MAGAZINE ISSUE No.
71
NOVEMBER 2015
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LIFESTYLE / PEOPLE / EVENTS / FASHION
The Avenues -Phase 3 - Soku
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contents ISSUE 71, VOLUME 5, NOVEMBER 2015
ENTERTAINMENT 87. Top Music Charts 88. November Movie Releases
FASHION
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108. Citypages Fashion Report 111. The Style Code 112. Fashion News
FEATURES
16. Teenagers And The Power Struggle 18. Carry On Camping 20. Take That: Live In Dubai 28. Eccentric Teachers 31. املال أم الوقت ؟ 32. Failure Is The New Beginning 35. تسامح لتستمر 36. Designs For The Internally Challenged 38. The Tareq Rajab Museum 46. The Artistic Soul Of Peregrine Spode 60. Top Notes In Fragrances 100. Citypages Goes To The 6Th Red Bull Air Race 102. Loved Ones
FOOD
50. Would You Pay $800 For Gelato? 74. Let’s Get Real With Nat
HEALTH
68. Feeling Blue? 70. Lower Your Blood Sugar Level Without Medicines 72. Endometriosis 78. To Smile Or Not To Smile... That Is The Question
INTERVIEW
22. Amal Al Anbary 42. The Raqsh Team 54. Dr. Osama Alaradi 62. One-On-One With Kinda Alfaris 80. Aisha Syed Castro 92.Rawan Al Sharif 104. Janhrey Salvador
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contents ISSUE 71, VOLUME 5, NOVEMBER 2015
TECHNOLOGY 96. Cool New Gadgets 98. Tech Updates & News
TRAVEL 48. Top Five ‘Musts’ For Paris, France 58. My Four Discoveries In Sri Lanka
REGULARS 33. What's On... 52. The City Guide 76. Meet The Entrepreneurs With Tass Hassoun
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86. In Permanent Pursuit Of Perfection 90. November Book Releases 91. Book Club 102. Adopt A Street Princess
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118. Events 128. Press 136. Horoscopes 138. Homework For Grown Ups
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T I S S O T T- R A C E D A N I C A PAT R I C K L I M I T E D E D I T I O N . A S I LV E R D I A L W IT H TO P W E S S E LTO N D I A M O N D S A N D AN ENGRAVED CASEBACK. INNOVATORS BY TRADITION.
TIS SOT.CH New Street: 22453927 : • الشارع اجلديدMarina Mall: 22244839, 22244882 :مارينا مول New Street: 22453927 : • الشارع اجلديدMarina Mall: 22244839, 22244882 :مارينا مول 22433770, 22433500 :سوق شرق Salmiya Souq: 25718224 : • سوق السامليةSouq Sharq: Salmiya Souq: 25718224 : • سوق السامليةSouq Sharq: 22433770, 22433500 :سوق شرق مجمع 22406795, 22453863 The Gate Mall: 22056366 : • اجليت مولBehbehani Complex: 22056366 :اجليت مول:•بهبهاني Behbehani Complex: 22406795, 22453863 :مجمع بهبهاني The Gate Mall: es: Gallery: 22597727, 22597728 :األڤنيوز Laila Gallery: 25719780/1 : • ليـلى جاليــريThe Avenu • ليـلىThe Avenues: 22597727, 22597728 :األڤنيوز :جاليــري Laila 25719780/1 تيك توكThe Avenues): 22200726 :( األڤنيوز،تيك توك (سوكو TIK TOK(SoKu, The Avenues): 22200726 :(األڤنيوز TIK،(سوكو TOK(SoKu,
MAGAZINE
From the Editor Dear Readers,
Well, we’ve certainly witnessed some freakish weather over the last few weeks. Lightning lit up the sky, thunder rumbled angrily over the city and the rain washed away the last of summer. But along with the new season comes a new, positive energy and a host of fresh ideas; both of which you will find in this issue of CityPages. When it comes to fresh ideas, Kuwait’s new social platform ‘Societe!’ knows exactly how to turn those ideas into reality. With their common sense approach and passionate encouragement, you too could realise your dreams and see your very own ambition come to life. Rawan AlSharif is someone who did exactly that. Like many people, Rawan always wanted to write a book. Her determination to turn that dream into reality resulted in ‘Dose of Sunshine’, an inspirational read intended as a ‘pick-me-up’ for those who do just that. And staying on the subject of books, what do you do with your books once you’ve read them? Discard them? Leave them to gather dust on a book shelf? The team behind The Raqsh Project realised the value of such books and decided to ‘donate books to educate’ – their innovative project is designed to educate those less fortunate than ourselves. Moving from reading to painting, we bring you the fascinating story of Janhrey Salvador, the talented Filipino causing a stir with his paintbrush. And from art to music, don’t miss our interview with the world renowned violinist Aisha Syed Castro. Our cover star this month has musical talents of her own. Amal Al Anbary has never looked back since her appearance on Lebanon’s ‘Star Academy’. The popular talent show was the catalyst to bigger and better things for Amal who is now setting her sights on the big screen. Culture is also present this month as we pay tribute to Jehan Rajab. Despite her passing earlier this year, her legacy lives on through the Tareq Rajab Museum. Read on to learn how her passion and dedication contributed to the vast collection on display in the museum. As for the positive energy I referred to earlier, look no further than Waleed Shaalan’s interview for all the positivity you need. You will also, of course, find your regular favourites covering food, health, fashion and travel and so much more besides.
Dhari Al-Muhareb Editor-in-Chief
Jameel Arif
General Manager & Editor
Eng. Homoud Al-Muhareb Publishing Director
Gill Sherry
Group Editor
Kinda Al-Faris
Executive Editor
Muhammed Altaf Sr. Sales Manager
Claudia Farias
Content Supervisor
Enjoy the read. See you next month.
Tanya Burns
Creative Director
Jameel Arif
Graphic Designers
General Manager & Editor
Mohammed Syed Khaled Al-Enezi
jameelrf@citypageskuwait.com --- Corrections --CityPages is committed to providing not just interesting, high quality material but also accurate information. However, if an inaccuracy should occur we will take responsibility for our error and apologise to those concerned. With this in mind, we would like to point out that the chart headings accompanying the Birth Kuwait article in our October issue were printed above the wrong columns. This error in no way reflects upon Birth Kuwait and was solely the responsibility of CityPages. We apologise to both the provider of the article and our readers. John MacArthur’s Breast Cancer Awareness article also contained a minor error and should have read: “I know that statistically the chance of it not being benign is pretty small”.
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In this particular case, that one small word made all the difference and it should be stressed that any apparent abnormality should be checked out by a qualified professional. Apologies for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.
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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.
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MAGAZINE
The Team!
#71 NOVEMBER 2015 Kinda Al Faris Executive Editor
I am so excited for this month to end because there is so much to look forward to next year; so the sooner December comes, the sooner 2016 will be upon us!
ON THE COVER: Amal Al Anbary PHOTOGRAPHY Khalid Al-Nasheet
Recently, I gave up my day job. At first, I didn't quite know what to do with myself. But since sitting with Waleed Shaalan for my interview column this month, much has come to light and a few lessons have been gleaned. Make sure you read more about this impressive man. I learned that all is not lost and much is to be gained from the free time I will be given. I will be able to concentrate a little more on my passion for writing for CityPages and will hopefully be launching my podcast and accompanying blog. Wish me luck!
Abdullah Y. Shams AlDeen Abdulaziz Al-Khamis Abdalla AlMuzaini Ali - DJ RAVEN ASAMA Perfumes BirthKuwait Dr. Nazia Nausheen Faisal Al-Dhofari Erika Habig John McArthur Julieta Altamiranda Layla Harmony Maha Al-Rashed
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AND THE
POWER STRUGGLE Teens all over the world act in pretty much the same way; grunting, scoffing and eye rolling. If you are parenting teenagers then you know exactly what I am talking about. Sometimes when you try to talk to your teen, they either pretend they don’t hear you or will start an argument with you. Zahra Taqi Zahra is a Certified Professional Coach and the President of Milestones Coaching. She would love to hear back from you. So please feel free to drop her a line on her email: zahrataqi@gmail. com or find her on FB: http://www. facebook.com/MilestonesCoaching or twitter: @MilestonesCoach
Communicating with teenagers can be unbelievably hard at times as they try to push all your buttons. If there is one thing you need to understand as a parent with a teen, it is that all that defiance comes with the territory of being a teenager. You may ask yourself why they behave this way. The answer is simple - because they can. As a parent, you will need to understand that your teen ignores you because he is trying to control the situation. This behavior gives your child a sense of power and control in a situation where he feels he has no control. One of the things entirely in your child’s control is where he focuses his own attention and by ignoring you, he is doing exactly that - exercising his own control. As a parent to a teen, your job is to understand what your teen is trying to do and avoid getting into a power struggle. The more effort you exert in trying to make your teen behave the way you want, the more your teen will ignore you and do the exact opposite. By sidestepping the power struggle over communication styles, you are able to focus on the topic at hand and in doing so, are able to deliver your expectation clearly. Try your best to be clear and direct, even if that involves you speaking to the back of your daughter’s head while she stares at her phone screen. After you have delivered your message, you then hold her accountable for her own choices. Do not get sucked into the power struggle by having to debate (which is exactly what your teen will try to do). Debating will not get you anywhere, it is merely a tactic for your child to have control over a situation he has no control over (like mentioned above). One of the many life lessons
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we, as parents, need to instill in our kids before they grow up is accountability. By following this tactic you will be able to teach your teen that lesson. To be sure your message is coming through clearly to your teen, here are a few tips to help you:
1.Stay focused - In other words, keep your eye on the prize. What is the goal you are trying to accomplish? Have a specific bit of information that you want to convey to your child. Once this is clear to you, then state it to your child clearly and do not allow him/her to side track you. 2.Do not take it personally - I know it’s hard sometimes to stay cool, calm and collected when your child is yelling at you, ignoring you or otherwise pretending that he does not hear you. At this difficult moment remember that it is not about you. Your teen is simply trying to feel more powerful in this situation. A screaming match will only make things worse so try your best to stay calm. As the saying goes ‘you don’t have to attend every fight you are invited to’.
3.Your rules are not up for debate - Do not argue with your teen about your rules. Keep the message clear that you have set the rules and it’s your child’s job to find a way to follow them. If you start arguing about the rules, you then send a message to your child that they are changeable so simply stick to them. Remember that in all situations, what you can control is your own response. You alone can decide not to enter a power struggle; you can decide not to argue and you can set the rules. Your child is trying to navigate his way through the world; he is trying to see how he fits in the world. Understand that, relate to him and stay focused on what is important. If you feel that you need further help or support, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at any time. “Adolescence is the age at which children stop asking questions because they know all the answers.” – Author Unknown
November, 2015
CARRY ON CAMPING For many British expats reading this, just the sight of the above title will induce a wide grin and inner chuckle as memories flood back of the big-screen comedy film series originating from Pinewood Studios in the 1960s and 1970s. Packed full of innuendo, double-entendres and plain raunchy humour aimed at family audiences, the Carry On films were a national institution; and ‘Carry On Camping’ remains one of the most memorable and best-loved of these. Rather than discussing the merits or otherwise of the British film industry in the 20th century, however, my intention here is to consider the subject of camping, and the big difference in camping Kuwaiti style from the camping with which I grew up.
Paul Tunbridge A professional Facilities Manager from England, and with work experience across mainland Europe before arriving in Kuwait in 2007 Paul's interests include architecture and gardening as well as creative writing and the arts in general.
Camping season in Kuwait is with us once again and by the time you read this I’m sure the designated desert areas will already be buzzing with outside activities as seasoned campers establish their annual camps. With licences granted from 1st November for a period of around 5 months, each camp will be marked out and fenced to show its temporary ownership, and filled with an array of tents and toys with which I never cease to be amazed. At first, I found it difficult to understand why anyone would choose to stay under canvas in the desert during the coldest months of the year, but now appreciate that it’s more comfortable than in the hot months and, of course, it’s a major part of the State’s cultural history. But of course the whole camping concept here is such a big leap from my own experience. I had never before encountered such camping compounds which included separate tents for entertaining, sleeping and cooking; where there are tents housing generators to supply the electricity to power everything from lighting to flatscreen TVs; where compounds will construct a tower to raise a big water tank; where campers will take horses and camels, as well as fleets of quad bikes, trial motorbikes and dune buggies; and where individual camps will employ an on-site haris for 24/7 security as well as to keep the campers happy with supplies of food and sheesha! To me, this all raises camping to a whole new level. I think I was about 7 or 8 years old when my dad bought me a tent. It was a heavy brown canvas, 2 person ridge tent. I learned how to put it together in the back garden, and also learned that if I touched the canvas from the inside when it was wet, the rain would leak right through! It was great for playing with friends, but I never actually slept out in it. The last time I saw it was when my older sister borrowed it to take with her to a Rock Festival – I never did get it back. My first real camping experience was at age 10, when I went away with my Youth Club for a long weekend under canvas. I recall there were about 30 or 40 of us,
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ages from 10 through 18, plus a handful of club leaders to organise activities and provide hot meals. Our tents were ex-army ridge tents, and we slept around 8 per tent. Mum and dad had bought me a smart new sleeping bag and a waterproof ground sheet, but for ‘mattresses’ all the campers were provided with a pallyass – a large canvas bag which we had to fill with straw. I must admit, this was incredibly uncomfortable and not at all beneficial for someone suffering from allergies to hay and grass! On subsequent camping trips I went armed with an inflatable bed and hypo-allergenic pillow! But the whole experience was great fun, so there were lots of subsequent trips. I think I went camping at least twice a year from then until I was age 18; a long weekend in the spring, followed by around 10 days each summer. The summer camps were a lot bigger, usually with up to 100 campers at sites near a beach, but we slept in bell tents which are circular and required us to sleep with our feet all together in the middle as we fanned out towards the edge, a maximum 7 to a tent. Each morning we would have tent inspections, for which we would have to roll up the sides of the tent to let the air through, and remove all our kit, placing it neatly on our groundsheets outside the tent for inspection. Preparing for inspections was never popular, but became part of routine. Much the same could be said for having to wash in cold water, or to have buckets of ice cold water poured over you for a make-do shower! (Whoever thought the ice-bucket challenge was an original idea?) And at every camp, each tent would conspire to have a midnight feast by torchlight, with excesses of fizzy pop, crisps and chocolate, making everyone feel naughty and quite ill afterwards too. These were memorable experiences, every one of them, and I look back with great fondness. I am grateful that my parents encouraged me to go each time, although of course I see now how they also benefitted from a Paulfree week or weekend. Subsequent camping trips have been less fun and less than successful, I’m afraid. I bought an old campervan one summer – painted hippy-style with flowers it was certainly an eye-catcher on the road, and it serviced me well for the summer holiday and for my stay at a weekend rock festival before dying on my drive at the end of the season. Around twenty years ago I bought a new tent and decided to live under canvas once again as I toured the UK for a few weeks. But rainy weather made me realise that my camping days were numbered and I abandoned the idea in favour of warm rooms and comfy hotel beds. I do still hanker for the nomadic lifestyle from time to time, but think any future such adventures will require me to invest in an Airstream or Winnebago! But for all of you who enjoy an annual pilgrimage into the desert camps of Kuwait.... well, stay safe, enjoy yourselves to the max, and Carry On Camping!
TAKE THAT LIVE IN DUBAI
Gill Sherry Having enjoyed a successful 30 year career in insurance, Gill left the UK to move to Kuwait. She is now a valued member of the CityPages team where she is utilizing her editing and writing skills. In addition to her official role as Group Editor, Gill also contributes with regular interviews, features and reviews.
The first time I saw Take That live they were barely old enough to shave and at the height of their fame as an energetic five-piece. The Wembley Arena crowd was mostly made up of over-excited teenage girls, who had queued for hours in the hope of bagging themselves a front row spot and in turn, a shower of sweat from their favourite band member. My ear-drums have never quite recovered – not from the boys’ adolescent singing but from the thousands of whistles sold by dodgy dealers outside the arena and subsequently blown in vast numbers in a high-pitched frenzy. Fast forward to 2009 and I saw the boys again, this time as part of their Circus Tour at Wembley Stadium. Without the charismatic Robbie Williams I wasn’t entirely convinced the gig would live up to my expectations, particularly as he was my personal favourite. To me, Take That without Robbie was like James Bond without M. How wrong I was. The talented foursome gave an unforgettable live performance and had me eating my citypageskuwait.com
words from the opening song (sorry Robbie). They sure knew how to put on a show and the crowd, having grown in age along with the boys themselves, had thankfully left their whistles at home. Despite being dwarfed by a 30ft elephant, their clowning around ensured a carnival atmosphere for all twenty sell-out dates. In 2011, they announced their Progress Live Tour, a reunion with Robbie Williams and the first live performance in their original line-up since 1995. They sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours with sales thirty times higher than Michael Jackson’s This Is It tour. There was no way I was going to miss that! Along with thousands of other Take That devotees inside the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, I enjoyed every minute of their record-breaking show which included a 60ft robot named Om, a towering wall of water and giant smoking caterpillars. I was no less impressed when I saw them again two weeks later, this time in a rain-soaked Croak Park in Dublin, Ireland. So, having seen the band in each of their varying line-
ups so far, I couldn’t resist getting tickets to see the new Take That trio in Dubai. No Robbie Williams and now, no Jason Orange. I couldn’t imagine they would miss Jason’s vocal contribution all that much but would the entertainment factor suffer as a result? He was the best dancer after all. The Media City Ampitheatre was the perfect venue for this much anticipated gig. A short walk from Dubai Marina and with a stunning tower backdrop, the audience was captivated before the concert even began. The crowd may have been small compared to my previous Take That experiences but what it lacked in numbers it made up for in enthusiasm - and 10,000 people can still make a mighty loud noise. This was confirmed when the band opened with Shine, a feel good, sing-along track guaranteed to set the tone of what already promised to be a fun-filled, high-energy event. They followed this with Patience, another hit from their 2006 comeback album Beautiful World, released to celebrate their reformation after a ten year break.
to notice the absence of any such spectacle was proof that this particular threesome needed no pomp and ceremony to impress their audience. The lack of dancers and props merely highlighted the undeniable talents of the boys themselves. Gone were the toned torsos teasing teenagers into a tizzy; gone were the luscious limbs leaping from ladders; the trio’s presence on stage was all that was required to satisfy this particular audience. I also realised, probably twenty-five years too late, that I had underestimated Howard’s contribution. In the early days, blinded by Robbie’s charms, I only ever had eyes for the tall, handsome Mr. Williams. Later, I was bowled over by Gary’s songwriting talents and Jason’s dance moves. Only now, witnessing Howard with new mature eyes and ears, have
I joined the Howard Donald appreciation society. He was more than capable of filling in for Robbie in The Flood and was deserved of his centre stage position when flanked by his more popular band mates. It’s official – the boys still have what it takes. They may be in their forties, depleted in numbers and slightly less adventurous than they were, but the ampitheatre well and truly rocked under the collective appreciation of 10,000 fans. After a seamless string of hits, old and new, including Back for Good, Greatest Day and These Days, they raised the nonexistent roof with their grand finale, Never Forget; a fitting title for a fond farewell. It was also another opportunity for Howard to shine as 20,000 arms reached skyward towards the stars.
Mark Owen impressed fans with a welcome in Arabic before treating them to the old favourite Pray, their first ever number one hit. This was followed by solo performances from both Mark and Howard before the ‘main man’ Gary Barlow rejoined the stage. Predictably, the lights of thousands of mobile phones decorated the ampitheatre as the intro to Rule the World floated from the stage; the audience adding their own disharmonious vocals to the band’s more professional dulcet tones. It was only after an hour of singing, clapping and dancing that I realised this wasn’t quite what I had expected. Over the years, Take That gigs have grown from straight forward concerts to elaborate, mega-expensive stage shows full of props and daring routines. The only prop in evidence here was Mark Owen’s trusty hat. The fact that it took me so long November, 2015
AMAL AL ANBARY
Amal Al Anbary is a successful singer and actress. Originally from Morocco, she now divides her time between Kuwait, Bahrain and Dubai. Amal talks to us about her life, her ambitions and why she’s so reluctant to release an album.
citypageskuwait.com
November, 2015
Please introduce yourself to our readers. I am an Arabic singer and a Kuwaiti actress. Apart from art, I would like to introduce myself as a human being. Tell us about your education. I studied economics and politics because my interest was in the PR field and working between countries. I completed my studies in Morocco at the University of King Hassan II. How did you develop your interest in singing? I guess from my father. He used to play guitar and I think I got it from him. I started singing professionally in 2006 through the popular TV program ‘Star Academy’ in Lebanon. I stayed until the last level but unfortunately did not win. However, I believe I won something even bigger than the title which is the love and support of people, especially from Kuwait. They consider me one of their own, although originally I am not from Kuwait. How many languages do you speak? I speak English, French, Spanish, Italian and several dialects of Arabic. Did you take any special training in music? Yes, I took training in the beginning but later it was all practice. Even today, I do regular practice at least twice a week. Who is your inspiration? Do you have a favorite singer? I think Mariah Carrey. I believe in astrology and she has the same sign as me. I was very proud of her when I was young. She is uncomplicated and has an amazing voice. Later, I watched and followed Meryl Streep as I developed my interest in acting. Between singing and acting, where do you see yourself more inclined? I love the stage and the camera too! This is a question I am often asked but I always answer that one completes the other. I got into acting because of my popularity in singing. Tell us about your acting career. I have appeared in many drama serials, around twenty. How would you describe your style of singing? I sing in a totally different style to what I listen to. I am more classical, but the community outside is different and likes more upbeat songs. I constantly change and modify to the interest of my fans as I sing for them. Are you working on producing any albums? I have released many singles but not a full album. I don't believe in the idea of an album. Firstly, because I am currently doing my own production and it costs a lot of money and secondly, I’m sure if I release an album with 10 songs, not all of them will be popular. So, I think releasing singles is a smarter idea. Later, when I have 10 good ones, I may put them all on one album and call it ‘My Best 10’. citypageskuwait.com
November, 2015
Do you play any instruments? I play drums – I love playing them! Tell us about your hobbies. Cooking! I love the kitchen, it's my second stage. I especially love French cuisine. Do you have a favorite holiday destination? Paris. Whenever I am bored or think I need new energy, I go to Paris. What are you currently working on? I have a new drama series that will be released for OSN before Ramadan next year. We will start shooting from next week. What are your future plans? My dream is the cinema; although I have already participated in a short movie which will be included in Dubai Film Festival. How was your STAR ACADEMY experience? It was a big door to the professional world. It was my first experience of participating in a show so I was not taking it too seriously. But it taught me a lot. It was so much more than what I was expecting. Are you an early bird or a night owl? Both! I wake up at 6am every day except for weekends. But I love the night too; I like to spend it listening to jazz music, doing yoga, and reading books. Have you made an early New Year’s resolution? The list is long but my professional goal is to work more! Do you have a message for our readers? I believe your readers and audience are totally different than the audience of social media. They are more open and keen. I would tell them they are lucky to have such a splendid magazine as CityPages. It shows the personal and professional side of the people they select to interview. With it being in English, it is very clear and transparent. The questions and messages are very clear. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I cannot say more than thank you! Your work is perfect and amazing. I can’t believe I’m on the cover of this magazine, as much as I love it! Every time I travel I pick it up from the airport and love reading it during my flight. I always dreamt of being in this magazine - thank you for making my dream come true. How can your fans keep up-to-date with your news? Follow me on Instagram at @amal.alanbary and on SnapChat: Lanbaryaml citypageskuwait.com
RAPID ROUND Favorite food: French Favorite place in Kuwait: Prestige, Avenues Favorite color: Black and Royal Blue Your horoscope: Aries, 16th April Favorite perfume: Anything oud or leather
November, 2015
ECCENTRIC TEACHERS John McArthur John MacArthur was born in England, but has Celtic ancestry, so loves to sing. Abandoning his choral training, he sings songs of love and loss, owning several antique acoustic guitars. He has degrees in physics, chemistry and mathematics, has studied theology and business management, so, in fine nomadic tradition, he can call several universities home. After seven years in Kuwait, he 'retired' and laughs at himself every morning, commuting between his Paris island home and country house in rural France where he lives with his wife, a food writer and stylist, and, perhaps soon, a dog, should he be allowed one. Much to her dismay, he is thinking of taking up the mandolin. He has written for various publications worldwide on whatever happens to catch his imagination.
citypageskuwait.com
There is an abiding, persistent myth about schools, about learning. We as parents all know everything there is to know about them, because we all went to one. Of course, we want the very best for our children, including their education. As adults, in the cause of our own self-advancement, we are urged to sacrifice our leisure, our pleasures and our productive family time, to climb over the bodies of our rivals, work eighty-hour weeks and to set ourselves against the common interests of humankind. And then? Years later we often discover that we have achieved no greater satisfaction than that with which
we began. Furthermore, there is the clear and present danger that because we don’t know any better, we will apply the same pressures on the young, impressionably fragile minds of our children. Aspirational pressure means that as parents we feel compelled to fill our children’s time with activity, tutorial and effort, often deeply and sometimes permanently counterproductive to their well-being, mental health and ability to learn which we justify as an attempt to give them the best possible start in life. From infancy to employment, this is a life-denying, love-denying mindset, informed not by joy or contentment, but by an ambition that is both desperate and pointless, for it cannot compensate for
what it displaces: childhood, a sense of arrival, living in the moment. Much of the blame for unfulfilled aspiration is, for better or worse, laid at education’s door and therefore, by default, at the teacher.
more efficient, slick and corporate. This in and of itself is not necessarily harmful, but the relentless march of progress carries a price tag in the lives of those whom it most seeks to benefit.
