it for yourself for everyone else to do the same. You’re not going to care about what anyone else says if you believe in something so strongly.

What are some of your future plans and goals?

Bader: To make Future Entrepreneurs bigger than it already is. I see it as something developing not just in Kuwait but also outside of Kuwait. I want it to be something that is a home to all the small businesses and anyone who has a creative concept would feel that FE is a place to start up their creativity and be shown full support. I see myself as someone big; I plan on making FE an event not only in Kuwait, but Qatar, Dubai, and many other gulf countries.

Shamlan: I plan on expanding FE on being regional then global. I’d like to continue my studies abroad after I graduate.

Sarah: I’ve applied to the University of the Arts in London, if I get in, then London is my next step! I want to educate myself further in the arts, so when I come back to Kuwait I have more professional experience; I’ve yet to grow into that at only 18.

Who are some of your role models?

Shamlan: My father and my brothers, they’re my role models. And my mom, my whole family really!

Bader: The role models in my life include my father, for always pushing me and telling me that the sky isn’t the limit, there’s higher than that. Also among these role models is my godfather, Shamlan Al Bahar and Hassan Al Mosawi.

Sarah: Larry Clark, Olivia Bee and Ruba Abu-Nimah. She’s absolutely brilliant, definitely changed my perspective towards countless things.

How can entrepreneurs reach you?

We’re all very easy to reach. Anyone can shoot us an email through our website to get in touch.

Your messages for us at CityPages magazine: All of us are very thankful that CityPages allowed us to be featured in their magazine.

We are so pleased that the Kuwaiti media supports us. This is our first interview together so it’s a thrilling experience.

March, 2015

Photographer: Hamad Al-Qaoud - @hamadalqaoud

GREAT MEMORIES…

NO REGRETS

Paul Turnbridge I’ve written before about the differing outlooks of “glass half-empty” and “glass half-full” people, and I am a strong believer in maintaining a positive outlook on life, and on all that life has to offer us.

Of course, the world is not perfect and we will all experience some setbacks and disappointments along our journeys; we all make mistakes and bad decisions (some worse than others); we will sometimes be treated badly and unfairly by others; but these should be viewed as important and valuable learning experiences. When we get knocked down, we should pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start over again! Several songs are racing through my mind now, including Chumbawumba’s ‘Tubthumping’ – “I get knocked down, but I get up again, You're never gonna keep me down”.

For the seed that is new It's the love that is growing for you Clearly, Ms Piaf is referencing a romantic situation … and she is right … why would anyone regret having been in a relationship when the relationship was, itself, part of their overall journey?

I think that if we're going to regret something, we need to be very, very sure that, when all is said and done, it was actually bad for us. Because I'm sure, like me, you can think of times that felt awful while they were happening but of which you can now see the up-side. And there’s perhaps some times about which you're not sure ... yet.

However, the song to which I was listening earlier that prompted me to write this piece was the wonderful classic by Miss Edith Piaf – “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” – in which she sings with great passion about how she regrets neither the good nor the bad things that have happened to her. I would urge you to seek out a copy of the song (preferably in its original French language) to get a full sense of the emotion. In simple translation, two of the latter verses express how she has learned from past experiences and is moving forward without any regrets…

But when you're about to dive into regret, perhaps take a moment to think of the famous musicians who channeled their heartbreak into best-selling albums.

No! No regrets No! I will have no regrets All the things that went wrong For at last I have learned to be strong

Katherine Mansfield once suggested that "Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only good for wallowing in."

No! No regrets No! I will have no regrets citypageskuwait.com

Think of the successful entrepreneurs whose knock-backs stoked their fire to change the world.

And then consider the hundreds of thousands of normal people like you and me whose experiences and hardships have made us what we are today.

I think it's worth remembering that our experiences make us who we are - and difficult ones can make us much wiser, more thoughtful, more compassionate human beings.

Here’s to a life of no regrets, and the wisdom that comes with that.

March, 2015

‫خطوة جديدة‬

‫فقط أولئك الذين يجازفون في الذهاب بعيدًا جدًا‬ ‫هم الذين من الممكن أن يعرفوا ما هنالك" اليوت‬ ‫لعلها تريد توصيل رسالة‬ ‫راقبت هذه الحكمة كثيرًا ّ‬ ‫علي فهمها‪ .‬فتوقفت أراقب حياتي اآلن‪،‬‬ ‫لي ويجب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أين أنا اآلن؟ و ماذا أريد؟ وكيف أصل إليه؟ فوجدت‬ ‫أني منذ بداية هذا العام قررت بأن تكون هذه‬ ‫البداية الحقيقية وال مجال للخوف أن يتواجد فيها‪،‬‬ ‫فبدأت بإبعاد كل األشخاص المسيئين في حياتي‪،‬‬ ‫والذين لم تكن لهم قيمة تضاف لعالقاتي‪ ،‬كانت‬ ‫البداية صعبه لكنها مريحة فقد عرفت حق المعرفة‬ ‫من يستحق أن يكون في حياتي ومن أستحق أن‬ ‫أعيش حياتي بعيدًا عنه‪ ،‬فليس كل األشخاص يجب‬ ‫أن يكونون مقربين منا‪.‬‬ ‫بعدها راجعت أهدافي وماذا حققت حتى اآلن؟‬ ‫وماذا أرغب بتحقيقه؟ فوجدت أنني أشعر بالضيق‬ ‫معظم الوقت في عملي‪ ،‬والسبب أنني ال أشعر‬ ‫بأنني أستثمر كل طاقتي فيه‪ ،‬فما زال لدي الكثير‬ ‫لتقديمه‪ ،‬وفي الحقيقة لم أرغب يومًا بالعمل بها‬ ‫إلى أن الظروف أخذتني لذلك الطريق‪ ،‬حتى وعيت‬

‫بأنني المسؤولة عما حصل‪ .‬فكانت تمر األيام‬ ‫ثقيلة‪ ،‬فتارة تعمل بما ال تحب‪ ،‬و تارة يضيع وقت‬ ‫العمل بال أي عمل‪ ،‬و تارة تأتيك تهم من زمالئك‬ ‫في العمل‪ ،‬وحين تعمل بجد يتم تحويل ما تقوم‬ ‫به لشخص آخر‪ ،‬ال عجب في ذلك فكلما سألت‬ ‫أحدهم لماذا؟ كانت اإلجابة ‪ ( :‬عادي نشتغل‬ ‫بقطاع حكومي)‪ ،‬وكأن الحكومي عليه أن يكون‬ ‫سيء‪ ،‬ال أعلم كيف ستتطور الدولة بهذه‬ ‫الطريقة‪ ،‬واستغرب أنهم متمسكين في المقاعد‬ ‫الحكومية ومع ذلك يشتهرون بالحديث السيء‬ ‫عن الحكومة والواسطة وغيرها‪ ،‬وهم ما زالو‬ ‫يتمسكون بكراسيهم‪.‬‬ ‫كان للعمل الحكومي فائدة مهمة ال أنكرها‪ ،‬وهي‬ ‫سهولة استئذاني إلنهاء بعض أوراقي الرسمية‬ ‫ومراجعاتي الطبية‪ ،‬وبعد أن انهيت كل ما لدي‪،‬‬ ‫قررت أن أركز اآلن على ما أريد‪ ،‬وهو الحصول على‬ ‫وظيفة جديدة‪ .‬كل ما اهتممت به أنني كتبت‬ ‫صفات للعمل الجديد واألشخاص الذين سأعمل‬ ‫معهم‪ ،‬و ركزت فقط بذلك‪ ،‬ولم تمر أسابيع‬ ‫كثيرة حتى حصل على عرض وظيفي رائع‪ ،‬وبعد‬

‫إستخارة رب العالمين انتقلت للعمل الجديد ألبدء‬ ‫خطوة جديدة في حياتي‪.‬‬ ‫إن لم يعجبك أمر في حياتك‪ ،‬فتوقف و راقبه واكتب‬ ‫الحل له و ركز فقط بما تود‪ ،‬وال تنسى أن اهلل عز‬ ‫وجل موجود ولن يخذلك أبدًا‪ ،‬فكلما كنت أشعر‬ ‫باإلحباط أو اليأس‪ ،‬تذكرت قول اهلل تعالى‪َ " :‬و ِفي‬ ‫ون"‪.‬‬ ‫ُوع ُد َ‬ ‫َّ‬ ‫الس َماء ِرز ُْق ُك ْم َو َما ت َ‬

‫‪Nour AlZaabi‬‬

‫‪Nour holds a Master in Business Administration‬‬ ‫‪and a Bachelor in Marketing and is a Member at‬‬ ‫‪The Kuwait Economic Society and British Council‬‬ ‫‪Entrepreneur Network in Kuwait. Stay tuned for‬‬ ‫‪her articles and features in the CityPages magazine.‬‬

‫‪citypageskuwait.com‬‬

March, 2015

MAD

Peregrine Spode

Dentally challenged. Still single.

When I was quite a little Spode, my mother - of whom we have spoken before – you might remember her as being a little less than solidly grounded in the cerebral department, was nevertheless a fund of old English phrases. She was, of course, unremittingly rude to Spode Minor, namely myself, perhaps discerning in me the beginnings of the psychologies that I would, in later years, spend so much money to divest myself of. With barely a thought for the genetic implication of her remarks, she would often describe me, with prescient maternal accuracy as being as “mad as a March hare.”

This ancient phrase is, I gather, derived from the rather odd behavior of the English hare during the March breeding season. I caught sight of many in the meadows and copses near the place which lays claim to be my first home, indeed one or two scampered off quite citypageskuwait.com

unhurt into the undergrowth after my friends and I had ‘borrowed’ a careless father’s twelvebore and a few Eley Number 5’s in an attempt to reduce the surplus population. Hardly surprising that the hares survived unscathed, they are the fastest land mammals in Europe, having a turn of speed in excess of seventy kilometers an hour.

Obviously, the phrase is an allusion that can be used to refer to any other creature that behaves in the excitable and unpredictable manner of a "March hare". This odd behavior, doubtless hormone - fuelled, includes displays of mindless violence by challenging other hares to a boxing match, jumping around vertically for seemingly no reason and running around in ever decreasing circles, like furry but demented punk rockers. Sadly, it is the presence of females that seems to trigger it all and being mostly nocturnal, they only come out in the daytime to pick fights and generally

behave badly. Quite a survival strategy, really – they have, so I am told, been around since the time of the dinosaurs.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Lewis Carroll’s eccentric triumvirate, in the form of a Dormouse, a Mad Hatter and a March Hare which gets the award for first literary allusion – readers might remember Paul Whitehouse as Thackery Earwicket in the 2010 movie - a fine example of what Lewis Carroll once described as ‘Anglo-Saxon attitudes’ in “Through the Looking Glass”. Instead, John Skelton, the favorite teacher of King Henry VIII of England is supposed to have first come up with it as a term of abuse, which Good King Hal might have found useful when trying to find grounds for divorce, which of course he managed on embarrassingly frequent occasions. Had Henry remembered his old teacher’s words, saying to the admittedly feisty Anne Boleyn “thou madde Marche Hare”, it might have

made him feel a good deal better and possibly have saved her life. Female hares weren’t above a bit of cage fighting, fending off over-eager males with their front paws; but taking a swipe at the King’s Majesty, however, might not have been a great idea when kings decorated palace railings with the heads of their enemies.

Skelton entitled himself Poet Laureate, but it seemed the post was non-stipendiary at the time – he didn’t get paid anything, in other words - so he resorted to scribbling nonsense poetry for the Court. They seemed to rather go for this in the early 1500’s: “For though my ryme be ragged, Tattered and jagged, Rudely rayne beaten, Rusty and moughte eaten, It hath in it some pyth” Which no doubt comes across as screamingly funny after a beakerful of the good stuff and a bit of slap-and-tickle with the wenches.

Remaining with the poetic, just for a moment, I was reminded of a proper Poet Laureate, John Masefield, whose poem “Cargoes” I had to learn at school. This will surely bring a shudder to Britons subjected to a private school system wherein they were made to learn often pretty meaningless poems, just for the delight of superannuated old men who happened to have a cane. The meter of this has stayed with me, unfortunately, for almost fifty years…

“Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack, Butting through the Channel in the mad March days, With a cargo of Tyne coal, Road-rails, pig-lead, Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays.”

Old Perry’s glass being customarily halfempty, I can almost feel seasickness rising like a sea-wraith as I remember it. (Enough already. Lighten up! Ed) So, a stern word from he-who-must-beobeyed brings me to a springier side of March.

Those who follow this column closely (yes, I know you're all out there) might perhaps have noticed that Special Days in February got a resounding raspberry from me, most particularly the Feast of Saint Valentine.

This isn't because His Lordship the Editorin-Chief had told me not to, more a case of, well, in the absence of persons of importance in old Perry's life - doubtless a fleeting and temporary condition - elected to give the old roses-and-chocolates a miss this year. March, however is full of Important Anniversaries and the first I'd like to draw people's attention to is Employee Recognition

Day. Exactly, and no doubt coincidentally, six months away from Bosses Day. So, to all of you with 'employees' and, let's face it, in Kuwait that's pretty much everyone, the first Friday in March is the day set aside to be especially nice to them. A small gift, perhaps, or, if you're actually stinking rich, a plane ticket home so they get to see their family. Come on! Why ever not? Just a day or so later, however, just in case you change your mind, is, fatuously, "Be Nasty Day". No. I am not kidding. March 8th - go ahead, look it up - is the day when all the pent-up bile can be harmlessly released in a stream if vituperation, invective and sheer unpleasantness. You could save up all the things you had really wanted to say to someone all year then just let it all out in one go. Alternatively, sending an ecard with a few well-crafted vindictive thoughts on it...No. Perhaps not.

Now, on a much more serious note. Does anybody, apart from myself, in moments of despondency, ever wish that a friendly and non-threatening alien would just hitch a ride to our small star system, notice the presence of what appears to be intelligent life and beam you up to the mother ship for a spot of light entertainment? Yes, March 20th is "Alien Abduction Day". Despite exhaustive research, the originator of this anniversary cannot be located. It is, of course, highly probable that the creator has himself been abducted and is now enjoying himself on some exotic planet in a far-flung star system a few hundred light-years away. Celebrating might be a bit of a problem as well, unless one actually catches sight of an alien - the strange-looking individual wandering round the Avenues talking to himself doesn't count - it's probably me. Also, if you do happen to stumble across one, expressing the hope that they're gonna bring back Elvis might not be too realistic a possibility.

As always, beloved, the best is saved till last.

The Irish are a fine upstanding race and March 17th is engraved on the heart of every one of them. Lá Fhéile Pádraig is the anniversary of the death of Ireland's best-loved saint and a public holiday in his native land. Apart from pipe bands, dancing, shenanigans and, it must be admitted, a wee bit of misbehaviour, Irish men and women from Donegal to Detroit customarily 'wear the green', in memory of St Patrick using a three leaved shamrock which, it is said, he used to explain the doctrine of the Trinity to the pagan Irish.

Patrick is credited with a number of miracles, including ridding Ireland from snakes, but very probably, the place had no snakes to start with for him to drive out, but, the Irish love a good story. As you all well know, since you've had to listen to a few of mine from time to time right here in these pages, and, yes - the secret is finally out. Old Perry is an Irishman. This being so, as my own St Patrick's Day gift to you all, a final word from the Irish blood in me. Cue Uilleann pipes: May the Irish hills caress you; may her lakes and rivers bless you; may the luck of the Irish enfold you; may the blessings of St Patrick behold you.

And, in the Gaelic: Go muirní cnoic na hÉireann thú.

Go mbeannaí a lochanna agus a haibhneacha thú.

Go dtimpeallaí an ádh Eireannach thú.

Go bhféacha tú beannachtaí Lá Fhéile Phádraig.

Not Irish? Ah, well, we can't all be perfect.

Until next time...

March, 2015

#HappyNanny’sDay

In spite of the fact that working mothers willingly (yet not by choice) bring nannies into their lives, no mother can deny that she sometimes get this most unconscious feeling of jealousy that the nanny spends more time with her kids, "Will they feel attached to her more than they are to me?", "Does she share them all the good moments while I am away?".

However, do you stop and think that they have the very same concerns about their own kids? They are away…working! Someone else is watching after their kids, someone else is closer to their kids, sharing them the most important moments while they are away... working! Not for 6 or even 8 or 10 hours per day.. But for a minimum of 2 straight YEARS. Like most working mothers nowadays, I have a nanny who helps me be as "whole" as I need to be.

If I am cooking, she is washing the dishes.

If I am putting the kids to bed, she is ironing.

If I am arranging the closets, she is doing the laundry.

If I am helping my kids study, she is preparing the table for dinner.

If I am playing with them, she is cleaning.

Thus, if I consider

Sherihan A. Hassabo Sherihan A. Hassabo is a passionate writer who started expressing her opinion about controversial subjects when she was 14. When she is not directing events, she likes to investigate the interesting relationships' controversy in our Eastern society. Every month, and from real life experience; Sherihan will share a story, an idea, opinion, or a simple advice for men and women to live happily ever after. citypageskuwait.com

myself a "SuperMom" who tries to balance and fit everything into her normal 24-hours day and her very fast paced life, I have to admit that good nannies are the "Kryptonian Fortress of Solitude" that extend mothers like me with an extra pair of hands, legs, and eyes and makes them...well, "Super".

So let's not deny them a smile, a “thank you”, and a genuine appreciation.

This year, let's give all the good nannies out there this one day to recognize them as "CoMothers".

UNLIKELY COUPLES

John McArthur

I once had an opportunity to “swim with dolphins”, in other words to hang out with a member of a different species. I was really looking forward to it. This was a carefully controlled interaction, an almost scripted procedure. The dolphin knew the rules. I didn’t. I remember as I slipped into the water and the female dolphin and I looked each other up and down, I discovered a craving within me to communicate, described by some as a craving to be ‘rewilded’. We had no words or gestures in common. We came from different worlds, the dolphin and I. I was visiting and she was showing me around. I was left with the very powerful impression that here was a creature whose intelligence and mine were capable, in some completely abstract way, of connecting, using a set of rules that neither of us knew very well. She gazed at me for what seemed a long time. I peered back citypageskuwait.com

through my mask. Then, as if the conversation had by some unknown signal, come to an end, she swam close to me, slowing her speed, like a fighter pilot reduced to driving a bus. As I grasped her dorsal fin, the sense of reassurance was overwhelming. Like a good instructor, she seemed preternaturally aware of my capabilities in the water. I dove deep and she nudged me gently toward the surface. I was rather sorry when we had to part – I felt as if I had made a new friend.

Cross-species pair bonding is often touted in the “cat-makes-friends with-the-budgie” type pictures with which the Internet is littered as cute, because we anthropomorphise what we see, despite knowing, as Santosh Patel did in “The Life of Pi” that…‘animals do not think like we do’. He goes on ‘People who forget that get themselves killed. That tiger … is not your friend. When you look into his eyes you are seeing

your own emotions reflected back at you.'

I sometimes wonder to what extent I share those thoughts. The labels ‘friendship’ and ‘love’, which we ascribe to animal companions, may be mere reflections of our own human emotional condition. The old lady and her cat.

The little boy and his puppy.

The poet Tennyson said Nature was "red in tooth and claw" but sometimes even the laws of the animal kingdom - also indeed the imperatives of the food chain – seem to be able to be overridden, be ignored, even, resulting in some surprising and mutually beneficial ‘friendships’.

Few things seem to capture the public imagination more reliably than friendly interactions between different species. Videos of unlikely animal pairs apparently romping or snuggling have become so common that science is taking an interest and inviting a more systematic study. Among other things, according to some researchers, a study of such alliances could add to an understanding of how species communicate, what impels certain animals to connect across species lines and the degree to which some animals can adopt the behaviors of other species, in which, of course, we must include ourselves.

A goat frolics with a baby rhinoceros. A pig nestles up to a house cat. A Great Dane protectively shields a kitten; there are hundreds of examples. Even if there were only one, it raises the possibility that there’s something interesting going on, worthy of study. Historically, science has not entirely ignored unusual interactions between species.

In the mid-1900s, Konrad Lorentz, the pioneer animal behaviorist, demonstrated with others that during critical periods after birth, certain birds and other animals would follow the first moving object they saw, whether animal, human or machine, a phenomenon known as imprinting. Dr. Lorenz was famously photographed with a gaggle of imprinted geese waddling dutifully along behind him.

Yet, until quite recently, any suggestion that interspecies relationships might be based simply on companionship would have been met with derision, dismissed as Toy Storylike anthropomorphism. This seems to be changing, as research has gradually blurred a few of the edges between homo sapiens and other animals. Other species, it turns out, share abilities once considered exclusive to humans, including tool use, counting, certain aspects of language, emotion and even rudimentary morality.

Critics are mostly skeptical, asserting that the cuteness factor tends to override scientific judgment, since by watching the animals, it modifies their behavior, much like our own if we happen to realize we’re on camera.

Clive Wynne, a professor of psychology at Arizona State University, said that the videos he has seen all portray interactions that take place “in a human-controlled environment.”

Further, he noted that “to me, that’s what kind of removes what would otherwise be interesting because it ceases to be directly a story about animal behavior and becomes a story about human impact on the environment, like the difference between gardening and the beauty of natural landscape.” There’s a parallel in physics that if you actually interact with the apparatus of an experiment, by definition you distort its outcome. But others see fertile ground for investigation even in bonds formed in captivity or other domesticated, artificial settings.

In the meantime, there is no shortage of cute stories. An American researcher described watching her dog, a crossbred German Shepherd, forge a ‘friendship’ with a donkey on her Wyoming ranch.

At first, the donkey charged and kicked at the dog, apparently perceiving it as a threat. Little by little, the dog appeared to coax the donkey to interact, running up and down along the fence of the corral where the donkey was penned.

Time passed. Later, she wrote: “Each dawn, after being released from his corral, the donkey would stand outside our door and bray until I let the dog out, and then they would play and wander together for hours.”

The dog taught the donkey to pick up a stick and carry it in its mouth, although, the researcher admitted, “he looked like he didn’t quite know why he was walking around with a stick in his mouth.”

The two animals also appeared to work out a common language. When the donkey, several times the dog’s size, accidentally kicked the dog during play, the donkey would stand stock still, as if to say, “I didn’t mean it.” The dog would jump up and nip the donkey’s neck, appearing to signal, “That hurt.” Then the two would pick up playing where they had left off.

The problem researchers have at present is relatively few people are collecting examples of cross-species interactions in order to build a database that would merit scientific scrutiny and pattern recognition.

Whenever I look at videos or pictures of cross-species interaction, I find myself using the word ‘friendship’ to describe them, in the absence of any other. In other words, applying a whole overlay of meaning consistent with my own experience and belief system to the term, which is nuanced and highly sophisticated.

Perhaps the starting point, therefore, is to apply a rigorous definition of what constitutes

a “friendship” between members of different species.

In much the same way as Isaac Asimov defined the Three Laws of Robotics, we might make the following proposals. A relationship, must be sustained for some period of time; there must be observable mutuality, with both of the animals engaged in the interaction; and some sort of accommodation must take place in the service of the relationship, whether a modification in behavior or in communication.

Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado in Boulder, makes an interesting observation. He notes that ‘examples that involve animals raised together from a young age illustrate the openness present in many species for some time after birth.’ Perhaps cross-species interactivity is just something they’re born with and it’s only later experience that disillusions them. And, perhaps, us.

“Young animals are really open doors”, he said. That certainly appears to be the case at the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park where for over thirty years trainers have been pairing cheetahs with dogs at an early age. The dogs tend to develop psychological dominance and have a socializing effect on the restless, nervous cats.

At Haller Park in Kenya where Mzee, a 130-year-old tortoise, tends to Owen, an orphaned baby hippo - a man visiting the park with his child gazed at the unlikely couple and remarked, “If two very different creatures get along like this, then why cannot Iranians, Iraqis, Americans, Russians, Koreans, Palestinians and Israelis not get on?”

By this, of course, I’m not implying that someone from sub-Saharan Africa is a different species from a native of Japan, but there are enough cultural differences to make a gap that might seem unsurmountably large.

Bridging it with meaningful communication does require a little effort. We’re certainly in no position to achieve world peace without rapprochement and compromise, for sure.

The world is a fearsome place; no reader needs reminding of the atrocities perpetrated in it every day by groups of people convinced that they are right. We are, it seems, inadvertently taught to fear practically everything; the things we don’t understand threaten us. Why should anybody be surprised that there’s a profound desire for the pleasure and reassurance of peace? Many see in the meeting of dog and cheetah, goat and rhino, tiger and bear, an ideal of peaceful connection that humans too often find desperately elusive. Perhaps, in time, the lion indeed can learn to lie down with the lamb.

March, 2015

GERIATRIC… in a delicate shade of green!

Paul Turnbridge Being “green” and environmentally aware is big news these days. It seems that young people, students, and the “green brigade” believe they have discovered what is wrong with the world and are anxious to educate us all in the error of our ways to encourage future protection of our planet and its resources. Whilst I applaud any initiatives to reduce waste, and to reuse and recycle resources whenever possible, I wonder why this new generation offers little respect to their elders when it comes to all things “green”?

My sister, now a retired pensioner, forwarded me the following piece by JerryMarcia Richardson, and I should like to share it with you, too….

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the much older lady that she should bring her own grocery bags, because plastic bags are not good for the environment.

The woman apologized to the young girl and explained, "We didn't have this 'green thing' back in my earlier days."

The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

The older lady said that she was right -- our generation didn't have the "green thing" in its day. The older lady went on to explain: Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day. citypageskuwait.com

Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags that we reused for numerous things. Most memorable besides household garbage bags was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our school books. This was to ensure that public property (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribblings. Then we were able to personalize our books on the brown paper bags. But, too bad we didn't do the "green thing" back then.

We walked up stairs because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building.

We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks.

But she was right. We didn't have the "green thing" in our day.