Most schools have competent teachers, graduates in their chosen field, good communicators, organized and, for the most part, disciplined people. However, there is an endangered species which one can still find, but in fewer and fewer faculty staff rooms, dwindling to the point of extinction. Not the semi-corporates who look like they’d be more at home in a boardroom than a classroom - they are flourishing in a statistics-led, spreadsheet-driven system. This threatened group is most often found in the British or American educational system: namely, the eccentric. These are the kind of people that Noam Chomsky once referred to - teachers who actually stimulated thought, and sometimes they got away with it.
When the eccentrics are pushed, blinking and disorientated, into a new world of lesson observations, targets, data and appraisals, it is hardly surprising that they feel as if they have somehow boarded the wrong train. The problem is that many of the mavericks, who wouldn’t recognise a lesson plan if it bit them and couldn’t care less about student data or targets, are brilliant if unorthodox classroom practitioners. A former colleague of mine taught the craft skills, before they metamorphosed into something more important-sounding - design and technology. He was one of the Old Guard. In blissful ignorance of schemes of work, four-point lesson plans and plenary sessions, he was a natural teacher, in love with his subject and in possession of a sense of humour that could turn the most unlikely students into carpenters, joiners and fixers of things; skills often neglected in the race to the top. He could mend anything, from a broken chair to a radio and boys flocked around him to catch some of the magic in his fingers. He spent time with his students – he listened and talked to them and they to him. His lessons were captivating, enthusiastic and, dare we say it, they were fun. Unfortunately, there isn’t a category for fun in most schools’ educational framework and they are similarly light on references to inspiration and creating memories, yet there are dozens of pages on data, accountability and targets. Is that really what it’s all about? Or, somewhere down the line, has a once-revered profession lost its way? Teachers who have spent years honing their craft are ushered into offices to be told that, regretfully, their approach requires improvement because they haven’t made enough use of data and their ‘plenaries don’t sufficiently summarise the learning.’
Carpe diem. Seize the day. Even those who have never studied Latin know the phrase, since it comes from the iconic film ‘Dead Poets Society’ where a new English teacher, John Keating, played by the late and sorely missed Robin Williams, is introduced to an all-boys preparatory school known for its ancient traditions and high standards. He uses unorthodox methods to reach out to his students, who face enormous pressures from their parents and the school. With Keating's help, students Neil Perry, Todd Anderson and others learn to break out of their carapace of blind conformity, pursue their dreams and seize the day. Keating, in fact, taught them the single most important thing an educator can pass on to his students – the ability and the will to think for themselves. The revolution in the final scene where one boy after another stands on his desk and speaks the opening lines from Walt Whitman: “O Captain, my Captain” in homage to Mr Keating and in protest against his ignominious dismissal is one of the great moments in cinema history. Everyone, surely, can look back to their school days and think of at least one of their teachers who fell into this category. Most of the time, such people didn’t seem to quite fit in. Strangely weird, sometimes oddly dressed, persuasive in argument, even charismatic in rhetoric; people who loved doing what they did, the actor in them suffusing every lesson with a breath of theatre, their voices rising and falling with hypnotic and spellbinding cadence. Perhaps I too fell to some extent into this strange, enclosed category. On one occasion, some years ago, a beautiful woman in her thirties holding the hand of a nine-year-old girl stopped me in the street and greeted me by name. I had no idea who she was; she explained that her enduring memory as a fifteen-year-old at school was when I stood on the table in the physics lab and dropped paper pastry cases to illustrate the idea of terminal velocity. Perhaps I was odd, even a little ‘eccentric’ – in the end it is not for me to say - if I was, it is locked in the memories of the hundreds of students who passed through my hands. I am reminded of a much beloved English teacher reading Chaucer around the room, gently tapping the bowl of his pipe on the head of the next boy to read. He cleaned his blackboard with his gown and read Othello to us, his voice quivering with rage and betrayal. Schools and educational philosophies are like political flotsam, the raw material on which successive political generations hone their administrative skills, with varying degrees of success. Tinkering with education in many countries has often been a passport to higher office and, of course, everyone has something to say, a new blueprint for excellence, because they have all been to school. It’s quite understandable that great importance is placed on students’ results and the teaching profession has a duty to give young people a strong academic foothold as they take their first steps into adulthood. Schools often facing impossibly tight budgetary squeezing must learn lessons from the world of business about best operating practice to make them
Some cave in, returning deflated and embittered to their classrooms, the spark they once had permanently dampened to extinction. Many lay low, in fear for their livelihoods, seeing out their time, keeping out of trouble, to the permanent detriment of those whom they once loved to teach. Others just leave, burdened with the sense of not being good enough, in spite of positive reinforcement from their own students, the people who matter, the generations of students who saw their classes as a turning point in their lives. Of course, schools need to be accountable and seek out ways to improve, but what about a little flexibility to accommodate those teachers whose lessons don’t always tick all of the boxes? It may not be possible to measure fun, inspiration, pleasure and wonder, but these are the things that make our education systems great. They are the bits of school that we all remember, and many of us owe our careers, hobbies, interests and livelihoods to them. A colleague who spent forty years in the same school once wrote: “Spending time with young people and sharing their sometimes painful, often hilarious journey through adolescence is the real joy of the job. Perhaps my fondest memory came at the end of a leavers’ assembly. One student who had given the school considerable problems with his behaviour for some years was in tears. Genuine tears, demonstrating what all teachers know deep down: most troublesome pupils are just vulnerable young people who need the support and care of the whole school community.” It should not be forgotten that when our education systems become the enemy of promise this undermines what a school in essence should be – a community. Perhaps it is inevitable that schools will become more corporate, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of great teachers who don’t quite fit the mould. The ones who make school memorable, make lessons enjoyable and inspire a love of learning. Without them, school’s just not the same. November, 2015
citypageskuwait.com
كلمات ليست كالكلمات
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.
أَلَ ْم تَ َر َك ْي َف َض َر َب ال َّل ُه َم َث ًلا َك ِل َم ًة طَ يِّ َب ًة َك َ ش َج َر ٍة طَ يِّ َب ٍة ()24 (سورة إبراهيم الس َماءِ ت َو َف ْر ُعهَ ا ِفي أ َ ْصلُهَ ا ثَا ِب ٌ َّ في يوم ما كنت برفقة احدى صديقاتي المتزوجات مع ولدها الذي لم يتجاوز عمره الـ 3سنوات ،فكان كلما أخطأ بتصرف أو تصرف بفطرته بطريقة ال تعجبها قالت له ( يا شيطان) ،وان غيرتها قالت (يا ابليس) .فقلت لها أال تعلمين أن اهلل تعالى أوصانا أن نحسن اختيار كلماتنا ,وأن سيدي وحبيبي محمد عليه الصالة والسالم قال " الكلمة الطيبة صدقة" ،فقالت بلى ولكن (ولدي شيطان) .فلم أعد أطيق سماع تلك الكلمة ،فقلت لها ،عزيزتي :أال تعلمين أن الطفل يبدأ يتبرمج على الكلمات واألفكار التي تطلقها أمه و هو جنين في بطنها؟ ،ثم يبدأ بتخزين كل ما يتم قوله أمامه من كلمات و أفعال وتصرفات في عقله الباطن ( الالواعي) ،وتظهر تلك األفكار كتصرفات وسلوكيات حين يكبر فيضر نفسه ومن حوله ومجتمعه؟ الطفل يعيش لحظته من خالل لعبه وممارسته حياته بعيش اللحظة فيها ،وما نقوم نحن الراشدون إال بتحطيم November, 2015
فطرته وتقييده ،وتكرارنا لكلماتنا السلبية عليه ،تتحول مع مشاعرنا لسلوك يخزن بداخله فيظهر التأثير السلبي بناء أكثر عليه ،فكلما رددتي كلمة ( شيطان) سيتصرف ً على كلمتك فأنت المبرمج له اآلن .فقد أثبتت الدراسات أن للكلمة طاقة تؤثر في اإلنسان والحيوان والنبات والجماد، سواء كلمة إيجابية أو سلبية .وبما أن الماء يتبرمج بطريقة سريعة ،فجسم اإلنسان يطغي عليه الماء ،فبرمجته سهله ،حتى أن أثبت علماء اليوم أن شكل جزيئات الماء بناء على الكلمة .فاالختيار بيدنا إما أن نردد تتغير وتتشكل ً كلمات إيجابية أو سلبية ،ومهما كانت األحداث حولنا ال نكون السبب في زيادة البؤس في عالمنا ،فقد لقي منا ما يكفيه، ونحن المسؤولين عما يحصل ألبنائنا من برمجات سلبية، لذلك مهما أخطأ الطفل ال تردد عليه كلمات سلبية مثل ( شيطان ،فاشل ،مزعج وغيرها) بل قم بتشجيعه وتقوية ثقته بنفسه ،فسوف يعود عليه وعلى المجتمع باألثر الطيب.
FAILURE IS THE NEW
BEGINNING
Reem Ayoob Reem Ayoob is an entrepreneur and event planner. She is the founder and CEO of Diva Events, a company located in Bahrain Kingdom. Reem holds a master degree in marketing from New York and has been working in the PR, marketing and events sector for more than ten years. She is also a member of the Exhibition Committee at the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bahrain Business Woman Society. You can follow her on instagram/twitter/snapchat: @reemdiva
Life comes in different forms. You may live a life that you hate, work in a job that you detest or just live through a routine with no challenges at all. Or, you may be that person who will achieve great success, work in a job that you love and live the life of your dreams, believing this is your ultimate goal. Alternatively, you may be the other type; the type with a dream to create your own brand, or your own story, by starting from scratch and facing the challenges, to become a successful entrepreneur in control of your own destiny. However in the middle of all the success, instead of enjoying the glory and the business you have built, there comes a day when things start to fall apart. You realize your business has failed, for some or many reasons, and you end up either trying to rebuild it again or just give up trying because it’s just too much; too much to handle, too much energy and too much time and money wasted with no real outcome. This scenario, is known as the ‘failure process’, and it happens to more than 50% of new businesses and ventures within the first five years of their life cycle.
Every day we hear that a business has shutdown or someone has closed their company, and we stand still giving them the sympathetic look or the cold shoulder without really caring what happens to their self esteem and their dream. Instead, we should be trying to encourage them to wipe off the dust and get back on the wagon, rather than simply just saying ‘move on’. New entrepreneurs must ask themselves ‘Should I really move on or can I use this failure to my advantage?’ Belief is the answer to all questions; believe in your dreams, your capabilities and your own self and use this failure as a base rather than an obstacle. This process of failure should be a new beginning. It is just a lesson, an opportunity to change direction by searching deeply within your soul for the reason why you started your business in the first place. Stop focusing on what has been lost and start focusing on the new beginnings and the opportunities that await. Failure is not the end. Failure is a word that can be transformed by your inner power, your inner belief and you inner motivation. No-one will give you success; it’s your own work, your patience and your focus that will determine whether you are ready to live your dreams.
“It’s fine to celebrate success but it’s more important to heed the lessons of failure” Bill Gates citypageskuwait.com
WHAT'S ON...
November, 2015
تسامح لتستمر
Mubarak AL-Esmail Follow Mubarak on Instagram at: @IdeasOwners
مهارات التواصل والتفاوض من األمور المهمة جدًا في كل مشروع ،فعن طريقها تجعل المستحيل ممكن ، ال يكون التفاوض والتواصل بينك وبين العمالء والزبائن والشركات الموردة فقط ،بل أيضًا يكون بينك وبين فريق العمل لديك. اتصل بي أحد األصدقاء يشتكي من تقصير أحد الموظفين الجدد في عمله حيث أخطأ الموظف في التصرف في موقف معين وقرر صديقي أن يستغني عن خدماته ! فطلبت منه اإلجابة على هذه األسئلة : 1منذ متى يعمل هذا الشخص معك ؟أجاب :منذ شهر ونصف تقريبا. 2هل هذه أول مرة يرتكب فيها هذا الخطأ ؟ أم تكررالخطأ أكثر من مرة ؟ أجاب :أول مرة يخطئ ولكنه خطأ فادح ! 3كم أضعت من الوقت لتبحث عن موظف يسداحتياج مشروعك ؟ أجاب :بحدود شهر ونصف. November, 2015
3كم نسبة تقييمك ألداء هذا الموظف حتى اآلن ؟أجاب75% : من اإلجابات أعاله يتضح أن الموظف الجديد يستحق فرصة جديدة وتدريب وفهم لمسئولياته أكثر ،وأن فكرة اإلستغناء عنه قد تكلف صاحب المشروع الكثير من الوقت (بحدود شهر ونصف) إليجاد شخص بديل ! وقد يتعطل أو يتأثر المشروع بسبب االستغناء عن شخص معين ،كذلك نسبة 75%كتقييم عام لموظف جديد نسبة ممتازة وإذا كان هذا الشخص يحب عمله بالتأكيد أنه سيقوم بتطوير نفسه لألفضل ،أي بحدود الشهر والنصف سيكون أداءه يعادل 85% على األقل ،لذلك قرار التسامح وإعطاؤه فرصة أخرى هو األفضل الستمرار المشروع وهو القرار الذي اتخذه صديقي بعد المناقشة. افتح باب التواصل والتفاوض والمناقشة وفهم الشخصيات والسلوكيات في العمل وسترى األمور بشكل أفضل.
DESIGNS FOR THE
INTERNALLY CHALLENGED
Paul Tunbridge A professional Facilities Manager from England, and with work experience across mainland Europe before arriving in Kuwait in 2007 Paul's interests include architecture and gardening as well as creative writing and the arts in general.
There are some people who have a natural talent in visualizing and creating rooms with spectacular style – with all the colours and furnishings working in harmony to provide homeowners with the rooms of their dreams. But there are others who struggle and need a little help to avoid clashing hues and mismatched styles that can offend the average eyes. Yet for many years, the luxury of commissioning a professional interior designer has been necessarily restricted to the rich and famous. After all, a traditional interior designer can cost the homeowner megabucks of any currency and take many months to complete each project. But, as I hinted in my article ‘A Growing Era of Change’ (CityPages October 2015) my concept of low-cost garden design pioneered in the 1980s has now reached across into the world of interior design and is currently gaining momentum. Thus there is now a helping hand for those who are in need of guidance with their room designs. In the last few years, design-conscious home dwellers who were once reluctant to splurge their hard-earned cash on a traditional interior designer are turning to start-ups for quick, affordable and tech-savvy ways to add design touches and luxuriousness to their homes. Trendy young homeowners are increasingly accustomed citypageskuwait.com
to browsing, pinning and creating — and doing it on a budget. So now elements within the interior design industry are trying to change the way people think about designing their homes; and as a result are bringing highstyle luxury to the masses. Let’s consider an example. When 33 year old Sarah married and moved in to live with her new husband, she was eager to incorporate both of their ideas when decorating their new Los Angeles home. But they faced a challenge. Sarah’s husband was keen to host frequent American football parties, which didn’t exactly mix with her sophisticated tastes. Having 15 guys in the apartment watching football and devouring mountains of hotdogs and burgers was therefore a major design issue, and one they couldn’t get their heads around without some professional help. The couple managed, however, to locate a one-yearold interior design start-up that allows customers to choose from at least four high-end interior designers who submit ‘first looks’ of their ideas. On the same basis as my landscape design company, customers choose the design they like and pay from $199 to $499 per room for design advice. Sarah and her husband paid $299 for a package and communicated with their designer via an online platform that allowed them to chat and send photos during the process. While the website offered a less hands-on approach than the traditional way of working with an interior designer,
it meant the couple was able purchase furniture to fit their $5,000 to $7,000 budget at their own pace. Choosing a designer from several options rather than signing on with one prior to seeing his or her ideas for the room was another perk.
generally well familiar with, and educated about, their likes and dislikes well before they commit to design work and are more hands-on throughout the process, often sharing photos to pinpoint a desired look.
Such services are now increasingly in demand and being viewed as high-style luxury for the masses.
Another Los Angeles-based designer, who works with a start-up on a freelance basis in addition to having her own practice, says that many clients are looking for a less hands-on approach. Since many of her clients rent, they are also looking for affordable design advice. They ask her just to give them some pictures and then try to figure it out for themselves. Still, for larger, more intensive design projects, it can be helpful for a designer to speak to clients and visit their home.
For the Pinterest generation, which is used to browsing and pinning glamorous photos of home decor, showcasing their own magazine-worthy spaces online is now a must. And with good design easily accessible online on home decor magazine and blog sites, there’s an increased interest in a DIY (Do It Yourself) approach. Furniture and other items are also more easily sourced than ever before, and some start-ups also cater directly to the consumer by selling goods online that were once only available to the trade. Noa Santos, who is co-founder of Homepolish, a New York-based interior design start-up that launched in 2012 and offers by-the-hour design advice in the home, suggests that interior design “was always thought to be very exclusive and very expensive”, but that the start-ups such as his are trying to change the way people think about designing their homes. He is also keen to highlight that clients are
At Homepolish, about half of the users are apartment dwellers looking to decorate their temporary homes, and a rising rental population makes services like these more in demand. Highend traditional designers can charge similarly high-end fees, plus a mark-up on furniture and décor! So far in this article I have concentrated on services currently spreading across the USA, but the concept is now stretching much further afield. In India, Bangalore-based LivSpace attracts tech-savvy consumers by offering the same Pinterest-ready rooms in one purchase. The
one-year-old start-up allows users to purchase entire looks customised to their own roomspace, thus avoiding the drawn-out process of purchasing furniture piecemeal. For example, a modern bedroom look complete with a rubycoloured rug and dark wood accents is one of the most popular LivSpace designs, and starts at 143,160 rupees ($2,250). A modern mustardyellow kitchen with built-in appliances starts at 369,244 rupees ($5,800). The idea of selling an entirely curated look for each room in the home is particularly appealing to busy middle-and-upper-class professionals in India, who are the site’s target clients, as they don’t have time to track down each item on their own. For some homeowners increasingly looking to update their home decor, offerings like this are become a necessary splurge. For others, like myself, there remain countless sources of inspiration on which to draw, from complete room setups in IKEA to overlytempting photographs of the latest trends as featured in a never-ending supply of homestyle magazines. Keep picking up your copy of CityPages each month, and who knows what might inspire you to get creative in your own home!
November, 2015
The Tareq Rajab Museum A Treasure Trove of Tradition Gill Sherry
Having enjoyed my trip to the Tareq Rajab Museum of Islamic Calligraphy last month, it was only natural that I should follow it up with a visit to the parent Tareq Rajab Museum; particularly as I had recently attended a lecture by Ziad Alsayed Rajab. Ziad is the son of Tareq and Jehan Rajab, the museum’s founders. Sadly, Jehan passed away earlier this year and Ziad’s lecture was a touching tribute to the woman who contributed so much to the museum. Jehan was a pillar of Kuwait’s cultural life who devoted most of her own life to education and archaeology. Having learned so much about her from her son’s heartfelt words, I was impatient to see for myself, the result of her insatiable wander-lust.
citypageskuwait.com
November, 2015
One of the most talked about possessions is the Bronze Door of Sultan Barqua, dating back to 1386. Standing proud at the entrance hall and decorated with inscriptions, extensive research has been carried out to confirm its originality. It’s a stunning piece of history, beautifully crafted and since its arrival in 1993, a precious addition to the museum. Descending the steps inside the building, I was treated to a showcase of silver rose-water sprinklers from China, India and Arabia as well as a collection of swords and daggers, and carved stones decorated with Arabic Calligraphy. The prefect appetizer before what I hoped would be a very satisfying main course. Reaching the belly of the building, I was staggered by the size of the museum. Its labyrinth of passageways promised a glimpse into the Arab/Islamic past. It was difficult to know where to start. Taking the most direct route, I found myself in a weapon gallery. An arsenal of pistols and guns decorated an entire wall and despite their menacing appearance, I was drawn to their collective magnificence. One Algerian miquelet flintlock gun (AD 1793) was inlaid with hundreds of fine shaped pink corals. It’s hard to believe something so beautiful could be so deadly. The museum is also home to a number of musical instruments. History suggests much conflict surrounding the topic of music with certain stern legalists attempting to outlaw it, despite there being no prohibition against it in the Holy Qur’an. Thankfully, their attempts were futile and, to this day, folk music remains at the heart of Islam. The lute (El Oud), the zither (El Qanun) and the flute (El Nay) are symbolic of instruments in the Arab world and examples of all three can be found at the museum along with drums, fiddles and tambourines. All are expertly displayed to expose their intricate carvings and exquisite designs. The collection of jewellery is equally impressive with pieces from the Arab and Islamic world ranging from those worn by peasants to those flaunted by the rich. The distinct differences between the ages are evident as both the methods adopted and the materials used, progressed and evolved. The display includes silver folk jewellery, tribal pieces and items decorated with coins, pearls or teeth. The Gold Room is cleverly positioned, expertly lit and guaranteed to distract you from your otherwise orderly path. An eighteenth century Moghul piece, renowned for its enamel work and produced in Jaipur, is elegantly displayed at the entrance. The Gold Room itself houses examples from the pre-Islamic to the Islamic period. It also displays a Kuwaiti ring purchased by Dame Violet Dickson in the old souq of Kuwait in the early 1930s. Dame Violet, wife of the British Political Agent Harold Dickson, was a well loved figure in Kuwait and the gift of her ring to the museum by her daughter Zahra, is a poignant reminder of the close ties she formed during her extended stay citypageskuwait.com
in the country. Ziad talked about his mother’s passion for traditional jewellery and how she would introduce herself to women on her travels so she could talk about the design or style of a particular piece. Her travels included journeys to Jordan, Iraq, Turkey and Iran and even the beehive villages in Northern Syria. Her interest in jewellery and costumes developed along the way; a fact supported by the bountiful regalia on display. The collection of costumes at the museum is vast. From ‘Sleeping Beauty’ style headpieces to giant sized ‘khalaga’ dresses. These dresses are over three metres long with correspondingly huge sleeves. The main bulk of the dress is folded over a belt and the sleeves are placed over the head. It’s a Jordanian tradition with each tribe having
its own distinct embroidery. Ziad shared a photograph of his mother wearing a ‘khalaga’. She looked equally at home in this garment as she did in the Indian style sari she wore when she first arrived in Kuwait. Apparently, she experimented with many clothing styles before eventually finding comfort in the white Punjabi. Other pieces to catch my eye included a Moroccan ‘tensifa’ or mirror covering. I was fascinated to discover that these were used to cover long mirrors during the honeymoon period of a newly married couple. A pair of shoes on stilts was just as intriguing; attractively inlaid with mother of pearl and worn when streets and roads were wet; and a carved back scratcher! The ‘Khamsa’ symbol, which represents the five precepts of Islam; profession of faith,
prayer, pilgrimage, fasting and charity, is often seen on jewellery in the Arab/Islamic world, examples of which are evident. Some believe the ‘Khamsa’ is the hand that turns aside evil. Amber is also used to avert the evil eye and has been used the world over in folk medicine. There is a stunning collection of amber, ranging from pale lemon to golden to deep red. There is also an array of metal work with examples from Iran, Syria and Egypt. A bronze incense burner is one of the earliest objects but there are also perfume bottles, trays, oil lamps and inkwells. Strangely, some of the objects have no clear function. A collection of bird/animal figurines for example, may have formed part of larger items and been used as handles or decoration on lamps or caskets. The unknown actually makes them more captivating, forcing your imagination into
overdrive.
information and a reservoir of pleasure.
Deeper into the museum’s maze, I discovered more weaponry. Daggers and gun powder flasks sit alongside gold swords and coats of arms. There is also a distinctive buffalohide leather shield decorated with snake-like branches, scrolling grapevines and birds; far too beautiful for the battlefield.
Thanks to Jehan Rajab’s acquisitive nature, the museum boasts a wonderful collection giving visitors an insight into Islamic tradition. Her passing was a sad loss indeed, but the Tareq Rajab Museum is a fitting legacy for a lady so devoted to her cause; and something of which the whole family can be extremely proud. The dedication of both Tareq and Jehan Rajab and their joint interest in the arts, has resulted in a historic treasure trove guaranteed to inspire generations to come.
Deeper still, I discovered Islamic ceramics and glass and, having already witnessed the extensive collection of manuscripts in the Museum of Islamic Calligraphy, even more examples of the Holy Qur’an. There were also paintings, gold coins, nineteenth century miniature paintings, a twelfth century toy and Syrian tiles as well as a collection of nineteenth century Arab furniture and many different forms of lion. With items ranging from mammoth to minute, if offers a world of
The visiting hours for the museum are 9am to mid-day and 4pm to 7pm Saturday to Thursday. Friday opening hours are 9am to mid-day only. For further information visit their website www.trmkt.com. Admission is 2KD but free for under 14s. You will find it in Jabriya, Area 12, Street 5. November, 2015
The Raqsh Team Donate Books to Educate Lack of education has long since been an issue across the globe. While many sympathize with the underprivileged who, for no fault of their own, have no access to books or other educational tools, very few actually do anything about it. Determined to make a difference, 24 individuals formed The Proteges Program. Together, they established The Raqsh Project with the aim of accumulating 3,500 books within 8 weeks. With committed sponsors helping with collection and distribution, they have already exceeded their target. But their hard work continues and as a result, underprivileged children around the world can receive the education they deserve. citypageskuwait.com
What does RAQSH mean? Raqsh in the Arabic language means beautiful typography. We called our project Raqsh because we want to write people's futures beautifully.
impact society. After six long hours of arguing, bickering and fighting, we’d filtered through more than 200 ideas until we reached the concept of book donation. The early Raqsh is very different from what it is today.
You are a team of 24, who is leading the team and who are other prominent members and what do they do? At Raqsh, there are no positions and no true hierarchy. We’re a supportive group.
Will your project end in 8 weeks when you complete the collection of 3,500 books or will it continue even after that? The official trial period of Raqsh won’t end when we collect 3,500 books because the team has already collected more than 9,000 books. However, it will end in 8 weeks. After 8 weeks the team has a few loose ends to tie up, nevertheless, the team is very optimistic about the prospects of starting the next chapter of Raqsh.
Do you have regular meetings and how do you communicate with your members? Yes, we do have regular meetings. Most of the time we communicate via WhatsApp groups, skype calls and regular telephone calls. How did you all come up with the idea of book donation? In The Proteges program we had a brainstorming session on a beautiful Swedish island called Sandhamn. We had to come up with a project idea that would positively
What is the response so far? The response is absolutely amazing. Many organizations, institutes, universities and schools want to support us. What’s even more interesting is that we have schools from the US and Jordan wanting to send us books! Even people around the GCC want to ship their
books to us. Where will these books go to? The books go to underprivileged people who have dreams and aspirations and want to read but don't have books to help them build their future. The team has sent books to Somalia and twice to Jordan. The team is planning a second trip to Jordan to donate the bulk of the books. Who helped you with the design and production of the collection machines? The machine was designed internally by The Proteges family, meanwhile the manufacturing took place in a sponsoring company. Who are some of your sponsors in the project? The Proteges, UNESCO, KIPCO, Midas, QualityNet, Alwaseet, Elevation burger, WANA Social, The Avenues, Masaha 13, The Arabana Project, Cinescape, AlShaheed Park, Chips Store, Tap, The English School Fahaheel, NEST and Mprints.
November, 2015
What were some of the challenges that you had to face? From day one the whole Raqsh concept was a challenge in the time scale we were given to execute it. The second greatest challenge was communication. It’s extremely difficult to meet with everyone or to guarantee a task's completion on time; the reason being that some of us have school, university or even jobs to attend to. Another challenge we solved was the issue of legalizing Raqsh, but it thankfully didn't take as much time as we thought it would. What are some of your future plans? Now we’re focused on the next step in the plan - placing the book donation machines in their designated locations. At the same time we’re organizing a second trip to Jordan to distribute the bulk of the books. Your message to our readers: One book can impact one life, and that life’s progeny. Donate books to educate.
citypageskuwait.com
THE ARTISTIC SOUL OF
PEREGRINE SPODE
Peregrine Spode
Dentally challenged. Still single.
Surprisingly, Eleanor Roosevelt, the outspoken wife of FDR and I have something in common. She was dominated by FDR’s controlling mother. Despite which, she once wrote: “I think, at a child’s birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity.” My own mother – about whom I have written a good deal in these pages – you know, the woman who has been variously described as a female version of Genghis Khan or ‘Great She-Elephant’ and even ‘She Who Must Be Obeyed’, no doubt took these words very citypageskuwait.com
much to heart. In short, the childhood of P Spode was littered with her attempts to pique my juvenile curiosity with everything from manly team sports to playing the violin. Yes, I can hear what you are all thinking. Spode? The violin? A peculiarly vengeful form of masochism, since the learner always gets his own back by bowing with painful and almost deliberately crazed slowness for the requisite practice hour. Imagine listening to a full set of fingernails slowly being drawn over a blackboard… You get the idea. However, dear old mamma did get one or two things right. Before taking an interest in Stradivarius, my
fingerpaintings were praised as if they were Picasso’s and stuck on the fridge with a brightly coloured magnet, often for far too long. Pride in the efforts of one’s own flesh and blood is a mother’s privilege and duty, I suppose, any pretence at quality notwithstanding. And here, ladies and gentlemen, is the nub, or perhaps, crux of our little adventure today. What is Art? You might remember an article a while back in the magazine you’re now holding about cave paintings, written by a friend of mine who is much more knowledgeable than me. Centuries before flash drives, hip-hop and
Kim Kardashian, we hunted and drew our prey on cave walls, sometimes in breathtaking detail, sweepingly exact drawings capturing the raw thrills of the chase. We had only naturally synthesised paint, usually made from water-soluble oxides or fragile charcoal, making the images a bit monochromatic, but the principle is clear. Some of us had even then, a compulsion to somehow capture a moment in time with an image on a wall. And, the window into history is remarkable. After all, there’s not many woolly mammoths or bison stampeding around these days. There’s nothing more dispiriting than watching an overenthusiastic parent hauling a recalcitrant six-year-old round an art gallery, surrounded by sweeping, long-forgotten battle scenes. The vast images are much larger and more frightening than they are, and they have to try to absorb parentally edited potted histories as mother reads the blurb beside each painting, in some vain, fruitless attempt to force-feed the poor little beast with what she genuinely believes to be ‘culture’. However, finely–tuned souls, upon reaching an age when reason overmasters instant gratification, may find a visit to a gallery quite a spark to an emergent imagination. Back to Eleanor and her curiosity, which, it seems, doesn’t always kill the cat, instead provokes endless questions about why the Emperor Napoleon was so short and fat. “I know what I like and I like what I know”. No, it’s not the Phil Collins lyric, but a quote from my elderly grandfather on the subject of Art. Let’s take a little historical tour and you can ask yourself, what exactly do I ‘like’? (Please, no Facebook jokes! Ed) As it happens, I myself have just come back from a little cultural tour. High on the list, an ambition unfulfilled, unhappily, was to see the…No. Try and guess. (Don’t tease them! Ed) It’s in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan and is one of the world's most famous paintings. It’s also one of the most studied, scrutinised and satirised. It’s also over five hundred years old and it’s falling to pieces, which is what happens when you ask somebody to decorate the dining room by painting on a dry surface. Only twenty years after it was finished, the paint was flaking off the wall, so much so that a few years later somebody thought it a brilliant idea to cut a doorway right through the middle of it. You can’t get good help these days. Are we there yet? No? If I were to tell you that it’s one of the finest examples of single point perspective in the world, you’d immediately know. Ah, yes. ‘The Last Supper’ by that absurdly talented chap from Vinci, you know, the one who painted the girl with the enigmatic smile. Why didn’t I go and see it? Because you can’t get in without a ticket and they’re harder to get hold of than backstage passes for an Eric Clapton concert. The marvelous thing about great paintings is that they have a well-documented
history. After extensive and mostly bungled attempts at restoration – one restorer even tried to paint over the original faces before somebody stopped him, probably by force the convent went through what the real estate agents call ‘repurposing’. In 1796, French revolutionary anti-clerical troops used the refectory as an armoury – imagine a load of pikestaffs, flintlocks and whatnot stacked up against the wall with this dirty old painting on it – in fits of republican rage they threw stones at the painting and climbed ladders to scratch out the Apostles' eyes. The refectory was then later used as a prison; history relates that ‘it is not known if any of the prisoners may have damaged the painting’. Yeah right. Must have taken weeks to get the graffiti off... If we can stick with Leonardo, just for a minute, I have, on the other hand, seen the Mona Lisa, or, as we arty types prefer to call her ‘La Joconde’ which you get to see in the Louvre, along with half the population of Beijing who robustly ignore all the shouted imprecations about flash photography from her longsuffering guardians. There’s something about great portraiture – notice the subtle shift of emphasis here – so that from whichever angle one looks at the painting, the eyes seem to lock on to yours. It gives the viewer a certain intimacy with the work, as if by simply observing the image, one develops a bond with the subject. (Quite poetic, that. Even for you. Ed) Here, of course we cannot proceed without remembering Mr Bean’s classic ‘restoration’ or should it be reinterpretation of ‘Arrangement in Grey and Black No 1’, known to its friends as Whistler’s Mother. The original is of a quite lugubrious looking woman facing left, dressed in black, on a boring, drab green background, viewed in profile. It’s in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and I’ve seen it. Well, I’ve walked past it a couple of times. Mr Bean (quite rightly, in my opinion) removes the face by a happy accident and replaces it with a rather jolly front-facing
cartoon. Talent will tell. If some of the lads need a bit of help filling in the dark bits of the Last Supper, they know they can always count on me. Can’t be harder than painting by numbers, can it? (Heavens preserve us. Ed) It’s a sad reality that the stuff with which people choose to adorn their walls speaks volumes. I noticed the other day that you can buy an ‘original’ Damien Hirst print (one of only fifty-five) of a large red circle - modesty forbids me from telling you what it’s called - so there’s at least fifty-four other drawing rooms or executive offices having exactly the same. If you want one, it’ll cost several thousand dollars and you have to pay extra for the frame. Now, call me Mr Old-Fashioned, but, beloved, would you pay the same price for a big red ball as you’d pay for a couple of weeks in a five star hotel in the Maldives? No. I thought not. ‘Oh, hush and stop. Cease and desist’, I hear you all saying. Of course, if we were all absolutely honest, there are some things that we like, and others we just don’t. Some people win expensive prizes for stuff that I’d have put in the bin, others are wildly talented and, by accidents of time and place, just never get the recognition that their work deserves. Oscar Wilde once remarked ‘I always pass on good advice. It is the only thing to do with it. It is never of any use to oneself.’ So, I’ll pass this on for you. Take your children to the gallery at about the same age as you let them ride a bicycle on the public road. Most of it they’ll hate and hence hate you for making them go. But, some of it they might secretly quite like and, ‘out of little acorns, mighty oaks do grow’. After all, the imagination imitates, and, in the words of the French writer Apollinaire, ‘…without artists, men would soon weary of nature's monotony.’ What a splendidly misguided thought. Until next time. November, 2015
TOP FIVE ‘MUSTS’ FOR
PARISFrance
Jim West By day a Cyber Security Expert, and by night an award winning author of the Magicae Mathematica series. Jim has lived in Kuwait since 2007, and is excited to be part of the CityPages team.
destination.
Bonjour! Perhaps the most popular tourist destination in the world, Paris has long been called the city of lights and rightly so. Bursting with culture, history and fantastic cuisine, it’s little wonder why millions make Paris their vacation
1-The MUST see…. The Eiffel Tower will be something you will see repeatedly while touring Paris, but the second most visited site is one a lot of people do not prepare for adequately; the Musee du Louvre. It is best that you purchase tickets in advance and plan to take at least half a day to take in its many exhibits. I recommend dedicating a full day to really enjoy this museum. http://www.louvre.fr/en/advance-tickets 2-The MUST eat….On top of Montmartre butte is a feast for both eyes and nose with Le Coq Rico. The smell of roast chicken fills the nostrils and in addition to the assortment of hors d’oeuvres, Chef Antione Westermann serves up a menu not to be missed. http://www.lecoqrico.com
3-The MUST shop….There is one street you need
to see in Paris which has all of the shops one could wish for; Champs-Elysees. This is the main boulevard that runs from most tourist attractions and you can also see the Arc de Triomphe along this street.
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4-The MUST stay….Hotels come in various price ranges and comfort levels. Be cautious when booking as their stars don’t necessarily mean the same star quality you might get elsewhere in the world. For those where money is no object, the best is the Four Seasons George V. For the rest of us I recommend Hotel Mercure Vaugirard Porte de Versailles. It is very close to the Eiffel tower and exhibition center and is great for families. http://www.mercure.com
5-The MUST do off the beaten path….Ask almost everyone who has been to Paris and they will recommend the same top ten sites almost everyone goes and sees. But there is one site that many will not, or rather dare not, visit. The Catacombs de Paris. It is a large series of underground tunnels and walkways that is called the ‘World’s Largest Cemetery’. Be aware that some corridors in the catacombs are not for those with back problems or claustrophobia. Pay attention to opening hours and closure dates before you plan to go. http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/homepagecatacombs-official-website C’est la vie!
For more information check out http://en.parisinfo.com
November, 2015
WOULD YOU PAY $800 FOR GELATO?
Khaled Nazar Khaled is a Colorado School of Mines Graduate with a BS in Petroleum Engineering. Currently working for KOC and co-founder of Kuwait Events mobile application, he is (but is not limited to) a cinematographer, photographer, filmmaker, artist, engineer, geek, food critic, wanderlust and car enthusiast. He prefers a mountain hike to a city stroll.
I had been awake for a couple of days and exhausted from finals week. Akiko Billings, Zulhilmi Yusop and I decided that we should all get gelato to celebrate the end of our Sophomore year. Paciugo (pronounced: Pa-choo-go) was the name of the gelato shop and it was about an hour drive away. It is the one and only gelato shop in the United States that gets all their flavors spot on, from the extra bitterness of that dark chocolate to their outstanding sea salt caramel. As I fastened my seatbelt in the driver’s seat, Zulhilmi rode shotgun and Akiko was getting comfortable in the back for the long drive to Loveland, Colorado. We had been driving for about 20 minutes when we finally merged onto the Interstate-25 or I-25. This long stretch of road leads all the way north but we needed a mere 30 minute drive time to reach our destination. We were reminiscing about some 90’s songs and thinking about all the new gelato flavors they might be offering at Paciugo. Loveland slowly appeared into our vision on the horizon. I had been driving behind a slow driver and decided to pass him on the left. As I was gaining speed I saw the horror of red and blue lights flashing in my rear-view mirror. I returned to the right lane, hoping
citypageskuwait.com
he just might pass me but he followed and pulled me over. Unfortunately, my car insurance had just expired the night before. I was too busy with my finals and had forgotten to pay for another 6 months. I was explaining my situation but all the police officer said was, “You know I could tow your car right now, right?” He slapped me with 800 dollars (250 KD) worth of tickets and a court date the next month. We drove off quietly until we reached Loveland - a mere 5 minutes away from where we were pulled in. We parked in front of the store and all shared the same disappointed faces as we left the car. Our frowns were turned upside down into smiles as we walked in and saw what was waiting for us in those ice-cold freezers. I ordered a big cup with my favourites; Extra Dark Chocolate, Limon (Lime and Lemon), Sea Salt Caramel and Roasted Coconut. The reason why I love this place is mainly for that Limon flavor. A real lemon taste that packs a real sour punch. Add the bitterness of that extra dark chocolate and you will have yourself a party in your mouth. The other two flavors add a little contrast for one amazing gelato experience. Was that ticket really worth getting for a cup of gelato? Maybe not for me, but I’m sure it was for my taste buds!
DELIVERY : +965 66 583 274
CRUKAFEKW
www.crukafe.com November, 2015
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a city, and former British colony, in southeastern China. Vibrant and densely populated, it’s a major port and global financial center famed for its tower-studded skyline. It’s also known for its lively food scene – from Cantonese dim sum to extravagant high tea – and its shopping, with options spanning chaotic Temple Street Night Market to the city’s innumerable bespoke tailors.
Where to Stay
The Mira Hong Kong
Boasting Michelin Star dining and stylish lifestyledesigned rooms, The Mira Hong Kong provides exclusive personalised concierge service. It features smoke-free rooms with a pillow menu and free Wi-Fi access.
Things to do Tian Tan Buddha
The Peninsula Hong Kong
Opened in 1928, The Peninsula Hong Kong offers 5-star service and old world charm on the edge of Victoria Harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui. A Romanstyle indoor pool, a 12,000 square feet spa and 9 award-winning restaurants and bars feature within this luxurious hotel.
Where to Dine Lung King Heen
On a hill above the monastery sits the Tian Tan Buddha, a seated representation of Lord Gautama some 23m high (or 26.4m with the lotus), or just under 34m if you include the podium. It weighs 202 tons, by the way. The large bell within the Buddha is controlled by computer and rings 108 times during the day to symbolise escape from what Buddhism terms the '108 troubles of mankind'.
AMMO
Victoria Peak W Hong Kong
Inspired by nature, the chic W Hong Kong towers over busy West Kowloon with its 76th floor outdoor pool, pampering spa treatments and its 73rd floor 24-hour gym. The hotel showcases exceptional décor and architecture from the world's top designers.
Standing at 552m, Victoria Peak is the highest point on Hong Kong Island. The Peak is also one of the most visited spots by tourists in Hong Kong, and it’s not hard to see why. Sweeping views of the vibrant metropolis, verdant woods, easy but spectacular walks – all reachable in just eight minutes from Central by Hong Kong’s earliest form of transport.
Tim’s Kitchen
Dong Lai Shun
The Salisbury - YMCA of Hong Kong
The Salisbury-YMCA of Hong Kong is conveniently situated within the prime shopping and entertainment district of Tsim Sha Tsui. It offers a rock climbing room, an indoor lap pool and 2 excellent dining options. Rooms are bright with large windows. Select rooms offer spectacular views of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island's skyline. citypageskuwait.com
Man Mo Temple
One of Hong Kong’s oldest temples and a declared monument, atmospheric Man Mo Temple is dedicated to the gods of literature (‘Man’), holding a writing brush, and of war (‘Mo’), wielding a sword. Built in 1847 during the Qing dynasty by wealthy Chinese merchants, it was, besides a place of worship, a court of arbitration for local disputes when trust was thin between the Chinese and the colonialists.
Bon voyage!
November, 2015
Dr. Osama Alaradi Investigating the details to get to the core of the problem.
Dr. Osama Alaradi has a wealth of medical experience, having studied and practiced in both Bahrain and the US. Now treating patients here in Kuwait, his aim is to encourage and achieve greater gastrointestinal health.
Please introduce yourself to our readers. I am Osama Alaradi, a Bahraini gastroenterologist physician, married to a Kuwaiti pediatrician. We have six children. Tell us about your education. My medical education took place at Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain. I did an Arab Board residency in Internal Medicine in Bahrain and then left for the USA for training in Internal Medicine and in Gastroenterology at the University of Miami School of Medicine and Mount Sinai Medical Center, obtaining the American Board in Internal Medicine and in Gastroenterology. I was also trained in advanced procedures including endoscopic ultrasound and pancreato-biliary and interventional procedures. I have 10 years experience in academic centers in the USA including Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan and the University of Toledo in Ohio. What motivated you to become a doctor? My passion to be a doctor had existed since elementary school. My mother was always looking at me as a future doctor and she always admired my high grades. There was no doctor in our family and this ambition grew as I got into high school; by then I was not thinking of being anything else but a doctor. Why did you choose gastroenterology as your specialization? I am a logical person and, just like detectives, I like to get into the details and connect things together to find a solution to the problem. That’s what attracted me to Internal Medicine where there is a lot of citypageskuwait.com
pathophysiology and clinical reasoning. Among all medical specialties I loved gastroenterology where we not only diagnose diseases but also do a lot of interventions in endoscopic practice to manage acute and chronic disease. What are the most common gastroenterology related ailments you come across in Kuwait? Functional gastrointestinal disorders are extremely common in Kuwait including non ulcer dyspepsia, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, gases and bloating. However, serious disorders like gastrointestinal ulcers, cancers of the pancreas, stomach and colon and inflammatory bowel disease, like Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis, are not rare by any means. No single week passes by without diagnosing one of these conditions. You also perform endoscopy; please tell us more about this service. How does it work, is it safe and who qualifies for this? Endoscopy is basically visualizing the structure of the digestive tract to evaluate the patient’s symptoms. Basically this is a camera attached to a flexible tube that we pass inside the digestive tract to look around and do various interventions including biopsies, removing precancerous lesions, stopping bleeding etc. When we listen to the patient’s symptoms we decide if endoscopy is needed and whether we need to do upper or lower endoscopy. However, everyone who is 50 years old or older should undergo screening colonoscopy to detect the very early stages of colon cancer (called polyps) and have them removed to prevent the cancer.