Back then we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw away kind.

We dried clothes on a line, not in an energygobbling machine burning up 220 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-medown clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.

But that young lady is right; we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day.

Back then we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.

When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We

used a push mower that ran on human power.

We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.

But she's right; we didn't have the "green thing" back then.

We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blade in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull.

But we didn't have the "green thing" back then.

Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service in the family's $45,000 SUV or van, which cost what a whole house did before the "green thing." We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint.

But isn't it sad how the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn't have the "green thing" back then?

Please pass this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart-ass young person.

We don't like being old in the first place, so it doesn't take much to piss us off... especially from a tattooed, multiple-pierced-smartass who can't make change without the cash register telling them how much!

March, 2015

SUCCESSFUL

HOTELIER

Started your career in a hotel industry after graduating from a Hospitality school or maybe even interested to open own hotel business?

Whichever path as hotelier you decided to take, it is crucial to know some pillar that will help you build your career. I would like to share some skills that are important to become a successful hotelier. Remember, it is never too late to start!

Be Hard-Working: Hotel industry demands long hours and a lot of hard work but don’t forget the harder you work the more Aigerim Rahmet Born in Kazakhstan, lived in Prague, Czech Republic for more than 10 years, graduated with a HND in Business and BA(hons) in International Management from Teesside University, Aigerim Rahmet is an Assistant Spa Manager at Six Senses Spa. She earned an MBA in Hospitality Management from one of the top hospitality schools-Les Roches International school of Hotel Management and an MAS degree from Les Roches Gruyère University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland.

Follow Aigerim on Instagram at: @a_rahmet & @divineq8

citypageskuwait.com

successful you may become.

Be Knowledgeable: The more you learn the more knowledge you will gain. It is very important to learn how all departments in hotel are operating.

Be Communicative: Communication is very important. It can improve a customer service and help your employees to increase confidence in dealing with guests. Great communication with all hotel departments will provide a positive attitude and effective results.

Be Passionate: It’s not easy to become a successful hotelier as it takes a lot of time and hard work. Be passionate about your job and it will help you in all situations. Moreover, your passion can motivate other people who can increase work performance.

Be Flexible: Hotel duties are divided into different shifts and as an employee it is very important to be flexible with the schedule.

Sometimes you might need to be a duty

manager for a whole night or in other case start your duty from 5 or 6 am. It might be required to work over the weekends as well.

Take Care of Guests: Guest is also important and more importantly is to understand their needs. Remember the golden rule: “Guest is always right”.

Take Care of Employees: Employees are the soul of the hotel and most important part of the business. Take some time to understand their goals and interests in order to build a healthy environment where they can operate effectively and happily. Show them that you care about all of them and make all team treat each other as they would treat a guest.

Be Humble: Walk with self-confidence but not with arrogance and pride.

Be Trendy: Nowadays world is moving extremely fast along with all the trends.

Always be informed about the latest trends in hospitality industry by taking time to study and analyze carefully.

March, 2015

GOOD FRANCE/GOÛTDEFRANCE

An Exclusive Interview with H.E. Mr. Christian Nakhlé - The Ambassador of France to Kuwait and Chef Faisal Al Nashmi On Thursday, 19 March 2015, all around the world, restaurants will offer more than 1300 dinners to celebrate France’s gastronomy by inviting the public to share a “French Dinner”. In each participating restaurant, the event will render homage to a vibrant, open and innovative cuisine, while remaining true to its values of sharing, pleasure, and respect for good food, and for the planet. This first Goût de France/Good France event has already proved successful, with more participants than anticipated.

The Goût de France / Good France initiative is being organized by Alain Ducasse and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Goût de France / Good France event is inspired by Auguste Escoffier, who launched the “Dîners d’Épicure” (Epicurean Dinners) initiative – the same menu, the same day, in several world cities and aimed at as many diners as possible – in 1912.

Goût de France / Good France is reproducing that beautiful idea with the desire to involve restaurants all around the world. Each chef will offer a “French-style” menu in their restaurant with a traditional French aperitif, a cold starter, a hot starter, fish or shellfish, meat or poultry, a French cheese (or cheeseboard), a chocolate dessert, while remaining free to highlight their own culinary traditions and cultures.

The cuisine will be accessible to all, from bistros through to exceptional restaurants, and based on fresh, seasonal and local products with lower levels of fat, sugar, salt and protein. The menu’s price is at the restaurant’s discretion, and they are all encouraged to donate 5% of proceeds to a local NGO promoting health and the environment.

To know more about this grand event CityPages got the opportunity to meet H.E. Mr. Christian Nakhlé, the Ambassador of France to Kuwait, and Chef Faisal Al Nashmi, the Owner of Al Makan restaurant and learned how Kuwait will be participating.

What is Good GoûtdeFrance ?

France/

The French worldwide event Good France / Goût de France is a gastronomic journey with the pleasure of tasting the French gastronomy.

On Thursday, 19 March, all around the world, 1300 restaurants will offer a dinner to celebrate France’s gastronomy by inviting the public to share a typical “French Dinner”.

Good France / Goût de France initiative is being organized by the French Minister of Foreign citypageskuwait.com

Affairs and International Development, Mr Laurent Fabius (@laurentfabius), and the worldwide renowned French Chef Mr Alain Ducasse. Both of them were inspired by the “epicurean dinner” created by Auguste Escoffier, a French chef and culinary writer who popularized and updated traditional French cooking methods. He is a legendary figure among chefs and gourmets, and was one of the most important leaders in the development of modern French cuisine.

In 1912, Auguste Escoffier launched the

same menu, the same day, in several cities of the world. Good France / Goût de France is echoing that beautiful idea.

What results you are expecting from Good France?

Through Good France / Goût de France initiative, we would like to share with the whole world one of the most important French heritage. The French Gastronomic meal is designated a UNESCO World Heritage since

March, 2015

2010. As declared by Mr Laurent Fabius, this heritage should be built upon and showcased and, every year, March 19 will be the day to discover and try the French gastronomy.

Also, French Gastronomy is a genuine pull factor for 60% of tourists visiting our country. The last figures report around 60.000 Kuwaitis traveling to France every year Good France / Go没t de France is in a way to experience France from Kuwait and to invite Kuwaiti tourists to try our various local culinary specialties from North France to South.

Who will be on the invitees list from Kuwait for the Good France event?

Good France / Go没t de France is a unique opportunity to enjoy and share the taste of France. The invitation is opened to all Kuwaitis, citypageskuwait.com

Twitter @Good_France @laurentfabius @francekoweit Instagram @Good_France @francekoweit @laurentfabius Hashtags #laurentfabius #GoodFrance

March, 2015

people living in Kuwait, to all the lovers of food, of creativity and to those who want to awaken their taste buds. This gastronomic experience is a perfect illustration of two important specificities of the French Culture: promoting local specialties and openness to the world.

As per the concept 5% of the total revenue will go to local charities, which local charity/NGO has been selected from Kuwait and why?

Beyond the promotion of France and its gastronomy, Good France / Go没t de France was also thought to be a charity action. The 1300 restaurants are encouraged to donate 5% of proceeds to a local NGO promoting health and environment. The Chef Faisal Al Nashmi will be free to appoint any local Kuwaiti NGO.

How many Chefs from Kuwait applied for this event and how many are selected? citypageskuwait.com

The Embassy of France in Kuwait organized a large campaign of The Embassy of France in Kuwait organized a large campaign of communication to promote this event and to invite all the Kuwaiti chefs to share this culinary experience. We started promoting this event on November, 4th, 2014 by publishing articles on our official website www. ambafrance-kw.fr, and also on our Twitter and Instagram accounts @ francekoweit. The first Kuwaiti Chef who applied was Chef Faisal Al Nashmi (Al Makan restaurant). As this event will be organized every year, we wish to count with us more Kuwaiti Chefs on March 19, 2016.

What would be a secret/special travel advice for our readers?

When you travel to France make sure to step out of Paris and travel to the other parts of the country because France being a rural country each and every region has its own unique food and flavor.

Interview With Chef Faisal AlNashmi What are your feelings after being selected and a part of this event?

I first thought it was a prank. When I received a phone call saying that I was selected, I could not believe it. It is an opportunity that I could never expect. I really wanted to take part in Good France as it was personally good for me and also for our country. I have been constantly trying to elevate the food palette in Kuwait. It has been very difficult because people are so used to their food and are not easy to change.

French cuisine is very rich and diverse and can easily be adapted to any region. I have been planning and working on this event for a while now and I hope it will be successful.

What is on the menu for this particular event?

We had a standard guideline that we had to follow. The whole menu is influenced by French cuisine and techniques. I am trying to develop new items which people won't believe is French and yet delicious.

What will be the price for a meal?

The price will be around KD35 to KD45. The whole restaurant has to be redecorated with the look and feel of the French theme.

Are you planning to offer French Cuisine on regular basis in your restaurant?

Yes, I always create specials and will have dishes form the Frenh cuisine.

Your message for CityPages Magazine readers?

Because this event is based on French cuisine and food so I would like them to understand cuisines other than what they are accustomed to.

French cuisine offers wide variety and vast variations. When I mean French food, it is a whole different technique and different methods of cooking.

We have tasted the Arabic food, pizzas and burgers. Now it’s time to open our doors to other foods as well.

March, 2015

E T I IGN

h t i W Q&A

I A S U

T L O B N

up warm r a o t a N shoe I we ar IGa runningrtant that . I love e w p you E as impo rgy u . It’s n do ith IGNIT , and it’s s my ene ifference e h Q: Wtart out w to a spike and keep ke a real d s a n e A: I ing i rtabl l it m re go is comfo d can fee well. ther o f e b o o as t at an , h e t t o a e e h r th sho par ng s TE fo ooki NITE com E IGNI ty good-l d. IG wear T n I a t t N s e IG t of der r? a pr oes ou wea t, you’ll un. I put a lo but still d How shoes yn your fee ’ve run in e durable Q: ing t it o hoe I hey’r runn en you pu fortable s portant t for h gn A: W most com so it’s im i s e e d is the y shoes f th was m o o . t k e nd I e I n l i a n b i a o t g h a or ho u t year comf ng s o yo out a no runni . d b a t TE e ha azing IGNI ’s lik Q: W E? duced to design, it it feels am T I but IGN as intro ith the lf to good myse ica A: I w happy w It looks h s u . y ma sp reall ver seen run?n. I alway ome in Ja ble to r e u e a o i hav I’m h to be tes y e to w me igni the desir st. When appy and it makes t a h e ; y h b d b r s Q: W ignited o be the y parent dn’t affo t l A: I’m tter and to see m wise cou journey. re , r e y e e l l b i h o t o nspi m h o i d a w e f l s w y l i i m th gs E w with em thin started on’t t NIT th a G h e I v w ou d on i y g e k t , r a n i i e ne ec u th f run appr e sho ind o y put th nergized o yo k d y e e ow rs? by an vate how ce th Q: Hr runne be worn think on e it is and will moti othe NITE can rinter. I mfortabl they feel o p A: IG to be a s nd how c at energy ain a h t e t s v r e rem ha op nde h u o .

I t l g l ’ n they ill feel. e runni you rI w u arde help they to contin he h E T T I .

E them IGN GNIT will r’? r in I e g w n o lo ste Q: Hever Fa arder and h r o n e.

‘F an trai I’ll b c A: I he faster t train

citypageskuwait.com

ITE?

March, 2015

DRY EYE FACTS The prevalence of dry eye is certainly on the increase - we have all heard the complaints of "dry eyes" especially during our recent dusty weather. How can "eyes" be dry? Dry eyes occur when your tears are not able to produce enough moisture for your eyes. Tears are a natural reflex that moisten, protect & cleanse the eyes.

Treatments:

•Stringy mucous in & around your eyes •Difficulty wearing contact prolonged periods of time

lenses

for

•Periods of excessive tearing (Strange!

However, these are called irritant tears & are produced as a reflex reaction. These tears are just normal water & do not contain a healthy mix of mucous, fat & water. Therefore they just run off your eyes & do not lubricate the way healthy tears do)

Treatments for dry eyes do not offer a permanent solution.

Recommended treatments are there to make your eyes feel more comfortable. These may include: •Lifestyle changes i.e. less periods of intensive computer usage •Artificial tears or lubricating eye drops

Dry Eye Facts:

•Looking at your cosmetic ingredients carefully to obtain what could be an irritant to your eyes

•Dry eye symptoms become more common as we get older because tear production decreases as we age

•Reducing the wearing time of contact lenses & therefore giving the eyes more natural oxygen

•Increased sensitivity to smoke & wind

•Dry eye is more common in women than men.

It is more likely to flare up due to hormonal changes, the birthing process & breast-feeding

•Eye strain after short to long periods of concentrating on near & distance objects whilst wearing your glasses

•Certain medications can cause dry eyes i.e. contraceptives, anti-histamines, antidepressants & blood pressure medications

•Red eyes

•Certain disorders i.e. rheumatoid arthritis, bells palsy can cause dry eyes

•Nutrition rich in omega 3 fatty acids i.e. sardines, cod fish etc are considered as excellent sources to alleviate dry eye symptoms. As well especially in our very hot weather it is important to be well hydrated, which plays a direct role in the dryness of your eyes

So how do you actually know if you do have dry eyes? What symptoms will you experience?

Here are some answers to those questions: •A stinging & burning sensation in your eyes •Foreign body sensation in the eyes •Sensitivity to light

Natalie Rose Choonoo

Natalie is an optometrist and contact lens specialist at International Optique. She has a Bachelor of Optometry from the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal South Africa. For more information contact International Optique. Tel: 25714007 – 97234753, www.intoptic.com – info@intoptic.com, Instagram: @intoptique citypageskuwait.com

•Your environment affects the moisture of your eyes i.e. long haul flights can cause dry eyes. Intensive computer work for long periods of time with no breaks is a major cause of dry eyes in the technological world of today.

•When the above solutions do not result in any significant changes to your dry eye symptoms, then only would surgery be indicated. This surgery would include the insertion of a "plug" into your main tear duct to keep tears at bay from draining away too quickly. Some individuals may also need their tear ducts to be closed surgically.

March, 2015

THE STOMACH BUG Few things can prove more painful or inconvenient when compared to the symptoms of a stomach bug from stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, to the muscle aches, headaches, and fever, these bugs are just dreadful. Digestive tract illnesses can cause many to spend several hours of the day running to restrooms while confining others to the house for extended periods. Though often temporary, stomach bugs can last several days to more than a week and may lead to more dire situations if not properly treated.

Causes Stomach bugs are known as gastroenteritis, a condition characterized by an inflamed, irritated stomach and intestines. People are most likely to contract gastroenteritis after eating contaminated foods or drinking contaminated water. Sharing items, like utensils, with someone who is infected is another way to contract gastroenteritis. Viral gastroenteritis is caused by a virus that enters the body. However, bacteria and parasites also are responsible for stomach bug outbreaks.

Viruses that trigger gastroenteritis include adenoviruses, rotaviruses, calciviruses, Dr. Nazia Nausheen

Dr. Nazia Nausheen is a certified medical doctor. She also holds a Masters Degree in Business, Specializing in Sales and Marketing. Readers should look forward to her regular articles on women health and other general health related issues. citypageskuwait.com

astroviruses, and noroviruses. Bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis include E.coli, salmonella, campylobacter and shigella.

Treatment

Many people opt for a wait and see approach when struck with stomach bugs.

Gastroenteritis often heals on its own. Some refer to it as a “24-hour-bug” and find that once the stomach has been purged clean, the offender no longer wrecks havoc on the body. However, stomach bugs can be more persistent as well. Sufferers should visit a doctor if vomiting or diarrhea last more than a few days. Doctors may take a stool sample to determine what is behind the bug. In the event of a bacterial infection, an antibiotic may be needed to clear up the infection. Visiting a doctor when stomach problem persist is also beneficial to rule out certain conditions, such as colitis, ulcers or Crohn’s disease.

Helpful Hints

When a stomach bug strikes, it is best to refrain from eating, especially when vomiting regularly. Stick to clear broths and liquids, which are easy on digestive system, while the stomach is irritated. Once vomiting has subsided, sufferers should opt for a bland diet.

When plagued by diarrhea, the BRAT diet is advisable. This acronym stands for Banana, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. These foods are relatively easy to digest.

Since a stomach bug often leads to dehydration, drink plenty of fluids. To restore salt and electrolyte balances, sports drinks are advisable for adults, while a beverage like Pedialyte is best for children and elderly.

When symptoms begin to subside, sufferers can gradually add foods back into their diets.

However, men and women should avoid particularly spicy or heavy foods until they are convinced that they have fully recovered.

Many people are tempted to turn to an antidiarrheal medication at the first sign of a stomach bug, however, the side effects of gastroenteritis are the body’s method of ridding itself from whatever has brought on symptoms.

Failure to let nature run its course can result in a rebound of symptoms or a longer-lasting sickness.

Precautions To avoid suffering from stomach bugs, here are some tips to consider: •Frequently wash your hands when preparing food and thoroughly cook foods, particularly meat, poultry, and eggs, to reduce potential exposure to bacteria.

•E.coli may be present on fresh produce so wash them carefully before consumption.

•Consider taking a probiotic supplement to increase the amount of good bacteria in your digestive tract. Yoghurt also contains live cultures that are good at maintaining digestive health.

•Stomach bugs are never enjoyable, but there are ways to manage the symptoms and get back on the road to recovery.

Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877

www.boushahricp.com

KNOW ALL ABOUT Boushahri_clinic

FRECKLES

What is the Freckle?

Freckles are little brown spots on the skin that are caused by the sun. We all have pigmentproducing cells in our skin called melanocytes.

These melanocytes produce melanin pigment and feed it to keratinocytes, the normal skin cells that form the outer barrier of our skin.This barrier protects us from the insults of nature, and importantly, from the sun. This pigment prevents us from being damaged by the sun’s powerful rays. When our melanocytes become damaged by the sun, we produce freckles, which are simply abnormal collections of melanin pigment in the skin.

2.Why do Freckles develop?

Freckles are thought to develop as a result of a combination of genetic tendency (inheritance) and sun exposure. Two people receiving the same sun exposure may not have an equal chance of developing freckles. Natural sunlight and artificial sun tanning lights emit ultraviolet (UV) rays. After exposure to ultraviolet rays, the outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) thickens and the pigment-producing cells (the melanocytes) produces the pigment melanin at an increased rate. (This production of melanin may give some protection against future sun exposure.)

Of course, people differ a great deal in their reaction to sunlight. To take an extreme example, there is no pigmentation in the skin of an albino because of a defect in melanin metabolism. On the other hand, people with dark complexions are relatively less sensitive to sun exposure than fair-skinned people.

However, people with dark skin are not entirely resistant to the effects of the sun, and they, too, can become sunburned with prolonged exposure. People with blond or red hair, lightcolored eyes, and fair skin are especially citypageskuwait.com

susceptible to the damaging effect of UV rays.

6.What is the treatment for freckles?

Heredity and skin type are very important factors for the tendency to develop freckles.

Freckles tend to be inherited genetically and are most common in individuals with fair skin and/or with blond or red hair.

Several safe and effective methods are available to help lighten or reduce the appearance of freckles. Frequently, multiple or a combination of treatments may be required for best results. Not everyone's skin will improve with similar treatments, and freckles can easily recur with repeated UV exposures.

3.Is it hereditary?

4.How can we avoid Freckles?

Since we cannot change our own genetic component of freckling, our main prevention measures are aimed at sun avoidance and sun-protection, including: 1.Use of sunscreens with SPF (sun protection factor) 50, 2.Use of wide-brimmed hats (6 inches), 3.Use of sun-protective clothing (shirts, long sleeves, long pants), 4.Avoidance of the peak sun hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 5.Seeking shade and staying indoors.

Freckle prevention is more effective than freckle removal. Freckle-reduction treatments are more difficult and not always satisfactory.

People with known hereditary tendencies of freckling should start sun protection early in childhood. Much of the sun and UV skin damage occurs often while children are under age 18.

5.Are Freckles associated with fair skin only?

Fair-skinned people who are more prone to freckling and sunburns are also generally more at risk for developing skin cancers.

Freckles may be a warning sign of sensitive skin that is highly vulnerable to sunburn and to potential skin cancer

1. Bleaching or fading creams: Products containing hydroquinone and kojic acid can be purchased with and without a prescription.

Higher concentrations of hydroquinone (over 2%) require a prescription. These products can help lighten freckles if they are applied consistently over a period of months.

Bleaching or fading creams are most effective in combination with sun avoidance and sun protection.

2. Retinoids: Sometimes used in conjunction with other bleaching creams, tretinoin(vitamin A acid, Retin-A), tazarotene(Tazorac), and adapalene (Differin) also may help lighten freckles when applied consistently over a period of several months.

3.Cryosurgery: A light freeze with liquid nitrogen in the physician's office can be used to treat some types of freckles. Not all spots respond to freezing or burning.

4.Laser treatment: Multiple types of lasers may help lighten and decrease the appearance of freckles safely and effectively.

Like cryosurgery, this is a simple and safe procedure with a high success rate and a low risk of scarring or skin discoloration.

5.Photofacials or Intense Pulsed Light treatments are another method to lighten and remove freckles. This is not a true laser technique but an intense light source.

6.Chemical peels can also help lighten freckles and improve irregular pigmentation

Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877

www.boushahricp.com

Boushahri_clinic

&

Fabrice Maureau

Singer, musician, composer and enlightened soul citypageskuwait.com

I first heard Fabrice perform a live set on 99.7 RKFM while driving home from work one day and remember thinking what an incredible voice this man has, followed by the assumption that he was a visiting artist here from France for an private performance somewhere. I also remember thinking how much I missed listening to live music, something that I was used to doing whilst living in London, something which I used to enjoy immensely.

Fast forward six months or so, a friend of mine invites me to join her at a live concert taking place at Bayt Lothan entitled ‘A Night In’ featuring local live acts, and to my pleasant surprise, I find Fabrice singing yet again and it turns out that this hidden treasure has been living right here all along and performing locally at the many live music mini concerts that have been the rage lately.

A French language teacher by day and a musician by night, Fabrice claims he has been busy living a life that right now suits him perfectly.

Although he has performed with some professional greats such as Herbie Hancok, Tyrone Downie of the Wailers, and even the Gypsy Kings, Fabrice has kept a low profile; all of his own design. He isn’t a very big fan of fame, something which he could have had quite easily, he claims he would much rather be “making music”. Intelligence and wisdom beyond his years keeps him grounded and are what helped him

avoid the trappings of fame which don’t impress him at all.

I was bewildered at first, wondered what a talent like him is doing in Kuwait, yet after having a very long and interesting conversation walked away totally convinced that this man knows more about life than I ever could. He exudes confidence and even aloofness, but once he starts talking that first impression quickly changes to one of pure admiration. Although he did so much during while living in the South of France, playing concerts night after night, producing and recording original music, collaborating with heavy weight musicians, I had to cajole him into talking. But once the floodgates opened I was able to form the perfect story.

Fabrice was born in the Carribbean but moved to the South of France at a young age where he went to school and honed his musical talents.

Although he plays the guitar now , he actually started out playing other instruments. His mother was and is a great influence on his life, and both his parents clearly instilled a great deal of confidence through their support. This explains why he isn’t the type to look for appreciation or attention elsewhere. Yet appreciation came anyway and Fabrice went on to play opening acts for major artists at live concerts and eventually was awarded a prize by the French store chain La Fnac, as well as a Sacem (Societe des auters) award grant.

Yet, Fabrice takes in life very slowly and although appreciates his contributions on a professional level, his one and only passion is his music. Right now he says he is happy living and performing in Kuwait and loves the new music scene that has been gaining momentum lately.

Im certainly not complaining.

Learn more about Fabrice by logging onto www.fa7production.fr or follow him on Facebook and Twitter @fabriceroots.

March, 2015

PREPARING FOR THE

UNEXPECTED In the childbirth education classes that I teach, I always encourage parents to expect the unexpected. From the moment conception becomes a possibility, we begin to weave our expectations into the experience. Indeed with advanced technology and pregnancy testing, along with 3-D and ultrasound imaging, couples are creating expectations and forming bonds earlier with their babies than ever before. And while I am a proponent of education, preparation, and the power of positive thinking, the most predictable thing for expectant parents to expect, is unpredictability.

Prepare Your Mind for Different Eventualities: One of the best ways to prepare for unexpected outcomes in pregnancy and birth is to acknowledge your fears and concerns. It doesn’t matter how small or big you think it is. Spend some quiet moments in meditation, and then allow yourself to free-flow as your write down all of the thoughts and concerns that come into your mind.

Sarah Paksima

Sarah Paksima is BirthKuwait Co-Founder and President Emeritus and a Doula, Childbirth Educator.

BirthKuwait is a non-profit organization operating as part of The Voluntary Health Association.For more information, visit their website: www.birthkuwait.com or Instagram: @birthkuwait

citypageskuwait.com

Now that you have your list, sit down with your partner and talk through each one. Discuss things like: How probable is your concern?

What can you do to decrease your risk? How would you feel if your fear becomes a reality?

What would that scenario look like and how would your face it? It is important for partners to acknowledge one another’s concerns or fears as valid, respect each others feelings, and reassure one another that no matter what happens, you can face it together.

After you have worked through your list, tuck it away and let it go. Some couples prefer to rip it up or burn the list as a way of symbolically “releasing” their fears. Now that you have acknowledged your fears and concerns and “released” them, you can stop worrying or allowing anxiety to rule your thoughts.

Redirect your energy into trying to be present and enjoying each moment of your life.

We all know that life is unpredictable, so we do what we can to prepare ourselves for the best outcome possible while remaining open to life taking a different course. We learn to find beauty in all of life’s different paths and journeys, and not just the ones we had envisioned. We learn to be grateful for lessons learned and experiences that shape us and give us perspective, even the challenging ones.

Coping with Grief: Whether “small” or “big”, women who experience unexpected outcomes usually experience some form of grief, including strong emotions of anger, sorrow, pain, guilt, or numbness. They may also experience

physical signs of grief including tightness in their throat or chest, difficulty breathing, lack of energy, or the inability to eat or sleep. IN addition to these emotional and physical signs of grief, most mothers also ask themselves the same three questions: “Why me?”; “What did I do wrong?”; and “How am I going to get through this?” The answers are always: “Why not you and someone else?”; “Nothing”; And “One day at a time.”

Allow yourself to move through the stages of grief at least once, if not several or many times.

This may take months or years. These stages include: 1) Denial and Isolation, 2) Anger, 3) Bargaining (if only I/you had…), 4) Depression, and 5) Acceptance. Allow yourself to mourn the big and small losses, including the inability to conceive, a miscarriage or stillbirth, a birth or baby that did not arrive as planned, an intervention you were not expecting, a breastfeeding goal you were unable to reach… or whatever other unexpected event you are grieving.

In addition to allowing yourself and others affected by the loss to grieve, prepare yourself to answer the difficult questions posed by those who are unaware of your loss. Questions like: “Oh, you must have had your baby!

Congratulations! How did the birth go?” For a mother who has just lost her baby, these questions can be paralyzing and make it difficult to move forward. Work with a close friend, a doula, or a grief counselor to come up with your answers, and then practice them.

These answers should be as simple as: “Thank you for asking. Unfortunately we lost our baby, but I appreciate your asking.” I encourage couples to role-play, and practice answering this question over and over again. Until grieving parents can answer this question, leaving the house and facing the world is difficult, and movement through the stages of grief is halted.

As you dream of a new life with your baby, take a moment to consider all possibilities, to articulate your fears, and talk through your concerns. Then, take a deep breath, and let go of the things you cannot control. Remain open to life taking you on journeys you never expected. And no matter what path you find yourself on, know that every smaller path we travel is part of a larger journey, and even the most difficult crossroads eventually open up to brighter prospects if you can just make it through. And you can. One step, one hour, and one day, at a time.

Helpful Resources: BirthKuwait www.birthkuwait.com Soor Center for Professional Therapy www. soorcenter.com Fawzie Sultan Rehabilitation Institute www. fsrikuwait.org http://www.marchofdimes.org/loss/dealingwith-your-grief.aspx http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mentalhealth-coping-with-grief

March, 2015

YOU’VE HEARD ABOUT ‘TUMMY-TIME’ HOW ABOUT ‘SIDE-LYING SPELLS’?

By Sue Heron

MCSP Paediatric Physiotherapist, Head of Training Tatty Bumpkin Ltd

As a paediatric physiotherapist working in the area of education I have learnt a great deal from my teacher colleagues. In turn, those I work with have enjoyed learning more about physical development from the perspective of a therapist.

For this article I will discuss ‘rolling into citypageskuwait.com

and playing in the side-lying position’ as an

example of how a basic physical skill forms part of the foundation for more complex gross motor and fine motor skills later in life.

Interestingly side-lying is not talked about as much as tummy-time but it is none-the-less important for young babies.

Always remember never to force an activity with a baby or child and to keep checking that

they are happy and comfortable.

Rolling Into Side-lying At around 4-5 months of age babies may start to roll onto their side – this is the first stage of rolling.

Initially babies tend to roll in a ‘curled up’ (flexed) position, rolling from their back onto

midline of their body.

Remember 4-5 month old babies tire quickly in side-lying so don’t play for more than a few minutes in this position and keep checking to make sure they are comfortable.

Three Benefits of Side-lying for Older Babies A 6-7month old baby will be able to stay in side-lying for a longer and will continue to benefit from the position i.e.

1.Progressing core stability. As they develop

encourage this positon by: toys to the side of the baby and encouraging them to get there by themselves, as explained above. nSupporting them in the side-lying positon on your lap. nLying down opposite them in side-lying to play! nPlacing

their side i.e.

1. The baby is playing on their back, bending their knees up and reaching forward with their hands.

2. As a result of these arm and leg movements the baby’s back moves into a more unstable, rounded position and the baby starts to wobble side to side.

3. Then the baby sees their favourite toy and they turn their head to look at it. As a result of this head movement, you will often find the baby’s body, almost automatically, ‘follows’ their head and the baby rolls onto their side to play.

You can help a baby practice their early rolling skills by firstly encouraging them to look at a toy whilst they are on their back and then by slowly moving the toy over to one side. As the baby turns their head to look at the toy their body will usually follow. You may need to give them a little gentle assistance around their shoulder and hip areas.

Playing in Side-lying A 4-5 month old baby is likely to enjoy playing in side lying for brief periods. You can

Three Benefits of Side-lying for Younger Babies 1.Building up early core stability, aiding the development of the rib cage. Side-

lying activates the deeper stomach muscles especially the ‘oblique’ stomach muscles.

Activity in these deep tummy muscles helps the baby to stabilise their middle area or their ‘core’. This ‘core stability’ allows the baby to do more complex arm leg movements whilst they are on the floor and will form the foundation of sitting skills. Side-lying also plays an important role in shaping the rib cage, via the effect of gravity and through the activation of the oblique tummy muscles.

Babies who lie on their backs for long periods can have inactive oblique tummy muscles and may have noticeably ‘flatter’ shaped chests.

control of their body the older baby will be able to keep their balance in side-lying whilst reaching further for a toy with their hands.

These reaching movements help the baby to develop their core muscles further.

2.Foundation walking skills. In side-lying

a 6 month baby will frequently move their legs in different ways at the same time i.e. they may bend one leg up whilst keeping the other straight. These selective leg movements provide an early foundation for walking.

Don’t forget the feet! Often older

babies will stabilise themselves in side-lying by putting their ‘top’ foot on the ground see picture below (Courtesy of stellarcaterpillar. com). This movement provides them with an early experience of taking a small amount of weight through their lower leg, ankle and foot.

Far better, and more natural, than standing in a baby walker!

As a final thought, after a busy morning, why not relax with your older babies in side-lying?

You will be supporting the physical skills I have talked about and the positon will offer you a great way to communicate with each other.

2.Visual development. Side-lying allows the

baby to have a different view of the world.

3.Right in the middle! nAs a baby rolls and plays on their side they will experience a range of sensations. These rich and varied sensations not only motivate the baby to move they also help them to build up an accurate image of the middle area of their body in their mind. When babies kick with their legs and reach with their arms they will also build up ‘pictures’ of their limbs in their brains. nAs a baby plays with a toy in side-lying, they will be holding their hands in the middle, or ‘the mid-line’, of their body. Later on, having a good awareness of their midline helps children to learn complex skills such as dressing, which require them to do up zips and buttons in the March, 2015

Ivy

LAUGHTON

It is said that multi-passionate are few gifted people who have the ability to have many different focal points at different times, multiple talents, and extreme passion. Ivy Laughton, a registered nurse, model, singer, and a photographer, is one such person who is genetically wired to be interested in many things‌ the owner of a remarkable, multitalented brain. CityPages invites you to know more about this amazing multi-talented Filipino who infuses passion in just about everything she does. citypageskuwait.com

March, 2015

Photographer: Romeo Debies

E L P I T L U M G E N I N N I O B O M T N I CO S Y N E O N I R S U O J PAS G N I L L I F FUL

Hi, please introduce yourself to our readers: My name is Ivy Laughton. My nationality has always been a mystery to a lot of people.

If I get a KD every time somebody makes a wrong guess about where I’m from, I’d be rich by now. I always get mistaken as Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Columbian, Spanish (yes not joking!), anything but Filipino. One time a guy asked me if I’m from Italy, I replied, “You need glasses!” I am very proud though to say I’m from Philippines.

I am a multi passionate person, probably a fancier word for ADHD because I love doing so many things. If I could, I would love to have 48 hours in a day.

I can be very serious and intense about my work and absolutely single minded if I’m doing a project I really love.

To keep me sane, I love winding up my friends.

I have a warped and sometimes raunchy sense of humour but I’ll try to behave myself right now.

I am an outgoing introvert if that makes sense.

Tell us about your education: As I always say, I am a registered nurse by profession but an artist at heart. I worked at a hospital when I was in the Philippines, Dental Nurse when I first came here in Kuwait and then a School Nurse at an International School for six years.

Nursing to me was a means to an end. It’s a noble profession and it’s secure but I always felt that it’s not where I’m supposed to be, I was feeling restless all the time. Maybe I like living on the edge!

When and how did you come to Kuwait?

I came to Kuwait in 2002. I was supposed to go to Dubai but the visa took a long time to process so I ended up here. One month after I got all my paperwork done, the visa in Dubai

citypageskuwait.com

was approved but I decided to stay.

What are some of your hobbies?

I read a lot. I read about everything from history, biographies, war, theology, psychology, self help books and fairy tales… just to name a few. I have been reading a lot of business books lately.

I enjoy dancing and with the right partner I can do it all night or until my feet hurts.

I also paint and draw although I haven’t done it in ages because there’s not enough time.

Daydreaming is another favourite hobby. I think it’s an occupational hazard if you’re an artist. I get spaced out quite often.

How has been your modeling experience and which are some of your favorite assignments?

Modeling has taught me a lot. I’ve learned to have a thick skin and how to handle rejections.

What I like most about it is that I’m better at taking care of myself now. I am eating right and working out regularly. Not because I want to but because I have to. It helps with my moods and keeps me happy - well, most of the time. That’s the icing to the cake.

Compared to other models, I don’t do it on a regular basis and I like it that way. After a while it’s gets monotonous no matter how fun it is. I prefer to mix up my activities whether it’s singing or taking photos.

March, 2015

Photographer: Romeo Debies

Nurse. I only got busy during playtime that means I had a lot of time in my hands so I taught myself photography. I read books and practiced. The children at school became my subjects since I was with them most of the time. Gradually, I was doing it as a side job and eventually I left Nursing to do it full time.

What do you photograph and how would you describe your style?

I love people so I have to be a portrait photographer. I specialized in newborn, pregnant women, children and family.

My style is modern and contemporary.

How can clients reach you for photography projects?

They can see my work on www.snugglebugsphotography.com. They can contact me through my website.

How do you update your photography skills?

I do “Project Shoots” they’re non-paid shoots that are not normally my genre, just experiment really. I try to do it once a month or when I’m on holiday. I am planning to add “Teens” on my portfolio soon.

What are your future plans?

To keep doing what I’m doing. I would also like to make a difference to others. I don’t know quite

My favourite assignment was when I became the cover-girl for Avenues magazine. Since, I am also a photographer, I get invited to photo shoots a lot. That day, I thought I was going to do the usual thing - I'll watch the shoot, joke around at the studio, have coffee when it's finished and that’s it. For some reason it wasn't going very well and the people in charge of the magazine postponed the photo shoot. Later on, I got a call and they said they wanted me as the model for that month’s issue. I was of course very excited and being a cover-girl was more than enough for me. I was very surprised when my photos were all over Avenues as well and they were massive. When my friend showed it to me, I was in some kind of shock. It was very surreal and at the same time, a humbling experience.

The other one was when I was an Ambassador for American Tourister and Tik Tok. It was fun going to events and of course seeing my photos on the billboards and at the airport.

But it’s nothing compared to the feeling that somehow I was able to make an impact to the Filipino community. I felt that I was able to contribute in my own little way. I also made some really good friends in the Behbehani company.

You also sing, why didn't you focus much on it and make it your main career?

Believe it or not, I have a terrible stage fright.

I’m hoping I’ll overcome it before I turn 80!

I was in a band before, my band mates used to tell me to move my body when I’m singing and not just stand like a pole. I’d get so nervous I’d freeze up. It took a while for me to loosen up.

How did your interest in photography begin?

It started when I was working as a School citypageskuwait.com

how to do it yet or when it is going to happen but that’s the plan for now.

Your message for our readers: Leaving a cushy job is the scariest thing you will ever do. When the going gets tough, remember this quote “Nothing makes you feel more alive than when your world gets flipped upside down.” Keep the antacids handy because you’re in for a ride.

Photographer: Romeo Debies

Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Thank you for this opportunity to share my art and my passion with your readers. You’re doing an amazing work. I have no doubt you will succeed even more.

March, 2015

THE CUBICAL DIET EATING HEALTHY WHILE AT WORK

A number of challenges make healthy eating at work “easier said than done”. If you are confined to a 9 to 5 job, you know that keeping on track with healthy eating habits can take more work than your biggest project.

Barriers to healthy eating •Inconsistent eating patterns because of irregular/busy work schedules • No access to healthy food choices • Eating at your desk while working •Consuming too much caffeine and not enough water •Eating out of stress or boredom

Tips to eating healthy at work Sanaa Abdul Hamid Sanaa holds Masters of Clinical Dietetics from University of Queensland, Australia and is a Clinical dietitian and a Certified Yoga Teacher.

Sanaa is also a blogger and very active on Instagram. Read more from Sanaa at: Blog: www. balancewithsanaa.com , Instagram: Sanaa_dietitian

citypageskuwait.com

1.Bring your own lunch Prepare and pack your own lunch. You can ensure the food you cook is lower in salt, fat and calories compared to food you buy at the food courts or cafes.

2.Keep healthy foods at work Fill your desk drawers, office fridge and briefcase with a healthy variety of tasty snacks and quick meals.

For your desk/briefcase

• low fat Milk • Salad greens 3.Take a lunch break When it is time for a lunch break, step away from your desk for your meal. When you eat at your desk, you're not focused on your food. You're sending e-mails, answering the phone, reading reports – the perfect recipe for overeating because you’re not paying attention to what and how much you eat.

• Whole Grain Crackers • Fresh fruit • Canned fruit (packed in water or 100% fruit juice) • Rice cakes • Granola bars • Nuts & seeds • Canned fish

4.Re-think your drink If you need caffeine to stay awake at work, try to limit yourself to 2 - 3 cups of coffee or caffein-ated tea per day. Skip adding flavours to your coffee to avoid excess calories. Also since caffeine is a diuretic, drink enough water to stay hydrated.

For the Fridge

5.Take a few minutes to breathe and relax Small breaks throughout your workday can increase productivity and promote overall health and wellness. Take a minute to just close your eyes and focus on your breathing.

Practising mind-fulness helps to release stress and may prevent you from overeating at work.

• Whole Grain Bread/ Bagels/English Muffins • Low fat Yogurt • Cottage cheese • Fresh fruit • Raw vegetables such as celery, baby carrots etc.

• Cheese

ARTHRITIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE OLD… NO!

The “A” word everyone dreads hearing when visiting the doctor for their annual check up. Don’t fear, Arthritis isn’t as bad as you think it is if you take care of yourself. Arthritis is a condition that is mostly associated with people that are on the higher end of the age scale; but the reality is that it could happen to anyone and at any point in their lives. You may be someone in their 70s and are experiencing some joint pain or you could be as young as in your 30s feeling the exact same way; it all depends on your lifestyle.

Arthritis, also referred to as degenerative joint disease, is usually a result of many years of wear and tear of the tissues within and surrounding joints. In laymen’s terms if you put too much stress on your joints, they are bound to break down, just think of the tires on your car, if you over use them they start to wear out and break down, unfortunately having your joints replaced isn’t as easy as changing your tires, though it can be done it can be avoided if you do a few things.

The most obvious thing to consider is your weight. Try to keep the stress on your body to a minimum by maintaining a healthy weight but having a healthy diet and avoiding antiinflammatory foods. Remember, a stressful lifestyle increases production of cortisol, and with that, you begin to store more fat. Watch Maha AlRashed

Maha AlRashed is a CHEK Certified Exercise Coach and a regular contributor for CityPages magazine. citypageskuwait.com

how much weight you’re carrying around when you’re in the gym. While exercising make sure you that you in the right environment, when running make sure that you aren’t adding too much pressure on your joints, perhaps trying exercising in the pool. Look at your gait pattern, which is one of the primal patters that we look for as CHEK practitioners, if your gait pattern is correct, then there is no reason for you to be having as joint pain like you do!

Stretch and stretch and stretch! Most common cases of arthritis present themselves in the spine, and that’s a result of sitting at your desk for long periods of time, or even driving long distances without any breaks in between (road trippers). Stretching your back is imperative, because when you sit down for long periods of time, you have added a constant pressure and weight on your spinal cord that can cause micro tears and the discs that work as shock absorbers between your vertebrae.

A few months ago I wrote an article on Gelatin being the next super food. This would be a great time to add that to your diet to help the production of collagen and slow the progression of arthritis. Finally, remember that a balance mind leads to a balanced body.

Take good care of your body, and it will do the same for you!

March, 2015

PROCESS DESCRIPTION FOR PERFUME Perfume is a mixture of many different products that give the human body, animals, objects, and living species a pleasant scent. "Perfume came from the Latin word "per" meaning "through" and "fumum" or smoke. Many natural and man-made materials have been used on perfume to make the scent usable for skin and clothes. Perfumes do not smell exactly same on different people because of their different body chemistry, temperature and body odors. Perfume was first created by ASAMA Perfumes The creative method gave ASAMA Perfumes the time and the opportunity to craft fragrances while working with the highest quality ingredients in a bottle and using Arabic and Western scents as a unique concept point for the fragrances. They welcome your comments at PR@ASAMAPerfumes.com Follow them on Instagram and Twitter: @ASAMAPerfumes citypageskuwait.com

the Egyptian, and during the 13th century, it spread throughout the Europe. Currently, "United States is the world's largest perfume market with annual sales totaling several billions of dollars.

Perfumes are generally made from three different sources: plant sources, animal sources and synthetic sources. There are plenty of things that are being used to make perfumes from the plant sources such as bark, flowers and blossoms, fruits, leaves and twigs, resins, woods, seeds, roots, rhizomes and bulbs. Animal sources are ambergris which comes from sperm whale, castoreum from North American beaver, civet, hyraceum, honeycomb, and deer musk. Synthetic sources are something that has been artificially made by chemist using several natural or animal sources. Synthetic sources are made from

many companies throughout the world such as International Flavors and Fragrances, Givaudan, Firmanich, Takasago, and Symrise.

After gathering all the ingredients together, it is a three step process for making a perfume.

Only after that you can determine the quality of a perfume.

The first step of making perfume is the oil extraction, which can be done in several ways: steam distillation, solvent extraction, enfleurage, maceration and expression. In steam distillation, plants are being passed through the steam, where the oil become gas.

Then the gas passes through some tube to make it cooled and liquified. "Another way of extracting oil is to boil the plant substances like flower petals in water instead of streaming them . Solvent extraction process requires a rotating tank or drums. The plant substance

is put into this tank or drum, and benzene or petroleum ether is poured all over them, which extract the essential oil. The plant substance dissolves in the tank or drum, and leaves a waxy material that contains the oil. Then the oil has to be mixed with ethyl alcohol. Ethyl alcohol which also known as ethanol, is a colorless liquid, which is a powerful psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Once the oil dissolves with the alcohol, heat is used to evaporate the alcohol.

The alcohol leaves a higher concentration of perfume oil in the bottom of the tank.

For enfleurage, "flowers are spread on glass sheets coated with grease. The glass sheets are placed between wooden frames of tiers. Then the flowers are moved by hand and changed until grease has absorbed their fragrance.

Maceration is almost similar to the process of enfleurage. In this process, warmed fats are used to soak up the flower smell. Then the grease and warmed fats are mixed with ethanol to obtain the essential oil. Expression is the oldest method for the extraction of oil.

It is the least complex comparing to any other method for oil extraction. In this process, the fruit or plant, which is being used to make certain perfume, is manually or mechanically pressed until the oil is squeezed out. The main

purpose of all this process is oil extraction, which is the most important ingredient in the process for making perfume.

Once the oils are collected through the extraction method, the next step of the process is to blend the oil really well. This oil could be a product of hundreds different ingredients, and make take up-to several years to get the perfect scent. But once the scent is created, it is mixed with alcohol again. But this time the alcohol will not be taken out of the scent.

The amount of alcohol can be vary with the kind of products someone wants to produce.

"Generally perfumes are made of about 1020 percent of perfume oil mixed with alcohol and a trace of water. For cologne, there need to be about 3-5 percent oil diluted with 8090 percent of alcohol, and there is about 10 percent of water. Toilet Water, which is more lighter than cologne, has very little oil of 2 percent mixed with 60-70 percent of alcohol, and rest contains water. For both the perfume, once the ingredients are decided, and it has blent really well, then you can take the smell and decide, if it is the product intentioned.

Aging is very important when it comes to perfume. Sometimes, even with the right ingredients and process, you do not get the scent you intentioned to make. In this cases,

someone has to wait for several months or years until the perfect scent will be achieved.

The scent changes with time, and it become something entirely new and unique. Most of the well-known perfume in the world has been created by waiting several months or years.

Every week or month, someone has to test the perfume if it reached its correct scent, and only then it can be ready for our use.

Perfume depends a lot on plant substances and animal products. Sometimes thousands of flowers are needed just to obtain one pounds of essential oil. Because of the unavailability of those products in a regular basis, it really harms the production of perfume. Sometimes the crop is destroyed by disease and bad weather. This literally stops the production of perfume for certain companies during that time. It is also not easy to get the animal products for the use of perfume these days.

Animals like Sperm Whale cannot be hunted anymore, because it has been outlawed since 1977. Deer musk also comes from deer found in Tibet and China, which makes it really difficult to get. Synthetic perfume is the only reliable sources for perfume companies these days. Even though natural ingredients are more desirable, synthetic sources has more freedom and stability in their craft.

March, 2015

Dr. Theodoros Theodorou His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Kuwait

Kuwait and Greece share half a century old diplomatic ties and people-topeople interactions are even older. Greece, a wonderfully varied, scenically stunning and historic land, has long been a favorite holiday destination for many Kuwaitis, and with very good reason. Although boasting 379 Blue Flag beaches, Greece offers far more than sun, sea and sand. No other country can match Greece’s combination of world-shaping history, archaeological sites, unique culture and stunning scenery. Ahead of the National Day of Greece, which is celebrated on 25th March, CityPages met His Excellency the Ambassador of Greece to Kuwait, Dr. Theodoros Theodorou and his lovely wife Fenia Theorodou, for an exclusive interview to know a bit more about Greece in general. He also talked about the current Kuwait-Greece bilateral relations and other areas of possible cooperation.

citypageskuwait.com

March, 2015

How do you evaluate the current Greece-Kuwait relations? Are you satisfied with the current economic ties?

Our relationship goes deep in the past. I would like to tell you a short story to clear the concept.

In the 60’s at the time when the first tourists visited Greece, all the newspapers wrote ‘the sheikhs are arriving, the Amirs are arriving’.

The cinemas created a brief documentary on this occasion featuring the lives of Sheikhs and Amirs. Since I was born in 1954, I can remember very well that whenever they talked about Arab Peninsula it was considered the talk about Kuwait and Kuwaiti people. I still remember that Kuwait was the only country that had planes so they first arrived in Greece.

Kuwait Airways along with Olympic airlines were considered as the top airways and were having very excellent service standards.

Kuwaitis are not only pioneer in business but also in other infrastructures. Travel is their habit for both business and tourism. Politically we are also very close to Kuwaiti people. Both countries have deep rooted civilization and such countries appreciate each other. We also have good communication channels with each other. Civilization and Religion wise we also have many similarities. Politically we cooperate with each other on international level. Not only on Cyprus issue but they have supported us but also now they are supporting us on many issues. While in the era of economic crisis, Kuwait and its people have been very supportive. On the occasion of our 50 years of our diplomatic relations Kuwait minister had paid a visit to Greece and we celebrated together this historic moment. We arranged many festivals in both the countries.

Kuwait also has invested in many projects in Greece. The famous resort Astir Palace resort near Athens has plenty of shares of Kuwait.

Even in one to one business Kuwaiti people have also done investment in private sectors as well like import export or the small items like food, oil, etc.

Where do you see the greatest potential for cooperation and untapped opportunities?

According to my point of view energy is totally a new segment. After a comprehensive and detailed study conducted by international firms, results have come positive and very encouraging for petrol and gas. There is a lot of potential in renewable energy sector as well. We have a lot of wind and sunlight so this sector should also get attention. Real Estate business and Tourism are also very important and fruitful sectors for us where there is a lot of potential for investments.

Will there be any high-level visits in the near future?

I hope and expect that on the occasion of 3rd Donors Conference for Syria which will be held here in Kuwait at the end of March, some high level interaction will take place. We have a newly elected government in Greece which is only 3 weeks old. They are very active with European Union and with IMF. Once they are settled down there will be many interactions with other countries and especially with Kuwait. citypageskuwait.com

Yes, I am pretty satisfied at the current relationship scenario but at the same time I wishto increase and enhance this relation.

Do you find any similarities between the people of Kuwait and Greece?

We find many similarities with Arabs in general and Kuwait in particular. Turkey, Egypt, Libya are almost having same cultures to some extent which we consider very near to us. The idea of family is very strong among the Arabs just like us where not only the blood relations and immediate relative are consider as the part of family but also the cousins, uncles are also consider as the family. We not only support each other but also values like respecting the elders share with each other.

Once a week family meal is very important in our traditions. Although we are a European country but our values are very near to Arabs.

Like Arabs we are also merchants and you can understand this by knowing the figure that out of 11 Million people 10 Million are working outside Greece. We are a European country with Eastern civilization.

The national day of Greece is marked on 25th March. What events are held in Greece usually on that day?

There are lots of celebrations occuring across the country. School and organizations arrange special events on this day. This is a day when our revolution against the Ottoman Empire brought independence for us. In big cities, parade is organized and youth participate very enthusiastically. This day is also marked for us as a religious day. So in this regard, it is a very important day for us. In the evening folklores and dances are organized and the whole day is spent in celebrations. On this day, lunch is a very special event and only a specific fish called is eaten for lunch with garlic.

Are you going to organize something in Kuwait as well?

We organize and celebrate every year in Kuwait. Good friends of Greece, VVIP’s and businessmen are invited on this special occasion. We do some special service in church. This year we have invited specially two chefs from Greece to prepare special food of Greece so that the guests can enjoy real Greek taste.