November, 2015
Do you also perform pediatric endoscopy? If so, from what age can you treat children and what commonly would let you want to do a scope for a child? The major indication to do endoscopy in children is to evaluate for the presence of inflammatory bowel disease and peptic ulcer disease and usually the symptoms would be suggestive. I do endoscopies for patients 12 years old and above. Below this age I recommend them to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. What are the most gastrointestinal cancers?
common
The most common gastrointestinal cancers that we see include colon cancer, stomach and esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Among those, colon cancer is the most preventable with the availability of effective screening modalities like colonoscopy. Unfortunately there are no effective preventive strategies for stomach and pancreatic cancer. Less common are liver and gallbladder cancers. Does Dar AlShifa also offer screening for gastrointestinal cancers and how would you describe the facilities? citypageskuwait.com
Dar Alshifa is equipped with a modern endoscopy unit where all sorts of basic and advanced gastrointestinal procedures can be performed smoothly, not only to screen but also to diagnose, evaluate, stage and manage gastrointestinal cancers. What is the prevalence gastrointestinal cancer in Kuwait?
of
According to a study by the Kuwait Cancer Center published in Gulf Journal of Oncology in 2010, colon cancer ranked the most frequent cancer in Kuwait between 2003 and 2007 and has increased five-fold over the last 33 years. According to a review of cancer epidemiology in the Arab world published in Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer in 2009, the most common gastrointestinal cancer was colon cancer followed by liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach, gallbladder and finally, esophageal cancer. What advice would you give to our readers to have ideal gastrointestinal health? As everyone knows, the digestive tract handles nutrition and has to deal with a variety of food types and process them in a complex fashion. Eating the right amount and type of food is a very important way to keep the digestive
tract healthy. A diet that is rich in fiber and low in saturated fat, with several servings of fruit and vegetables is recommended for good health. Regular exercise and avoiding late meals are always good habits to maintain ideal gastrointestinal health as well. Do you have any tips for students studying medicine and looking forward to a career in gastroenterology? I always encourage medical students and residents who plan to specialize in gastroenterology to get involved in the field early in their training by observing gastrointestinal procedures. They should connect themselves to someone in the field where they can do research and studies to facilitate their future applications towards a training position in the field. Do you have a message for the team at CityPages? I would like to express my deep gratitude and thanks to the staff at CityPages. They work hard to convey to the readers important messages and to filter through large amounts of data to provide the readers with the bread and butter they need.
November, 2015
MY FOUR DISCOVERIES IN
SRI LANKA
Mariam Ashkanani I remember waking up one day at 6.30am. Everyone else was still asleep. As I was went outside to sit and eat my breakfast, it started to rain, and as I sat there I remember vividly how I felt - I was happy. The Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST)/OxAdventure trip to Sri Lanka this summer was utterly beautiful, and could even be described as life changing. Going into something like that assuming you already know what’s to come is a false assumption. Nothing can prepare you for how light you’ll feel when you let go of the material clutter and face a new world with your heart as a tool of sight. There is something about helping others that helps you as an individual too. Sri Lanka has definitely clarified that for me. Despite the limited possessions the people I met there had in their lives, they were happy; and that happiness was contagious. One of the locals said to me, “They are poor, that’s why they are happy”. It’s not the number you hold while counting your blessings; it’s the attitude that comes with it. This was my first discovery. I went to Sri Lanka as part of my internship requirement in the Mass Communication citypageskuwait.com
and Media Department at my university. The Kuwaiti NGO, OxAdventure, organized the trip in coordination with GUST in order to build a computer lab at the Foundation of Goodness, which is an organization that provides essential services to empower less privileged communities in Sri Lanka. Also, we helped a local school reorganize their library and helped in teaching the children. The interesting thing about this part was the fact that we were now part of someone else’s educational journey. To them, school is the key to provide their family with a better life. It is a window to a promising change. There was one notable thing I came across during my journey. The people I met there had experienced life in ways that members of our visiting group would never be able to internalize. The local students not only value education, but they see gaining knowledge as more than being in school and registering for classes. To them, life is the ultimate school. It teaches them so much about spirituality, giving back, making the most out of everything and the importance of always having an open mind. School may give you an education, but life will give you knowledge. This was my second discovery. Another one of the aims of this trip was to
expand our comfort zones. Stay long enough in it, and you’ll start believing that this is all there is to life. One of the places we visited had a sign that said, “Your options are limited only by your fears”. At first, I thought I understood it, that I actually grasped the meaning behind it. But it was only when I challenged myself and took a leap of faith with my fears that I understood that life begins across the lines of your comfort zone. It is scary at first, to face what you fear the most, but the feeling you get afterwards is rewarding. It’s an eye opener to build a wall of fear with your mind and then break it down through adventure. I learned to always aim for that extra mile beyond the lines that you draw, because you will be surprised by the number of things waiting for you on the other side of your borders. That was my third discovery. My trip was also rewarding in the sense that I experienced a new kind of beauty. Sri Lanka is a majestically beautiful country. From the trees to shining stars - which reminded me of Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ - you can’t help but feel small compared to the universe enveloping you. It’s beautiful to know that every creation on this earth aligns perfectly in the circle of life. Never in my life had I felt happier, as content, or as whole, as I did in Sri Lanka. I felt like I had an important role in
life, just like the sun, the trees and the stars at night. My fourth, and final, discovery can be translated into a quote I once read by the American writer, Max Ehrmann. He says, “You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here”. To conclude, I learned that life offers opportunities similar to the GUST/OxAventure trip. If you’re lucky enough to come across one, do yourself a favor and take it. Allow yourself to grow beyond your fences. Explore the world from a different point of view, meet some strangers and make new friends. Give back to the world and start helping others in need. Remember, life is more than what fits into the palm of your hands.
November, 2015
TOP NOTES IN
FRAGRANCES
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
There are some fragrances that are considered to have a heart and a base, and some which are completely linear with no pyramid at all. Each ingredient has its own ‘volatility’ factor which determines how long it will last. This contributes to the depth and character of a fragrance and changes over time. If you had a handful of ingredients that were all detectable at the onset and lasted all the way through, it would be a linear fragrance. This doesn’t mean that it wouldn't be appealing, and if you hit a wonderful accord, why not? But the perfumer has artistic license to shape a scented experience. I like the idea of the top note - it's the introduction - that wonderful powerful blast of fragrance you first experience. Sometimes there may be a note or two you don't particularly like in the top notes, but then they fade to reveal something more appealing. citypageskuwait.com
October, 2015
WALEED
SHAALAN
I thought long and hard about who I wanted to interview for this November issue - those who work in publishing know it’s a peak month, reserved for key or sought after interviews. So, taking the advice of a friend, I decided I would ask Waleed Shaalan if he would like to be featured in my column. How glad I am that it was made possible. He is someone I’ve always seen out and about socially, yet when one is only ever allowed to see one aspect of someone’s persona, they can forget that people are not just single faceted creatures. I must admit that after four or more years of interviewing different people from all walks of life, Waleed’s life story is by far the most interesting I’ve had the pleasure of hearing about; it resonated with me on different levels for different reasons. citypageskuwait.com
November, 2015
Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography - Location: THE One, Marina Mall
citypageskuwait.com
Those who know Waleed Shaalan have only scratched the surface, for what lies beneath the exterior of this seemingly clean cut architect with innate hippy tendencies, is actually someone who has lived a few lifetimes over in his ‘first fifty years’. Although he is viewed today as a fun loving creative genius with a cult social media following, Waleed was once living a life less ordinary, and followed a path definitely less trodden; at times a quite difficult one which most people may not be able to relate to.
Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography - Location: THE One, Marina Mall
Born in Egypt to a psychiatrist father and psychologist mother, Waleed and his parents moved to Detroit, Michigan in his early years. During these early, formative years, ones that were sad and lonely for him at times, Waleed decided that a bicycle, which he saved up to buy, would help him satiate his curiosity and expand beyond the horizons of the forest waiting at the end of the residential area he lived in. This is when his passion for bikes was born and it helped shape his method of escapism that he would go on to rely on for years to come whenever wanderlust struck. This is also when his curiosity for ‘horizon chasing’ was born. After moving back to Egypt following his parents’ divorce, Waleed decided he wanted to go back and continue with his graduate studies in America, and informed his father that he would pay for college by way of a basketball scholarship. Instead, after perhaps realizing that he wasn’t passionate for the sport, he worked his way on campus of the University of Maryland towards a degree in Architecture, deciding he had found his second and professional passion. After working for a few years at the large architectural firm Perkins and Will, Waleed’s life took a defining twist. That twist perhaps, in the opinion of this particular interviewer, is the deciding fork in the road that laid the bricks to Waleed’s creative path, which in his case is an integral part of his personality and consciousness. After all, not everyone counts Kalil Gibran and Ghandi as preferred reading, or Van Gogh as their favorite artist. The path less followed clearly takes precedence in
everything he does in his life and which initially, catapulted him in the direction of his true spirit. For most people, their lives stop right around there with a few other smaller milestones to add, such as perhaps marriage or a promotion, but for Waleed a much needed holiday led to his ending up in Antigua Guatemala, where he decided to quit his job with his firm (by fax!) and instead carved out an existence of selfdiscovery. During those years, Waleed rode his bike, built guitars, bikes that house guitars and movie sets, and played in a band - and I think he also sketched a lot. He once wittingly cut out the eagle from an old Egyptian flag that was to be burned and put it on his beloved bike, later stitching it on a leather jacket (that he still has) which he would go on to buy in Camden Town. All this, being a massive, courageous leap from the mundane world of 9-5 corporate America, would give anyone hives just contemplating it. Yet by now, Waleed would have given up his second green card and the chance of American citizenship. He still has an Egyptian passport and is proud of its many uses. Marriage led him to move to England, however, the difficulties of clashing cultures and the dreary climate eventually led to the collapse of the marriage and his ultimate return to Egypt. There, he met his second wife with whom he moved to Kuwait and had his son, Ramy. By then his firm ‘Brainstorm’ was established and grew by reputation. Yet a turn of fate led to a rather unsuccessful merger that resulted in Waleed leaving to join the United Realty Company where he currently works as the Senior Projects Director. However, I’ve witnessed lately the oh-sofamiliar disquietude that once struck so long ago and which took Waleed on many solo biking excursions across continents, and I won’t be surprised when he tells me ‘Kinda! I’m going on a solo bike ride across the Far East and Africa, and will send you postcards along the way’.
November, 2015
citypageskuwait.com
I don’t see this creative genius, energetic, worldly, humble architect, biker, guitarist, philosopher all-round-happy propagator slowing down anytime soon. All I can say with certainty is that Waleed is one of the better examples of mankind. I am now convinced that the path less taken is clearly the only path to take. Thank you for clearing that one up Waleed Shaalan.
Follow Waleed: snapchat at waleedshaalan WALEEDSHA3LAN on instagram
Photographer: Claude Stephan - @claudestephanphotography - Location: THE One, Marina Mall
Waleed Shaalan on Facebook
November, October, 2015
FEELING BLUE?
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
Digital devices - friend or foe? They keep us globally updated, they optimize our work life and they provide a relaxing recreational purpose. However, these digital devices, together with their unparallel need in daily life, emit blue light. What is blue light and what are the consequences of blue light?
damage and contribute to macular degeneration, which can lead to the possibility of vision loss.
Blue light is a natural phenomenon. It is present in daylight and is responsible for keeping us awake. Sources of blue light include the sun, digital screens, electronic devices, fluorescent and LED lighting. Blue light waves are among the shortest and highest energy wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. Shorter blue wavelengths flicker more easily than longer, weaker wavelengths. This kind of flickering creates a glare that can reduce visual comfort, thus affecting visual clarity. After many hours of digital device usage, this flickering and glare contributes to eyestrain, headaches, physical and mental fatigue.
The potential effects of blue light on the eye can be overcome by a filter or coating on spectacle lenses that neutralizes blue light. This coating offers comfortable and relaxed vision, therefore enhancing contrast and leading to less eye strain and fatigue. Coatings which neutralize blue light are suitable for almost everyone but especially for students, avid tech users, teenagers, children, gamers, office workers and anyone who uses a digital device for a prolonged period of time. This spectacle lens coating can be further supplemented by any other coating which you require. These options can be further discussed with your optometrist at your next eye test.
Blue light does not always have a negative effect. It also helps to boost alertness, heighten reaction times, elevate moods and increase the feeling of well being. However, over exposure leads to sleeplessness. That in itself leads to a myriad of problems during the day including poor concentration and associated memory loss. Currently ongoing research suggests that prolonged exposure to blue light may cause retinal citypageskuwait.com
Our eyes do not possess natural filters to provide sufficient protection against natural blue light rays from the sun. Similarly, it cannot provide protection from artificial blue light emanating from digital devices or from fluorescent/LED light tubes.
The next time you have your eyes tested, let us make sure that the friend or foe of digital devices is not ignored. Your vision can be made as comfortable and tireless as possible so that you do not miss out on your latest Twitter feed or the musings of your favorite Instagram celebrity! Check out #BLUECONTROL and #INTOPTIQUE for more information.
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- Sharq
- Kuwait City
- Sharq
- Fahaheel International intoptique November, 2015 Optique
LOWER YOUR BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL WITHOUT
MEDICINES 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.
As 14th November was observed as world diabetes day, I decided to write about the alternative ways to lower blood sugar levels. But first let us understand, what is diabetes? Diabetes is a disorder in which the body can't properly store and use the energy found in food. To be more specific, diabetes compromises the body's ability to use glucose. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body wrongly identifies and then attack pancreatic cells, which causes little to no insulin production. Those with type 1 diabetes usually must rely on insulin shots to remain healthy. Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production and is the more common type of diabetes. The pancreas may still produce the insulin, but not enough to meet the demands of the body. Insulin resistance occurs in some cases because a constantly high blood-glucose level causes cells to be overexposed to insulin and then makes cells less responsive or immune to its effects. Diabetes treatment can include a combination of strategies, including the following ‘no drug’ remedies.
Diet
Diabetics can work with their doctors and nutritionists to come up with a diet that will be most effective. Some recommend eating foods that are low in carbohydrates citypageskuwait.com
or with a low glycemic index. Others say that it is more important to restrict caloric intake rather than sugar intake. Work with a professional to create a healthy diet and follow it as closely as possible. Eat meals at the same time each day so you can better regulate blood-sugar spikes and lulls. Skipping meals may cause you to overeat later in the day, which can throw glucose levels off-kilter.
Exercise
Many people with type 2 diabetes are carrying around extra weight. Exercise can help them shed pounds and maintain healthy weights. But exercise does more than just help you lose weight; strength-training exercises are an important component of workouts. By maintaining lean muscle mass, you can shed a larger amount of glucose in the bloodstream, thus helping manage diabetes in the process. Get at least 20 to 30 minutes of moderate activity several days per week.
Supplementation
Some people find that certain natural ingredients can help regulate blood-sugar level. For example, pure, organic apple cider vinegar taken over time can help people with diabetes manage their blood-sugar levels more effectively. A small amount of cinnamon per day may be able to reduce rising glucose levels by anywhere from 18 to 29 percent. Always speak with your doctor before trying any home remedies to treat diabetes or exploring any alternatives to traditional diabetes treatments.
Dr ASHRAF Ibrahim
Consultation Obc. Gyne 1888877 – Ext : 140-141 Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877
www.boushahricp.com
Boushahri_clinic
ENDOMETRIOSIS Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue that normally grows inside the uterus, grows outside - usually in the abdomen on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and ligament that support the uterus. Each month these tissues react in the same way to those in the uterus (womb), building up and then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, this blood has no way to escape. It is a chronic and debilitating condition that causes painful and heavy periods. It can also lead to infertility. This disease affects at least 6 million women in the US, 1 million in Canada and millions more worldwide.
body through the lymph system or the blood system.
followed by a laparoscopy to assess the state of the pelvis and tubes.
How is endometriosis diagnosed?
Treatment:
The diagnoses are generally suspected from a woman’s history. Increasing menstrual pain is a common indication of the development of endometriosis. The pain may prevent normal work or social activity. Bowel and bladder pain, particularly around the time of menstruation, may indicate presence of endometriosis. Tiredness, depression and increasing premenstrual symptoms are common associations of endometriosis. Menstrual disturbances such as increased spotting between periods or more particularly, before periods, are common symptoms.
What are the endometriosis?
Pain during or after sex is highly suggestive of the disease.
Patients with endometriosis are treated primarily with surgical therapy but drugs can also be used, particularly in patients who are about to undergo IVF. The cure rate of surgical therapy over three year is over 80%. Laparoscopic surgical treatment is the primary treatment for endometriosis. The most commonly performed surgery for endometriosis involves the removal of peritoneum from pelvic structures, ovarian cystectomy (removal of aversion endometrioma) or hysterectomy in the most severe cases of endometriosis or ademonyosis. Hormone treatment for endometriosis either puts the women into an artificial pregnancy state or artificial menopause. Both states are temporary and are reversed when the women has stopped taking the hormones. Hormone treatment options are combined oral contraceptive pill, mirena coil, progestogens, gnrh analogues, Danazol or gestrinone. Your doctor will be able to discuss the different hormonal treatment options that are available to you.
symptoms
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Painful, heavy or irregular periods
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Pain during or after sex
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Infertility
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Painful bowel movement
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Painful urination during periods
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Fatigue
of
What causes endometriosis? The cause of endometriosis is unknown. Several theories have tried to explain the aetiology of endometriosis. The retrograde menstruation theory suggests that during menstruation some of the menstrual tissue backs up through the fallopian tubes, implants in the abdomen, and grows. An immune system or hormonal problem allows this tissue to grow in the abdomen. Another theory suggests that endometrial tissue is disturbed from the uterus to other parts of the citypageskuwait.com
Infertility may be the only symptom. The disease often commences in the teens. Unfortunately diagnosis in young women is often delayed because of difficulty in distinguishing endometriosis from other common types of menstrual pain. The definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is to perform laparoscopy, remove some of the affected tissue and look at it under the microscope.
Endometriosis and Infertility: Endometriosis is commonly associated with infertility. In fact, it is found in 30% of women who have infertility. These women should have appropriate investigations which would include an assessment of ovulation, confirmation of immunity to rubella and chicken pox, a semen analysis of the male partner, and ultrasound to see if there is any endometrioma within the pelvis. This is then
Treatment of endometriosis associated with infertility: Suppression of ovulation with drugs does not improve infertility in minimal to mild endometriosis. It may however, have a place in the pre-treatment of patients who are about to undergo IVF. Surgical treatment of endometriosis is the most effective method of treatment for an infertile woman with minimal to mild endometriosis.
Baghdad Street – Building 38 same as Boushahri Seema Pharmacy, Opposite Suleiman Al-Luhaib Mosque - Tel : 1888877
www.boushahricp.com
Boushahri_clinic
Let’s Get Real… with Nat
Natalie Van Rooyen
The temperature is finally giving us a reason to cook lovely stews and casseroles, but my favorite is always soup. Staying in line with our real food theme, I chose to give you my Tom Yum Talay recipe this month, which is the seafood version of the oh-so-yummy Thai soup. This soup soothes and uplifts the spirit as well as the body. It has so many health benefits and is the Thai equivalent of a good chicken noodle soup when you're feeling ill. It's also remarkably easy to make once you have the ingredients. See my tips on where to find some of the more authentic ingredients at the end of the recipe.
Tom Yum Talay Ingredients: •6 cups chicken stock •12 medium-sized raw shrimp, shells and veins removed •Other seafood of your choice - fresh mussels, scallops, crab, or sliced fish fillet (up to 1 handful of each) •1 stalk minced lemongrass OR 2.5 to 3 tbsp frozen or bottled prepared lemongrass •2 kaffir lime leaves •4 cloves garlic, minced •1 tsp galangal OR ginger, grated (I prefer the authentic Thai ginger – galangal) •1-2 sliced red chilies •1 tbsp red curry paste •Punnet of fresh enoki mushrooms •1 medium tomato, cut into thin strips •½ can (170g) thick coconut milk •2 tbsp fish sauce •1 tbsp soy sauce •juice of 1 lime •1 tsp sugar (I use xylitol since I don’t consume sugar) •¼ cup fresh coriander (cilantro), roughly chopped
Directions: 1.Pour stock plus lemongrass and lime leaves in a deep soup pot over a medium-high heat. If using fresh lemongrass, also add the upper stalk pieces for extra flavor. Bring to a boil. 2.Add garlic, galangal/ginger, chili and mushrooms. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 2-3 minutes, or until mushrooms are soft.
3.Add the shrimp, any other seafood you're using, and tomato. Simmer over medium heat 3-4 minutes, or until shrimp turns pink and plump and mussels have opened. Scallops, crab, and fish should all be firm to the touch and no longer translucent. 4.Reduce heat to medium-low and add the coconut milk,
fish sauce, soy sauce, lime juice and sugar (xylitol). Stir well to combine and gently simmer until hot (do not boil at this point). Taste-test the soup for salt and spice, adding more fish sauce instead of salt, or more chili as desired (I love it really spicy so I use more chili and I don’t remove the seeds). If too sour, add more sugar (xylitol). If too spicy for your taste or if you'd like it creamier, add more coconut milk. If too salty, add another squeeze of lime juice.
5.Serve in bowls with fresh coriander sprinkled over.
NOTE:- I buy the pre-packed bag with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves and Thai chili from Carrefour. They also sell the mushrooms and the red curry paste. Another option is Lulu Hypermarket or Saveco. citypageskuwait.com
Let’s Get Real… with Nat
November, 2015
Contact us on: instagram: @societekuwait Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/societekuwait/ E-mail: societe@myself.com
Sharif is an ambitious guy who believes in change. He woke one day and decided to do what he loves and what he is passionate about. With help and support from friends and family he started what is now Societe! Societe! is a social club or platform where like-minded people get together and exchange ideas. With the right encouragement, they find a way to practice and develop what they are passionate about. By introducing these ideas to their daily routine, they can be developed until they’re perfected and ready to reach a professional level. Who is Sherif? I’m a pharmaceutical business professional who is deeply passionate about leadership, self development and public speaking. My aim is to establish a social enterprise where passionate, driven people have the right to share, express and develop their ‘masterpiece’ personal brand in order to be perceived the way they want whether personally, professionally or socially.
What is Societe? Societe is a Kidzania-like concept for adults. It is a social platform that brings likeminded passionate people together. It serves as a new medium of communication aiming at providing people with a strength-based, stress-free atmosphere where they can develop, practice and share whatever they are strong at and enjoy doing. The most powerful element of any organization is people. That’s what we are focusing on in Societe, through enhancing people’s social network to share with each other the common potential for future cooperation, while having fun.
Where did the idea come from? I was lucky to be surrounded by a group of friends who supported me to practice, develop and share my passion through conducting self-development and selfleadership events over the past year. Every time we conducted an event, a new passion was shared on stage by a new person. The initiative was then developed on ‘Societe’, the social platform that supports these passionate people with ideas citypageskuwait.com
and a network, and organizes these events to give them the floor to outstand and shine.