Your message to us at CityPages Magazine: Thank you for your support and we wlcome you to visit Greece.

Are you satisfied with the current relations with Kuwait?

What is Kuwait?

your

population

in

We have 400 Greeks working here in Kuwait, most of them are either professors or serving in banking sector. Some of them are also in big construction companies.

If someone is visiting Greece, which place you will recommend?

Mykonos and Santorini are very good and recommended place for visit. Island of Paris is famous for celebrities visit. People interested in meeting celebrities should go there. Last year 17 million people came to Greece for visit and this year we are expecting 20 million.

We have over 1500 habited islands in Greece providing you with the options from silent and private areas to the crowded places to meet other people from around the world.There are plenty of places undiscovered till now.

Athens is also very special and highly recommended place where you will find the special Greek civilization. Peninsula of Helki Diki is worth visiting. It has special beaches, mountains and the weather is very good here.

You will find quality food here and can also see many religious sites as well.

Which season you will recommend for tourists?

Actually the whole year is very good for visiting Greece, but if you will go in summer you will have lot of options for Ski resorts, high mountains, spas and for special baths. Winter is also very good. If you will go in spring you can go to mountains, seas and can be quite close to nature. In late March, tourists start coming and that is the time when hotels are booked for them. If you want to enjoy some separate time, summer is very good. The days are longer and you can have more fun. This season is from mid of May to end of June.

From mid July the celebrity season starts, people who are interested in meeting with them come at this time of the year.

Which foods one should try during his visit?

Fish is of course the best choice, then we have lot of variety for pies and several types of cheeses available.

March, 2015

Deemed by UNESCO as an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape, the Amalfi Coast is a beguiling combination of great beauty and gripping drama: coastal mountains plunge into the sea in a stunning vertical scene of precipitous crags, picturesque towns and lush forests.

If you're travelling to the Amalfi Coast from Rome or other parts of Italy, there are a number of options for getting to the area: You can take a train to Naples or to Salerno. From Salerno you can get the SITA bus to Amalfi, and then a bus connection onwards if necessary (or take a ferry all the way from Salerno).

From Naples you can take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, then take a SITA bus to Amalfi via Positano.

Where to Stay

The Amalfi Coast gets very busy in summer, so book ahead, particularly on weekends and in July and August.

Hotel Plaza

This is one of the newer hotels in town – and it shows.

The whole place sports a bright contemporary look with dazzling white contrasting with earthy parquet floors, accented by splashes of dark pink, blue or yellow.

Hotel Onda Verde

This hotel enjoys a stunning cliffside position overlooking the picturesque Marina de Praiano.

The interior is tunnelled into the stone face, which makes it wonderfully cool in the height of summer. Rooms have lashings of white linen, satin bedheads, elegant Florentine-style furniture and terraces with deckchairs for contemplating that view.

Belmond Hotel Caruso

Perched on a sea-view cliff on the road to the Amalfi Coast, Belmond Hotel Caruso is set in a renovated building of the 11th century. The property includes an infinity pool, terraced gardens, and historic interiors with frescoed ceilings. The rooms and suites offer views of the garden or the sea.The rooms are located in the main building or in the annex in the garden.

Things to do

HIKING & TREKKING Amalfi Explorer

A walking trip to explore Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mt Vesuvius, the island of Capri and the stunning Amalfi coast

MUSEUMS Villa Rufolo

To the south of Ravello’s cathedral, a 14th-century tower marks the entrance to this villa, famed for its beautiful cascading gardens. Created by a Scotsman, Scott Neville Reid, in 1853, they are truly magnificent, commanding divine panoramic views packed with exotic colours, artistically crumbling towers and luxurious blooms.

Franco Senesi

Nestled between the colourful boutiques and lemon-themed ceramics shops, Franco Senesi is a light and airy exhibition space with several rooms showcasing over 20 Italian modern artists and sculptors. You can walk around here without being hassled, admiring (and buying?) art works that are sufficiently varied to suit most tastes.

The art works range from exquisite life drawings to colourful surrealistic landscapes and edgy abstract sculptures. Shipping can be arranged.

BOATING & CRUISES Amalfi Marine Hotel La Primavera

Situated in the heart of Massa Lubrense, 7 km away from Sorrento, Hotel La Primavera is surrounded by beautiful Mediterranean vegetation.The Hotel is well connected by public transport to Positano and Amalfi. Sorrento provides a boat connection to the stunning Capri Island. If you wish to explore beautiful Mediterranean nature, try the pedestrian paths to the Punta Campanella Park.

citypageskuwait.com

If you are intent on going for a swim, you’re better off hiring a boat and heading out to sea. You’ll find a number of operators along Lungomare dei Cavalieri, including this place run by American local resident Rebecca Brooks. You can hire a boat without a skipper from €250 per day

Bon voyage!

Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea

A melange of architectural styles, Amalfi's cathedral, one of the few relics of the town's past as an 11th-century maritime superpower, makes a striking impression at the top of its sweeping flight of stairs. Between 10am and 5pm entrance is through the adjacent Chiostro del Paradiso , a 13th-century cloister, where you have to pay an admission fee of €3.

Amalfi has to be lived in to be fully understood, frequenting the winding paths along the alley-ways, up the step steps that lead to the higher part of the town, between the pastel- coloured houses that seem to hang suspended but are set into the rocks

March, 2015

‫منتجع العرين البحرين ‪AL AREEN PALACE‬‬ ‫يبعد المنتجع‬ ‫يقع فندق العرين علي ُبعد ‪ 3.2‬كم من حلبة البحرين الدولية‪ ،‬كما ُ‬ ‫مسافة حوالي ‪ 33‬كم عن مطار البحرين الدولي ويوفر خدمة النقل‪.‬‬ ‫يقع المنتجع على ُبعد ‪ 3‬دقائق من منتزه جنة دلمون المفقودة المائي‪ ،‬كما يقع على‬ ‫ُبعد ‪ 20‬دقيقة بالسيارة من سيتي سنتر وسيف مول‪.‬‬

‫نظام الفندق يحتوي علي فيلل كل فيال تحتوي علي حمام سباحة خاص وجاكوزي‬ ‫وغرفة طعام ومجلس وتمتاز بالخصوصية‬

‫يمكن تحضير عشاء فاخر للمعاريس مع اضافات رومانسية من شموع وورود مناسب‬ ‫جدا للباحثين عن الخصوصية‬

‫يمتاز المنتجع بأنه بعيد كل البعد عن المدينة ويوفر جو من الرفاهية تتراوح سعر‬ ‫الليلة ‪ 130‬دينار كويتي‬

‫لديهم حمامات سباحة‬ ‫داخلي وخارجي ومركز سبا‬ ‫متميز يحتوي علي عدة‬ ‫عالجات مختلفة‬

‫الفيال الصحراوية تحتوي علي غرفه منفصلة للطعام لكي تتمكن باالستمتاع بوجباتك‬ ‫داخل الفيال علي حمام السباحة‬

‫خدمات‬ ‫المنتجع‬ ‫يوفر‬ ‫التوصيل من والي المنتجع‬ ‫راقي جدا وممتع ومناسب‬ ‫للعائلة واألطفال‬

‫كل فيال مساحتها ‪ 400‬متر‬ ‫وبقربه المحمية الشهيره‬ ‫في البحرين محية العرين‬ ‫ترتب وتنظم زيارات لها ‪.‬‬

‫‪citypageskuwait.com‬‬

‫تابعوني باالنستجرام‬ ‫لمزيد من القصص والرحالت‬ ‫‪Travelwithmuzmuz‬‬

‫أنـــا وعروستي‪،،،‬‬ ‫المنحوسين‬ ‫‪TRAVEL WITH‬‬ ‫‪by: MOUZAH ALSHAREEDAH‬‬ ‫معاكم خالد بقولكم سالفتي ‪ ..‬أنــا وحظي المـنــحوس (قليل الحظ)‬ ‫أنا أحب بنت خالتي عبير من كنا صغار‪ ،‬تواعدنا علي الوفاء واإلخالص‪،‬‬ ‫بعد ماتخرجت من كلية الظباط وألتحقت بالسلك العسكري‬ ‫تقدمت لخطبتها كانت عبير في أخركورس لها بالجامعة وستصبح‬ ‫مدرسه األجيال من صغرها دايما تتخيل نفسها أبلة عبير‬ ‫وتم (عقد القرآن) وسط فرحة األهل والجيران طرنا من الفرح وشنو‬ ‫أجمل من أن ترتبط بشخص تحبه و حلمت فيه من الصغر ‪ ،،،‬بإختصار‬ ‫أحنا العشاق اللي ماعندنا مشاكل في األرتباط‪.‬‬

‫كتبنا علي كيكه الملجه الظابط خالد وحرمه أبله عبير ‪.‬‬

‫لكن الحظ الـردي ‪ ...‬كان لنا بالمرصاد من حددنا حفلة الزواج وأبتدينا‬ ‫بالتحضيرات كنت أجهز حجوزات شهر العسل وعبير تجهز سوالف‬ ‫العرايس وفستان الفرح ‪،‬باقي لنا أقل من شهرعلي العرس ‪ ،‬تفاجئنا‬ ‫بخبر وفاة عمي الكبير وعميد العائله فالطبيعي أن نأجل العرس وهذا‬ ‫اللي صار أجلناه الي كذا شهر‪.‬‬ ‫و حددنا العرس للمره الثانيه وإال والــد عبير يصاب بجلطة وتستدعي‬ ‫حالته الي السفر للعالج بالخارج فأجلنا الزواج مره ثانية ‪..‬‬

‫حـددنـا ثالث مره العرس والثالثة ثابتة ‪..‬‬

‫تأكدنا من أن الجميع بصحه وعافية ‪ ،‬لكن قبل أسبوع من تاريخ العرس‬ ‫تصير أحداث بالديره مما أستدعي الوزاره بكبرها تستنفر ويصير حجز‬ ‫بالكامل لكل عناصر الشرطه والدفاع ‪ ،‬وألغوا كل إجازات الموظفين ‪ ،‬لما‬ ‫سمعت هالخبر ماعرفت شلون أتصرف كلمت عبير خطيبتي وبلغتها‬ ‫باللي حصل الصدمه كانت أقوي من اللي توقعته ‪،‬كان ردها بأن هذي‬ ‫إشارات من القدر أن مالنا نصيب في بعض وخالص ‪ ...‬مابي أتزوجك‪.‬‬ ‫ماصدقت ‪ ...‬معقولة حب حياتي ينتهي ويختفي مني بهالسهوله ؟؟!!‬ ‫‪March, 2015‬‬

‫ماقدرت أتكلم شافوني ربعي ماني عارف شسوي قلت لهم السالفه‬ ‫وتعاطفوا معاي وأقترحوا انه ممكن أن يكلمون لي المدير ويحاولون‬ ‫ان يغطون مكاني و يرخصك لو ليلتين‪..‬‬ ‫لكن هل راح تقبل عبير أن العرس ينلغي وشهر العسل ليلتين فقط ؟‬ ‫بما أني يتيم األم ماعندي اإل خالتي اللي اهي أم عبير رحت لها أشكي‬ ‫لها الحال ‪ ،‬وأن الحل الوحيد بان يقنع مديره يعطيه إجازه يومين يأخذها‬ ‫ويسافرون الي البحرين وتالي يسوي لها حفل أستقبال تفرح فيه مع‬ ‫أهلها وصديقاتها‪.‬‬ ‫وال هالحال اللي كل واحد في بيت وباألسم أزواج أتفقت معاه خالته‬ ‫وطمنته أن يتوكل علي اهلل ويكلم مديره وعبير إن شاهلل بتكون جاهزه‬ ‫وليالي العمر وايد وبتعوضونها بسفرات غير‪ ...‬وقدر اهلل وماشاء فعل‪.‬‬ ‫طمنتني خالتي وطرت للمدير علي طوووول شرحت له حالتي وطلبت‬ ‫ليلتين بس و جزاه اهلل خير تعاطف معاي ووافـق ‪.‬‬ ‫بهذه األثناء كانت عبير تبكي دخلت في جو دراما قوي وما ألومها تدعي‬ ‫علي حظها الردي وأن هذه إشارات من اهلل أن ما يتم الزواج لكن خالتي‬ ‫اهلل يحفظها ويخليها امرأه سنعه وعقالنيه ‪.‬‬ ‫فهمت بنتها عبير بأن العرس مجرد ساعات والكل بيرجع الي بيته ومن‬ ‫بعدها تبدأ حياتهم الحقيقية فكم من األعراس الخياليه والمكلفة‬ ‫لم تضمن استمرارية وسعادة الزوجين ‪،‬والبنت مالها إال بيت زوجها‬ ‫واتصلت خالتي علي صديقات عبير يساعدونها في ترتيب حقيبه‬ ‫السفر ويغيرون لها جو ‪..‬‬ ‫ما تتصورون فرحتي لما عرفت أن عبير وافقت وحلفت أن أعوضها بكل‬ ‫اللي أقدر عليه واسعدها طـــول العمر وزيادة‪.‬‬

‫(( وأنا وياك شكثر هالدنيا تسوي ‪ ..‬أنت تزرع في حياتي وردة حلوة ‪..‬‬ ‫تكبر بحبك وتكبر ‪ ..‬شكثر هالدنيا تسوي ))‬

D.J. MOHAMMAD AL-MUBARAK

Born with music in his soul A man with passion and energy is a man that is alive. Mohammad Al Mubarak, famously known as Aki, is that man. He is the host of very famous breakfast show at 99.7 RKFM who loves to engage his audience.

He is more than a radio host but a music connoisseur. Whether you are driving your kids to the school or at home listening or on your way to work, Aki makes sure to provide a unique experience for the listener.

Started his career at AlRai TV as a show writer he has started to rise in the ranks of the ever growing talent pool of radio hosts from Kuwait.

Recently, CityPages got a chance to chat with Aki about the beginning and future of his career, his other passions, and much more!

citypageskuwait.com

March, 2015

Photographer: Hamad Al-Qaoud - @hamadalqaoud

citypageskuwait.com

Hi, please introduce yourself to our readers: Well, my name is Mohammad Al Mubarak and I am TV and radio host from Kuwait. I love arts, music, video games, and animation. I started working in media since I was 18. My first stint was at Al Rai TV as a show writer then I moved to other TV channels. I love to challenge myself and I like to be different in everything.

Tell us about your education: I graduated from the American University of Kuwait with a bachelor degree in business administration. Before that I studied in government schools until high school. I always loved literature and social subjects and I kept on involving myself in art projects in school.

How did the passion for music develop in you at such a young age?

I think everyone has a passion for music. I can’t imagine a person or a single soul not listening to music, I believe it is built-in kind of a thing.

My grandfather from my mother side is a big artist and one of the most important music icons here in Kuwait he is Abdullah Al Fathala, so maybe it is in, my genes to play and love music though I’m into pop music and not Arabic.

Who has been your biggest influence?

That’s a very hard question, I keep on asking myself that all the time and I figured out that I love many artists and I enjoy their success but I always wanted to be myself. I like to be very original in everything but I must say that in a certain period of my life pop icons had a huge influence on me specially during my growing up years there were all these boys bands like, Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls, solo artist like Britney Spears and legends such as Madonna. I was also inspired by Grace Jones; she was very wild and has no limits. I liked the rebel ones.

How did you interest in designing clothes begin? How would you describe your style?

Photographer: Hamad Al-Qaoud - @hamadalqaoud

I believe it came from the music and watching many artists dressing up in “different” ways like Michael Jackson and Grace Jones. Every time I see something different I just automatically fall in love with it. I really have a thing for designs that nobody could wear but I will just buy them.

Another reason is that my mother used to design her own clothes and dresses she was so original that she would sew every single fabric she had and design them into clothes, table covers, even our pajamas were designed by mom and that had a huge influence on my fashion taste and how to dress myself. My style is mostly rebel and maybe ahead of times and that is what I hear from people around me or comments from here and there that does not mean a good thing all the time or bad thing it is just not acceptable here, and by here I mean the society, specially that people tend to copy and not to be original. I think they are afraid to be the black sheep in the troop. My style got me into trouble many times that is why I try sometimes to bring down the bars with how I look.

When are you intending to launch your own fashion line?

Hopefully this year, I am working very hard on it with the manufacturers and I am doing my best to make it see the light by this spring. It is going to be casual wears but in a very unique way.

You are also into painting; what do you usually paint and who is your influence while painting?

Yes, I am a painter and many of my family members are well known painters like my cousins in Qatar. My first participation as a painter March, 2015

was in Opera International Gallery in 2010, I was lucky to be chosen in a project that focused on artists from Kuwait to debut themselves in an international gallery where Picasso and Matisse works are displayed.

My painting was titled “from the inside” you can see it here of course.

It was done with acrylic colors and white paint “corrector”. The idea behind is to focus on who you are and what is inside of you, all your good and bad, your love and hate, all of your thoughts and emotions and not to be afraid of them because they are you and you are them, and you have to embrace them instead of pretending to be someone else or what society want you to be and that’s why I painted the background in black and only the inner parts in white.

Tell us about your participation in the Opera International Gallery?

I loved this experience and I loved the group. I would like to thank my professor in my university, Dominique, who asked me to do the audition for this project. I actually wanted to join in with a sculptor made of glass which was themed on one of my grandfather’s songs. Unfortunately, it did not work out due to some transporting issue. After that, I went home and was absolutely feeling down so I started to paint and paint without thinking that’s when “From the inside” was born, in just one day!

I sent a photo of my painting to my professor and she forwarded it to the management they loved it and got sold there. I gained a lot of experience in this journey, one of them is that you can never be sure where art might take you but ultimately will take you somewhere.

How and when did you decide to get into the Media field and what have you been doing since then?

I always wanted to do something with TV and found hosting shows very inspiring since you can reach out to people through this medium. In 2010 as I wanted to start a career in media so I contacted Al RAI TV and talked to the manager. I asked him to take me and to do anything because I wanted to learn. He laughed and said “it is very strange to have a phone call like that”. After that he set a meeting with me and that’s when I started to work as a show writer. The first show I did was “Music-Club”, it is a music show and I worked on adding new segments to it. That show started to get better reviews since then and was awarded in some gulf countries. After that, I hosted my first TV show “Y-zone”, a daily talk youth show and did it for over a year.

How has the experience been working with RKFM and hosting the breakfast show?

It added a lot to my career. I have to say I am very blessed to be hosting the breakfast show and to work with 99.7 RKFM. I grew up listening to it and creating my mix tapes from their music that they played on air and here I am now a part of the family.

game Anime and mine also came from there. Believe it or not all of my friends, even people out there are calling me by Aki and many don’t even know that my name is Mohammad. I sign all of my art work with Aki. It means autumn and shining light and spirit in Japanese and in the Red Indian language it means mother earth.

And then Film making! Where did you go for your training for filmmaking and how was the experience?

It was in my second home Paris. I was very blessed to go there and I met amazing people whom I consider my second family while I was there.

You know everything happens for a reason. I studied in one of the top cinema schools in Europe called La Fémis. It was a program from the French institute and Cinescape to send young Kuwaitis to participate in a summer course for film makers from the gulf region. I applied and got into the school. I worked with big names in France and with experienced people who made it to Hollywood. I was very blessed with this experience it definitely changed my life. I was happy to meet the international star who had her film recently with Nicolas Cage, Irène Jacob, who taught us how to direct an actress.

We heard that you are releasing your first single soon.

What is it called and when is the launch scheduled?

It is a project that I always wanted to do and got more excited after coming from Paris. I recorded a pop song in collaboration with Salem Al-Salem, lead singer in Galaxy Juice and Essa Hashimy in music production. The song title is “Taboo” and basically it is about all the things that we say that it is a taboo to do but people still do it and the taboos that people created in the society itself. I am planning to shoot the video soon and I hope it will see the light of the day.

Now, Mashallah you are a multi-talented young person. Of all that you have learnt and experienced where do you see yourself going?

Definitely going somewhere to a place where only I can go. I believe everyone in this life is born to do something special and not just to enjoy the beautiful life and leave it without keeping their mark. I want to create history, present and future.

What are some of your future plans?

Hosting my dream show which will happen sooner or later, releasing my E.P album and getting my MBA and Ph.D. which I am working on at the moment.

What are some of your other hobbies?

What is the best thing about hosting the breakfast show on RKFM and something that you don't like about it?

Cooking; I love food, reading and getting to know things that I don’t know specially topics that are related to science and space.

Talking to people every morning and be part of their day and vice versa.

It really makes my effort worthwhile when people call and say we love the show or my day is not complete without tuning in or any comment.

The bad part is the part of every media which is the haters you will always be exposed to, people who want to bring you down but that doesn’t affect me at all because hatters gonna hate and I’m on top of the game .

Your message for our readers and youth of Kuwait:

How did you come up with the name Aki? The most asked question! hehehe. I am a huge fan of the Japanese pop culture so in school all of my friends had a nick name from a video citypageskuwait.com

Be YOURSELF I believe it is time to stop pretending to be someone you don’t want to be and be who you are, love yourself even if you had to start a revolution of love.

Your message for us at CityPages magazine: Jameel Arif, I would like to thank you for giving this amazing opportunity; to be a guest in your magazine. So proud to have CityPages magazine here in Kuwait you are doing fantastic work guys. Wish you all the best of luck!

March, 2015

Photographer: Hamad Al-Qaoud - @hamadalqaoud

MOVING INTO THE FUTURE OF FILM: THOUGHTS ON 2015 Some changes in the industry that are poised to further disrupt the system in 2015 As 2014 wraps itself up, the film industry finds itself, as much as at any point in its history - and perhaps more so than ever before grappling with technological disruptions and innovations whose long-term effects on the filmmaking system are not entirely known.

Cinema has long been an industry fueled by advances in entertainment technology, and it has imagined its own dissolution many times before - with the advent of TV, the advent of home video, and, more recently, the rise in popularity of the internet, web video and video games. Some modes of film distribution still seem guaranteed to bring in revenue: overwhelmingly, bid-budget tentpole films seem to be the way studios feel best situated to make money. Tiny independent films, made for micro-budgets, stand to lose little and function, more than anything else, as calling cards for the creatives involved, who hope to land jobs on bigger-budget productions as a result of their work (either that, or they are made by independently wealthy individuals who can afford to make films in a model in which their pay is extremely minimal, if existent at all). The middle of the film industry, however, is being squeezed tight, and the talented and established filmmakers who have worked in that middle for so long David Lynch, Steven Soderbergh, the Duplass brothers, among many, many others - are finding themselves turning to TV to do work they enjoy. Where are things headed?

One thing that seems apparent is that TV is a model that will find itself increasingly replicating the manner in which independent film is structured now. Instead of making low-budget indie films, we may begin to see filmmakers making more and more indie pilots, which they'll then need to take to market; distributors always need gatekeepers to filter quality content for them, so these markets will probably arise in the guise of respectable TV festivals, which may mirror Abdulaziz AlKhamis

Abdulaziz is a Kuwaiti Film Maker, Visual Artist and a Script Writer. He graduated from the UK, with a passion to mix art and visuals.

citypageskuwait.com

the big acquisitions-heavy film festivals that currently exist. There is a not unreasonable number of independent film distributors in the US, but the amount of networks that distribute series content is far greater, and increasing even more as new cable networks are created. Those filmmakers looking for a buyer's market may find that trying to sell an indie TV series is a more hospitable environment than trying to sell a feature film.

Content isn't necessarily "meant" to be viewed anywhere in particular Additionally, we're going to be seeing an increased blurring between the lines of TV content, web content, short form content and features. Vimeo's first web series High Maintenance is an excellent example - the series, which was made independently before it was picked up by Vimeo, is told in an anthology format, with each series being comprised of episodes that could function as stand-alone short films. Additionally, as web-to-TV boxes like Roku and Apple TV proliferate, we'll continue to see "Web series" like High Maintenance become viewable on your TV screen - the same place you watch TV shows, and - if you're a VOD fan - movies, many of which may be in theatrical release when you watch them at home. The manner in which content is stratified according to which device it is "meant" to be viewed on will fade away, as distributors will begin to understand further that, for contemporary viewers of media - especially younger generations content isn't necessarily "meant" to be viewed anywhere in particular.

Where does that leave things for reaching an audience with your work? The more distribution channels are available, the more divided the audience becomes - always.

Many sociologists and historians have had much to say about the manner in which the US's populace has become increasingly stratified and fragmented over the past 60 years, as our dominant media streams originally just three major TV networks - have become increasingly dispersed, leading to today's media environment where there are thousands of content distributors on YouTube alone, never mind the rest of the internet or all of the cable channel options. A wider variety of distributors means that audiences are becoming increasingly "niche-ified": if you are a Midwestern drag racer who loves seafood

and hates neoliberal market capitalism, there is probably a network somewhere geared specifically toward you. I jest, but the point remains - fitting content into a niche is more important than ever before. This is hopefully a positive development for indie filmmakers - edgy, challenging indie content typically has a tough time playing broadly (though there are a host of reasons related to this that are unrelated to the content itself, more connected to marketing than anything else), but if it is geared toward niches it may be able to make a steady return on investment.

Since budgets for indies with niche appeal will necessarily be low, this means we may see more indie filmmakers (or web series helmers) taking control of their own destiny by self-distributing through the web. Services like Twitter and Facebook, which enable filmmakers to communicate directly with their fans, are tailor-made to help facilitate this kind of distribution.

Fitting content into a niche is more important than ever before Ironically, the push toward web and TV series means that, as the structure for making indie pilots becomes further solidified, the indie film game may get slightly - ever so slightly, but still, a tad - less competitive. Film festivals are at a point where they are absolutely deluged with submissions. If filmmakers begin rerouting their efforts toward TV, those are X amount of fewer filmmakers making indie films, which may clear up the current glut in the marketplace, with respect to both festivals and theatrical releases. Manohla Dargis, in an impassioned essay earlier this year, wrote about how it was frustrating to her that a great film like Computer Chess could receive rave reviews but still be criminally under-seen in theaters - no doubt, due to the fact that it opened the same day as a whopping 21 other films. The indie world is oversaturated with features right now, due to ever-dropping production costs and stagnant levels of distribution and movie theaters.