What are your goals? Our aim as the Societe team is to develop it from just being an idea into a well established organization where everyone is doing something based on their strength or passion, in order to start finding their first baby-steps towards an entrepreneurial future and serve the community through multiple ways throughout the region.
Who are you targeting? Any successful professional who’s looking for a way to break his/her mediocre vicious cycle of making a living. We want them to find, develop and practice what they are passionate about and start living a life with a purpose.
Do you think that passion is more important than reality? For me, you cannot separate passion from reality. Passion is what shapes your reality and drives you to take control of your life. Passion has different sources; whether it’s passion for what you are doing, why you are doing it, how you can do it or even for whom you do it.
Do you think we can control our reality? I believe that the beauty of reality is in living the adventure of the unexpected. Life is not a prepared playlist where you know what the upcoming song will be. Life is like a radio station, you don’t know what will play next, but you can choose the radio station of your favorite genre of music.
What was your motivation to start all this? I believe that the more I focused on my strength in unlocking people's potential and bringing out their talents, and noticed the positive change in them, the faster I was recognized and appreciated by the community for what I do. Recognition is one of the very basic human needs which guarantee high levels of motivation.
Do you have any tips on how to be positive with all the negative things that are going on around us? Always find a way to support and help people; and make it a habit to leave them better than before you met. Leave your ego at home every morning before you start your day.
Why do you think most people continue to do things they are not passionate about? I think there are different reasons behind this. It could be due to the kind of pressure everyone is exposed to like cultural or traditional pressure, or social and financial pressure. A student who is always first in his/ her class may feel under pressure to be a doctor or an engineer with any other career being taboo. Some people are still stuck in this vicious cycle of making a living and just don’t get the chance to find what they are passionate about. Others, unfortunately, are afraid or worried that pursuing this passion will remove them from their comfort zone and they will not be able to maintain their current quality of life.
You started as one person with one idea, what has changed in a year? I am always inspired by being part of a team; I don’t know how to play it individually. So, for the past year, we were focusing on building a team of passionate, driven and strong A-players who wanted their passion to shape their reality. We successfully conducted 4 events with over 50 attendees. It’s a journey, starting by learning to know yourself well, what drives you and motivates you, and ends with taking your first step toward your business start-up.
Any advice for the ambitious people out there? Invest more resources (time, money and connections) on your strengths rather than focusing on the areas which need to be developed. Focus on the NOW, get things done and keep yourself productively busy. Never take success for granted and remember ‘success is rented not owned and the rent is due every single day’.
What is Sherif’s dream? To be a passionate entrepreneur and an inspirational figure who can support every promising and passionate individual out there to bring out his/ her significance in order to contribute in serving the community. ‘It's not about the size of the dog in the fight; it's about the size of the fight in the dog’.
Are you passionate about what you are doing? I am truly, madly, deeply passionate about what I’m doing. It’s my 05.00am alarm and my everyday drive. November, 2015
TO SMILE OR NOT TO SMILE
THAT IS THE QUESTION
The tongue side or ‘lingual’ braces
Dr. Saud A. Al-Anezi Specialist Orthodontist Kuwait Twitter/Instagram:@q8braces Email: q8braces@live.com
Mariam is 25 years old and embarking on a new career with a very famous bank in Kuwait. During a dental check-up, the dentist noticed that every time Mariam talked she hid her teeth with her hand and that she didn’t smile comfortably. During the dental examination, the dentist observed that Mariam’s teeth were severely crooked. She later admitted that her teeth were causing her a major confidence problem especially as she was having to deal with customers in her new job. She had been told by her friend that she was passed the age for braces. A common question the orthodontist (brace doctor) gets asked is “I am old, can I have braces treatment?” Contrary to popular conception, adults form a great proportion of patients receiving orthodontic treatment. Recent research claims that adults (defined as those above the age of 18 years) make up approximately 22% of the case load in the USA and it would seem that this trend is being followed here in Kuwait, particularly for women. One explanation for this rise in the number of adults seeking braces treatment is that they are becoming increasingly conscious of the appearance of their teeth. There is huge pressure from society on individuals to improve the shape and alignment of their teeth and their smiles. Although orthodontic treatment can be delivered to adults, there are some facts the potential patient must consider and be aware of. On average, by the time a female reaches the age of 16, most growth is complete. Jaw growth is seen as an essential adjunct to
citypageskuwait.com
An example of the clear aligners
orthodontic treatment and will facilitate dramatically the progress of treatment. For adults lacking growth, the treatment duration may be longer than treatment in adolescents. On the other hand, adults are more likely to comply with the instructions of the doctor since they made the decision to have the treatment in the first place and were not forced into braces. This is not the case in some adolescent patients who were urged by their parents to have braces against their will. In these circumstances, the treatment of such patients is extremely difficult for both the treating doctor and the patient and sometimes the treatment outcome is not optimal because of the lack of compliance. Finally, any adult seeking braces treatment should be aware of the new developments in more ‘esthetic’ braces as opposed to the traditional ‘train-track’ metal braces. Clear or ceramic brackets is one option. The brace parts used in this method will move teeth in the same way as the train-track braces but they are almost invisible. In addition, people may choose to have the ‘lingual’ or tongue side braces. Here, brace components are placed on the teeth from the inside (the tongue side) so they are completely invisible. Lastly, if the set up of the teeth is not too bad and only a small amount of correction is required, clear or invisible aligners can be used. The idea of this option is that people wear clear gum-shield type aligners which are pre-programmed and that will move the teeth incrementally. The good news for Mariam is that treatment is available so she can soon smile with confidence.
October, 2015
citypageskuwait.com
Aisha
Syed Castro Violinist Extraordinaire
November, 2015
Aisha Syed Castro Described by the press in three continents as a ‘virtuoso’, a ‘deeply gifted artist’ and ‘one of the youngest and most talented ambassadors of the violin in the world’, Aisha Syed Castro became the first Latina to attend the child prodigy Yehudi Menuhin School in England, where she also studied at the Royal College of Music with a full scholarship by the Soirée d'Or committee. She has performed all around the world as a soloist in places such as the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, the Palacio de Linares in Madrid, the Kauffman Hall in New York, the Clairmont Hall in Tel'Aviv and the Barocksaal in Vienna. She has also performed as a soloist in many festivals such as the Abu Dhabi Music Festival, the Santo Domingo Music Festival, the Gaida Contemporary Music Festival (where she gave the world premiere of the Alguirdas Martinaitits violin concerto, dedicated to her, at the National Philharmonic Hall with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra in Vilnius) and at the Fontainebleu Summer Music Festival, by personal invitation of its Artistic Director, Phillipe Entremont. She has performed as a soloist with the Symphony of the Americas, the Kristóforo Orchestra, the Yehudi Menuhin School Orchestra and the CICA International Music Festival Symphony Orchestra, to name just a few. Aisha has worked with the very best conductors such as James Brooks, Carlos Piantini, Phillip Entremont, José Antonio Molina, Alvaro Manzano, Mstlav Rostropovich and many more. She has also won numerous prizes including three Premio Soberano Awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015 as Classical Artist Abroa; the Casandra Award 2009 as Classical Artist Abroad; the Latin Pride National Award 2009 in Boston MA, USA; and the Game Changer Award by the Keep Walking worldwide campaign in 2014. In 2014 she was made the youngest ever Honorary Professor of the Arts Faculty at the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. In May 2015 she became an Ambassador for LEALA which was founded to promote the Spanish language and Latin American culture across the United States. In 2010 she co-founded the Music for Life Foundation in the Dominican Republic which seeks to bring classical music to those whom for social, economic or health reasons, cannot access it. Aisha is currently on her Fantasy Tour performing in Europe, Latin America, the United States and the Middle East. She is a devout Christian and dedicates all her performances to God. citypageskuwait.com
November, 2015
When and where were you born? Tell us about your family and parents.
How did you manage school and your performances?
I was born in the Caribbean, specifically the Dominican Republic to a Pakistani father and Dominican mother. I have two brothers and a sister - they are awesome!
At one stage in my life when I was 7 and 8, I stopped attending school daily to be able to practice, but I would go about 3 to 4 times a month to be able to get my grades to pass to the next academic year.
Tell us about your education. I started playing the violin when I was 5 years old. At age 13, I was the first Latina admitted to enter the world renowned Yehudi Menuhin School in England, a child prodigy boarding school where I spent almost 7 years with a scholarship from the British government. Then I went on to the Royal College of Music where I was a Soirée d'Or full scholar. Where are you currently based and what is a typical day for you at the moment? My home is in Miami, Florida but I spend a lot of time in Europe as well as in my home country due to performance commitments and the work with my foundation ‘Music for Life’. This seeks to encourage and empower people whom for social, economic or health reasons cannot access classical music, through a message of love and my own testimony as a Christian artist.
Kids have all kinds of obstacles to deal with and overcome to succeed. What obstacle did you have and how did you deal with it? I guess my parents' divorce. I was 11 and about to have my debut as the youngest Dominican soloist ever with the Dominican Symphony Orchestra. I used music as a safety net and thank God I did. If I hadn't had the violin to express my sorrows through, who knows what would have happened. Every obstacle I see in my life, I try to use it as an opportunity to grow and learn for the future. I learnt that at a very young age.
besides
What do you do to unwind? Eat! I also watch lots of films when I have a little time. Because of the nature of my job I tend to travel a lot so I don’t like to go out in my spare time. I love family, so whenever possible I fly mom over to stay with me at home or to go with me on tour to our concerts.
Who was your influence and were your parents supportive?
citypageskuwait.com
hobbies
I love to sleep so whenever I can, I sleep. I like to go shopping. In Miami there are great malls and also whenever I am in safe cities during my travels I like to walk around. A very weird hobby I have is to go to supermarkets. I know, weird!
I always wanted to do anything my sister did and she played the violin. When I was 4, I made my mother put me into violin lessons but I had to learn the recorder first as a prerequisite to learning the violin; so I started when I was 5 and here we are!
As a kid I practiced up to 8 hours. Now my hours daily, except on Sundays, are between 3 and 6.
Tell us about your most memorable performance.
What are your playing the violin?
What made you start playing the violin?
How many hours per day did you practice as a child and how many hours do you practice now?
I don't like to use the word ‘pride’ because I believe we are given everything by God. When we achieve something there are always many people behind it, like my mother who has sacrificed herself to help me become the person and player I am today. I appreciate all the awards received; the Latin Pride National Award; the full scholarships earned from two of the most prestigious music universities in the world, Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama; the Soberanos awards from my home country; the Henry Wood Trust Award from London; my honorary Professorship from the oldest university in the whole American continent, the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo; and many others.
My most memorable performance is always my last one. I like to better myself as much as I can from the last concert I have performed; although performing at stages like the Royal Albert Hall and with conductors such as Rostropovich, are also very memorable.
A normal day for me could be in any country - England, France, UAE, USA, Switzerland, Germany, you name it - doing what my calling is; performing and dedicating my concerts to God.
My mother has always been very supportive with all of us. She has always encouraged us to work the hardest we can to achieve our dreams, not for egocentric reasons or because of vanity, but to give all the glory and honour to our Lord Jesus.
Tell us about the awards you have received and other achievements you are proud of?
When you play a concert, are there any specific things that come to mind within the music? Definitely. It depends which composer, which country I'm in and which period the composition is from; romantic, baroque, classical, neo-classical, you name it. Overall, I try to give a fresh rendition of the piece, always trying to do justice to the composer's work of art but with my own interpretation. I dedicate all my concerts to God, so I always want to give my best for Him.
What are you looking forward to? What are your dreams? I am looking forward to being a channel of blessings onto others by God's grace. To let people with dreams know to trust God, be disciplined and not let anybody tell you ‘no’. Like the Bible says ‘I can do all in Christ who strengthens me’. What are your future plans? Well right now I am in Brazil on my Fantasy World Tour and World Orchestras Tour. I am performing the Tchaickovsky violin concerto
in Brasilia with their National Theatre's Symphony Orchestra. Then I’m in London with the London City Orchestra, followed by the Brahms violin concerto in Colombia with the Cali Symphony Orchestra. In November I have concerts in Milan, Italy, Valencia and Barcelona in Spain, Miami in Florida and Guadalupe in the Caribbean. Just before all of this in June and July this year we performed in Vienna in Austria, Bern in Switzerland, Frankfurt in Germany, London in the UK and Abu Dhabi at the Emirates Palace; plus huge blessings like the interview at the BBC in London's famous classical music programme ‘In Tune’ where our performance of ‘La Campanella’ by Paganini was chosen as a ‘Performing Miracle’ next to performances by Anne-Sophie Mutter, Daniil Trifonov and the likes. Also to have received great critic from the press in the countries I have performed is always a blessing. Tell us about your violins. The violins I perform with are the extraordinary 1690 ‘Stephens’ Stradivarius and an Antonius Pelizon, both kindly provided by Florian Leonhard Fine Violins. What is so special about a Stradivarius? When a person first hears a Stradivarius, what about its sound makes it so valuable to the trained or the untrained ear? I personally think it makes more of a difference to trained ears as the brilliantly beautiful traits of the sound of a Strad are very subtle. They are instruments centuries old, just like other names, but they are truly special. I am deeply thankful to Florian Leonhard Fine Violins for allowing me to perform on their instruments. Florian Leonhard is truly the world's expert in fine violins. Do you have a message for the team at CityPages magazine? I love that one of the missions of the magazine is to give Kuwait residents a voice. I believe it is important to connect with the people at that level. Only then, when they are given a voice, can a real long-term partnership be established and people feel identified. So I congratulate you all and wish you all the best and God bless.
November, 2015
by: Melody Mackintosh @MelodyMackintosh
melodymackintoshblog.wordpress.com
COOKING UP TROUBLE There are many things about Kuwait that leave me frustrated, most of which I have come to accept as the quirks that make it such a fascinating place to live. However, there is one thing I still can’t get my head around. Why on earth, in the twenty-first century, are we still forced to use gas bottles? For a country so rich in natural resources, I find it hard to comprehend why it has no gas mains. Not only that, but if we must accept that gas mains are not an option, why not just use electric cookers? From a safety point of view, electric is surely a better option. For those of us who live in apartment blocks, we’re not only reliant upon our own cautious use of gas bottles, but everyone else’s as well. How many times do we read about fires breaking out in apartment buildings? There are regular stories in the newspapers, often coupled with reports of serious injuries or deaths and I’m guessing many of these stem from the misuse of gas. If it wasn’t so serious it would be funny. I scorched my hair, eyebrows and eyelashes following an ‘incident’ with the gas cooker in my previous apartment. I smelt like an ashtray for weeks afterwards and it took months for my hair to grow back! After complaining to the haris and refusing a replacement gas cooker, I was eventually supplied with an electric model. A small consolation, as peace of mind was limited to only one apartment out of thirty. When I moved to my current apartment, the kitchen was already fitted with brand new appliances, including a state of the art gas cooker. It looked fabulous, until I spotted the ugly, cumbersome gas bottle which accompanied it. Thankfully, I was able to hide the monstrous eyesore in one of the kitchen cupboards but this didn’t stop the twitch developing in my eye at the memory of its singed lashes. citypageskuwait.com
Resigning myself to the fact that it was gas or nothing, I gingerly familiarized myself with my new appliance and religiously burrowed in the cupboard after each meal to switch the safety valve to ‘off’. I could only hope that my fellow tenants were all doing the same. A few months after my gas inauguration I was merrily boiling a pan of potatoes when I realized I could no longer hear them bubbling. Upon closer inspection, it became evident that the gas bottle was empty. A telephone call to the haris resulted in the promise of a replacement bottle – the next day. Whilst I could probably have finished off the still-hard potatoes in the microwave, the rest of my delicious culinary masterpiece relied upon a proper oven. It seemed I had two options – eat out or order in. Not usually a chore but I’d been looking forward to this particular seafood/potato creation all day. I have since learned that many sensible cooks have two gas bottles in their kitchen to avoid the inconvenience of being left with no gas. Rather than being impressed, I was horrified at the thought of a) the increased risk and b) the reduced cupboard space. Which brings me back to my original question: Why not just use electric cookers? I can’t be the first person to ask this question and I surely won’t be the last. In the meantime, the risk to road users remains hazardous as hundreds of gas bottles are transported by road every day. Not to mention the guys seen balancing a weighty bottle on each handlebar of their bicycle as they pedal their cumbrous load to and from the gas supplier. Kuwait may be one of the richest countries in the world, but it sure has some catching up to do.
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November, 2015
NOVEMBER Movie Releases THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY, PART 2
THE PEANUTS MOVIE
CREED
MY ALL AMERICAN
ROOM
Director: Joe Wright
Director: Director: Steve Guillermo Martino del Toro
Director: Ryan Coogler
Director: Director:Angelo James Wan Pizzo
Director: Lenny Abrahamson
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund, Rooney Mara, Amanda Seyfried, Cara Delevingne, Levi Miller
Starring: Noah Schnapp, Venus Schultheis, Bill Melendez, Francesca Capaldi, Mariel Sheets, Noah Johnston
Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Phylicia Rashad, Will Blagrove, Tony Bellew
Starring: Aaron Eckhart, Finn Wittrock, Sarah Bolger
Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, Megan Park
Genres:
Genres:
Genres:
Genres:
Genres: Drama
Action, Thriller, Sequel, Adaptation
Family, CGI, 3D, Animation
Drama, Sports, Sequel
Biography Drama Sports
Synopsis: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay
Synopsis: In Peanuts, a 3D, CGI animated
Synopsis: A story that finds Rocky Balboa
Synopsis: What Freddie Steinmark (Finn
Synopsis: An exploration of the boundless
VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN
SPOTLIGHT
THE DANISH GIRL
BROOKLYN
MISS YOU ALREADY
- Part 2 now brings the franchise to its powerful fourth chapter in which Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) now fully realizes the stakes are no longer just for survival - they are for the future. With the nation of Panem in a full scale war, Katniss confronts President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in the final showdown. Teamed with a group of her closest friends - including Gale (Liam Hemsworth), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) - Katniss goes off on a mission with the unit from District 13 as they risk their lives to stage an assassination attempt on President Snow who has become increasingly obsessed with destroying her. The mortal traps, enemies, and moral choices that await Katniss will challenge her more than any arena she faced in The Hunger Games.
comedic adventure, Snoopy, the world’s most lovable beagle - and flying ace! - embarks upon his greatest mission as he and his team take to the skies to pursue their arch-nemesis, while his best pal Charlie Brown begins his own epic quest back home.
acting as a trainer and mentor to the grandson of his fellow boxing alumni, Apollo Creed.
Wittrock) wants most in the world is to play football. Deemed too small by the usual athletic standards, his father trains him hard, and Freddie brings a fight to the game that ultimately gets him noticed - by none other than legendary University of Texas coach Darrell Royal (Aaron Eckhart). Awarded a scholarship and a chance to play for the Longhorns, Freddie sets off to Austin with his loving high school sweetheart Linda (Sarah Bolger), determined to make the team. Alongside his old teammate Bobby Mitchell (Rett Terrell) and new pal James Street (Juston Street), Freddie is put through the paces of a grueling practice schedule, but the boys' camaraderie off the field translates into solid playing on it, and they rise up the depth charts, giving the Longhorns a real chance to turn the team around.
love between a mother and her child under the most harrowing of circumstances. Told through the eyes of five-year-old-Jack (Jacob Tremblay), Room is a thrilling and emotional tale that celebrates the resilience and power of the human spirit. To Jack, Room is the world.... It's where he was born, it's where he and his Ma (Brie Larson) eat and sleep and play and learn. But while it’s home to Jack, to Ma it’s a prison. Through her fierce love for her son, Ma has managed to create a childhood for him in their ten-by-ten-foot space. But as Jack’s curiosity is building alongside Ma’s own desperation - she knows that Room cannot contain either indefinitely.
Screenwriters: Paul Andrew Williams,
Director: Paul McGuigan
Director: Tom McCarthy
Director: Tom Hooper
Screenwriter: Nick Hornby
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Jessica Brown Findlay, Andrew Scott, Mark Gatiss, Adrian Schiller
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ben Whishaw, Amber Heard
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Domhnall Gleeson, Michael Zegen, Emory Cohen, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters
Starring: Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette, Dominic Cooper, Paddy Considine, Tyson Ritter
Genres:
Genres:
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Adaptation
Genres:
Synopsis: Tells the profoundly moving story
Synopsis: The story following two best
Genres:
Sci-Fi, Thriller, Horror, Suspense
Synopsis: James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe star in a dynamic and thrilling twist on a legendary tale. Radical scientist Victor Frankenstein (McAvoy) and his equally brilliant protégé Igor Strausman (Radcliffe) share a noble vision of aiding humanity through their groundbreaking research into immortality. But Victor’s experiments go too far, and his obsession has horrifying consequences. Only Igor can bring his friend back from the brink of madness and save him from his monstrous creation.
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Drama, True Story
Synopsis: The film tells the riveting
true story of the Boston Globe’s Spotlight investigation team who uncovered a scandal that would rock the city and shock the world. For years, whispers of the Boston Archdiocese’s cover up of sexual abuse within the Catholic church were largely ignored by the media, the police and the legal system. Against all odds, the spotlight team fought to expose the truth.
Drama, True Story
Synopsis: The remarkable love story inspired by the lives of artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener (portrayed by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne and Alicia Vikander), directed by Tom Hooper. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.
of Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish immigrant navigating her way through 1950s Brooklyn. Lured by the promise of America, Eilis departs Ireland and the comfort of her mother’s home for the shores of New York City. The initial shackles of homesickness quickly diminish as a fresh romance sweeps Eilis into the intoxicating charm of love. But soon, her new vivacity is disrupted by her past, and Eilis must choose between two countries and the lives that exist within.
Morwenna Banks
Drama, Romance, Comedy
friends, Milly (Toni Collette) and Jess (Drew Barrymore), as they navigate life's highs and lows. Inseperable since they were young girls, they can't remember a time they didn't share everything-secrets, clothes, and even boyfriends-but nothing prepares them for the day Milly is hit with life-altering news.
Travel Made Easy BY THE SEA
THE 33
Enjoy our
Meet & Assist Service
Director:Angelina James Wan Director: Jolie
Director: Patricia Riggen
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Melanie Laurent
Starring: Antonio Banderas, Martin Sheen, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, James Brolin, Cote de Pablo
Genres:
Genres:
Romance, Drama
Drama, True Story
Synopsis: By the Sea follows an American
Synopsis: In 2010, the eyes of the world
SECRET IN THEIR EYES
SPECTRE
writer named Roland (Pitt) and his wife, Vanessa (Jolie Pitt), who arrive in a tranquil and picturesque seaside resort in 1970s France, their marriage in apparent crisis. As they spend time with fellow travelers, including young newlyweds Lea (Laurent) and François (Poupaud), and village locals Michel (Arestrup) and Patrice (Bohringer), the couple begins to come to terms with unresolved issues in their own lives.
Director: Billy Ray Starring: Nicole Kidman, Julia Roberts, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Dean Norris, Michael Kelly, Zoe Graham Genres:
Thriller, Crime, Remake, Mystery
Synopsis: A tight-knit team of rising FBI
investigators - Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts), along with their District Attorney supervisor Claire (Nicole Kidman) – is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess’s teenage daughter has been brutally and inexplicably murdered. Now, thirteen years later, after obsessively searching every day for the elusive killer, Ray finally uncovers a new lead that he’s certain can permanently resolve the case, nail the vicious murderer, and bring long-desired closure to his team. No one is prepared, however, for the shocking, unspeakable secret that will reveal the enduring, destructive effects of personal vengeance on the human soul. Interweaving past and present, this deeply layered mystery explores the murky boundaries between justice and revenge, and asks the question: how far would you go to right an unfathomable wrong?
turned to Chile, where 33 miners had been buried alive by the catastrophic explosion and collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. Over the next 69 days, an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped men as their families and friends, as well as millions of people globally, waited and watched anxiously for any sign of hope. But 200 stories beneath the surface, in the suffocating heat and with tensions rising, provisions-and time-were quickly running out.