Migration to web and TV content will be a strong corrective to this issue. The industry is undoubtedly in a state of flux, but as with all the prior disruptions to cinema, the current state of confusion seems likely to give way to a new model that facilitates the efficient production of new works.

DJ Raven

TOP MUSIC CHARTS 01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06.

Uptown Funk!

Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran

Sugar

Maroon 5

Love Me Like You Do Ellie Goulding

FourFiveSeconds

Rihanna, Kanye West & Paul McCartney

Take Me To Church Hozier

07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12.

Time Of Our Lives Pitbull & Ne-Yo

Earned It Weeknd

Style

Taylor Swift

Elastic Heart

Sia, The Weeknd & Diplo

I Want You To Know Zedd & Selena Gomez

Heartbeat Song Kelly Clarkson

13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18.

Blank Space Taylor Swift

Energy Drake

Lips Are Movin Meghan Trainor

Shake It Off Taylor Swift

Ayo

Chris Brown & Tyga

Don't

Ed Sheeran

19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

Don't Tell 'Em Jeremih & YG

I'm Not The Only One Sam Smith

Hold You Down DJ Khaled

CoCo

O.T. Genasis

Make It Rain (From Sons Of Anarchy) Stuck On A Feeling Ed Sheeran Prince Royce & Snoop Dogg

25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

The Hanging Tree

Jealous

James Newton Howard & Jennifer Nick Jonas Lawrence

Take Your Time Sam Hunt

Somebody

Natalie La Rose & Jeremih

I Lived

OneRepublic

Something In The Water Carrie Underwood

March, 2015

MARCH Movie Releases GET HARD

THE LONGEST RIDE

A LITTLE CHAOS

WHILE WE'RE YOUNG

FURIOUS 7

Director: Etan Cohen

Director: Director: George Guillermo Tillman del Toro

Director: Alan Rickman

Director: Director:Noah JamesBaumbach Wan

Director: James Wan

Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Tip TI Harris, Alison Brie, Dan Bakkedahl, Christopher Berry

Starring: Jack Huston, Lolita Davidovich, Oona Chaplin, Britt Robertson, Scott Eastwood, Alan Alda

Starring: Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Stanley Tucci, Jennifer Ehle, Helen McCrory, Matthias Schoenaerts

Starring: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried, Jesse Eisenberg

Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Jordana Brewster, Ludacris

Genres: Comedy, Crime Synopsis: When millionaire hedge fund manager James (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James' one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison. Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to "get hard" and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things – including each other.

HOME

Director: Tim Johnson

Genres: Drama, Romance

Genres: Drama, Period

Genres: Comedy

Genres: Action, Adventure, Sequel

Synopsis: Based on the bestselling novel

Synopsis: A romantic drama following

Synopsis: Revolves around an uptight

Synopsis: A continuation of the franchise,

by master storyteller Nicholas Sparks, The Longest Ride centers on the star-crossed love affair between Luke, a former champion bull rider looking to make a comeback, and Sophia, a college student who is about to embark upon her dream job in New York City’s art world. As conflicting paths and ideals test their relationship, Sophia and Luke make an unexpected and fateful connection with Ira, whose memories of his own decades-long romance with his beloved wife deeply inspire the young couple. Spanning generations and two intertwining love stories, The Longest Ride explores the challenges and infinite rewards of enduring love.

SERENA

Sabine (Academy Award winner Kate Winslet), a strong-willed and talented landscape designer who is chosen to build one of the main gardens at King Louis XIV’s new palace at Versailles. In her new position of power, she challenges gender and class barriers while also becoming professionally and romantically entangled with the court’s renowned landscape artist André Le Notre (Matthias Schoenaerts).

HOME SWEET HELL

documentary filmmaker (Ben Stiller) and his wife (Naomi Watts) who find their lives loosened up a bit after befriending a freespirited younger couple. Adam Driver would play one half of the younger couple.

THE GUNMAN

THE WOMAN IN GOLD

Director: Susanne Bier

Director: Anthony Burns

Starring: Voices of: Jim Parsons,

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Katherine

Rihanna, Steve Martin

Cooper, Toby Jones, Rhys Ifans

Heigl, Jordana Brewster, Kevin McKidd,

Genres: Sci-Fi, Comedy, Animation

Genres: Drama

Genres: Drama, Comedy

Genres: Thriller, Action, Adaptation

Genres: Drama

Synopsis: When Earth is taken over by the overly-confident Boov, an alien race in search of a new place to call home, all humans are promptly relocated, while all Boov get busy reorganizing the planet. But when one resourceful girl, Tip (Rihanna), manages to avoid capture, she finds herself the accidental accomplice of a banished Boov named Oh (Jim Parsons). The two fugitives realize there’s a lot more at stake than intergalactic relations as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime.

Synopsis: The North Carolina mountains

Synopsis: Don Champagne seems to have

Synopsis: In The Gunman, Sean Penn stars

Synopsis: Helen Mirren stars in the

James Belushi, Bryce Johnson

citypageskuwait.com

at the end of the 1920s - George and Serena Pemberton, love-struck newly-weds, begin to build a timber empire. Serena soon proves herself to be equal to any man: overseeing loggers, hunting rattle-snakes, even saving a man’s life in the wilderness. With power and influence now in their hands, the Pembertons refuse to let anyone stand in the way of their inflated love and ambitions. However, once Serena discovers George’s hidden past and faces an unchangeable fate of her own, the Pemberton’s passionate marriage begins to unravel leading toward a dramatic reckoning.

it all but when his wife, Mona, learns of Don's affair with a pretty new salesgirl, Mona will stop at nothing to maintain their storybook life.

Don Champagne (Patrick Wilson) seems to have it all: a successful business, a perfect house, perfect kids, and a perfect wife.

Unfortunately, when his wife, Mona (Katherine Heigl), learns of Don’s affair with a pretty new salesgirl (Jordana Brewster), this suburban slice of heaven spirals out of control. Don soon realizes that Mona will stop at nothing, including murder, to maintain their storybook life where “perception is everything.”

Director: Pierre Morel

Fast and the Furious 7 continues after Dominic Torreto and his crew took down Owen Shaw, his brother, Ian Shaw, now wants revenge.

Starring: Sean Penn, Javier Bardem, Idris Elba, Ray Winstone, Jorge Leon Martinez, Mark Rylance

as a former special forces soldier and military contractor suffering from PTSD. He tries to reconnect with his long time love, but first must go on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe in order to clear his name

Director: Simon Curtis Starring: Helen Mirren, Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Bruhl, Elizabeth McGovern, Jonathan Pryce, Max Irons

incredible story of Maria Altmann, a Jewish refugee who is forced to flee Vienna during World War II. Decades later, determined to salvage some dignity from her past, Maria has taken on a mission to reclaim a painting the Nazis stole from her family: the famous Lady In Gold, a portrait of her beloved Aunt Adele. Partnering with an inexperienced but determined young lawyer (Ryan Reynolds), Maria embarks on an epic journey for justice 60 years in the making.

Travel Made Easy CYMBELINE

THE COBBLER

Enjoy our

Meet & Assist Service

Director:Michael James Wan Director: Almereyda

Director: Tom McCarthy

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Ed Harris, Milla Jovovich, Penn Badgley, Dakota Johnson, Anton Yelchin

Starring: Adam Sandler, Dan Stevens, Method Man, Ellen Barkin, Melonie Diaz, Steve Buscemi

Genres: Crime, Drama, Romance

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy

Synopsis: A gritty story of a take-no-

Synopsis: Max Simkin (Adam Sandler)

prisoners war between dirty cops and a drugdealing biker gang. When extortion, betrayal, and fiery passions threaten his criminal empire, a drug kingpin (Harris) is driven to desperate measures in this explosive film based on Shakespeare’s Cymbeline.

DANNY COLLINS

Director: Dan Fogelman Starring: Al Pacino, Melissa Benoist, Jennifer Garner, Josh Peck, Bobby Cannavale, Christopher Plummer Genres: Family Synopsis: Inspired by a true story, Al Pacino stars as aging 1970s rocker Danny Collins, who can't give up his hard-living ways. But when his manager (Christopher Plummer) uncovers a 40 year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon, he decides to change course and embarks on a heartfelt journey to rediscover his family, find true love and begin a second act.

repairs shoes in the same New York shop that has been in his family for generations.

Disenchanted with the grind of daily life, Max stumbles upon a magical heirloom that allows him to step into the lives of his customers and see the world in a new way. Sometimes walking in another man's shoes is the only way to discover who you really are.

FROZEN FEVER

Director: Jennifer Lee & Chris Buck Starring: Voices of: Kristen Bell, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel Genres: Comedy, Family, Short Animation Synopsis: In Frozen Fever, it's Anna's birthday and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever, but when Elsa catches a cold, her powers may put more than just the party at risk.

facebook.com/pearlassist

Whether you are arriving, departing or transiting at Kuwait International Airport, Hala Kuwait is there to make your journey easy. From the moment you get to the airport, our team is there to take care of your every need whether it is using our Fast Track immigration, dedicated check in area, Pearl Lounge, private transportation, or our Meet & Assist Service to guide you every step of the way.

@pearlassist

+965 24372304/305 halakuwait@nascorporate.com www.pearlassist.com

Member of the National Aviation Services Group

MemberMarch, of the2015 National Aviation Services Group

THE LITTLE PALESTINIAN GIRL

I could tell by her eyes that she looked lost and scared, I sat down quietly next to her as the other kids ran around playing and I put my arm around her.

of age and she was so fragile.

Khadeeja’s house was bombed a few days ago by the Israeli soldiers in Gaza, she had lost her mother, father, grandparents and her siblings.

“Shlonich?” I said with the very little Arabic that I knew of, asking her how she was.

She was the only one to survive as she was out playing with her friends when her house was bombed, killing her entire family.

She looked up at me and a single tear slid down her cheek, followed by another one.

She was now an orphan.

“I am fine, but sad,” she said in perfect English as she cuddled into me. I was quite surprised that her English was good, most of the little Palestinian children in the orphanage had very little English. She looked up at me with her big brown eyes and I felt my heart break into pieces.

Her name was Khadeeja, she was eight years Nadia AlHassan

Nadia Al-Hassan is a student in Ireland, studying Journalism. She is passionate about writing stories and poetry. Nadia loves helping people with her stories. She believes that words are beautiful and powerful. citypageskuwait.com

“Will I see my family again one day?” she whispered in her gentle and innocent voice.

For a whole of thirty seconds, I couldn’t think of what to say.

My brain froze and I was numb.

“Of course you will- one day you will see them all again and they will be waiting to give you big hugs,” I said as I took her hand to hold.

She gave me the biggest smile and nodded, “my mother used to give me the best hugs in the world, I can’t wait”.

That’s when I started crying. This poor little girl lost her entire family in a war that has been going on for so long now-greedy men

killing so many innocent people over all these years-leaving behind little girls and boys with no families- all for land.

“It’s okay,” she said as she patted my back.

“I know they are in God’s care now and at peace, they are free now. They no longer have to stay up all night listening to the sound of bombs exploding and fearing for what is to come next. My mother and father are no longer crying at the kitchen table asking God to end the war. My grandparents are no longer worrying. My brothers and sisters can now sleep and play in peace. I will miss them.. but I know they will be okay now,” she whispered.

I couldn’t think of anything to say, what a strong and brave little girl. I kissed the top of her head and I said,”Insha’Allah,” which meant “God willing” in Arabic.

“God will take good care of your beautiful family and one day you all will meet again in heaven. And, my dear, he has sent me and the world to take care of you and all the other little children with no parents and that is exactly what we will do,” I said.

‫الســاعــة‬ ‫تـدق لمن‬ ‫يسمعها‬ ‫هل كان ُه َ‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫طريق مرصون‬ ‫ناك‬ ‫وللكرماء والحالمون‬ ‫للعظماء والمحبون‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫س أنيق‬ ‫لمجاهدين لم يجدوا ِمن َم ْل َب ٍ‬ ‫صديق مجيد؟‬ ‫لوحيد لم َي ْع ُثر على‬ ‫أو‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫الصائبون الحديد‬ ‫س‬ ‫َ‬ ‫!أفي جهنم َي ْل ُب ُ‬ ‫***‬ ‫أن في إدراكَ َه ِلما ُيريد‬ ‫الم ْر ُء َّ‬ ‫أ ُي ْد ِر ُك َ‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫خير سديد‬ ‫بطولة‪ ،‬وفي عزمه على‬ ‫الخير ٌ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫توفليز؟‬ ‫س ِ‬ ‫فهل ِلذلك َسيسأل ميف ْ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫!أين َعقْ ُد َك أ ُّيها المجنون‬ ‫‪,‬كذبتم أيها الكاذبون‬ ‫بطل ريائكم عند منعكم الماعون‬ ‫‪,‬ال ُبطولَةَ ُ‬ ‫لكم وال شجاعة‬ ‫جهنم‪َ ،‬بل إنكم َضالون‬ ‫و ِلستُ م في‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫!مع الجبناء‪ .‬فروا‬ ‫‪.‬فروا إلى أصدقا ِئ ُك ْم المتحذلقين‬ ‫‪.‬لم تُقدموا معروفًا إال للخائبين‬ ‫***‬ ‫‪March, 2015‬‬

‫الجبال َت ُ‬ ‫كث ُر النجوم‬ ‫‪..‬في‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫‪..‬ومن عليها يرى الغيوم‬ ‫الثلج يعلم‬ ‫ُولكنه فقط من يعيش تحت أغطية‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫‪.‬كيف هي الحياة من غير الثمار المرغوبة‬ ‫ببرد شديد الكروبة‬ ‫‪.‬وكيف ال َتأ ُّل ِم‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ويعلم أَن َُّه ال مفر من ذلك‬ ‫‪.‬إال بنسيان البهجة والسرور‬ ‫***‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫واألمر ليس ِب َيسير‬ ‫طويل‬ ‫الطريق‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫الحلقوم وأنا ما زلت أ ِسير‬ ‫ُوأخشى أن َتبلغَ ُ‬ ‫لعظمة لن ُي ْب ِل ُغها َبديع‬ ‫وحب‬ ‫الكتب والمعارك‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫ُحتى خُ ِر َقت ِنعلتاي وأضحيت حافيًا ُأ ِسير‬ ‫الميت المريع‬ ‫العفن‬ ‫النتن‬ ‫‪.‬في هذا الوادي‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫لج من على كتفي‬ ‫ذاب ال َّث ُ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫السماء مشرقةً من فوقي‬ ‫وها هي‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫‪..‬كم هي جميلة‬ ‫ٌ‬ ‫شهية هذه الثما ُر من حولي‬ ‫وكم هي‬ ‫ترى‪ ،‬هل ُأ َح ِّك ُم َعقلي أم َجسدي؟‬ ‫***‬

‫!!يا لحماقتي‬ ‫مر السنة الثالثة والعشرون وأنا‬ ‫كيف لها أن َت َّ‬ ‫بغافل عنها‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫ماذا سيحصل للحب القديم؟‬ ‫الموعودة؟‬ ‫وللعظمة‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ش َر ُف اآلباء؟ وأين َشغَ ُ‬ ‫أين َ‬ ‫ف األبناء؟‬ ‫السؤال وعر‬ ‫طريق‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫‪.‬ولكن هناك َّ‬ ‫الش َر ُف‪ ،‬كما أظن‬ ‫ْوالحب يسري من أمامه دون أن ُي ْد َرك‬ ‫ُّ‬ ‫خلفه‬ ‫ِوالم ْج ِد من ِ‬ ‫َ‬

‫ص َر ًة وال َبصي َرةُ في سبات‬ ‫ِ‪.‬والع ُ‬ ‫ين ُم ْب ِ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫صيرها أن تُتْ َرك‬ ‫ْوالفاكهة َتذ ُبل هناك َم‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫أيام الشتات‬ ‫آخ ِر‬ ‫ِ‪.‬إلى ِ‬ ‫األيام؛ ِ‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫‪Adnan Najeeb Al-Abbar‬‬

‫‪Adnan is a student in Kuwait University. His‬‬ ‫‪hobbies include playing videogames, reading,‬‬ ‫‪and writing. Adnan can be contacted by email:‬‬ ‫‪3dnanoo94@gmail.com‬‬

Breaking the Deadlock

Thinking about Identity in Anglowaiti Literature

Identity is a peculiar thing.

It functions, it operates, it generates a material force in spite of its mythic origins. As humans, we cannot help but create narratives about the world, about ourselves. Whether true or false, narratives about the self and its place in the world, its duty, its “destiny,” carry with them a productive energy. Simply put, our narratives allow us to face the immensity and chaos of our cosmos, and to endure our inability to understand our world. Our narratives allow us to comfort ourselves and others. Identity, then, is not about accuracy. It’s about force. It doesn’t just tell us something about ourselves.

It moves us. We do not simply invent identities, we embody them, and when we do, we draw upon their source.

In addition to our capacity to create stories, humans are also social creatures. We evolve in social settings, imitating our elders in behavior, language and taste. At some point, we desire to break free from our ancestors, to confront the world, to face the balagan of our existence.

We break free when we realize that the very narratives that used to serve as solace, now act as anchors, weighing us down, immobilizing, preventing us from exploring hidden legends lurking underneath our human skin. As an Anglowaiti writer, I would like to focus this article on Kuwaiti identity from an Anglowaiti perspective.

Today, it seems that everywhere one turns the debate about our national identity rages on two poles. Either we eschew the present and shun modernity with its Western influences (from culture, to commodities, to travel) in order to dedicate our lives to the very time-consuming task of recreating the past in the present. Or else we reject the past itself, disavow its influences Nada Faris Nada Faris is a Kuwaiti who writes poetry, articles, and fiction in English. Her latest book, Before Young Adult Fiction, is a collection of short, award-winning articles, poems, and short stories that shaped her writing voice. Reach her at: www.nadafaris.com or @nadafaris

Photo by Greg Bal citypageskuwait.com

on our personal and collective identities, and dwell in the commercial, secular present, amidst our garments and gadgets, paying taxes like Westerners, freed from familial and tribal connections. Our battle for national identity is waged in binaries. We view the past as a concrete edifice on which we stand today, or as the source of all our grudges: economic inequalities, bureaucratic stagnation, and xenophobia. Herein lies the deadlock: we either return to our roots or we sever them from ourselves for good.

Our historical identity (today, we call it our national identity, before it was tribal, or religious, or imperial) is also a mythic construct with productive power. Historical identity is based on our social past and on our collective memory of that past. And as with all other forms of identification (gender, class, race, disability, sexuality, talent, vocation, interest, sect, ethnicity, etc.), historical identity is vital to our stability as a nation, because it too does something. Casting our historical identity aside, like throwing the baby with the bathwater, is detrimental to our wellbeing.

National identity contains mythic features, true, but it also unlocks incredible potential for solidarity, resistance, and generosity. This potential became manifest during the Iraqi invasion in 1990, when Kuwaitis suddenly prioritized their national allegiance to the country above others.

The way for an Anglowaiti writer to begin approaching the subject, then, is to understand that historical identity, while merely a categorical label, is important on social and political levels. Second, that the past contains seeds of powerful potential for the betterment of society. In sifting through the past, our duty as Anglowaiti writers is to gather these seeds and to cultivate them in the present, to nurture the hidden legends that will ensure a more inclusive, secure, and productive future for our nation. Third, that accompanying these seeds are a series of misfortunes and shameful blunders. The past is not the site of eternal glory. It is, rather, a chain of choices, some good and others disastrous. Unlike traditional writers who sound only the praises of the past, the task of the Anglowaiti writer

is to conduct serious, critical, and objective analyses of our previous mistakes. These ought to be highlighted. They ought to be displayed and discussed in the Anglowaiti text. In other words, the Anglowaiti writer should view the national narrative via pragmatic goggles, not idealistic lenses, to build on the kernels of positivity, while locating the root of our serious errors, in order to help discover solutions or simply to avoid repeating our mistakes in the future.

To break the deadlock, we must think beyond binaries. Our identity is indeed a result of the past. This does not make it stable. Rather, our identity flows in fluidity, always ready for new transformations. The choice for us should not be about reliving our norms, or adopting a vague identity, because the world is still full of borders, sanctions and legal constraints – and instead of pretending that they do not exist, our job is to change them, to mend them, to render them more inclusive. In the introduction to my book, The Elephant in the Room: Stories and Articles from Anglophone Kuwait, I say “The aim of my work (and my whole Anglowaiti movement, really) is to establish a serious mindset that recognizes Kuwait as a democratic, Arab sovereign state that appreciates diversity, advocates hard work (not wasta), and offers a safe haven for anyone (Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti) to work and live with respect.” I write this because there is no Us and Them in a country. There is only us; all of us living in close proximity to one another, working for our livelihoods, for our families, enjoying public and private resources, and contributing to the nation’s history, to its security, and to its lustrous legacy. Our art should aspire to generate (even if it does not reflect on the surface) an identity based on cooperation, respect, responsibility, hard work and strength. Or else, as Slavoj Zizek might say, we set the stage for another postYogoslave experience “where ethnic cleansing was prepared for by the poets’ dangerous dreams,” or we enable the emergence of another Hassan Ngeze who “systematically spread anti-Tutsi hatred and called for their genocide.” Anglowaiti literature is art with a social function. As such, use it to fashion a better future.

March, 2015

MARCH Book Releases So You've Been Publicly Shamed

A Little Life

From the internationallybestselling author of The Psychopath Test,a captivating and brilliant exploration of one of our world’s most overlooked forces. For the past three years, Jon Ronson has been immersing himself in the world of modern-day public shaming—meeting famous shamees, shamers, and bystanders who have been impacted.

Brace yourself for the most astonishing, challenging, upsetting, and profoundly moving book in many a season. An epic about love and friendship in the twenty-first century that goes into some of the darkest places fiction has ever traveled and yet somehow improbably breaks through into the light.

Jon Ronson

Around the World in 50 Years:

My Adventure to Every Country on Earth Albert Podell

This is the inspiring story of an ordinary guy who achieved two great goals that others had told him were impossible. First, he set a record for the longest automobile journey ever made around the world, during the course of which he blasted his way out of minefields, survived a breakdown atop the Peak of Death, came within seconds of being lynched in Pakistan, and lost three of the five men who started with him, two to disease, one to the Vietcong.

What Comes Next and How to Like It: A Memoir Abigail Thomas From the bestselling author of A Three Dog Life, which "shines with honest intelligence" (Elizabeth Gilbert): a fresh, exhilarating, superbly written memoir about aging, family, creativity, tragedy, friendship, and the richness of life.

What comes next? What comes after the devastating loss of Abigail's husband, a process both sudden and slow? What form does her lifelong platonic friendship take after a certain line is crossed? How to cope with her daughter's diagnosed illness? Or the death of her beloved dog? Is life worth living without three cocktails before dinner? How do you paint the ocean on a sheet of glass?

The Walls Around Us Nova Ren Suma

The Walls Around Us is a ghostly story of suspense told in two voices— one still living and one long dead. On the outside, there’s Violet, an eighteen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement.

On the inside, within the walls of a girls’ juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying these two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries.

citypageskuwait.com

Hanya Yanagihara

Confess

Colleen Hoover

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a new novel about risking everything for love—and finding your heart somewhere between the truth and lies.

Auburn Reed has her entire life mapped out. Her goals are in sight and there’s no room for mistakes. But when she walks into a Dallas art studio in search of a job, she doesn’t expect to find a deep attraction to the enigmatic artist who works there, Owen Gentry.

The Death of Caesar: The Story of

History’s Most Famous Assassination Barry Strauss

The exciting, dramatic story of one of history’s most famous events—the death of Julius Caesar—now placed in full context of Rome’s civil wars by eminent historian Barry Strauss.

Thanks to William Shakespeare, the death of Julius Caesar is the most famous assassination in history. But what actually happened on March 15, 44 BC is even more gripping than Shakespeare’s play. In this thrilling new book, Barry Strauss tells the real story.

Hausfrau

Jill Alexander Essbaum Anna Benz, an American in her late thirties, lives with her Swiss husband Bruno and their three young children in a postcard-perfect suburb of Zürich. Though she leads a comfortable, well-appointed life, Anna is falling apart inside. Adrift and increasingly unable to connect with the emotionally unavailable Bruno or even with her own thoughts and feelings, Anna tries to rouse herself with new experiences: German language classes, Jungian analysis, and a series of sexual affairs she enters into with an ease that surprises even her. Tensions escalate, and her lies start to spin out of control. Having crossed a moral threshold, Anna will discover where a woman goes when there’s no going back.

BOOK CLUB

EN BROGUE

En Brogue (2014) or the blog ‘for people who love stylish footwear without the pain, bunions and back problems’ is fun, interesting book for girls that is actually a guide to wearing flats shoes in style. We all know how shoes in general and styling them could be tricky especially with so many trends changing and evolving every day. For someone like me, flats are essentials as I wear them way more than heels, as I am a practical on the go kind of girl.

As many of us don’t know there are actually many more flat shoes with specific names other than ballerinas and sneakers. En Brogue (2014) is written by young fashion editor Hannah Rochell who never wears heels and works at Nada Soliman

nada.soliman@citypageskuwait.com

Meet Nada, our team member is simply a book savvy. Every month Nada picks her favourite book and shares with you its review. Please feel free to contact Nada to discuss your opinion or ask her opinion on your favourite book or author.

In Style Magazine. This book is her fashion blog about her flat shoes she wore on London Fashion Week in 2014. The wonderful thing about this book is that Hannah took a picture of every flat shoe along with an explanation page, some shoes have a worldwide known name and some she gave them a name herself. Also, some of the illustrations were done by Hannah herself.

The flat shoes she wore include: Ankle Straps, Biker Boots, Chelsea Boots, Creepers, Flip Flops, Jesus Sandals, Oxfords, Pool Sides, T-Bars, SaltWater Sandal, Wing Tips and many more. Also, she also tells you what brands these shoes are and where you can find them. It’s a quick nice read for ladies and people who are interested about flats shoes.

“This book is for anyone who’s ever taken their heels off on the dance floor at a wedding, lugged about emergency flay shoes in their handbag, or fallen down a set of steps in a pair of platforms.”

I really enjoyed the books as it poses as a fashion blog, however, in a book which I prefer more than blogs.

March, 2015

to add to your wishlist Some things are just ... better.

Flic In this era of taps and swipes, sometimes you need a good oldfashioned button. Or so think the folks at Shortcut Labs. The button can be tasked to order pizza, take photos, or share your location.

Helios Smart Solar chargers sound great--until you wait around for hours for your iPhone to power up. Solpro's new device reduces that downtime by up to 300 percent, meaning it can fully charge a phone 90 minutes with just the sun.

Podo wireless camera Podo can be stuck to jut about any surface to capture selfies from new angles. Looking to fill another slot in the selfie aficionado's toolkit is the team behind Podo, a small wireless camera that can be slapped on any surface and controlled remotely with your smartphone.

BSXInsight Serious athletes determine fitness using lactate thresholds (the point in which lactic acid accumulates in the blood). Before BSXInsight, a blood test was the only way to measure it. Now, the noninvasive wearable detects levels using LEDs. citypageskuwait.com

Kraftwerk fuel cell

Simplicam Powered By Closeli

Kraftwerk fuel cell will let you charge your phone with gas. Kraftwerk isn’t just another battery, even though it might look like one. This tiny 200g device is actually a self-contained fuel cell that runs on standard lighter gas and can charge an iPhone 11 times with just a tiny puff.

This Simplicam security camera does more than indicate intruders. It identifies them. The device can remember 10 faces, so it can discriminate between a teen rummaging for a snack and a stranger.

Nikon D7200

The D7200 is an evolutionary rather than revolutionary upgrade to the D7100, but the 24-megapixel shooter still boasts a number of key improvements such as improved low-light performance, a bigger buffer and the addition of built-in Wi-Fi.

Rust: The Longest War An insidious foe, rust has its way with much of the metal that makes up our world.

Author Jonathan Waldman follows a pipe-cleaning robot through Alaska, crawls in an abandoned steel mill, and explores why corrosion wields such power.

Quitbit Quitbit's heated coil lights your cigarette, and each time it does, the device takes note. A display on the lighter shows how long it's been since you last lit up, and an app tracks data over time. Sure, it's a little counterintuitive, but the designers hope the lighter's little nudges will help smokers manage their habits.

NanoGrid Tired of tripping over tent stakes?

BioLite's NanoGrid can shed some lumens on the campsite. It's anchored by a powerbank-lanterntorch combination, which can be charged via any USB power source-including the company's campstove.

March, 2015

6 ONLINE TOOLS TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE (OUTSIDE WORK) In the old days, a simple mantra of “phone-keys-wallet” would be enough to ensure that you weren’t forgetting anything essential as you left the house for the day. Today, our smartphones are capable of making life so much simpler on the go. There is an app for everything. Helpling, the first global online platform for cleaning services, understands the need to simplify. We have researched some of the most useful online tools that you must have to make your life easier, organised and more manageable.

1. Nike+ Training Club - start on the road to fitness without ever having to enter a gym. This app has a countless number of exercises that you can tailor to your own fitness goals. Watch the inspirational ladies on the screen do it first, then just follow their lead! No equipment required, completely flexible timings, and best of all, it’s free!

2. PicLab- how many times can you reuse the same Instagram filters before just losing the inspiration for photography? PicLab allows you to add beautiful typography, apply stunning filters and photo effects.

People will soon be asking you for your secret behind such aesthetically pleasing pictures!

clothes do wear out, making Namshi such an important app. Search for exactly what you want, send in your order, and have it delivered to your doorstep, ready to wear at the next dinner party.

5. Day One - this journaling app allows you to record life as you

live it. From once-in-a-lifetime events to everyday moments. Day One’s elegant interface makes journaling a simple pleasure.

3. LinkedIn Pulse - stay up to date with your industry’s latest

6. 30/30 - A simple task manager that allows you to divide your day into tasks allocating time to complete each task. You can track your progress and use your time efficiently.

4. Namshi - when are you expected to find the time to go shopping between meetings, deadlines and friends who want to have brunch? But

These online tools cover everything from planning your training sessions to organising your day. But if you are looking to create more time to yourself, why not head to www.helpling.ae to book your home cleaning service. Helpling's mission is to give people more free time so they get to enjoy the other things in life.

news with LinkedIn’s new side app, Pulse. It shows you all the articles from your feed in a clean, non-distracting way. Remain on top of all the professional scoop with a coffee in one hand and your phone in the other.

citypageskuwait.com

March, 2015

Hello HTTP/2

.HTTP/2 ‫أهال‬

Since 1999 we are using the HTTP/1.1 version of this old transfer protocol for every domain and website on the internet. The mechanism of this HTTP is used by a browser to request information from a server and display webpages on your screen. The new version version of HTTP “Hypertext Transfer Protocol” is a draft by the organization in charge of creating standards for the internet, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). This update will improves the way browsers and server communicate allowing faster transfer of data while reducing the power of the energy needed from the hardware. How this work?! The new protocol will improves speed by mainly creating one constant connection between the browser and the server, this will reduce the amount of data being transferred.

While the old protocol uses to reconnect every time you need to access the server which will take more time. Still there is no specific time when this protocol will be available generally since its a draft, but almost all the browsers are supporting the HTTP/2 protocol already.

‫ من بروتوكول نقل البيانات لكل‬HTTP/1.1 ‫ ونحن نستخدم اإلصدار‬١٩٩٩ ‫منذ عام‬ ‫ والذي يعمل في المتصفح‬HTTP ‫ آليه عمل بروتوكول‬.‫دومين وصفحة على اإلنترنت‬ .‫في طلب البيانات من السيرفر وعرض صفحات الويب على شاشه جهازك‬ ‫ تعمل عليها المنظمة‬HTTP ‫مسودة العمل لإلصدار الجديد من البروتوكول‬ Internet Engineering Task ‫المسؤولة عن وضع المعايير لشبكة اإلنترنت وهي‬ )Force (IETF ‫سيقوم التحديث الجديد بتحسين اإلتصال بين المتصفحات والسيرفر من خالل السماح‬ ‫ كيف تعمل هذه‬،‫بنقل البيانات بشكل أسرع لتخفيض الطاقة المستهلكة من العتاد‬ ‫الطريقة؟ سيقوم التطوير الجديد بتحسين السرعة بشكل رئيسي من خالل إنشاء‬ ،‫اتصال ثابت بين المتصفح والسيرفر وهذا سيسمح بتخفيض كمية البيانات المتنقلة‬ ‫بينما في البروتوكول القديم يقوم بإعادة اإلتصال في كل مرة تقوم بالدخول على‬ .‫السيرفر والتي تأخذ وقت أطول‬ ،‫اليزال الوقت المحدد غير معلوم لتوفير هذا البروتوكول لكونه مسودة عمل حتى اآلن‬ .‫ وجاهزة‬HTTP/2 ‫ولكن كل المتصفحات تقريبا تدعم بروتوكول‬

Yousif AlSaeed Yousif holds a BSc. in Information Technology & Computing Degree and is a Teacher and Software Developer. He loves sharing the latest technology news and gadgets with people.

Yousif believes that behind everything in the tech-world is a great story. He spends most of his time reading technology blogs and self development.

Saad Almseikan A burger lover who works as a Computer Technician during the day. Saad has a curious mind that likes to discover everything new that's related to computers, hardware, gadgets and technology.

You'll most probably find him holding a burger while playing with a new gadget. He is 27 years old, loves Mixed Martial Arts. Music is what keeps him going especially Rock & Roll.

citypageskuwait.com

"YouTube Kids" App Arrives Google announced their new app aiming it towards the younger generation. YouTube Kids app “Android & iOS” its first of its kind from Google. The app contain a bright and playful design with larger images, easier to spot icons and optimised for user with small cute hands.

The app content is totally a family content, and more easier parent control options with timer, sound setting and more.

Google Revels Windows Security Bugs, Microsoft Is Mad Project Zero is Google's initiative that pinpoints security problems and then notifies companies that they exist, giving them 90 days to mend or disclose the problem. If they do nothing, Google reveals them online. In the past Google disclosed 2 problems and after that they disclosed 2 more, 4 in total. That made Microsoft mad and asked them to not to disclose it and they will fix it in the February patch, but Google published it anyway. The bug allows a hacker to impersonate a user and decrypt or encrypt data on windows 8 or 7.

iOS And Android Hold 96.3% Of The Smartphone Market Share.

The latest research reveal that the smartphone market continue to be dominated between the two largest operating system. Android with 76.6% and 19.7% for the iOS. Windows Phone with 2.8% with is not bad at all. iOS got a 2.2 increase, while the Android decreased by 1.6%.

YouTube no longer needs Flash Player.

When Apple lunched the iPhone in 2007, Adobe were angry because Steve Jobs said his device will never support flash player because it’s old! YouTube now put the final nail in the coffin by using HTML5 as default player. It’s sad to see software like flash coming to its end. Remember that you’re in tech and you must innovate!

Google will be Uber competitor Uber now is one of the most growing service apps in iOS and Android stores. But this significant growing will face the biggest investor these days, Google. It’s not a secret that Google working on driverless car technology. This will lead us to a possible scenario, driverless cars patrolling neighborhoods to drop-off and pickup passengers.

RadioShack filed for bankruptcy.

Founded 1921 in Boston. On February 4,2015, RadioShack announce that it had filed bankruptcy to end 94 years! The company now agreed to sell chain’s name with bids, starting from $20 million.

U.S Bankruptcy judge gave permission for March 23 auction for sale of stores and inventory.

Look who’s turning 25?

Yes, it’s the Photoshop. Been playing a huge role in fashion and advertising industries.

Photoshop 1.0 was works on Apple Macintosh exclusively. In November 1992 with version 2.5 it was released to Microsoft Windows. Today, Adobe had many members in Photoshop family, like Photoshop elements and lightroom.

March, 2015

Porsche 911 GT3 RS THE RACE CAR FOR THE CIRCUIT AND EVERYDAY DRIVING

The unveiling of the new 911 GT3 RS, Porsche is once again breaking down the boundaries of possibility, redefining what it means to create a car at the cutting edge of motorsport technology which is suitable for everyday driving.

Celebrating its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva International Motor Show and with exceptional on-track capabilities, the 911 GT3 has once again cemented its status as the benchmark in its class – straight from launch.

Through extensive modifications to its drive system, aerodynamics and lightweight design, the new 911 GT3 boasts even greater, standard-setting performance. With a lap time of seven minutes and 20 seconds, the new 911 GT3 RS even beats the historic record value of the Carrera GT super sports car on the North Loop of the Nürburgring by nine seconds.

Behind the superior performance of the model lies Porsche’s unrivalled heritage of motorsport expertise and pioneering citypageskuwait.com

technology. The 911 GT3 RS is powered by a four-litre six-cylinder engine with 500 hp (368 kW) of power and 460 Newton metres of torque, combined with a specially developed PDK transmission. The engine, which has the largest displacement and most power of any naturally aspirated engine with direct fuel injection in the 911 family, accelerates the car from zero to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds. Its combined NEDC fuel consumption is 12.7 l/100 km. Functions such as declutching by "paddle neutral" – which is comparable to pressing the clutch with a conventional manual gearbox – and speed limiting by the Pit Speed button have been customised for motorsport use. They give drivers more freedom in terms of driving dynamics, while also providing them with more assistance when driving on a circuit racetrack.

The 911 GT3 RS is a masterpiece of intelligent lightweight design. For the first time, the roof is made of magnesium; carbon fibre is used for the engine and luggage compartment

lids, and other lightweight components are made of alternative materials.

This makes the RS model around ten kilograms lighter than the 911 GT3. In addition, the lightweight roof lowers the sports car's centre of gravity which improves its excellent lateral dynamics.

The body comes from the 911 Turbo, and it signifies its status as the closest road-legal race car with its RS-specific aerodynamic add-on parts. The front spoiler lip, which extends nearly to the road, and the large rear wing reinforce its dominant look.

A 30 centimetre wide recess extends centrally over the CRFP bonnet and the magnesium roof. This feature is a stylish reference to the recess on the luggage compartment lid of the classic 911 models with air-cooled engines, and today it identifies the two largest lightweight components in the 911 GT3 RS. Another characteristic is the unique front wheel arch air vents that extend into the upper section of the wings – just as in purebred motorsport cars, they increase downforce at the front axle.

The chassis of the 911 GT3 RS has been tuned for maximum driving dynamics and precision. Rear-axle steering and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus with fully variable rear axle differential lock increase agility and dynamics, and the wider front and rear track widths enable even better roll stability than in the 911 GT3.

compare it with other drivers.

The 911 GT3 RS celebrates its world premiere in early March at the Geneva International Motor Show and is available for order as of now.

The basic retail price in Kuwait for 911 GT3 RS is KWD49,800

In addition, the 911 GT3 RS comes with the widest tyres of any 911 model as standard. The results: even more agile turn-in characteristics and even higher cornering speeds.

The interior design of the 911 GT3 RS with Alcantara elements is based on the current 911 GT3. One key new feature is the full bucket seats, which are based on the carbon bucket seats of the 918 Spyder. Other standard features are the Club Sport Package with a boltedon roll cage behind the front seats, preparation for a battery master switch, and separately provided six-point safety harness for the driver and fire extinguisher with mounting bracket.

The standard Sport Chrono Package, which features – in addition to its integrated timers – the Porsche Track Precision app for a smartphone. The Track Precision app can be used to have lap times automatically measured via GPS, and to log data on a smartphone for many driving parameters such as vehicle speed, lateral acceleration as well as acceleration and deceleration in the driving direction. It manages this data and lets the driver share and March, 2015

ADOPT A STREET PRINCESS @ADOPT_A_STREET_PRINCESS

Dear City Pages readers, This month I want to tell you about some of the many great adoption stories from my initiative @adopt_a_street_princess – which over that last 3 month has managed to get over 100 dogs adopted into new loving homes! Daily I get feedback from happy people who adopted these little fellows and here are some of the stories; A Kuwaiti lady adopted a few weeks ago a small fluffy haired mix-breed dog about 1 and half years old. She tells me now that when she comes home she doesn’t feel lonely anymore, because someone is waiting very happy with a waggling tale and jumping on her with happiness because she is back home.

A man adopted 2 big German Sheppard dogs last month and he tells me now his spare time is filled with training them and he feels so happy with this new hobby he found. He says the dogs give him a feeling of being productive with his time and a feeling of responsibility, which he is happy to have.

Another gentleman adopted a medium size brown mix-breed dog, which he wanted for his family and kids. After a week he called me and said he is overjoyed, and he was surprised how easy the dog has adapted to his family and is like a best friend for him, the dog now follows him everywhere and he is all the time on his side. He says this dog adds a lot to his life.

Another woman adopted a dog to keep him in the house with her. She told me a few days later that since many years she had very strong sleeping problems but now since she got this dog she can sleep and feel so safe. She said to adopt this dog was the best decision she ever took. She got her nights sleep back.

These are just some small story’s from many many more. Why don’t you adopt or foster a dog and tell me your story?

With my best doggy wishes

Cuba is a 5 month old male puppy. He will be a medium to big size dog with long hair citypageskuwait.com

This is a very small size chiwawa mix longhair, very active, female around 1 years old

This is a medium size female dog, 1 year old, very friendly, love to get touched

Photos by: Witold Wilczynski

This is a male, big size dog with a strong character, very active and powerful.

Nathalie Veys Media)

STYLISH BUMPS

Blooming mother in the pregnancy period doesn’t need to be associated with simplicity and boredom in clothing. A few inspirations of radiant moms to be show that maternity style can be sexy and stylish not only in high heels.

Blake Lively This ‘Gossip Girl’ American actress is considered as the most prominent maternity style star. She doesn’t give up on wearing heels with daily outfits. Red carpet look or street style, any of them speaks out loud how hot her maternity style is.

JAGODA KUPIEC

Lena Perminova Russian fashionista currently recognized as international style star, always dressing brave outfits from the top designers. She is having her own style rather to express her personality than to prove how rich she is, she is just as happy in Zara as in Givenchy.

Miroslava Duma

Coco Rocha Canadian Top model and a mother to be..

Rock style or ceremonial? For me in both versions she looks phenomenal.

Ex-editor of Russian edition of Harper’s Bazar, definitely she is one of the most significant names on Russian fashion market.

Founder of Buro 24/7.

She proves that she can be stylish and comfortable not only in daily work routine but also on a fashion week .

Ciara Full of positive energy ... Two designs captivated me : coquettish airy in summer dress and elegant suit , which proved that a pregnant woman can ' defend ' masculine touch March, 2015

For Modern-Day Women Her head crowned with dreams, her existence governed with grace and serenity, her ultimate quest aimed towards an exquisite adventure: she’s the modern-day queen who wants to take on the world with her confidence.

Hair tied in to an easy knot, pretty make-up by Layla Harmony with Calude Stephen behind the lens, and wardrobe by Thouqi.com conclude the young, thoughtful take on fashion on-the-go.

Model: @DARIA_KOLOTILINA Photographer: Claude Stephan @claudestephanphotography Director by: Jameel Arif @jameelarif Clothes & Accessories: THOUQI @thouqi Makeup, Nails, and Hair: LAYLA HARMONY @laylaharmony

citypageskuwait.com

Jacket: Tara Jarmon Top: Raoul Trouser: Toupy

March, 2015

Ruby dress

citypageskuwait.com

Top: Zoe Karssen Skirt: TIBI

March, 2015

Top: Raoul Trouser: By Malene Birger

citypageskuwait.com

Dress: Day Birger

March, 2015

Charlotte Balbier Charlotte Balbier is one of the UK’s leading bridal entrepreneurs. She started her company 10 years ago and has grown the business to a success with over 30 stockists in the U.K & Europe. Charlotte was born into the bridal industry, her grandparents owned bridal boutiques across the Country and a manufacturing business. Charlotte’s mother is an award winning bridal designer Amanda Wyatt.

Charlotte Balbier had bridal design in her blood and it was only natural for her to start up her own label Charlotte Balbier.

Describe your usual day?

I love what I do because the role is so varied, I can be at Charlotte Balbier HQ meeting with fabric suppliers, planning a photo-shoot or doing team meetings for ideas for the brand.

What do you love about being Charlotte Balbier? The brides I dress are the favourite thing about it all. I am blessed to have so many women wear Charlotte Balbier on their big-days and be part of their special day.

How did you deal with set-backs?

Set-backs are a part of running your own business. You do get knockdowns but this only makes you strong to succeed.

How did you compete with other bridal designers already in the market place?

Charlotte Balbier brought something fresh to, vibrant and young into the market place. In 2003 there were no lace dresses on the market, my first collection and every collection since has always had lace in it and it’s great to see it’s such a popular material now. At my first show, many people commented on how lace just wouldn’t work because it was too vintage at the time. I am glad I stuck to what I believed in with the dresses and my vision for the brand and carried on using one of my favourite materials.

What kind of doubts did you have when starting up the business?

I believed in myself and the collection. My only worry was that the collection was quite different at the time and I was worried if people would get it and what I was trying to do…. The 1st few collections I had some resistance but I always stick to what I believe in and it paid off.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

I get asked this all the time, as ten years on people can’t believe I am still as passionate as I was in the beginning. The brand growing keeps me excited and motivated. I am a high achiever who always strives to citypageskuwait.com

do my best.

What does it take to build a brand?

It takes dedication and you have to build up a huge following and client base. I am a big believer that social media has massively helped my brand. I engage with brides who buy the dresses personally and stockists. This added extra personal service has helped grow the brands reputation and name.

How do you achieve a work-life balance?

This is one part I have had to work at, getting balance. I have tried to make a shift from the balance being all about work by making a conscious effort to leave at 7pm everyday rather than work late into the evenings and weekends. Working too hard resulted in a lack of personal life and burn-out. I find it hard to switch-off though, and even when I am on holiday I will sneak away from the sun lounger to check my emails!

What are the ambitions for the company?

We’ve cracked the UK market and we’d love to continue doing so. The Charlotte Balbier brand has recently entered the French, Belgium and Austrian markets and we’d love to do more across Europe. The big dream is to take Charlotte Balbier over to the U.S.A and then grow internationally. We will be doing shows internationally this year to gain more stockists abroad and internationally. I’d love become a wellknown brand across the globe

Any advice for someone who is starting their business? To make your brand and business a success you have to live and breathe it 24/7 and 365 days a year, it’s non-stop! You need to be focused, determined and head-strong. Plus nothing is too much trouble when you are first starting out.

Best advice you have ever been given...

Stick to what you believe in with your brand!

March, 2015

citypageskuwait.com

March, 2015

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week New York

MARYAM AL OLAIMY

From sporty and fun to grungy and gothic, and a variety of diverse trends and collections that walked down the runway, at Mercedes Benz fashion week New York for 2015/16 the autumn winter season. We now come across some of the collections that have stood out to the buyers and our eyes, while others lacked the usual and expected creativity, taste, voluminous, structure and what we call a woow factor.

There were several memorable collections that were quite unique and exquisite. Taking on as BCBG Max Azria husband and wife Max and Lubov master designer minds have presented something polished with playing the laid back bohemian vibe with the tunic and poncho shapes that fell away from the body. There were lace-up details, unique embellishments including laser cut shearling that was applied to a camel coat in a lattice pattern, patchwork, leather

BCBGMAXAZRIA citypageskuwait.com

Nicholas K

trimming and fringe that was layered with sheer turtlenecks.

Speaking of diverse collections we move to brother and sister designer duo Nicholas Kunz and Christopher Kunz who have embodied the urban nomad aesthetics for their NicholasK line for Fall, They're mixing the Victorian era and steam-punk ninja traveling vibe as they got the inspiration from the 1920s silent horror movie The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. The collection contained urban safari asymmetrical hoodies, draping, gothic element, floor-length gowns in dip-dyed silk georgette, operalength leather gloves, fur-trimmed mullet sweater to the calf-length duvet coat trimmed in shearling and elongated wide-leg trousers worn with elegant scarf tops.

As to what Marissa Webb Created in her own collection for MBFW was the new take on masculinefeminine, the merge between soft and hard, menswear tailoring and feminine elements, classic March, 2015

pieces that were styled smartly, differently and creatively, tweaked just a bit to set them apart from the wardrobe staples like the usual gray suit done here as a strapless double-breasted top worn over a buttoned-up black shirt and fluid pants. Or the shirtdress rendered in red silk. The most interesting looks were a curved bomber and shell, both red felted and layered over silk skirts.

We move now on to the next collection, J.Crew phenomenal Fall collection presentation was all about the dramatic silhouette propositions with it is super-voluminous wool trousers, shearling parka liner, pop of a pale pink turtleneck sweater worn with a purple A-line skirt in a sophisticated silk and wool blend, blue blazer paired with two-tone green cargo pants, luxe double-faced wool on a camel gilet, the contrast color that shimmered from the back side of the fringe on a blush-toned suede skirt, ribbed knit and wool flannel, sparkly beading, and finally, the bright gold chain mail dangling from a skirt. It was a promising colorful collection unlike the previous J.Crew collections, this collection had more life

Carolina Herrera

citypageskuwait.com

Marissa Webb

to it. Finally we're shedding light to Carolina Herrera's collection, where the idea behind it's silhouettes was all about exploring water both literal and abstract. There were needlepunched mohair, cashmere jacket featuring embroidered swans, acrylic embroidery on a softly constructed coat, soft mohair fabric in a subtle houndstooth and chevron pattern, ripple-print silk organzas and jacquards used on cocktail dresses and gowns, wool felt dress in ivory, strapless gown in icy blue silk gazar with undulating flounces below the knee, ivory techno jersey top accompanied by a long blue biascut skirt with a single ruffle rippling down the side. It was a very successful fashion week, these runways were my personal favorite!

J Crew

March, 2015

CityPages Fashion Report Julieta Altamiranda Julieta Altamiranda is a talented fashion designer on the rise. She was born and raised in Argentina. During her adolescence she started developing her artistic vision while living in The United States and in the capital of fashion (Italy). Eventually her love for sketching and for creative artistic expressions led her to study a career in fashion in one of the main institutions of her home country. From then on, she has been developing her own collections. Once having moved to Kuwait she has collaborated with one of the main Kuwaiti fashion companies designing several collections. Additionally she has participated in designing competitions where she has been awarded with multiple prizes. Her great devotion for the world of fashion keeps her constantly engaged in exciting new projects.

“Like branches on a tree we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain one”. Yep, that’s exactly what’s happening in the celebrity fashion world as family is more “in” than ever!!

Lately stars have been hanging out with their relatives in public places more than ever which indicates two things: 1) They want us to check how much they care for their clan.

2) Family is the new accessory needed to complete an outfit :) No, we are not talking about becoming twinsies with your beloved ones, but to co-ordinate your looks with them. Fun, isn’t it? No need to lose your style at all. A complimentary colour palette is all you need while choosing your favourite and most stylish outfit... So don’t wait any longer and go woop it up with your fam in the city!

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER Motherhood was honored in the most amazing way at the Dolce & Gabbana Fall Winter 2015 show “Viva la Mamma”, where proud moms walked down the catwalk with their lovely kids and even some pregnant models showed off their big bumps in some incredible outfits that included beautiful drawings made by children, and splendid motherly phrases printed on silk. citypageskuwait.com

THEY DID IT FIRST! DIVINE UNION The enchanting Pitt-Jolies ensembled their outfits to perfections for the “Brangelina” wedding. The hot subject on the special day was Angelina’s extraordinary Atelier Versace gown, which featured beautiful sketches and doodles embroidered on the exquisite veil.