Director: Sam Mendes Starring: Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw, Dave Bautista, Christoph Waltz Genres:
Thriller, Action, Adventure, Sequel
Synopsis: A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organization known as SPECTRE. Meanwhile back in London, Max Denbigh (Andrew Scott), the new head of the Centre for National Security, questions Bond's actions and challenges the relevance of MI6, led by M (Ralph Fiennes). Bond covertly enlists Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) and Q (Ben Whishaw) to help him seek out Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux), the daughter of his old nemesis Mr White (Jesper Christensen), who may hold the clue to untangling the web of SPECTRE. As the daughter of an assassin, she understands Bond in a way most others cannot.
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NOVEMBER Book Releases Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet: Race, Gender, and the Work
of Personal Style Blogging
The Brontë Plot Katherine Reay
Minh-Ha T. Pham
In the first ever book devoted to a critical investigation of the personal style blogosphere, Minh-Ha T. Pham examines the phenomenal rise of elite Asian bloggers who have made a career of posting photographs of themselves wearing clothes on the Internet. Pham understands their online activities as “taste work” practices that generate myriad forms of capital for superbloggers and the brands they feature. A multifaceted and detailed analysis, Asians Wear Clothes on the Internet addresses questions concerning the status and meaning of “Asian taste” in the early twenty-first century, the kinds of cultural and economic work Asian tastes do, and the fashion public and industry’s appetite for certain kinds of racialized eliteness.
Lucy Alling makes a living selling rare books, often taking suspicious measures to reach her goals. When her unorthodox methods are discovered, Lucy's secret ruins her relationship with her boss and her boyfriend James-leaving Lucy in a heap of hurt, and trouble. Something has to change; she has to change. In a sudden turn of events, James's wealthy grandmother Helen hires Lucy as a consultant for a London literary and antiques excursion. Lucy reluctantly agrees and soon discovers Helen holds secrets of her own. In fact, Helen understands Lucy's predicament better than anyone else
Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person
Mary-Louise Parker
In this poignant, hilarious, and deeply intimate call to arms, Hollywood’s most powerful woman, the mega-talented creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away with Murder reveals how saying YES changed her life-and how it can change yours too. She’s the creator and producer of some of the most groundbreaking and audacious shows on television today: Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder. Her iconic characters-Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Olivia Pope, Annalise Keating-live boldly and speak their minds. So who would suspect that Shonda Rhimes, the mega talent who owns Thursday night television (#TGIT), is an introvert? That she hired a publicist so she could avoid public appearances? That she hugged walls at splashy parties and suffered panic attacks before media interviews so severe she remembered nothing afterward?
A wonderfully unconventional literary debut from the award-winning actress Mary-Louise Parker. An extraordinary literary work, Dear Mr. You renders the singular arc of a woman’s life through letters Mary-Louise Parker composes to the men, real and hypothetical, who have informed the person she is today. Beginning with the grandfather she never knew, the letters range from a missive to the beloved priest from her childhood to remembrances of former lovers to an homage to a firefighter she encountered to a heartfelt communication with the uncle of the infant daughter she adopted. Readers will be amazed by the depth and style of these letters, which reveal the complexity and power to be found in relationships both loving and fraught.
Dear Mr. You
Shonda Rhimes
White Collar Girl
The Granite Moth
The latest novel from the bestselling author of Dollface and What the Lady Wants takes us deep into the tumultuous world of 1950s Chicago where a female journalist struggles with the heavy price of ambition... Every second of every day, something is happening. There’s a story out there buried in the muck, and Jordan Walsh, coming from a family of esteemed reporters, wants to be the one to dig it up. But it’s 1955, and the men who dominate the city room of the Chicago Tribune have no interest in making room for a female cub reporter. Instead Jordan is relegated to society news, reporting on Marilyn Monroe sightings at the Pump Room and interviewing secretaries for the White Collar Girl column.
It begins with a bang: Kathleen Stone is watching her friend Dolly and his fellow drag queens perform at the Halloween Parade when their float explodes. Suspecting sabotage, the club's owner hires Kat to find the culprit. But Kat hasn't given up on bringing gangster Salvatore Magrelli to justice and finds herself pulled between identities. While navigating both the grit and glamour of New York City, she realizes that sometimes love and hate can be hard to tell apart.
Renee Rosen
The Raging Skillet: The True Life
Hotels of North America
Story of Chef Rossi
Rick Moody
When their high-school-aged, punk, runaway daughter is found hosting a Jersey Shore hotel party, Rossi's parents feel they have no other choice: they ship her off to live with a Chasidic rabbi in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Within the confines of this restrictive culture, Rossi's big city dreams take root. Once she makes her way to Manhattan, Rossi's passion for cooking, which first began as a revolt against the microwave, becomes her life mission. The Raging Skillet is one woman's story of cooking her way through some of the most unlikely kitchens in New York City-at a "beach" in Tribeca, an East Village supper club, and a makeshift grill at ground zero in the days immediately following 9/11. Forever writing her own rules, Rossi ends up becoming the owner of one of the most sought-after catering companies in the city. This heartfelt, gritty, and hilarious memoir shows us how the creativity of the kitchen allows us to give a nod to where we come from, while simultaneously expressing everything that we are. Includes unpretentious recipes for real people everywhere.
Reginald Edward Morse is one of the top reviewers on RateYourLodging. com, where his many reviews reveal more than just details of hotels around the globe-they tell his life story. The puzzle of Reginald's life comes together through reviews that comment upon his motivational speaking career, the dissolution of his marriage, the separation from his beloved daughter, and his devotion to an amour known only as "K." But when Reginald disappears, we are left with the fragments of a life-or at least the life he has carefully constructedwhich writer Rick Moody must make sense of. An inventive blurring of the lines between the real and the fabricated, Hotels of North America demonstrates Moody's mastery ability to push the bounds of the novel.
Chef Rossi
citypageskuwait.com
Erica Wright
BOOK CLUB
WHEN THE HONEYMOON IS OVER
Nada Soliman On a recent trip to Cairo I found a book with an interesting title and I couldn’t resist it. It’s called When the Honeymoon is Over (2010). You might ask why I would buy such a book. Well, I would tell you that the title is intriguing, the author is an Egyptian lady and the book talks about marriage – a perfect trio combination for me. May Taher is an Egyptian author who started writing at an early age and published articles in local magazines such as Enigma, Campus and Cleo. She grew up in the US, has a bachelor degree in commerce and is currently working as a marketing manager. She has a nine year old daughter but, most importantly, she is a strong believer in love. She also has a passion for reading lots of books. What is so great about this book is that it is a series of
short stories which talk about different couples’ ideas of marriage. Every few pages you have a new heroin and hero, but all of the stories are according to the rules of society in Cairo. Instead of the standard hero names like Jessica and Brad, in this book they are the likes of Rawia, Hasan and Zeinab. It felt personal to me as she dedicates the book to everyone who didn’t give up on the big L O V E. Each story has cute illustrations as well as a title of its own. May also writes an opening letter to the readers, giving them a small insight into her personality.
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. nada.soliman@citypageskuwait.com
I would say most of the marriage rules in the Arab world are somewhat similar. Regardless of where you are from or what rules you think apply to marriage or relationships, you might see yourself in one of the stories. It is a book you will definitely enjoy. November, 2015
Rawan AlSharif Author of “Dose of Sunshine”
Meet the Kuwaiti author going after her dreams – no matter how crazy they are! Her inspirational first book may have earned her a string of positive reviews but author Rawan AlSharif is keeping the next chapter of her life a closed book. This is her story so far…..
Rawan AlSharif and CityPages would like to thank Q8Books for their help and co-operation with this interview. Founded in 2014, Q8Books is Kuwait's only second-hand, nonprofit bookstore. Located at affiliated Bayt Lothan, it’s also a community space that hosts regular book clubs, writing and poetry meetings, as well as local author readings and signings, for members of the Kuwaiti literary community at no cost. Follow them on Instagram @q8bookstore, and drop by at any time to browse their large collection of fiction and nonfiction books. citypageskuwait.com
November, 2015
Please introduce yourself to our readers. I’m 20 years young, Kuwaiti, spent my childhood in the States and I’m passionate about literature in both Arabic and English. Somehow I’m an extroverted introvert. My absolute favorite thing to do as a child was read. I read everything from encyclopedias to novels. I believe in being a part of social change and spreading all the good I can, not knowing whose life can be changed. I try my best to be inspired and to inspire others through writing no matter how down I’m feeling. And I believe in going after your dreams, no matter how crazy or impossible they seem. Tell us about your education: My primary education was in the United States, I completed my bachelor’s degree in both English and Education at Gulf University in Kuwait. I also took a few courses abroad here and there in the fields of PR and Marketing hosted by IPRA. What are some of your hobbies? My favorite things to do are to read and then to write book reviews when I’m done; just to critique what I thought of the work and share it with others. I also enjoy other activities like kick boxing, jogging and walking. When and where did the idea for "Dose of Sunshine" come from? What citypageskuwait.com
were you writing before breaking out with this book? I’ve always wanted to write a book but kept putting off the idea. It was the first thing on my bucket list but I never really got around to it. I was always writing short inspirational articles for various news papers and magazines. I shared most of my work on a blog I was running and so many of my readers would urge me to put my work in a book. It finally happened two years ago. I had a really bad car accident and wasn’t able to walk for a while. Not being able to go out, or attend my university classes gave me a huge time gap and I decided to take advantage of the situation and work on that dream of mine. And voila! Dose of Sunshine was put together. Please describe what "Dose of Sunshine" is about in one sentence. It’s a call for social change, personal growth and just a ‘pick me up’ for whoever is reading it. Who has been your biggest support throughout the process? My family and friends. They helped make it possible by helping out with graphics, photography and printing; and just by simply being there during the process. Everyone helped out in one way or another and I’ve been blessed with the amazing support I’ve received.
What message did you want to convey through the book? I mostly just wanted to ignite change by getting my readers to think differently. I wanted to make reading fun and to share a message that people from all ages, backgrounds and nationalities would be able to understand and be inspired by. That’s why the book is so simple. I believe that when you have a message you want to get through, you’ll focus on getting it across to as many people as you can. What was the time frame for writing this book? Did you finish the first draft after one week or did you pick it up after a few years and finally rewrite it? The time frame was less than a month. I wanted to finish the book on time to launch it at a carnival and have the earnings from it go to a cause I was passionate about at the time. An interesting detail was the color choice. I was so picky with having the writing in blue ink instead of black and it took a while to find a place to make it happen. The reason I wanted blue was because I’m also passionate about color psychology and it’s the color mostly used when it comes to market branding such as social media apps etc, because the color is associated with intellect, it’s easier to read and the reader tends to actually remember what they read more if it was in blue.
What were your biggest learning experiences or surprises throughout the publishing process? My biggest learning experience was to not procrastinate anything or leave it to the last minute. Instant action is the best approach to whatever you’re working on. What do you like to read? Do you have any favorite titles or authors? If I’m not reading books, I’m reading articles. It’s hard to say I have a favorite because I enjoy reading in both Arabic and English and always change the genre just to shake things up. My favorites are mostly philosophical and I’ve shared most of what I’ve read and reviewed with #RawanReads on Instagram. Do you have a special place or time to write? How is the space conducive to triggering your imagination? Not really, but I do like to read before bed or during the afternoon. I can pretty much read anywhere at any time. I could be in the middle of the busiest place you can think of and nothing but what’s in my hand would exist to me. Where is your book available to buy from? “Dose of Sunshine” can be found at That Al Salasil bookstores or ordered via +965 22219335.
What are your future plans? Any more books on the way? Let’s keep this one a secret - wait and see! Can you tell us something personal about yourself that people would be surprised to know? I’m extremely color sensitive. Do you have a message for the team at CityPages and our readers? This is for everyone and anyone reading: Our thoughts are just like the sun; it uses fire for good, to radiate warmth, vibrancy and energy to the world, when it can use that very same fire to burn itself and all that surrounds it. It’s that hope we all have in us. That spark that lights us up and keeps our dreams alive. We all go through hard times. We all face difficulties. We all encounter moments of defeat and desperation. But none of that is a reason to lose hope in ourselves or in our surroundings. There’s a lesson to learn from every person you meet. There’s a memory to gain from every place you visit. There’s a message behind every little thing that happens to you. Don’t ever get discouraged when things get difficult. Because once you overcome that difficulty you’ll find strength you never knew you had and be able to do things you only dreamed of doing. November, 2015
to add to your wishlist Some things are just ... better. STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT What better way to prepare for Episode VII of the Star Wars saga this fall than to fight on behalf of the Rebel Alliance right now? Star Wars’ videogame series’ Battlefront is making a comeback after a 10-year hiatus, allowing you to play as classic characters and engage in online multiplayer.
STANLEY CLASSIC VOLUME GROWLER There are plenty of vacuum-insulated canteens, but Stanley’s is one of the toughest. It keeps things steaming hot for 12 hours or ice cold for 16 hours without imparting an odd flavor or odor.
PHONE TO GAME BOY COIN
Few people enjoy storing a stack of credit cards in their wallet. Coin 2.0 trims the fat. It reprograms its magnetic strip during each purchase, allowing you to put different cards to use. Up to eight cards can be stored in the device at once. Plus it has NFC for tap-to-pay.
A gaming peripheral development company called Hyperkin is in the process of creating the Smart Boy, a device that will allow you to plug and play Game Boy cartridges on your iPhone. The project, originally planned as a joke but now actually in development, is a nudge at what Nintendo should be doing to appeal to nostalgic smartphone users: Put games like The Legend of Zelda and Pokémon back in everyone’s pockets.
CONNECTED CYCLE
Replace your bike pedals with these smart ones. They pair with an app to notify you when your bike is moved and allows you to track location. Plus, these pedals are self-powered and come with their own Internet connection.
citypageskuwait.com
THING EXPLAINER The creator of famed Web comic xkcd is once again venturing into the physical world with his art. Randall Munroe’s newest book, Thing Explainer, tells how everything works—from ballpoint pens to the solar system. Required reading for the curious.
OAXIS BENTO INDUCTIVE SPEAKER Moments of silence while pairing friends’ phones to wireless speakers can kill a party’s buzz. Oaxis hopes to make the process smoother: Just lay your device on the stereo’s pad, and you’re done. It supports any phone with a speaker.
SENSEL MORPH NEXPAQ MODULAR PHONE CASE Build your dream phone. The Nexpaq case lets you snap in modules to your smartphone that extend battery life and improve its camera.
Sensel built a pressure-sensitive trackpad—with 20,000 embedded sensors—that can morph into hundreds of input devices. Pop on piano keys if you’re feeling like Beethoven, or use a paintbrush if you’d rather get your Picasso on.
GOOGLE OnHub ROUTER ZNAPS This tiny charging-port attachment plugs into lightning or micro USB ports to allow the cable to attach via magnets. Non-iPhone users get an extra perk: The magnetic adapter makes micro USB connectors reversible. Finally, one fewer plug to insert wrong.
Wi-Fi router setup is frustrating. But Google’s OnHub employs an easyto-use app. The router even lets you assign which devices should get faster downloads, see who’s connected, and troubleshoot—all from your phone.
November, 2015
Carbon Nanotube To Replace Silicon Tech giant IBM has found a new way to shrink transistor contacts without changing its performance. This introduces a new way to increase the performance and shrink the chip size. According to IBM’s VP of Science and Technology it will be beyond the capabilities of traditional semiconductors. You can imagine long battery life of mobiles and laptops, high performance computers and more economical cloud servers. The carbon nanotube transistor is ten thousand times thinner than human hair. In tech dictionary, that’s half the size of a silicon transistor. IBM’s VP says: “Computer chips made of carbon nanotubes will be able to power systems of the future sooner than the industry expected”.
األنابيب النانوية الكربونية تحل محل السيليكون
أم وجدت طريقة جديدة لتقليص الترانزيستور دون أي-بي-عمالق التقنية شركة آي هذا األمر سيفتح طريقًا جديدًا في زيادة األداء وتقليص حجم الرقاقة.تغيير على األداء أم لقسم العلوم والتقنية فإن-بي- وفق ماصرح به نائب رئيس شركة آي.الرقمية يمكنك.هذه التقنية ستكون ذات إمكانيات أبعد مما عليه أشباة الموصالت الحالية أداء أعلى للحواسب و خوادم،أنتتخيل عمر بطارية أطول لهاتفك وجهازك الالبتوب حجم الترانزيستور المصنوع من األنابيب النانوية الكربونية أقل.سحابية إقتصادية نصف حجم الترانزيستور المصنوع، وبلغة التقنية.عشرة آالف مرة من شعرة اإلنسان أم يقول “رقاقات الحاسوب المصنوعة مناألنابيب-بي- نائب رئيس آي.من السيليكون النانوية الكربونية سيكون لها القدرة على تشغيل األنظمة المستقبلية أقرب مما .”تتوقعة الصناعة
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
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.
Advertisements Will Invade Your Start Menu! Microsoft launched Preview Build of Windows10 shows advertisements in the start menu. Thankfully it’s optional (so far) but unfortunately its enabled by default. Why we are concerned about it? If you’ve tried the game ‘Solitaire’ then you’ll know that the only way to remove ads from it is to pay $2 every month. Please Microsoft, don’t ruin the way computers work.
Western Digital Acquires SanDisk WD paid $19billion in cash and stock to acquire SanDisk, but why? SanDisk is one of the biggest major players in the NAND flash memory market. 27 years ago, SanDisk was the first company founded as a flash memory designer and manufacturer. Furthermore, SanDisk is already working on the next generation non-volatile memory production. Other companies like Seagate will definitely face pressure to deal with it.
IBM Allow The Chinese Government To See Its Source Code. Well, IBM took a leap of faith here. IBM allowed the Chinese government to review the source code of some of its product recording in a report from the Wall Street Journal. This move is part of a larger move to push IBM into the Chinese market, and to show and assure the officials that its product is secure and safe, with a view to take and win more contracts with the country. The Chinese request these demands from any Tech company wanting to do business in China. So far, IBM is the first one to agree to their demands. The Chinese government has long been concerned about backdoors installed by US intelligence agencies, and sees the source code as a way to ensure the software is working as promised.
Let`s Talk About Microsoft`s Surface Book. Microsoft, oh Microsoft, welcome to the hardware world. Microsoft announced its own built laptop, the Surface Book. It`s a 2 in 1 detachable laptop with a removable screen so you can use it as a tablet. You can also rotate it 360 degrees. With its pen, you can use it in a creative canvas way and unleash your creativity. It`s a professional laptop for heavy photo and video editing too. This laptop is simply amazing, you can use it in any way you want to and it will adapt to your needs. The price starts from $1499 for a 13.5 inch display, up to 1TB flash storage, 6th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7, up to 12 hours battery life and up to 16GB RAM and the latest wireless technology. Last but not least, the Surface Dock transforms your Surface Book into a desktop PC by plugging in your Dock with the SurfaceConnect cable - and connecting a keyboard, a mouse and a display to the dock will transform it completely to a desktop PC.
November, 2015
CityPages goes to the
6TH RED BULL AIR RACE...
...much to the delight of our lucky staff member Kinda who received an invite to attend the event at one of its stops in Spielberg, at Austria’s F1 race track.
their choice of optimized propeller planes (the Edge 540, MXS-R and Extra 330LX) at high speed and low altitudes, under actual racing conditions, and within a specially designed format and race rules.
The Red Bull Air Race spans the globe and follows a flight path plotted from the United States to China, boasting the world’s best pilots from all walks of life who take the race very, very seriously; the ultimate prize being the title.
The event has a cult following and was attended, as usual, by thousands of spectators. The spectacular new Red Bull Formula One race track served as the location to host the race with the beautiful Austrian mountains providing a magnificent backdrop.
Martin Sonka, Nigel Lamb, Kirby Chambliss, Francois Le Vot, Matthais Dolderer, Hannes Arch, Juan Velarde, Nicolas Ivanoff, Yoshihide Muroya, Paul Bonhomme (who won this round, his third title in a row), Pete McLeod, Peter Beseneyei, Matt Hall and finally, Michael Goulian, all participated in the Challenger Cup, a race that requires pilots to fly
We had a superb time attending the race and witnessing exactly what the operations of such a huge undertaking entailed. We also met the pilots and watched firsthand their beautifully outfitted propeller planes taking on the challenge.
citypageskuwait.com
For more facts about the race log on to: REDBULLAIRRACE.COM
November, 2015
LOVED ONES
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.
‘What is the greatest gift of all?’ asked Fahad with a smile on his face. His father just looked at his small, handsome face and said, ‘Loved ones. There is nothing like having loved ones in your life, cherishing each day that goes by and letting them know how much they mean to you’. He said this with a twinkle in his eye. It is loved ones that fill our lives with so much joy and laughter. Whether it be your husband, wife, child, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, grandparent, cousin or friend, it is those people in your life that are worth holding on to and enjoying the time you get with them.
Fahad’s father realised how very precious time is and how short it can be too. He wrapped his hands around his dear son and planted a kiss on his forehead. ‘She lives within us’ he said with a bright smile. He could see his wife in his son every day and he knew for sure that his love for his son, and his beloved wife, would only grow more and more as each day went by.
Happiness cannot be bought; how true this saying is.
‘I pray every day’ said his son with such hope.
‘What about when your loved ones are gone?’ asked Fahad, sadly.
They sat in silence for a few minutes as they thought about the beautiful and kind woman they once had in their lives.
‘Well, loved ones are never really gone. Once they enter the heart, they never leave. They will never be too far away from you’ said his father. ‘I miss mum’ Fahad said, as a tear trickled down his face.
citypageskuwait.com
loved one in your life anymore, but it is those special memories that you once shared with them that will always be with you. Although a particular loved one might not be here anymore, it is never goodbye but simply ‘until next time’.
‘Let’s go get ice-cream. We’ll get your mum’s favourite” said Fahad’s father. Fahad’s face lit up and he ran to put on his shoes.
I know habibi, but she is always with us. Through our prayers we can always talk to her’.
‘We have each other, dad’ he said in a whisper, ‘and we’ll always have mum too’ he added, giving his father a big hug.
Although life is short and people come and go, loved ones will always stay close and near. It can be hard at times to wrap your head around not having a
Loved ones might be taken from people, but don’t ever forget they are never truly gone. They will always be forever in your heart and with you.
ADOPT A STREET PRINCESS @ADOPT_A_STREET_PRINCESS
www.facebook.com/adoptastreetprincess
Dear CityPages readers, It’s puppy time at the AASP Shelter! Come and visit us to play with the puppies, brush them, feed them and have fun. From the end of November we are planning a weekly BBQ. Every Saturday dog lovers can come and enjoy the company of our lovely puppy dogs. You can also bring your own dog to play with ours and interact together. Our big play area is amazing and provides a secure environment to let the little ones run, play and lay around. It’s fun for humans as well as dogs! Please let us know before you come so we can ensure there is enough food for everybody. If you have friends who are thinking about adoption, bring them with you too. Contact us on WhatsApp: 69983197. We also have other amazing news. Animall in Al Rai, will allow a 5% discount to any person who donates dog food or other essential items to our shelter. Just let the cashier know you are shopping for the Adopt a Street Princess Shelter. Food donations can be left at Animall – they will deliver it straight to our shelter later the same week. Thank you @animall_kw for your support and for providing the best prices for animal food and other pet items in Kuwait. Warm wishes, Nathalie Veys Founder of AASP November's 3 lovely dogs are:
4 month. Female. Fluffy. Dynamic. Playful.