BLISS GIRLS

YOUNG FEEL The succesful and talented fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni and her sister Valentina have always ruled the street style. Of course they wouldn’t say no to the sister-sister trend and balance colours and shapes to perfection!

Cara and Poppy Delevigne have totally different personalities: Cara tends to wear an androgenous style while Poppy sticks to a more femenine look. These really genuine models managed to pull the fashionable sibling trend without losing their sense of style and personality at all. Well done blondies!

BRITISH CODE

ELEGANT LINEAGE The Kardashian Clan blends perfectly by wearing a head to toe black wardrobe.

Can it get any more stylish than this? The Beckham crew sure knows how to rock the hot family trend.

Probably thanks to the super fashion forward mom Victoria, they did great at combining the perfect amount of layers and colours while flashing down the streets.

March, 2015

WHAT’S IN...

BRIGHT, COLORFUL & FUNKY! We tend to think that less is more but after noticing that the latest catwalks were impregnated with a “kitsch and chic” halo we came to the conclussion that it’s all about big vivid prints and metal love! Be adventurous and daring by wearing a colorful and vogish style to have all eyes on you with this catchy trend.

How to wear: Mixing dashing with solid apparels to create a color block is the key for an up-to-date funky-classy look.

The always stylish Chiara Ferragni, Anna Dello Russo and Candela Novembre were spotted owning this funky style. citypageskuwait.com

Mrmr_4 looking super posh in a twinkly modish outfit.

Winter Highlights featuring my cashmere sweater

TALAH ALABDULAALY So, looking back at Kuwait’s very short winter, winter fashion has been cool, calm, and collected. I don’t want to blab about all the designer trends, let’s keep it urban and personal, shall we?

Anyways, anyone who knows me would know how obsessed I am with leather, suede, and minimalism; I feel that this winter was all about that, I absolutely loved it. With the exception of pops of colorful fur, (one of my favorite aspects of this winter too)! Another aspect which I loved was the very urban 90’s inspired bomber jackets, pastel colored knits, long coats and lace up boots. Yet, it all had this understated minimalistic cool so I found it super easy to wear; everyone this winter was really up to date- fashion wise.

Talking about all of this reminds me of my go to piece this winter; my grey cashmere sweater. I’ve had this sweater for years, it’s a couple of sizes too big and worn in, but I can’t live without it. I basically lived in it during the past couple of months, and if you follow my instagram @talahstyles, you’ll notice I’ve posted wearing it one too many times. It’s so warm and provides that perfect comfort which fashion doesn’t usually give you, well not always at least. I would pair it with leather, jeans, leggings, and pajama bottoms (guilty, I know). It’s so big and has a huge V neck, I would love to layer it with t shirts too and pair it with some ripped jeans and brogues for that British hipster look. Throw a long coat or weathered leather jacket on top of it, and voila, effortless hobo chic.

It’s weird how people tend to cling on to items of clothing for long periods of time, I wonder if we subconsciously begin to give them sentimental value. I know my grey cashmere sweater reminds me of my university days in London; I remember staying up coffee filled long nights with friends talking about random things which you really wouldn’t share with anyone not so close to you. My sweater enveloped me with coziness during “under the weather” nights, and saved my fashion dilemmas on days when I had no idea what to wear. Do you have that one item in your closet that you can’t give up? Email me at talahstyles@gmail.com and tell me the story behind it.

March, 2015

Fashion editors around the world

MARYAM AL OLAIMY You may have so many questions for famous experienced fashion editors and stylists who have been known for their own significant signature looks and the looks they create for others, including what are their favorite fashion weeks, how do they put their outfits together, what are their favorite trends, what is their staple piece of clothing, and finally what advice do they give to those who are interested in joining the fashion field. Christine Centenera was once the fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar Australia, and is now currently a senior editor at Vogue Australia!

Not only that but she is also a freelance stylist and has been working with Kanye West to create a fashion line. What I love most about her personal style is that it is so laid back and wearable. True, most of her clothes are straight off the runway but she wears them so effortlessly. With Christine it's all about the clothes. she's always leaving her hair and make-up simple to put more emphasis on the fashion. And the more I see her in different looks, the more I fall in love with her unique style. Answering those question I mentioned a moment ago starting with Christine's favorite fashion week is Paris she states that her favorite shows are Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Balenciaga because they mark all of the season's heavy hitters. Christine never gives a thought the day before what she will wear the next day and she never plans for outfits ahead. Moving to her favorite trends they are always inspired by the 1970s at Louis Vuitton, Christine Dior's Retro shades, to slightly futuristic rectangular wrap-abound shades by Chanel. Her one staple piece of clothing is a well tailored black blazer.

Her advice to all of those who are interested in the industry and working in the fashion field is to first figure out which area they are interested in and focus on it, whether it was styling, editing, journalism, design, marketing, image consulting or business.

She states from a fashion editor's perspective at a magazine that it only takes willingness, persistence and following your vision, start from the bottom, pay excellent attention to details and have the talent and the skills required.

citypageskuwait.com

Iris Apfel

inspiration is an understatement

TALAH ALABDULAALY

Iris Apfel is probably the oldest fashion icon, born in 1921, she still looks effortlessly chic. I saw her name in fashion quotes on instagram and was always intrigued with the way she looked and what she had to say about style and design. I decided to google her and that’s when my obsession started. I started reading biographies about her and watched interviews and seminars of her online. Apfel is in her nineties, and still looks fabulous (talk about ageing gracefully)! She truly is an inspiration; and she’s got a great sense of humor too.

With her I have noticed it’s all about maximal colorful accessories, but very minimal and basic items of clothing. If you know her, you know that her big black framed sunglasses are her trademark, not to mention her great use of color too.

Apfel is known as an interior designer first and a fashion icon second. She owned a textile business with her husband, and was one of the prime interior designers for the White House. She did work for the likes of Kennedy, Nixon, and Clinton. In recent years, she has been working in fashion more than interiors and has launched an affordable line of clothing, Rara Avis, which is inspired by her personal style (anything but minimal). Apfel is a collector of antiques, jewelry, and anything that intrigues her, big or small, flea market or not.

Style to Apfel, is all about attitude; it’s how you carry yourself and it should come from within; I couldn’t agree more! What’s a good outfit if you are not feeling right about it anyways? When asked what she thinks of fashion today, Apfel thinks that it all looks too similar. I totally stand by her on that—I mean, fashion today lacks personality, it lacks individualism. If something is in, it doesn’t mean it’ll suit everyone the same way. If I were to pin point my favorite thing about Iris Apfel, it would be her eclectic individualism—her personal style is everything. Apfel is totally herself, and she is doing it so right. She is probably the coolest most interesting fashion icon to-date and should be an inspiration to both older and younger women; after all, she still loves bright red lipstick and still fits into the dress she wore on her first date with her husband… Need I say more?

March, 2015

SPRING SUMMER 2015 COLLECTION NOW AT HARVEY NICHOLS KUWAIT The trendiest fashion pieces hand-chosen at global fashion shows for Kuwait’s fashion-forward market, now available at Harvey Nichols

citypageskuwait.com

Summer 2015

Must-haves TALAH ALABDULAALY

Every woman needs to have her basics down for summer, and this summer screams feminine elegance with a touch of contemporary boho, naturally. So I have a few must-haves for your wardrobes, enjoy!

Gladiator Sandals: to pair with cut off shorts or gypsy style off shoulder dresses (embroidered kaftan-y ones are my favorite kind) Nautical Shirt: because stripes are everything! Pair them with ripped jeans and some menswear flats like brogues for a very parisienne look.

Twin Set: and no, not the early millennium ones our mothers used to buy for us, the matching top and skirt kind.

So chic!

Statement Sunglasses: large mirrored ones will seal the deal—trust me. There’s something so mysterious about them.

Fringe Bag: So you look very effortlessly bohemian. Pair them with a kimono, stone accessories, and some cool summer boots.

Tulle Dress/skirt: tulle has graced runways like no other for spring summer 2015 (definitely a major trend alert).

Wear it with elegant pointy heels or feminine ballerina flats, very charming, and very Carrie Bradshaw.

Shirt Dress: the definition of urban style and a wardrobe necessity. So easy to wear to work, casually, and even at night: really just depends on how you wear it.

Look at this as the revamped and cooler sister to the LWD/LBD (little black/white dress).

March, 2015

ARMANI EXCHANGE SPRING 2015 “The Easy Life�

SPRING / SUMMER 2015

The Armani Exchange Spring 2015 collection encourages spontaneity through easy dressing. Versatile clothing and accessories meet each delivery with a sense of individuality through an offering of optimistic patterns, bold color combinations and clean tailoring. citypageskuwait.com

Brighten up Your Wardrobe with Centrepoint’s Spring Collection

Huawei Unveils Huawei Watch and Wider Range of Innovative Smart Devices at Mobile World Congress 2015

Huawei continues to break new ground in the wearables space by unveiling the Huawei Watch, powered by Android Wear™ at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2015. The fully circular watch features a 1.4-inch touch-sensitive AMOLED display, scratch-proof sapphire crystal lens, cold-forged stainless steel frame and comes with a built-in heart rate monitor and 6-Axis motion sensors. The Huawei Watch is the first smartwatch in the Huawei wearable family.

On the eve Mobile World Congress (MWC) Huawei also has unveiled a fresh series of wearable devices including the TalkBand B2 and TalkBand N1 for consumers to stay connected, alongside the launch of a next-generation phablet, the MediaPad X2. All of Huawei’s products were launched under its new refreshed brand vision “Dreams Inspire Creativity”, also showcased for the first time at MWC. The breakthrough announcement adds momentum to Huawei’s global brand awareness and continued growth, which recently registered a 30 percent increase in sales revenue to $12.2billion for its consumer business group. On a regional level, the Middle East continues to be a high-growth market for Huawei with the company launching numerous flagship products such as its Mate 7 smartphone, supporting local sporting events like the Huawei GCC National Teams Under 23 Championship and naming Arabic singer Nancy Ajram as its Middle East & Africa brand ambassador.

March, 2015

Enjoy a sweet, luxurious lift before take off.

Discover our new Caramel collection.

citypageskuwait.com

CostaKuwait

At Yacob Behbehani Sons Company's Latest Boutique Opening At Symphony Mall

From The Marathon Of Colors

From The Annual National Festival Habeebti.y.kuwait At Discovery Mall

March, 2015

citypageskuwait.com

From the BHCK (Box Hill College Kuwait) 3rd Carnival

At The Opening Of The New Nespresso Store At The Avenues

From The Trunk Show To Launch The Spring/Summer 2015 Collection Of Guess

March, 2015

From The Charity Carnival At Regency Hotel #Helpchangelife

From The Snodrops Market Today At Symphony Mall

From The Tomorrows Leaders Expo At The Live Theatre Of Discovery Mall

citypageskuwait.com

Coconut Dark Chocolate MOCHA

ur

yo Make

DRIN

K

.

S R U YO

Beverage Customization Co-Brand Menu Board A 24x30 速2015 Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

March, 2015

From The Vision Express ‘Express Yourself’ Media Event

At The Big Draw Of That Al Salasil Bookstore

At The Official Opening Of Kuwait Dino Park At Mishref Fairground

citypageskuwait.com

January, 2015

From NEXT Spring/Summer 2015 Collection Launch

From The #Haylive2 Event At Arab Open University

From The Taste Of Kuwait - Kuwait's Premier Food Festival

citypageskuwait.com

At The Fashion Show Organized By Papillion Boutique

At The Re-Invention Of Salt Restaurant At Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel

From The Launch Of CHARRIOL At The Avenues

March, 2015

FROM THE PRESS

Chopard, main sponsor of the Kuwait ConcoursD’Elegance

Introducing the GUESS Spring 2015 Advertising Campaign For the second time, Chopard was the main sponsor of the prestigious KuwaitConcoursD’Élegance. Known as one of the best competition for classical cars in the Middle East, the 4thEdition of the Kuwait ConcoursD’Elegancestarted on February 11th2015under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nasser Al Mohammed Al Ahmed Al Sabah.

Launched in 2010, the Kuwait ConcoursD’Elegance is an annual automobile competition that judges the designs and styles of elegant and sumptuous classic cars.It’s part of the Historical, Vintage & Classic Cars Museum yearly events. The Concoursd’Elégancestarted in Paris in the 1920s. At that time, Pariswas the world’s cultural capital and a symbol of art and hedonism. The extravagance of the French automobiles competition expanded rapidly to appeal to people from all over the world.

Commenting on the event, Paul Goldsmith, Kuwait Concours Consultant, said: “This is one of the most famous classic cars competitions in the world. The Kuwait edition is among the world most prominent and incorporates unique Middle Eastern features, reflecting Kuwait’s remarkable interest in classical and luxury cars".

Sharing the same passion for classic racing, Chopard was proud to support the event as main sponsor. Since 1988 and the partnership with the Mille Miglia, Chopardhas launched different collections inspired by the world of racing. The classic racing collection includes the Mille Miglia, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and the Superfast watches. These watchesstem from the fascination for classic cars nurtured by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, copresident of Chopard who is a collector and active driver.

Being official sponsor of Porsche Motorsport since 2014, Chopard was glad to receivethe visit of the Porsche Club Team in Kuwait. These car enthusiasts came to live the unusual experience of the Concoursd’Elegance. Judges, collectors and exclusive guests were then invited to the world’s largest Chopard boutique in Prestige, The Avenues mall.

During the whole competition, Chopard displayed several models of its L.U.C collection including the L.U.C Engine One tourbillon, remarkable for its distinctive character and modern design. Its strong lines, subtle details and everything about the powerful timepiece honours the automobile tradition. Machined like an engine block and mounted on silentblocks, this mechanical hand-wound tourbillon movement was designed, developed and produced at Chopard Manufacture. In keeping with automobile traditions, the reamed engine block bears the Chopard signature; while a circular segment directly fixed to the upper face of the movement carries the power-reserve display at 12 o'clock positioned opposite the tourbillon bridge at 6 o'clock.Guests also enjoyed discovering the latest Mille Miglia2014 and Grand Prix de Monaco Historique2014 watches.

citypageskuwait.com

Nespresso expands its network with a new Boutique opening in Kuwait.

This Spring, long-time GUESS Girl, Gigi Hadid, returns as the face of the Spring 2015 GUESS advertising campaign. In a departure from the typical array of gorgeous GUESS models, Gigi was shot solo for the campaign allowing the collection and her natural beauty to be the star.

Directed by Paul Marciano, CEO and Chief Creative Officer for GUESS?, Inc., and shot by photographer, David Bellemere, the campaign features an assortment of images shot against a picture perfect backdrop of a private sunny beach in Malibu, California. Gigi is shown embracing her femininity and sensuality while embodying the care-free spirit of the Spring collection. The strong use of natural light allows the sun to reflect upon Gigi’s radiant skin and tousled beach wave hair creating strong feelings of warmth and seduction. The crystal clear ocean and playful poses against the windswept sand enhance the sensual mood creating an alluring collection of photographs.

The campaign features some of the season’s key pieces including romantic eyelet off the shoulder tops and distressed denim in the form of jackets, flared jeans and shorts. Flirty gingham and effervescent floral prints on leather jackets and jeans are eye-catching patterns that welcome the warmer weather and lend timeless style to the collection. The season’s color palette offers a wide range of bold and bright hues that complement the clean white and neutral toned garments. Feminine crochet maxi dresses and hi-low skirts in sexy black and white hues are essential light-weight garments to last you all season long.

The collection is now available in all Guess Jeans stores across GCC.

Nespresso, the worldwide pioneer in premium portioned coffee, achieves another milestone in its Middle East expansion plan with the opening of its second Boutique in The Avenues Mall in Kuwait.

The Nespresso history is marked by our passion for perfection and track record of continuous innovation to consistently deliver the highest quality coffee tasting experience to consumers worldwide. From the range of our Grand Cru coffees to the unique Nespresso system, and from the brand to our commitment to service and our sustainability approach, we have been constantly enhancing and reinventing how consumers experience their coffee through every facet of our business.

Today, Nespresso expands its expertise by opening its 41st Boutique in the MEAC (Middle East, Africa and Caribbean) region.

Pierre Debayle, Regional Manager of Nespresso Middle East, Africa and Caribbean commented: “It is a feeling of pride to open our second Kuwaiti Boutique in The Avenues Mall. For a long time, we were waiting for a location in this iconic mall of Kuwait. Patience has been rewarded and now our Club Members and Coffee Lovers can enjoy the full Nespresso experience during their shopping journey in The Avenues. This Boutique has been designed with the latest global concept, which makes it unique in the Middle East region. It complements as well our set up in Kuwait, as we have already our historical Boutique in 360 Mall and of course our Digital Boutique at buynespresso.com.

Next month I have the pleasure to announce the launch of our mobile application as well.

Nespresso is on the move in Kuwait, for the pleasure of all our fans! “ Located in the largest shopping mall in Kuwait, the new Nespresso Boutique will provide a unique opportunity for Nespresso Club Members and Boutique visitors to indulge in a multi-sensory journey into the world of Nespresso. This 84 square meter space will immerse you into the Nespresso universe, from the tasting of the entire range of the 23 permanent Grands Crus with each of their aromas and profiles to the discovery of the latest machines and accessories, conveniently presented in dedicated areas, every need will be met in a unique and personalized way, with unrivalled customer service, advice and guidance from specially trained Nespresso Coffee Specialists.

Puma Launches Ignite, Azadea Group Retailer Its Most Energized Honors Kuwaiti Media Running Shoe in a Get Together.

The Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar

Edgy And Stylish, Next Launches The Spring 15 Collection

NEXT WOMENSWEAR Next unveils a forward-thinking collection for Spring 15, mixing key floral, botanical prints and poster paint shades. Texture is a must across clothing and accessories, with laser cut detailing, fringing and embossing appearing in abundance.

NEXT MENSWEAR Spring 15 has introduced an abundance of colour, print and pattern. 60s trends are one of the key influences, with tweaks and updates to detailing and styles, giving a serious modern edge. The collection allows the man of today to appear dapper and of the moment.

NEXT CHILDRENSWEAR Spring has officially sprung in the See You Soon collection for older and younger girls. Luscious green, bright yellow and cool blue colours make this Spring trend fresh and youthful. Bold lemon prints repeated over casual jersey tops, pretty dresses and rain macs are suited to the casual every day girl.

PUMA is proud to introduce IGNITE, a performance running shoe featuring innovative foam technology that maximizes energy return to keep you running longer. Worn by The World’s Fastest Man Usain Bolt, IGNITE is PUMA’s most responsive running shoe, optimizing comfort and durability. Designed for a wide range of runners, if you put the energy in then PUMA IGNITE gives it back.

Powering every stride is IGNITE foam, proprietary foam that provides responsive cushioning, optimal rebound and comfort.

Strategically placed in the heel of the shoe is ForEverFoam—a compound used heavily in the automotive industry. This material creates long-lasting durability and is entirely new to the market.

“Training every day is pretty tough”, said Usain Bolt. “I start out with a running shoe to warm up before going into a spike, and I need a shoe that is comfortable and keeps my energy up.

I love IGNITE for that, and can feel it make a real difference. It’s a pretty good looking shoe as well.”

Karin Baust, Running Training Business Unit General Manager at PUMA commented, “We’re proud to bring IGNITE to the market. This shoe has been a long time in the making, we’ve been working on the foam innovation and tooling for a number of years. It’s extremely satisfying to launch IGNITE because an advancement in footwear technology like this doesn’t come around every day, and we’re confident this is going to have a big impact on a wide range of runners around the world.”

PUMA IGNITE will be available in Men’s and Women’s styles from March 2015. In subsequent seasons, additional styles will be introduced and the IGNITE line will be expanded further within the Running and Training categories.

In expression of appreciation and gratitude for the media’s utmost loyal support to Azadea, the fashion and lifestyle retailer group welcomed the media to Turkish restaurant Kosebasi in Jabriya Tavern Food Court for an honoring dinner on Sunday, February 22nd, 2015.

The event was marked by an enjoyable and lively evening of music and special surprises that was met with an exciting convivial ambiance while attendees indulged in authentic Turkish food.

Commenting on the event, Senior Marketing Specialist Suzan Mahdi for Azadea expressed: “It is a pleasure to have the media’s presence at this light-hearted evening gathering. We would like to extend our thanks to all the Kuwaiti media for their ongoing commitment, time, and effort to Azadea that has been monumental to our growth. We look forward to a lasting and unwavering mutual relationship between Azadea and the media in the future.”

Azadea is committed to continue supporting and recognizing the media for its significant contribution and outstanding dedication to the company.

Tissot’s pioneering spirit is what led to the creation of tactile watches in 1999. Today, it is the first to present a touch-screen watch powered by solar energy, confirming its position as leader in tactile technology in watchmaking.

The rays of light on the dial not only allow the Super-LumiNova® indices and hands to glow in the dark but to recharge the watch. It is a very powerful watch in every aspect, offering essential functions for everyday use such as a perpetual calendar with indication of day and week number to keep track of busy schedules, two alarms; one for the week, the other for the weekend, two time zones for holiday trips, weather forecast with relative pressure, altimeter with difference meter, chronograph lap and split with logbook, compass, timer, azimuth, regatta function and backlight. With these you will be geared up for anything that comes your way.

Straight to the design In touch with the technology it bears, the Tissot T-Touch Expert Solar’s design is truly modern and dynamic with strong lines, whether straight or angular. The push buttons are given an ergonomic aspect, while the milling provides the strap with further modernity and a better grip to the bezel on which it also features. You will still find the iconic features of the classic T-Touch Expert such as the lugs, shaped in a triangular shape, which detach from the case and are unique to that collection.

Features • Swiss made • Solar quartz movement with accumulator charge indicator • Tactile scratch-resistant sapphire crystal with antireflective coating • Antimagnetic titanium case with black PVD coating • Water resistance up to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m / 330 ft) • Rubber or titanium strap with folding clasp and push-buttons, leather or leather and fabric bracelet with butterfly clasp and push-buttons

March, 2015

GUST To Begin Collaboration With Umass-Lowell On Dual-Degree Masters And Engineering Programs

FROM THE PRESS ‫االحتفال السنوي الثالث‬ ‫واالكبر من نوعه في كلية‬ ‫بوكسهل الكويت‬

DS Podium GMT Chronograph Aluminium

With a case sculpted in aluminium—a material almost twice as light as titanium, the new DS Podium GMT Chronograph brings colourful new options to the Certina line of sporty, original timepieces. Dressed in bright Certina green and light enough to accompany the most active of lifestyles, it carries the well-known, supremely accurate ETA Precidrive movement with GMT function (for a second time zone) and full 12hour, 60-min. and 60-sec. timing.

The DS Podium GMT Aluminium unites the finest in both original design and cutting-edge technology. Its highly-precise ETA Precidrive GMT quartz movement is housed inside a lightweight 42 mm aluminium case which, thanks to an innovative surface-finishing process, wears the bright new Certina green colour.

Inside, the GMT movement offers tracking of a second time zone, standard timing functions such as 60 min. and 60 sec., as well as full 12-hour timing with Start-Stop and Add/Split functions. A date window is placed at 6 o’clock for optimal legibility.

An aluminium case is not only extremely lightweight but it opens up new and exciting design options. The primary model in this product line is bright green but red and sandcoloured versions are also available, with the same highly-durable, scratch-resistant anodization surface treatment. Colours to match the discerning preferences of every watch lover.

Behind the black bezel with green tachymeter scale and the resistant, sport-ready sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces, the black dial wears chronograph hands in contrasting green. The hour, minute and 24 h/ GMT hands are treated with Superluminova, as are the timepiece’s indices and Arabic numerals.

The protected crown is monogrammed with the letters “DS”, also in green, for a stylish touch that underlines Certina’s well-known attention to detail.

The DS Podium GMT Aluminium is waterresistant to a pressure of 10 bar (100 m), and is equipped with the Certina DS Concept, for maximum reliability. Its ETA Precidrive movement carries a practical EOL (end-of-life) warning system. Both the green and red models come equipped with a moulded black rubber strap with pin clasp, while the sand-coloured version is delivered with a white strap.

citypageskuwait.com

Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), Kuwait’s premier private university, today announced an agreement with the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMassLowell) to offer five new dual-degree masters programs and a new undergraduate engineering program. The new courses are expected to commence in September 2015 (pending final approval from the Private Universities Council on the exact starting date). More undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering are to be announced in the near future.

The newly forged partnership comes to fruition after two years of labor between the two parties, and signifies that GUST will be the first university in Kuwait to allow its graduates to simultaneously attain a degree from both UMass-Lowell and GUST without moving abroad. The masters and engineering programs are accredited under the same standards as those offered on the UMassLowell campus in the USA. What’s more, both UMass-Lowell and GUST faculty will be involved in teaching the curricula; 16 UMass-Lowell faculty and administrators are expected to move to Kuwait by September.

Starting at the beginning of the 2015-2016 academic year, students will have an opportunity to choose from five new masters programs: Accounting, Finance, Innovation & Technological Entrepreneurship, Computer Science, and Education, and an Engineering undergraduate program. The new master’s programs will take up to two years to complete, and will offer a thesis option for students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. With this development, GUST will be the only university in Kuwait whose students graduate with an accredited American degree.

ً ‫تنظم كلية بوكسهل الكويت للبنات إحتفاال‬ ‫ترفيهيا ً لطالباتها وموظفيها من اجلهازين‬ ‫األكادميي واإلداري للسنة الثالثة على التوالي‬ ‫ " يضم فيه‬BHCK Carnival 2015" ‫بعنوان‬ ‫العديد من الشركات السياحية والترفيهية في‬ 11 ‫الكويت وذلك يومي الثالثاء و األربعاء املوافق‬ ً ‫ من الساعة العاشرة صباحا‬2014 ‫ مارس‬12 ‫و‬ ‫ولغاية الساعة الرابعة من بعد الظهر في حرم‬ .‫ أبو حليفة‬- ‫الكلية‬ ‫شارك في هذا اإلحتفال العديد من الشركات‬ The Kuwait :‫السياحية والترفيهية ومنها‬ Scientific Center، Cozmo Bowling Center، ‫ مطعم‬، Dunkin Donut، Kids Land،Kitco SAKS ‫ صالون‬، OrioMilane، Six Senses Spa ‫ فندق ومنتجع النخيل‬، Ruby Tuesday ‫مطعم‬، ‫ منتجع‬،‫ مطعم ميس الغامن‬،ScoopaCone ، .‫ الدانة دينتال كلينيك‬،‫الهيلتون‬ ‫و برعاية إعالمية مميزة من جريدة األنباء ومجلة‬ ‫ ومبشاركة مميزة من القروب التطوعي‬City Pages ‫ الذي يحرص على دعم الكلية‬Group 965 ‫بتنظيم هذا احلدث وتقدمي فقرات ومسابقات‬ ‫ وكانت البرامج من تقدمي‬. ‫مختلفة ومتنوعة‬ .965 ‫األستاذ يعقوب يوسف من قروب‬ ‫إستضافت الكلية في اليوم األول موجهي‬ ‫الرياضة البدنية التابعة ملنطقة األحمدي‬ ‫التعليمية مبشاركة ثانوية املنقف بنات باإلضافة‬ ‫الى جمع من طالبات الثانوية العامة من مختلف‬ ‫الثانويات وأما اليوم الثالث فكان مخصص‬ ‫لطالبات وموظفي الكلية وأهاليهن وأطفالهن‬ ،‫حيث يشمل الكرنفال نشاطات ثقافية‬ ‫ وأكدت السيدة كارول البيم‬.‫ ورياضية‬،‫وترفيهية‬ ‫ أن‬،‫مسؤولة العالقات العامة ومنظمة هذا اليوم‬ ‫الكلية قد وجهت دعوة الى العديد من اجلمعيات‬ ‫التي تُعنى باألطفال ذوي اإلحتياجات اخلاصة‬ ‫وذلك ملشاركتهم لنا هذا اليوم ورسم الفرحة‬ ‫ كما اضافت السيدة‬.‫والبهجة على وجوههم‬ ‫بيم أن الهدف من هذا اليوم هو إقامة عالقة‬ ‫تواصل مستدامة بني إدارة الكلية وطالباتها‬ ‫ وفرصة أكبر للحضور بالتعرف على‬،‫وموظفيها‬ ‫كلية بوكسهل الكويت بتخصصاتها ورؤيتها‬ ‫ وأكثر ما مييز كلية بوكسهل‬،‫املستقبلية‬ ‫الكويت هو روح التعاون والفريق الواحد وهو ما‬ ‫يشعر به طالباتها وخريجاتها حيث تتواصل‬ ‫الكلية بشكل دائم معهن حتى بعد تخرجهن‬ ‫عبر مواقعها في التواصل اإلجتماعي باإلضافة‬ ‫الى حرصها على مشاركتهن في جميع املعارض‬ .‫واألنشطة األكادميية‬ ‫أن هذه الفعاليات تدل على حرص كلية بوكسهل‬ ‫الكويت الدائم على التفاعل مع كافة االنشطه‬ ‫التي من شأنها ادراج الفرحة بني طالباتها‬ ‫ وتتقدم كلية بوكسهل الكويت‬.‫وموظفيها‬ ‫بهذه املناسبة بأحر التهاني والتبريكات لصاحب‬ ‫السمو أمير البالد الشيخ صباح االحمد اجلابر‬ ‫ قائدا ً لإلنسانية‬- ‫الصباح حفظه اهلل ورعاه‬ .‫مبناسبة األعياد الوطنية في دولة الكويت احلبيبة‬

The Sultan Center Hosts Breakfast for Special Needs Adults

Inspired from the fraternity and solidarity spirit of February festivities, TSC hosted a breakfast event at Jeans Grill restaurant- part of The Sultan Center Group of Restaurants on Gulf Road- for adults with special needs. The venue of the event included a number of fun filled activities in a carnival themed atmosphere that were enjoyed by all attendees.

Commenting on TSC initiatives, Lisa Al Gharib, Marketing Manager at TSC said: “TSC is honored to host this group of adults and let them partake and enjoy their time in the spirit of national unity. We are glad to have succeeded in adding a smile to their faces and integrate these adults into February’s festivities” All who attended the event were excited about the morning’s activity and each were given a special gift for them to enjoy.

The breakfast event is part of TSC oncoming commitment and support to the Kuwaiti community.

TSC is holding several events at its stores throughout the month with diversified themes inspired from the Kuwaiti culture and traditions.

ÔIÊamÊoneÊofÊThirtyÊThousandÊChildrenÊ ÊwhoÊhaveÊbeenÊrapedÊinÊthisÊcountry.Õ

#KuwaitChildRights

‫ﺣﻘﻮق اﻟﻄﻔﻞ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻜﻮﻳﺖ‬

KUWAIT CHILD RIGHTS

@KCRS_GROUP @KCRSGROUP KUWAITCHILDRIGHTS.COM

March, 2015

FROM THE PRESS Alghanim Industries sponsors CFA Institute Research Challenge in Kuwait The Sultan Center Revives Kuwaiti Traditions

In celebration of National and Liberations Day, The Sultan Center (TSC) greets customers on the occasion with activities inspired from Kuwaiti’s culture and rich heritage.

In commemoration of this occasion, TSC seeks to share local crafts with its customers while giving them the genuine feel of history that reflects on past traditions and practices of handicrafts across the stores.

For many customers this will be an opportunity to experience the traditional craft of basketweaving, bisht and musbah-making together with a lively traditional Kuwaiti Bahri dance performance. The cultural activities will take place in TSC Hawalli, Shaab, Sharq and Salmiya stores.

During this month The Sultan Center will proudly feature local Kuwaiti made products across the stores with special promotions exclusively designed in celebration of the occasion.

Marketing manager at TSC, Lisa Al-Ghareeb commented on TSC initiatives; “We are glad to be taking part in Kuwait festivities and letting customers be able to experience the traditions and handicrafts of Kuwait’s rich heritage. We want to showcase its vital role in reviving and upholding the national culture and heritage that they live in by combining the present with the past” The continuous series of events will begin from the second week of February and run through the end of the month across all Sultan Center stores.

citypageskuwait.com

The secret Collection from Charriol for the first time in Kuwait

Charriol: A new edition to the Trafalgar Family

Turkish Airlines commends its Kuwait travel partners for strong 2014 growth

Turkish Airlines, Europe’s best airline*, recognised its partners in Kuwait for their contribution to 2.11 per cent increase in passenger traffic in 2014 compared to the previous year, by bringing them together for a celebration at the Kuwait Equestrian Club in Kuwait City.

Turkish Airlines hosted the day-out event on 13 February to recognise travel agents in Kuwait for their continual support and contribution to driving the strong growth in passenger numbers from Kuwait across the airline’s 264 destinations network.

Sami Aydogan, General Manager for Turkish Airlines in Kuwait, said: “We appreciate Kuwait’s travel industry for their steadfast role in contributing to the airline’s robust expansion in the country which led to frequencies being doubled from Kuwait City in 2014.”

He added: “Our position as ‘Europe’s Best Airline,’ increasing connectivity, enhanced services and the rising popularity of Turkey as a holiday and business destination continue to attract a growing number of travellers from Kuwait. Our impressive growth is indeed led by the support of our partners.”

The Turkish-themed picnic day offered all participants and their family the opportunity to enjoy activities including football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, squash, bowling, billiard and horse riding. In addition, all families were offered the traditional Turkish food including Turkish döner kebab (shawurma) and turkish köfte (meatball) all prepared by Turkish chefs.

Building on the recent growth achieved by Turkish Airlines in terms of passenger traffic there are now three flights daily from Kuwait City to Istanbul connecting Kuwaitis to more countries than any other airline with 264 destinations across 219 countries.

For more details including flight schedules of Turkish Airlines, please visit www.turkishairlines. com, or contact the call center on +965 2242 5421 or visit any Turkish Airlines sales office.

Alghanim Industries, one of the largest privately owned companies in the Gulf Region, has sponsored the Kuwait national round of the CFA Institute Research Challenge, the winner of which was announced on 4 March at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Kuwait. The winner of the challenge, Kuwait University’s team, will now go on to represent Kuwait in the EMEA regional competition in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on 2 April.

Omar Kutayba Alghanim, Chief Executive Officer, Alghanim Industries said: “We are very proud to support this program. CFA Institute is a world renowned organization and its Research Challenge has international recognition. As an organization, we are committed to supporting any initiatives which encourage local students to strive for excellence and help draw attention to the high levels of achievement in Kuwait.”

Robert Etman, Chief Financial Officer for Alghanim Industries, was present at the ceremony and awarded the winners their certificates. He said: “Alghanim Industries is a committed supporter of education and is very pleased to sponsor the CFA Research Challenge local final, which highlights the great depth and breadth of local financial talent that exists in Kuwait. I was very impressed with the quality and high standard of all the presentations we have seen this evening and congratulate the Kuwait University team, lead by Faculty Advisor, Dr. Bader Alhashel, and wish them the best of luck in the next round in Amsterdam in April.”

This year’s competition, the second time it has been organized in Kuwait, featured teams from American University Kuwait (AUK), American University Middle East (AUM), Australian College of Kuwait (ACK) and Kuwait University.

For the finale of the competition, each of the four teams presented an equity research report on the Zain Group to an independent panel of judges. Included in the judging panel was Haamed Alfulaji, Director - Corporate Strategy, Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions from Alghanim Industries.

Also present at the event for Alghanim Industries were Tarek Trad, Senior Manager – BD and M&A, Dari Albader, Senior Director – BD and M&A and Alia Al-Qimlass, Associate - Corporate Communications.

Trafalgar is an internationally recognized luxury retailer with 21 specialized boutiques in Kuwait and over 40 years of operating expertise.

From its humble beginnings in 1972, Trafalgar continues to build in popularity as it provides its loyal customers the best in Swiss made watches and fine jewelry. Trafalgar is now proud to announce its association with Charriol. Charriol will be releasing for the first time in Kuwait “secret collection” only available at Trafalgar Showrooms.

March, 2015

Dalal AlDughaishem

Website: www.saycheeez.net Email: info@saycheeez.net Twitter & flicker & instagram: @saycheeez_photo phone number (only Whats App): 55062262

Dalal is a professional photographer specializing in Kids and Babies Photography.

Contact us if you wish to feature your Kids brand in CityPages magazine.

citypageskuwait.com

March, 2015

HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz

Test Your Vocabulary

1. What was originally called 'wireless telegraphy': Television; Video; Radio; or Telephone?

2. What internet mechanism is named from a popular US confection, thought originated by Chinese Californians?

3. What military term for a multiple gun discharge referred originally in Latin/Italian to being out of danger or safe?

For three weeks we trudged all over that desolate land with enormous loads on our backs.

In this sentence, enormous means:

1. extraordinarily large in size 2. rich and superior in quality

3. irregular in shape 4. relating to the countryside

4. What's the largest capital city without a river, and also the oldest capital of its continent?

7. Titan is the project codename for Apple's development: iCar; iWatch; iSpecs; or iSexmachine?

ANSWER: 1. When something is very, very, VERY big, it can be called enormous.

“Good heavens, that pimple on your cheek is absolutely enormous; it covers half your face!”

6. What hyphenated surname was adopted for members of British Queen Elizabeth II's family?

The word enormous contains within it, if you look closely, the root norm, as in normal. So what you’re saying when you call something enormous is that it’s beyond what is normal; you’re trying to convey a sense of exaggerated difference. You may also have heard the word ginormous, which people try to use as enormous with a dramatic flair. But, trust us: ginormous is not a good word; it’s just a blend of two words — gigantic and enormous.

5. The strongest known biological material was identified by scientists (2015) in the teeth of a: Lion; Rat; Locust; or Limpet?

8. What's the cube root of 27,000?

9. Name the two long-serving British MPs and past senior ministers caught in a 2015 TV/press sting offering payment for political services from a hoax Chinese company?

10. Who became the fastest-selling Playmobil toy figure, to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017: Joan of Arc; Thomas More; ; Martin Luther; or Dalai Lama?

11. Spell the word: Presumptious; Presumtuous; Presumtious; or Presumptuous?

12. What technical term, prefixed with 'extraordinary/irregular', refers euphemistically to the abduction/transfer of a person by one nation to another?

Tricky Maths Problem I drive at an average speed of 30 miles per hour to the railroad station each morning and just catch my train.

On a particular morning there was a lot of traffic and at the halfway point I found I had averaged only 15 miles per hour. How fast must I drive for the rest of the way to catch my train?

13. In 1895 German company Bayer created what genericized trademark for a diacetylmorphine cough suppressant, alluding to the Greek god/goddess of bravery and self-sacrifice?

14. Put these elements in order of heaviest (most dense) first: Sodium, Hydrogen, Lead, Gold, Oxygen?

16. The flags of China, Japan, Argentina, Uruguay, Greenland and Bangladesh share what common feature?

17. Which country in 2001 became the first to decriminalize recreational drug use: Mexico; Portugal; Netherlands; or China?

ANSWERS:"The train is just about to leave the station and there is no way I will be able to catch it this time.

15. In 2015 the World Health Organization made 'single-use' mandatory for what (by 2020 worldwide): Syringes; Nit combs; Canteen cutlery; or Bed-sheets?

JUMBLED WORDS

18. Circumvallate papilla, fungiform papilla, and foliate papilla are commonly called: Toes; Fingernails; Taste buds; or Eyelashes?

D E B I A

19. Who was Miss World 1976, and her iconic musician/peace activist boyfriend (two answers required)?

P E R I C

20. Match these mathematical terms according to the calculation and result: (Calculations) Addition, Subtraction, Division, Multiplication: (Results) Product, Quotient, Sum, Difference?

E V T L E V V I R U Q E O P M M P O

Multiplication/Product 17.Portugal, 18.Taste buds, 19.Cindy Breakespeare and Bob Marley, 20.Addition/Sum; Subtraction/Difference; Division/Quotient;

ANSWERS: ABIDE, PRICE, VELVET, QUIVER ,POMPOM

Rifkind, 10.Martin Luther, 11.Presumptuous, 12.Rendition, 13.Heroin, 14.Gold, Lead, Sodium, Oxygen, Hydrogen, 15.Syringes, 16.Sun, ANSWERS: 1.Radio, 2.Cookie, 3.Salvo, 4.Mexico City, 5.Limpet, 6.Mountbatten-Windsor, 7.iCar, 8.30, 9.Jack Straw and Malcolm

citypageskuwait.com

KIDS PAGES MATHS QUIZ 1.What is 9 multiplied by 9?

2.How many degrees are there in a right angle?

3.What is 2/5 of 25?

4.Write down an odd number that is greater than 365 and less than 370.

5.Divide 12 by 3 and then add 5.

6.Double 24 and add 4?

7.How many eights are there in 56?

8.What’s the difference between 600 and 590?

9.What do you call an angle which is less than 90°?

10.What is -52 + 51?

10. -1

ANSWERS:1. 81, 2. 90°, 3. 10, 4. 367 or 369, 5. 9, 6. 52, 7. 7, 8. 10, 9. Acute,

FUN RIDDLES

FUN FACTS ABOUT EARTH DAY 1. Green roots Earth Day got its start in the wake of the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s.

After visiting the site of an oil spill near Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1969, Sen. Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin Democrat, envisioned a way to mobilize a grassroots movement to raise the profile of environmental issues, modeled after Vietnam War teach-ins. His idea spread and people held rallies in cities throughout the country on April 22, 1970.

2. Political impact Though Earth Day may now be synonymous with small-scale tree planting and volunteer cleanup projects, the first Earth Day actually had its sights set on bigger political projects. Earth Day demonstrations created public support for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency, authorized

by Congress in December 1970. Earth Day also contributed to the passage of the Clean Water, Clean Air and Endangered Species acts.

3. Equinox day There are actually two Earth Days — the April 22 holiday and the one celebrated on March 20, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the autumnal equinox in southern latitudes. To this day, at the exact moment of the equinox, when the sun crosses the plane of the equator and the day and night are equal length, the Japanese Peace Bell is rung at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, followed by two minutes of silent prayer or meditation. The Equinox was chosen as a symbol of harmony in nature and an appropriate time to dedicate efforts to peace and care of the Earth.

4. Global Movement Earth Day may have been conceived in 1970, but it didn't truly go global until 1990. That year, more than 200 million people participated in environmental activities in more than 141 countries. This year, more than 1 billion people are expected to participate in 192 countries.

JUMBLED WORDS = = 2 . R H C A M = 3 . T N E V E = 4 . I O H E C C = 5 . Z A G A I M N = = 6 . N A R G E T S = 7 . L E V U A = 8 . E M E S U R = 9 . A R O N Y H D T I = 1 0 . D E F I C E N N O C = 1 . B U L O E D

1. Which month do all soldiers hate?

2. Can you tell us who can jump higher than the Mount Everest?

3. In a rainy season, 10 fat girl having a small umbrella for all of them. The umbrella is too small to accommodate all 10 girls, yet not a single girl got wet. Why? 4. What does this funny rebus represents? 5Q + 5Q 5. Two things we cannot have in dinner. What are they?

VALUE, 8. RESUME, 9. HYDRATION, 10. CONFIDENCE ANSWERS: 1. DOUBLE, 2. MARCH, 3. EVENT, 4. CHOICE, 5. AMAZING, 6. STRANGE, 7.

March, 2015

season, 4. Thank you (10Q), 5. Breakfast and Lunch.

ANSWERS:1. March, 2. Mountains can’t jump, 3. It’s not raining; it’s just a rainy

MARCH HOROSCOPES On March 12, the Sun, Neptune, and Mercury in Pisces build a wave of creativity that washes over the workplace. Alongside this wave are three bold, aggressive powerhouse Aries stars adding vital, fresh input. These diverse energies collide with a Quarter Moon in Sagittarius on March 13, creating a perfect storm for improved productivity this month. The teamwork involved helps build faith in shared judgment and results in a surge of new confidence.

And if that isn't enough fuel for success, the Solar Eclipse in Pisces on March 20 is a wild card inspiring a lucky guess that pays off in accolades.

ARIES (March 21 - April 19)

The March 5 Full Moon reminds you to take care of yourself emotionally and not go the way of someone dear who appears to be doing great but is hurting inside. Offer support discreetly if you think it would be accepted and not offend. It's a subdued New Moon and Solar Eclipse for you on March 20. Feelings and opinions will be strong, but you could be frustrated that you can't do everything you like at once. Think and plan more now and act later. The Moon makes a friendly sextile with Mars in Aries on March 26. Be energetic and leave your competition in the dust.

The Full Moon on March 5 could bring you money or take it away and give it to a needier cause. Consider yourself lucky and you will be. Be sharp-minded and ready for anything with the March 20 New Moon and Solar Eclipse. Probably nothing exciting will happen today, but if and when it does anytime this year, you'll have no trouble rising to the occasion, especially on behalf of someone weaker. Be calm and confident no matter what. March 29 could light a fire in you as the Leo Moon trines the Sun in Aries. Go out and do something special and important to you.

TAURUS

VIRGO

(April 20 - May 20)

(August 23 - September 22)

You may be craving fun and games during the March 5 Full Moon.

Dress up, step into the crowd, and have a good time. Friends will have plenty of suggestions. Choose something less outrageous.

Your ruler Venus enters Taurus on March 17. Expect more comfort, pretty things, and romance starting today. Your natural big-hearted nature seeks out an even bigger way to express itself during the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on March 20. Don't get emotional or exhaust yourself, but if you can do more in a group setting and keep it fun, then why not? Reward yourself with something attractive.

SAGITTARIUS

The March 5 Full Moon touches your heart, but it could slam the heart of your loved one. Pay close attention to one another, be tender, and learn what you can from any rough spots. If you're between loves, do what you can to avoid hurting anyone's feelings.

Love pours down on you with the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on March 20. It's way more than romantic. It could be business or work related, too. Form a deeper bond with a casual partner and become a dynamite team. On March 30 your planet Mercury enters Aries. Be proactive and ambitious all week.

(November 22 - December 21)

The Moon conjoins Jupiter on March 2. Feel lucky all week long.

You'll be in demand at work during the March 5 Full Moon, or you could get that callback for another interview. It may not all go smoothly, but be self-contained, confident, and great. Family may tug at your heartstrings at the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on March 20. Someone important may open up to you and be willing to be vulnerable. Appreciate and respect this. Changes made today can last all year, so make them good ones. The Moon conjoins Jupiter again on Monday March 30. End the month lucky.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19)

You may want to hide in your work or maybe spread your wings and fly away at the March 5 Full Moon, but your friends and neighbors won't let you get far. Be grateful that people notice and care about you. Enjoy a slow, careful weekend when the Capricorn Moon watches Saturn go stationary retrograde on March 14. (This continues until August, so make friends with it.) Under the New Moon (and Solar Eclipse) on March 20, something better and more fun could happen around home, with neighbors, family, or friends. Keep it going and see how it improves the rest of the year.

GEMINI

LIBRA

AQUARIUS

(May 21 - June 20)

(September 23 - October 22)

(January 20 - February 18)

The March 5 Full Moon shines straight into your home life and makes it your refuge of choice. Part of this may be because the work scene has gotten overheated and emotional. If so, curl up at home and decompress. You can make a huge splash at work or in public, in a very good way, with the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on March 20.

If you keep control of the situation, you can make this advantage last and continue to benefit you all year long. The Gemini Moon squares Mercury on March 25, encouraging people to emotionally argue about nothing and everything. Don't fall for it.

The March 5 Full Moon touches your heart, but it could slam the heart of your loved one. Pay close attention to one another, be tender, and learn what you can from any rough spots. If you're between loves, do what you can to avoid hurting anyone's feelings.

Love pours down on you with the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on March 20. It's way more than romantic. It could be business or work related, too. Form a deeper bond with a casual partner and become a dynamite team. On March 30 your planet Mercury enters Aries. Be proactive and ambitious all week.

Jupiter makes a fiery trine with Uranus on March 3. Get off to a quick start and get a lot done over the next few days. Others may ask a lot of you during the Full Moon on March 5. Whatever you do will bring love and many future favors. Still, don't be drained and left hurting.

Reconsider how you want to be making money at the New Moon on March 20. It's also a Solar Eclipse, so you can make changes in how you make your way in the world. You can make it work so long as your heart is really in it.

CANCER

SCORPIO

PISCES

(June 21 - July 22)

(October 23 - November 21)

(February 19 - March 20)

Let the March 5 Full Moon move you closer to better relations with friends and neighbors. Everyone may be having issues now, but someone could step up and offer you a helping hand. On March 20 discover a new major passion or interest that teaches you a lot, advances your career, and promotes a powerful new friendship. This New Moon (and Solar Eclipse) may show you a bigger, better world.

The weekend of March 28 is sensitive and romantic, with the Cancer Moon making a trine with Mercury in Pisces. If you're interested in someone new, be sweet and make your move now. citypageskuwait.com

LEO (July 23 - August 22)

Go out, be sociable, and maybe participate in some group or public charity at the Full Moon on March 5. Donate canned food or say yes when someone offers you a small favor. People want to like you.

Zero in on your true passion with the New Moon and Solar Eclipse on March 20. Determine what excites you and is meaningful enough that it's worth taking some risks. The weekend of March 28 holds the promise of romance but not without a few minor crossed wires.

A Cancer Moon squares Mars in Aries, so beware of harsh words colliding with tender feelings.

A new love interest could find you around the Full Moon on March 5, or an old love (or the current one) might more deeply understand you and want to get even closer. However wonderful, it won't be without a little friction. Mercury conjoins dreamy Neptune on March 18.

Keep a clear head and don't float away on wishful thinking, especially at work. The New Moon (and Solar Eclipse) on March 20 is very powerful and all yours. Spend it with someone you feel deeply about doing something you care deeply about. The intensity won't last, but the feelings will linger all year.

*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted

March, 2015

‫‪AL‬‬

‫‪I‬‬ ‫‪NT‬‬

‫‪DE‬‬

‫‪I‬‬ ‫‪NF‬‬

‫‪CO‬‬

‫اﻟﺴﻌﺎدة اﻟﺰوﺟﻴﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺟﻠﺴﺔ واﺣﺪة‬ ‫ﻣﻊ أﺣﺪث ﺟﻬﺎز ﻟﻴﺰر‬

‫ﺟﺪدي ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻚ‬ ‫ّ‬

‫‪Edge ONE Co2‬‬

‫ﻟﺘﻀﻴﻴﻖ اﻟﻤﻨﻄﻘﺔ اﻟﺘﻨﺎﺳﻠﻴﺔ ﻟﻠﻨﺴﺎء ﻣﻊ ﻗﺴﻢ اﻟﻨﺴﺎء واﻟﻮﻻده ﻓﻲ‬

‫‪ ١٥‬دﻗﻴﻘﺔ ﻓﻘﻂ ‪.‬‬ ‫اﻟﻌﻘﻴﻠﺔ ‪ -‬ﻣﺠﻤﻊ اﻟﻔﻨﻄـﺎس اﻟﺘﺠﺎري ‪ -‬ﻣﺠﻤﻊ اﻟﺪوﻳﺦ اﻟﺘﺠﺎري ‪ -‬ﺑﺠﺎﻧﺐ اﻟﺠﻴﺖ ﻣﻮل ‪ -‬اﻟﺪور اﻟﺴﺎﺑﻊ و اﻟﺜﺎﻣﻦ‬

‫ﻫﺎﺗﻒ ‪+965 23831370 2 / 1 :‬‬

‫‪+965 552 50619‬‬