3.5 month. Female. Playful. Sweet. Soft.
4 month. Female. Sensible. Very clever. Short hair. November, 2015
JANHREY SALVADOR The Artist with Bags of Talent Born in the Philippines, the third of four children, Janhrey Salvador never dreamt he’d be brushing shoulders with the stars. But thanks to the influence of a very special mentor, he now gets to meet the rich and famous. Not only that, he gets to paint pictures on their designer handbags!
citypageskuwait.com
Hi, please introduce yourself to our readers. I’m Janhrey Salvador from Cebu, Philippines. I’m an artist and art is my passion. I have been a florist and an artist for close to 10 years. I have worked in Kuwait for the past 7 years. Basically I put determination, love and passion into my work. Tell us about your childhood memories. I grew up in a small town in the Philippines. My childhood was not as playful as other kid’s. Because of lack of attention from my family, I focused on the things that surrounded me. Living in a small village is like being close to nature. Mountains and ocean were my great escape. I remember watching my mom doing her tailoring and would mess around in her working space by taking her fabric and dressing the mannequin. At first she was not impressed; she didn’t want me to follow in her footsteps, she wanted me to become a teacher or an architect. So I decided to go to the big city to pursue my dream and that was the turning point in my life, when I was hired to work in Kuwait. From where did your interest in art and fashion develop? Art and skills run through our family. My mom was the best tailor in town; my aunt was good at drawing; my uncle was good at wood carving; and my nieces have their own artistic skills and talents. My own passion developed when I was in college. Most of the people that saw my work appreciated it, so it gave me encouragement. Tell us about your education. In high school, I began to have pressure placed on me by my family and their high expectations. I competed in different art tournaments as the representative of my school. I graduated at the top of my class, although I wasn’t valedictorian. My mom couldn’t afford to send me to art school, so I chose to take a Hotel and Restaurant Management course, because cooking is my second passion. I graduated at The University of Cebu, Philippines in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Why didn’t you pursue a career in art or fashion? It’s not that I didn’t want to pursue this career; I believe that everything happens for a reason and that there is a right place and time for me. It was only after I graduated that I become more serious about art. After several of my friends convinced me I was good enough, I began to do fashion sketches and illustrations. How and when did you arrive to Kuwait? I arrived in Kuwait in October 2008. I was reading a local newspaper back home when I saw in the November, 2015
classified ads that a well-known atelier in Kuwait was looking for a designer. I was determined, even though I didn’t have much experience. I applied and was selected, and here I am now. When I first arrived, I was employed as a florist and fashion designer. I was paid less than I expected but I have no regrets because it was a good learning process and taught me more about fashion; I learned a lot from them. Unbeknown to me, I had a cousin here in Kuwait working as a housemaid at that time. She introduced me to her employer who was planning to open a florist and designer gift shop. So I decided to leave my job and become a part of a new company for two years. What was your initial feeling about this country and how has it changed over the years? I researched Kuwait before coming here, so I would be ready and prepared for what this country had to offer. But the excitement is always there. As years pass by, I’m starting to embrace and love this small yet progressive country. How was your experience working as a florist and fashion designer in Kuwait? My experience at first was not particularly good. However, I don’t regret it. It was my stepping stone to other opportunities. What was your turning point? The turning point in my life was when I met Sheikha Hissa Meshal Jawhara Alsabah. One of my friends asked me if I would be willing to work for her as an assistant. With no hesitation I said YES. Working with her opened a lot of doors for me and exposed my abilities and skills. She became my mentor as I witnessed her unique and creative ideas in terms of interior designs. From that day on, I had the best job and employer that any employee could have - and being by her side allowed me to meet famous people!
How would you describe working with your current company? Working with Sheikha Hissa Meshal Jawhara Alsabah is the best thing that happened to me and has made me who I am now. It was like I was coming out of my shell. It turned my ideas from impossible to possible. She is the best mentor. What exactly do you do at the moment? Now I’m working freelance. Aside from that, I do flower arrangements, designs for gift ideas, fashion illustrations and painting bags. I’m proud to say that this new role suits me very well indeed. citypageskuwait.com
You’re painting expensive designer bags? How did this come about? Yes, it started when I saw the customized bag of my mentor. It was designed by one of the famous brands in London. I obviously couldn’t afford to send my own bags to London for customization so gave it a try myself. I tried it with my own bag and placed it in the shop, just to see for myself what the reaction would be. The feedback from the customers was very positive and I even received a request to paint a bag for one of the customers. I was determined, so I accepted the challenge. With the help and encouragement of my mentor, who had great trust in my abilities, I was able to achieve it. At first I was nervous; it was an expensive designer bag after all and there was no room for mistakes. I was just glad it turned out well and since then, I have attracted more and more clients. How would you signature style?
describe
your
Simple, unique and edgy - with a touch of street art. What are your future plans? To pursue my dreams; to have my own shop and to be noticed. Do you have a message for our readers? This message is for the aspiring, talented people who don’t yet have the determination or the belief in their abilities. Never be afraid of making a mistake; learn to accept it and make it right. Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no- one else. Do what you love and be passionate about it. Your message for us at CityPages magazine: I would like to take this opportunity to give a big THANKS to CityPages for the trust and for believing in me. I never thought that something big would happen in my career. Being featured in this prestigious magazine is like a dream come true. To be in line with other amazing personalities featured in this and in previous issues is overwhelming. Thank you for being a part of my journey. November, 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. @fashioncookieq8
The Frosty Approach
The overly hot days have finally left Kuwait and we can walk
outside without missing the air conditioning and shade - isn’t that great? We’ve also seen the heavy rain bring a sense of renewal to our mood and daily activities, reminding us that life can only get cooler from every point of view. Fashion brings excitement to our routines. The most esteemed designers sure thought of that while mastering these ‘must have’ trends. Follow these for a revived and chic soul.
Velvet Potion This soft and luxurious material is no longer only for royalty. It will be everywhere this season, from simple day-time garments to night gowns. It will appear in every imaginable shape from capes and simple t-shirts to pants and boots that feel like a sweet caress. The full plushy look is the most elegant, especially in burgundy, blue or black. Subtle accessories are required for the neat look – perfected by Poppy Delevingne wearing Michael Kors. citypageskuwait.com
Impact Coat This ‘look at me shelter’ is the item every fashion lover should have during this fall. It’s all about the ability to be eye-catching while keeping warm. Choose trench, parka, long, short, printed, patched or furry, in bright or natural colors. As long as it makes a big statement, it’s perfect. We love the J. Crew camel parka with loud yellow fur details that will make you stand out in any crowd for sure.
Haute Denim Nothing makes an outfit more cool than some good blue denim textile. So what happens when the whole outfit is created in this material? A blast for sure! Denim on denim is this season’s ‘it-look’. The Elina Priha denim patched cape is to die for - casual and swanky all in one. November, 2015
Lace Parade The classic embroidered mesh takes a new twist by being matched in the most unconventional of ways. Mix with printed fabrics, embellishments or velvet, or combine with socks. Intriguing and delicate is the least we can say about this ultra feminine trend, shown in the Valentino multi color lace dress in the picture above.
citypageskuwait.com
STYLE UPDATE BY
SHAIKHA JUMAA Everybody is wondering what the style and colours will be for the winter season. Well, after my Style Update workshop last month, everyone who attended was surprised how stylish and fabulous we can be through what we wear. So, I decided to do more of these workshops both for groups and individuals. The new season of 60’s style has a cut and colour to suit any mood and moment – but don’t forget to check out your wardrobe before shopping! You will notice the camel colour in each shop – yes, this is the main colour of winter! But don’t worry, even if your palette of colours doesn't include that particular shade, I will teach you how to mix and match. Plus, if you don’t like that colour, all you need to know is your ‘character of colour’ so you can choose between the other colour alternatives. We have six basic colouring types, which cover all different ethnic colouring:
Shaikha Jumaa
1.Light: Pretty pastels, bubblegum pink, pistachio green, baby blue and dusty lemon - mix them with medium greys for a ‘wintery’ look.
For booking appointment contact #965-94080449 or email info@stylecodekw.com Instagram: @style_coach_shaikha
2.Deep: Enjoy all your greens, purples and all those wonderful dark and deep colours. This is your time to fill your wardrobe with all those must-have deep shades. 3.Warm: This season is made for you, so stock up! Think caramels and other stories. Tobacco – bronze - coffee – brown: from chocolate to rose brown; oatmeal, camel, nutmeg, chestnut - if there is a hint of warmth in your colouring and palette, wear them with the other shades of your palette whether it is salmons, khakis, aquas – just don’t be scared to mix colours in new wonderfully weird combinations. 4.Cool: You will blend your blues and your pinks but go to the darker side of your palette for autumn/winter. Introduce grey to your wardrobe as a staple colour which will never date. 5.Clear: Go for the ‘wow’ factor and make the most of all those bright and vibrant colours to create a great look for you. 6.Soft: You go for blended, tone-on-tone colours particularly for your basic pieces. Have fun with accessories. Hem lines are getting longer.
After discovering your colours and the style of the winter season, you are ready for shopping! In my next article I will talk about shapes in more detail. November, 2015
Promod FW2015 Collection Let yourself be carried by the autumn colours. The last rays of sun giving off a warm and relaxing light. The vibrant colours of the dead leaves, decorate Paris with effervescence. Autumn has a unique aura, full of timeless movement. It’s the fit of a camel trench protecting a feminine dress from the fall wind. It’s fitted denim with derbies marking the beat on the pavement. It’s a sweatshirt giving a little rebellious and modern touch, and revealing an elegant collar. Promod Boutique Française, helps you create a style that is like you. Each season, your personal inspirations fuel our creations. Spontaneously, you mix and match, fabrics and colours, pieces and accessories.
GAP Fall 2015 Collection For Kids Gap introduces its Fall 2015 collection for Kids and babies. For Kids, fun and novelty is driven through graphics, prints and ‘mini me’ looks. Newness is added to the capsule through printed tees and pants. A ‘must-have’ for kids of all ages is the new Soft Pant, which is very season appropriate for the young ones. The key items for girls include spotted denim jeans, sweaters with novelty details and graphics while the brand offers printed tees, sweatshirts and denim shirts for boys. Gap also introduces items using new denim fabrication which is soft, durable and light.
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Georgia May Jagger collection announced for Reserved in Kuwait
RESERVED is delighted to announce the long anticipated Georgia May Jagger collection - a limited edition line designed by the celebrity model, now available in Kuwait. The exclusive line designed by the Rolling Stones’ front man’s daughter, top model and a RESERVED brand ambassador, has been highly anticipated by international fans of the brand since the collaboration was announced. Long before the details of this partnership between Georgia and the Reserved team were revealed, news about the line intrigued all fashion enthusiasts.
Splash launches ‘Splash Café Society’ as part of the Fall Winter’15 fashion show
Imagine a chic club brimming with the affluent and the well-travelled. It’s a space that brings a section of people who connect through their mutual love for fashion, travel and music. Splash created that atmosphere for its guests this season to showcase the AW’15 collection that was an amalgamation of classic trends with an updated look. The cafe was a glamorous one which saw the Bespoke Military and Retro Futuristic trends coming together to create the ultimate look for a jet setting individual. Effortless pieces, structured look and the retro chic silhouettes were dominant on the runway that was seen across the fashion weeks in the past days. November, 2015
GAP LAUNCHES FOURTH LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTION WITH GQ’S BEST NEW MENSWEAR DESIGNERS IN AMERICA Gap is pleased to release its fourth exclusive menswear collection designed by GQ’s four Best New Menswear Designers in America for 2015. Following three previous seasons’ successful collaborations, this year’s collection highlights each designer’s perspective on classic menswear pieces.
" الجديدة للمرأة العصريةJogging Edit" "ماسيمو دوتي" تقدم مجموعة
"Jogging Edit" تحمل تصاميم مجموعة التي أطلقتها مؤخرًا عالمة األزياء اإلسبابية 2015-2016 "ماسيمو دوتي" لخريف وشتاء "لمسة عصرية تعطي المرأة إطاللة "كاجيوال التي تتخذ، وتتضمن المجموعة.رائعة وأنيقة قطعًا مريحة،من الرمادي اللون األساسي لالرتداء اليومي مثل معاطف محيكة وسترات عصرية وسراويل ضيقة المعة وقمصان وتشكل هذه.وأزياء صوف محبوكة وغيرها المجموعة الجديدة من "ماسيمو دوتي" إضافة .مميزة ألزياء المرأة العصرية
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Printemps’ Christmas fairy tale Inspired by a fairy tale written in its honour in 1911, the Printemps department store is bringing back its eponymous Fairy to make our dearest wish come true on the occasion of the store's 150th anniversary: to put spring back into Christmas! (Note: printemps is French for spring.) Grey skies, snowy landscapes, frozen water and the total silence of a sleeping world come back to life thanks to the swish of a magic wand – and spring reigns once more!
Panerai - RADIOMIR 1940 AMONG THE CLASSICS OF MODERNITY
BZEES – new this season NATURALIZER INTRODUCES A NEW CLOUD TECHNOLOGY Playful without being impractical, fun and sporty Bzees are always right when you want to get out and about. Whether embarking on an epic journey around the block with a precious pooch or heading into the farthest reaches of your favorite shop, Bzees are easy-to-wear, easy-to-wash…and make it fun to be easy. So get out there – for forth in style! Traipse, saunter, stroll, strut, gallivant, boogie, shuffle, or however your shimmy wants to shake, because Bzees keeps it nice and light. And Light Feels Right.
November, 2015
adidas Originals by Rita Ora FW15 – Cosmic Confession Collection Cosmic Confession prepares for a winter take off, combining the imaginations of sports fashion pioneers adidas Originals and muse and icon, Rita Ora. At ground control, forms built for function inspired by space suits and mission-wear suggest retro sports influences and utility colorways adorned with intergalactic vintage detailing. Blue and yellow uniform tones feature pops of white in Three Stripes and Trefoils, as cuts are long and lean. Boyfriend fit tees with bold branding, silky track pants, all-in-ones, cut away gloves and service caps feature utility details such as multi-zips and custom patches. The snap pant makes a comeback as a retro all-in-one and a long sleeve scoop neck maxi dress, conceived for comfort and class in cosmic action. Cosmic Confession is counting down to take the adidas Originals and Rita Ora collaboration series into another dimension.
غراند ريفيرسو ليدي ألترا ثين دويتو ديو ساعات من الحياة
Calvin Klein spellbound Natural. Inspired. Calvin Klein spellbound. Ancient history reimagined for the modern world. Calvin Klein spellbound brings together python embossed leather in rich mineral-inspired tones with a bold silhouette for an impactful look. Offered in nature, grey, black, blue or yellow python embossed leather, each timepiece is accented by a polished stainless steel case and dial or PVD pink gold and black dial, and is finished with a minimal “Calvin Klein” logo at 12 o’clock. Water resistant to 3 bar. citypageskuwait.com
Damas Unveils New Avani Brand, Names Bollywood Superstar Kangana Ranaut As Brand Ambassador Damas, the leading jeweller in the Middle East, has named Indian film actress Kangana Ranaut as the brand Ambassador of its new Avani brand. The brand’s jewellery collection is currently available at select Damas stores across the GCC region.
Longines DolceVita
a new approach to charm and grace Since its inception, the Longines DolceVita collection has illustrated contemporary elegance of the Longines watchmaking brand worldwide. Inspired by the "Dolce Vita", it is an homage to the sweetness of life. Today, a new chapter in this collection opens with a unique interpretation featuring softened lines. These new variations will not fail to impress women who have made charm a way of life.
November, 2015
At The Marshall Goldsmith Seminar By Vigor Events And Gas Events
From The Swarvoski Event
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At The Opening Of The New Branch Of TAAL Restaurant At The Avenues
From The Inauguration Of “A Taste of America” Festival At Sultan Center
November, 2015
At The Official Launch Of Michael Kors Watches Collection For Fall Winter 2015 By ONTIME
From The Diet Care All-new Speciality Programs Announcing Event
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شركة بركات فودز تحتفي باألسرة اإلعالمية بحفل عشاء في مطعم ميس الغانم -لتجربة قائمة "تركش كرال" الجديدة
From The Press Event For The New Collection L'occitane By Pierre Herme
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At The Grand Opening Of The Honda Showroom In Kuwait.
At The Press Conference Celebrating The Arrival Of The First Airbus A350
November, 2015
At The Bomberg Launch Event
From the "Fight Like A Girl" Cancer Awareness Seminar By American Women's League
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November, 2015
From The IHI Kuwait Graduation Event
At The Launch Of The Makeup Academy FN Institute
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From The Inventive Events
From The Preview Of The Balmain x H&M Collection
November, 2015
FROM THE PRESS
Press Conference at the Vatican for World Religions Charter endorsing Children's Palliative Care
Tariq Al Qallaf accomplishes significant victories in the US Fencing Championship
Burgan Bank is proud to announce today that Tariq Al Qallaf, Kuwait’s Wheelchair Fencing Champion, won three gold medals along with the title of ‘Best Fencing Champion’ during his participation in the US Fencing Championship for the Disabled. Burgan Bank is pleased to have sponsored the champion in this competition as part of its social responsibility strategy and will continue helping local athletes reach greater heights. Al Qallaf, Kuwait’s world champion wheelchair fencer, participated in more than 70 international tournaments during his tremendous 30 years long career, bagging 29 gold medals. His significant talent and impressive determination were key factors behind Burgan Bank’s sponsorship. Burgan bank seizes this delightful opportunity to renew its commitment towards improving the lifestyle of Kuwaiti talented youth by sponsoring their sportive path. The USA Fencing Championship took place from 9 – 12 October, 2015 and will continue at Louis, Missouri from 8 – 11 January, 2016.
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In a historic gathering at the Vatican, representatives of the world's religions are meeting to draw up a charter that will endorse the role of palliative care for children. The official presentation of the Charter will take place in a press conference, at the headquarters of the Vatican Radio in Rome. "Defining the Essence of Paediatric Palliative Care: Religions Together", an international Workshop on paediatric palliative care, will be held on November 10th, 2015, at the headquarters of the Pontifical Academy for Life in the Vatican City. For the first time, leading world experts in the field of paediatric palliative care will meet with prominent theologians of the world's main faiths, preeminent human rights advocates, and paediatric patients and their families, to draw up a document that affirmschildren's palliative care as the best response to addressing the complex needs of the 20 million children on our planet suffering from life-limiting and life-threatening diseases. The Workshop is divided into four groups working simultaneously: Technical Aspects, Human Rights Issues, Spirituality & Religion, and The Patients' Perspective. In the afternoon, the groups will join forces to prepare and endorse the Charter in favour of global access to children's palliative care. The event was conceived and organized by the Maruzza Lefebvre D'Ovidio Foundation, which has been engaged for over fifteen years in advocating palliative care for children with irreversible diseases and, in 2013, was awarded the Gold Medal of Merit for Public Health by the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano. "Palliative care is global care, encompassing the clinical, psychological and spiritual needs of patients and their families and aims to achieve the best quality of life possible and respect for human dignity. The moral authority of religion has global reach, and one of the common Primary aspirations of all religions is the protection of the vulnerable. Since these patients are among the most vulnerable, our desire at the close of our workshop is to present a universal declaration, by all faiths, that paediatric palliative care is the best approach, and a right, for all children and young people suffering from life-threatening and life-limiting disease." - Silvia Lefebvre D'Ovidio, leader of the Maruzza Foundation.
‘Snowing in Al Salam Mall’ adds cheer to shopping festival at Al Salam Mall
The ongoing shopping festival at Al Salam Mall got even more exciting with the launch of ‘Snowing in Al Salam Mall’ – a pioneering concept that utilises a first-of-its-kind machine capable of creating a winter-like atmosphere throughout the mall. However, the shopping festival at Al Salam Mall, is owned and operated by Dar Sama Real Estate Company, which started on 23 September 2015 and will run until 8 November 2015. The ‘Snowing in Al Salam Mall’ concept was launched at a social event hosted by Noha Nabil, a Kuwaiti fashion Instagrammer, with local media and social media influencers in attendance. “Al Salam Mall has already established itself as the preferred shopping and leisure destination for families in Kuwait,” said Abdullah Al-Eseimy, Chairman of Dar Sama real estate development. “Our commitment at providing excellent customer experiences include exclusive, oneof-a-kind attractions that make every visit to our mall truly fun, exciting and memorable. “Being in this part of the world, not everyone may have the chance and opportunity to experience snow,” he added. “In our desire to give something back to our valued customers, we want them, especially kids, to know how it is to experience and enjoy snow.” Complementing the ‘Snowing in Kuwait’ concept is a British winter stilt walker Show that will perform at the mall. As part of the shopping festival, there will be four different raffle draws that will take place every Thursdays, with the first one happening on 8 October. Among the prizes to be given away at the raffle are two Chevrolet Sonic cars and a Chevrolet Tahoe as grand prize and many of Electronic awards.
Alyasra Fashion spearheads avantgarde consumer engagement through private dinner
Walk for a Cause at Landmark Group’s annual ‘Beat Diabetes’ Walkathon 2015
Invariably at the forefront of fashion innovation and consumer engagement, Alyasra Fashion together with UAE-based The Dinner Club by No. 57, hosted an exclusive dinner for the first time in Kuwait for their VIP MaxMara clients on the 60th floor balcony of Kuwait’s iconic Al Hamra Business Tower. Hosted in Kuwait for the first time, the dinner was held at the tallest building in the country, a veritable architectural landmark worldwide, bringing together fashion’s most relevant guests within the country who are also loyal MaxMara customers. The dinner provided guests with an avenue to discuss different perspectives on fashion led by Alyasra Fashion Marketing Manager for Garments, Sama Alwasmi, whilst experiencing MaxMara’s signature aesthetics and visual direction through the table décor, overall ambience and a delectable five-course meal. Sama Alwasmi said: “At Alyasra Fashion, we always want to ensure that we connect to our clients in a way that represents our culture and brand through sophisticated, personal and unique events. For us, luxury and exclusivity go hand in hand; this dinner provided us with the perfect platform in which to reach out to our clients who we believe are the real influencers in our community.” The brainchild of UAE-based Alamira Noor Bani Hashim and Buthaina Al Mazrui, The Dinner Club by No.57 is an invite-only supperclub held at some of the most covert locations in the region, aiming to provide a different disposition to traditional dinner parties. A constant in all their dinners, guests are not privy to the exact location, the theme or the guest list until they arrive at the event itself to maintain the element of secrecy, which is a fundamental aspect of The Dinner Club series. Alyasra Fashion is a regional fashion retail leader, with a world-class portfolio of over 60 highend fashion, footwear and accessories brands. Alyasra Fashion operates more than 270 stores, with operations in eight markets across the Middle East.
Landmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, supported by the Ministry of Health and Dasman Diabetes Institute encourages public to register and participate in the sixth edition of the ‘Beat Diabetes’ walkathon which will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2015. The 3.2km walk will flag off from the Yacht Club and end at Green Island. Saibal Basu, Chief Operating Officer, Landmark Group Kuwait, said “This annual campaign is calling for the nation to start walking as part of the continuous healthy lifestyle drive to encourage the community to work together to prevent and manage diabetes. Landmark Group helps to raise awareness of the growing prevalence of diabetes in the region and over the last 5 years we have received tremendous response from the Kuwait community and we are sure that this support will continue.” Professor Kazem Behbehani,OBE, DirectorGeneral of Dasman Diabetes Institute, an affiliate of Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) added, “Understanding symptoms that lead to Diabetes can help establish a plan to live a healthier lifestyle. Dasman Diabetes Institute does not save any effort to promote and shed light on the awareness of Diabetes and general health amongst the public. We are glad to support every year with The Landmark Group’s ‘Beat Diabetes Walkathon’ to spread awareness on Diabetes prevention and improve the lifestyle of the population of Kuwait.” Participation in the walkathon is free of charge and all registered participants are given a walkathon kit. Qualified trainers from Fitness First will lead a mass warm-up session prior to the walk. The Group will also conduct walkathons across other countries including UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, and India, during November which is the International Diabetes Awareness Month. Individuals, groups and organizations can register for the walk at all Centrepoint stores and through the Beat Diabetes website www. beatdiabetes.me or the Landmark Group Kuwait’s facebook page. Further details about the sixth edition of the walkathon will be shared in the weeks preceding the event and on www.facebook. com/beatdiabetesme.
Alexander Wang designs evian® limited edition bottle
Diet Care showcases business offering at HORECA KSA 2015
evian® announces its collaboration with New York based designer Alexander Wang. 2015 marks the ninth year for evian® to partner with a fashion designer on a limited edition bottle. Wang’s design features two contrasting bottles with the brand’s barcode logo, one in black and one in white. The purity of evian® is emphasized through clean graphics and highlighted by the play of the lines on the bottle. The evian® x Alexander Wang bottle will be available in 2 formats: glass bottles 33cl and 75cl. Available in the Middle East in selected hotels, cafes, restaurants and retailers from November 2015.
Diet Care, Kuwait’s leading provider of health and nutritional programs and services, today announced its participation at the HORECA KSA 2015 where the company showcased its business offering and introduced the brand’s milestones in the GCC market. Diet Care participated at HORECA KSA for the third time as an official Diamond sponsor, presenting a mini operational clinic with an onsite dietitian and one-on-one private consultations as well as several customer service representatives to provide visitors with the complete brand experience along with its success in the health and nutritional food and beverage (F&B) sector. Commenting on the participation, Diet Care Director of Clinical Operations, Sarah Dimashkieh said: “We continue to participate in HORECA KSA as it is one of the major, longstanding exhibitions bringing the region’s top hospitality and culinary brands. With over ten years’ experience in the Kuwaiti market, Diet Care has left a mark in the health and nutritional F&B sector and is ready to showcase its success in the GCC market. We’ve changed the notion that “diet food is bad food” and we are confident in our ability to provide the health and nutritional services and products needed to change people’s lives to the better across the region.” HORECA KSA is one of the largest annual hospitality exhibitions in the GCC region. The exhibition provides brands with a chance to showcase their products and services to key industry players on a local and international level. Diet Care took part in HORECA KSA 2015 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre (RICEC) from October 1820, 2015 alongside its sister company at A’amal Holding Co., Café Bazza, considered Kuwait’s most on-demand café and restaurant concepts offering traditional and local F&B products and services.
November, 2015
FROM THE PRESS
Sweet flavors turn into gorgeous fragrances for L’OCCITANE En Provence’s delectable Holiday Collection with Pierre Hermé
Porsche Cayman Black Edition
Porsche is now also offering the Cayman as a Black Edition. The all-in-black special series previously comprised the Boxster and the 911 Carrera with rear-wheel and all-wheel drive as both a coupé and a cabriolet, distinguished by their expanded standard equipment. The combination of black paintwork and a black partial leather interior emphasises the timeless and sporty elegance of the sports cars. The standard equipment of the Black Edition models includes Porsche Communication Management (PCM) with navigation module, automatic anti-dazzle mirrors, rain sensor, cruise control, parking assistant at the front and rear and the Sport Design steering wheel. The Cayman Black Edition is based on the midengine coupé with a 2.7 litre flat engine and 275 hp (202 kW). The 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels, bi-xenon headlights with PDLS (Porsche Dynamic Light System) and optional side window trims in aluminium are eye-catching highlights. For enhanced personal comfort, the driver and passenger can avail of two-zone climate control and heated seats. The Cayman Black Edition comes with the high-quality audio system Sound Package Plus. The Cayman Black Edition is available for order now, with the first vehicles arriving January 2016.
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L’OCCITANE founder Olivier Baussan invited his friend, pastry chef Pierre Hermé, to compose a collection of scents for L’OCCITANE just the way he wanted. The result - beautifully crafted fragrances that are both complex and unequivocal, living memories of the lands of the Mediterranean and the Island of Beauty so loved by both men. While the fragrances were imagined by Pierre to represent the fresh and sweet summers of Corsica, Olivier and his team at L’OCCITANE brought them to life through the brand’s expertise and dedication to remain true to his conception. Talking about his collection, Pierre Hermé said: “My main aim with these products is to move away from the expected ingredients used in cooking, and create fragrances I liked. These products are a way for me to translate my memories of summers at Corsica into creations that everyone can enjoy”. Oliver Baussam, L’OCCITANE En Provence’s founder, added: “Our brand shares one important thing with Pierre – sincerity in our commitments, which explains our friendship and why it has gone on for so many years. It was a great experience to work with a master of taste like Pierre and create these compositions that one almost wants to meet, and we hope our audience loves them as much as we do”. The collaboration has given rise to three exquisite collections, each evoking a unique sensation
االحتاد للطيران تضيف رحلة يومية ثالثة إلى وجهة ج ّدة في اململكة العربية السعودية
الناقل الوطني لدولة،تعتزم االحتاد للطيران زيادة طاقتها،اإلمارات العربية املتحدة االستيعابية إلى اململكة العربية السعودية عبر إضافة رحلة يومية ثالثة بني أبوظبي كانون األول/ ديسمبر10 اعتبارًا من،وجدة .2015 وتعتبر رحالت االحتاد للطيران ومق ّرها إلى العاصمة التجارية للمملكة،أبوظبي والتي مت إطالقها في،العربية السعودية جدة من بني الرحالت،2006 أ ّيار من عام/شهر مايو وتتمتع بارتفاع،األكثر شعبية في املنطقة كبير في الطلب على مستوى دولة اإلمارات العربية املتحدة وشبكة الوجهات العاملية .لالحتاد للطيران رئيس،حتدث كيفن نايت ّ ،وفي هذا الشأن شؤون االستراتيجية والتخطيط في االحتاد "إنه ملن دواعي سروري زيادة:ً قائال،للطيران ال ريب أن. عدد رحالتنا اليومية إلى جدة الرحلة اجلديدة من شأنها أن توسع نطاق عملياتنا التشغيلية في اململكة العربية والتي بدورها تعزز الروابط،السعودية التاريخية والثقافية القوية أصالً بني ".البلدين "أصبح بإمكان الضيوف املسافرين:وأضاف وجدة ألغراض العمل أو اآلن بني أبوظبي ّ االستفادة من،ألغراض دينية أو ترفيهية .اخليارات الواسعة عبر جدول الرحالت اجلديد فضالً عن أن املوقع اجلغرافي االستراتيجي ألبوظبي يجعل منها البوابة املثالية للمسافرين ج ًوا املتجهني إلى اململكة حيث بإمكانهم الربط،العربية السعودية بسرعة وسهولة عبر شبكة الوجهات مثل تلك اإلضافة.العاملية لالحتاد للطيران ّ اجلديدة تؤكد التزام االحتاد للطيران الكبير .جتاه األسواق الكبرى وستتم خدمة الرحالت اليومية اإلضافية اجلديدة تلك عبر طائرة من طراز إيرباص 16 املرتبة وفق نظام الدرجتني لتحملA320 120مقع ًدا على منت درجة رجال األعمال و وذلك،مقع ًدا على منت الدرجة السياحية إلى جانب الرحلتني القائمتني يوم ًيا واللتني تتم خدمتهما عبر طائرة من طراز بوينغ املرتبة وفق نظام الدرجتني777-300ER .أيضا ً وجتدر اإلشارة إلى أن االحتاد للطيران تُس ّير في الوقت احلالي تسع رحالت يومية إلى وجهات مبا،على امتداد اململكة العربية السعودية .وجدة واملدينة املنورة الدمام والرياض فيها ّ ّ وقامت الشركة مؤخرًا بتعزيز حضورها في اململكة العربية السعودية عبر مشاركتها بالرمز على منت الرحالت اخلمس اجلديدة أسبوع ًيا بني أبوظبي والرياض والتي تشغلها .شركة فالي ناس الشريكة بالرمز
A-Listers Margot Robbie, Orlando Bloom and Jessie J celebrate British Airways’ new 787-9 Dreamliner route in Abu Dhabi
British Airways celebrated the launch of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on its daily London-Abu Dhabi-Muscat service on Friday, 6 November by hosting a secret island party with a star studded line up. Australian actress Margot Robbie and fellow Hollywood star Orlando Bloom flew in for an exclusive VIP party on Zaya Nurai Island just off the coast Abu Dhabi. Over 200 guests, celebrities and VIPs who attended the event were also treated to a live performance by Jessie J to celebrate the latest addition to British Airways’ fleet - which made its inaugural flight into Abu Dhabi on Friday, 6 November. The UAE and Omani capitals become only the second and third destinations, respectively, operated by a British Airways 787-9 Dreamliner - an aircraft poised to become the mainstay of the UK carrier’s fleet. The Boeing 787-9 features an evolution of British Airways’ First cabin, with just eight seats compared to the usual 14. It is 20 feet longer and four inches taller than its predecessor, the 787-8, with 30 per cent larger windows and 60 per cent less engine noise both inside and outside the cabin. British Airways’ Head of Middle East, Africa and Central Asia Sales, Paolo De Renzis, opened last Friday’s event before award-winning British singer Jessie J took to the stage to perform a string of her hits, including Domino, Ain’t Been Done, Nobody’s Perfect, Masterpiece, Bang Bang and Price Tag.
November, 2015
FROM THE PRESS Mezzan Holding Reports Q3 2015 Financial Results and Confirms Full Year Outlook
Giordano spearheads growth and customer support across regions
Pinkberry Introduces New Handcrafted Frozen Yogurt Pops Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa celebrates first Wellness & Development Day for colleagues
Jumeirah Messilah Beach & Spa announced its first Career & Wellbeing Day for colleagues on Monday, September 14th, 2015 dedicated to raising awareness on career, learning, health and wellness. The team were invited for a health checkup courtesy of Al Seef Hospital medical staff, complimentary eye tests were performed by a qualified optician from New English Optics, and the Talise Spa & Fitness team was on hand to provide health & beauty advice. Guest lecturers addressed quit smoking programs and ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and the Toastmaster’s Club challenged people to find their confidence with public speaking. Colleagues also enjoyed high energy sessions of Zumba, Masala Bhangra and Yoga. General Manager Hakan Petek said, “It is in our aim to foster a thriving, positive workplace culture for our colleagues where they can grow and develop to be future leaders in our industry.”
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Mezzan Holding KSCC, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of food, beverage, FMCG and pharmaceutical products in the Gulf, today announced the company’s financial results for Q3 2015, reporting KD46.3 million in Revenue up 5.6% from Q3 2014, thus bringing its year to date Revenue to KD150.8 million, representing a 10.5% increase on the same period in 2014. Mezzan Holding CEO, Garry Walsh, said: “Q3 performance was in line with our expectations, where the movement of the Eid holiday from October 2014 to September 2015 was a drag on revenue growth, particularly in our FMCG business. We were pleased to deliver gross margin expansion from last quarter, as we had anticipated, and stronger gross margin than Q3 2014 with most businesses making a positive contribution. We also continued to invest behind our brands and distribution, as we increased our spending in marketing, running our first ever above-the-line campaigns for the Al Wazzan brand in Kuwait, and for Khazan and KITCO Kettle Chips in UAE. We lapped some one-time benefits recorded in Q3 2014 (prelisting), which had a negative impact on net profit growth ratio in the quarter vs. 2014. Despite this, our 9-month performance is in line with expectations with revenue growth of 10.5% and underlying profit growth of 16.5%. We also saw improvement in our Working Capital Days and a reduction in Net Debt vs. Q3 2014. Our Full Year outlook continues to be High Single Digit / Low Double Digit Revenue growth with some leverage on the net profit line, which is in line with the targets we set at the beginning of the year. We will continue to invest prudently in our brands and infrastructure to ensure we deliver quality products to our customers and consumers, while continuing to maximize shareholder value.”
Pinkberry, the leading retailer of innovative frozen yogurt treats, has launched a range of new customizable and handcrafted frozen yogurt pops. The frozen yogurt pops are made with premium non-fat frozen yogurt, gourmet dry toppings and premium sauces. An onthe-go frozen treat, Pinkberry’s new frozen yogurt pops provide customers with endless combinations guaranteed to tantalize discerning taste buds and satisfy indulgent cravings. You can create your own frozen yogurt pops by selecting one of your favorite flavors (original, pomegranate or chocolate) dipped into a rich chocolate sauce or a nutty and creamy pistachio sauce, topped with a range of gourmet toppings. From crunchy granola, or a colorful burst of sprinkles, to the tropical taste of coconut flakes, the choice is yours! Take it one step further by double dipping the frozen yogurt pop and adding a drizzle of a smooth sauce on top. The frozen yogurt pops are an innovative and irresistible addition to the Pinkberry menu that provides customers with a new way of enjoying their favorite frozen yogurt with family and friends. It will be exclusively available to customers at the Pinkberry store in 2nd Avenue, The Avenues, for a limited time.
Giordano, the global retailer, most wellknown for its timeless and essential fashion, is aggressively expanding their operations in the Middle East, Africa and South Asian regions. With multiple stores in the pipeline, innovative store designs and a growing customer loyalty, Giordano maintains its powerful presence. In 2015 alone, Giordano opened 15 stores in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Zambia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, with another 10 stores in the pipeline for next year. The list includes new shops in Lulu Mall and Jubail Mall in Saudi Arabia, Shindagha City Centre, Dubai and the refurbished store at the Mall of the Emirates. In keeping with the times and in a move to reinvent itself, Giordano is showcasing new cutting edge store designs in Dubai, UAE. The Giordano store at Mall of the Emirates redefines customer experience as the first of the brand’s store to use 100% LED lighting. The design focused on white and brown in multitude tones to attain a more cohesive approach. The main finish is made of wood and back-painted glass for a smarter, classic, refined and polished feel. The entrance has been maximized and a 3D wall with LED cove lighting further highlights the store. Providing distinguished customer service has made Giordano one of the most successful retail brands in the region. Its loyalty programme World Without Strangers was one of the first global cardless loyalty programmes to reach the Middle East in 2007. Offering great deals and having created a community of people, the membership in the Middle East has reached 600,000 and continues to grow. Globally, Giordano International has nine million members enrolled in the program. Giordano’s signature Inno Khakis, wrinkle-free pants and shirts and performance polos have remained to be the most popular products, helping the brand maintain a consistent and growing customer base. Giordano’s consumer loyalty is further supported by its increasing social media presence, with a strong 1.6 million global followers on Facebook and 200,000 from the Middle East.
SPICY MOCHA CHOCOLATE MOUSSE MOCHA
FROM THE PRESS
Motoring Nostalgia Museum at Dubai International Motor Show offers a close up encounter of rare show stoppers from the glory days
Triumph Launches Latest Store At The Promenade Mall
Starbucks Celebrates 400th Store Opening in MENA Region
Alyasra Fashion officially launched the fifth Triumph outlet in the country at the Promenade Mall in the presence of media members and bloggers. Established in 1886, Triumph International is one of the world’s oldest and largest manufacturers of lingerie and underwear. The Triumph store at Promenade Mall offers various innovative styles that combine comfort and design to suit the needs of a varied customer base including teenagers and young women. The store features various exclusive Triumph lines including Sloggi and Magic Wire, which offer support through super light and flexible silicone underwire for maximum comfort. Triumph is available in more than 120 countries in 2,100 Triumph stores and numerous online shops. Worldwide, the company supplies 40,000 wholesale customers. The company is a member of the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) and the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP). Triumph is now available in five stores across Kuwait including The Avenues, Al Bairaq Mall, Marina Mall, Al Othman Mall and now Promenade Mall.
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Starbucks, the leading coffee house operator, has celebrated the opening of its 400th store in the MENA region. The latest store is in the new extension to the iconic Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, and continues the company’s strategy of bringing Starbucks closer to its customers and the communities in which it serves. Starbucks’ first store was launched in Kuwait in 1999, marking the start of its operations in the Middle East & North Africa. The company today operates in 10 countries across the region. “Starbucks has always been about creating and delivering the Starbucks “third place” experience, one that brings people together and serves the different needs of its customers in a warm and friendly environment,” said Andy Holmes, Vice President of Starbucks MENA. “Expanding across the MENA region has been a great journey, and it continues to motivate us to do more for our customers as we continue to grow. Starbucks has become part of our customers’ daily lives I hope that we will be able to continue to provide a truly memorable coffee experience for them for many more years to come.” In its 16 years in the region, Starbucks has become an active supporter of the communities in which it serves, and has delivered many locally-based programs that uplift the lives of both its customers and partners. Mr Holmes said Starbucks would continue to open high-profile stores, showcasing the company’s unique and familiar design elements that appeal to local markets and culture.
Classic cars bring out the enthusiast in everyone whether it be a restored 1960s Mini Cooper S or a vintage Rolls-Royce, there’s something that appeals to every budget and every taste. For the first time, a host of motoring icons will join the leading lights of the Dubai International Motor Show (DIMS) as part of the Motoring Nostalgia Museum for classic and historically significant cars. Some of the world’s most desirable and collectible cars from the 1950s to the 1980s will add a vibrant new dimension to the show for the 100,000 plus visitors who will make their way through the Dubai World Trade Center’s (DWTC) doors from November 10 to 14. “This new addition to DIMS is going to be something very special,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Exhibitions & Events Management, Dubai World Trade Centre. “We are aiming to make it fun, engaging and interactive by showcasing the great eras of the motoring industry that will take our visitors back in time. It opens the Dubai International Motor Show up to a wider audience who are interested in all types of cars regardless of their age. These iconic vehicles are symbols of their generations, as well as unique pieces which represent some of the greatest years of motoring.” A collection of the finest and most significant cars in the history of the automobile from Europe, the United States and Asia have been generously loaned from Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Tomini Classics, the Sharjah Museum and the Al Ain Classics collections as well as from a number of proud owners from the Dubai Grand Parade for the duration of the show.
Gulf Bank Participates in Kuwaiti Dinar Job Fair
Gulf Bank recently participated in the Kuwaiti Dinar Job Fair which took place at Salwa Al Sabah Conference Center on 18 – 19 October 2015, presenting youth with exciting job opportunities at the bank. Recent Kuwaiti graduates and young professionals interested in working in the banking sector visited Gulf Bank’s stand at the job fair, where the bank’s Human Resources executives were present to give them advice on career opportunities in various departments at the bank. They also highlighted Gulf Bank’s Graduate Development Program as well as the ‘DURRAT ALKHALEEJ’ training center, which produces a range of specialist packages and training programs as part of its policy of investing in the development of staff. Gulf Bank always places the importance of its human capital at the forefront of its business investment, focusing on opening up opportunities to young Kuwaitis, creating meaningful roles and challenges for Kuwait’s youth that allows them to build a career, and in doing so, to contribute to the country’s economic progress.
Changing the face of Men’s Health
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M E B V ER O
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NOVEMBER HOROSCOPES ARIES
(March 21 - April 19)
Monday, November 2, starts a fiery week and month when bright ideas are abundant and there are more than enough tactics to make your plans happen. You can even sweet-talk people into helping out with your agenda. Some new business ideas or maybe real estate opportunities come with the New Moon on November 11. If you're looking for a new residence, you could find something nice now. Work is booming, so money should be there. Get ready to celebrate with the Full Moon on November 25. Nearby relatives and favorite neighbors may be part of your Thanksgiving Day plans.
TAURUS
(April 20 - May 20)
Pleasant social times and romance may be yours on the weekend starting November 6. You may not warm up to everyone at first, but the atmosphere mellows on Saturday. New love comes your way with the New Moon on November 11. If you're happy as is, you may rethink some facet of your relationship to make things even better. Around the November 25 Full Moon your thoughts turn to money and all your favorite things to do with it. Holiday shopping and food could be high on your list. With much already to be thankful for, more is on the way.
GEMINI
(May 21 - June 20)
While everyone around you may be getting emotional and loud, you'll see through all the silliness and figure out why people are upset. You know what's real and you'll be able to calmly deal with it all. There could be an addition to your work routine around the New Moon on November 11. Or perhaps you'll think of a great hack to some part of your domestic routine that makes everything easier. You don't have to volunteer to do all the Thanksgiving Day preparations. The Full Moon on November 25 energizes you and brings you lots of cheerful helping hands.
CANCER
(June 21 - July 22)
Be at your most psychic on November 1 and find a comforting solution to an emotional problem. If you haven't been having enough fun lately, the New Moon on November 11 will change all that. It may not be raucous party time all month, but you'll definitely see more and do more with people who lift your spirits. The Full Moon on November 25 may bring you some peace and quiet during a busy holiday weekend. Participate as much as you please, but don't feel obliged to do more than that. If family or friends want to confide in you, listen and keep your peace. citypageskuwait.com
LEO
SAGITTARIUS
(July 23 - August 22)
You're on fire on November 2. Pick carefully what you choose to do and then go and blast through it. Be ambitious but under control and don't get baited into emotionally defending yourself. Home life takes a turn for the better around the November 11 New Moon. Even if you're content, things can be much better, more relaxing, and pleasing for you. It's possible you're working so much that you don't think about how things are functioning at home. It's a bright, maybe boisterous Full Moon on November 25. The Thanksgiving holiday weekend may start early for you, so be prepared.
(November 22 - December 21)
Friday, November 6, is your day to have all the little things go your way. Think positive and keep expectations modest. You'll keep a lot of things to yourself around the New Moon on November 11. It's not so much being secretive and slinky. You're just getting more information and having a firmer plan before talking about things that aren't yet started. Love shines into your life with the Full Moon on November 25. Thanksgiving Day may be primarily a family holiday, but romance won't be far away. Be helpful and respectful on November 29 and make some well-placed friends.
VIRGO
CAPRICORN
(August 23 - September 22)
Accomplish a lot on Friday, November 6. If there are a number of loose ends you've wanted to tie up, do them all now. Friends and neighbors have plans for you during the November 11 New Moon. Listen to some new fun ideas, all close to home and free (or almost free). Be prominent at work and in any public setting around the November 25 Full Moon. If you have a long weekend, get any necessary work out of the way and face a work-free holiday weekend. Get some well-earned rest on the weekend of November 29. You'll need it for the coming week.
(December 22 - January 19)
People are riled up on November 2, but you should have no trouble getting heard and respected. Go out and have fun with some new people in some new places at the November 11 New Moon. It won't take you long to think of fresh amusements, especially if some old favorite place or activity isn't available anymore. Solidify part of your daily routine at home with the Full Moon on November 25 and have a smoother, more peaceful, long holiday weekend. You don't need to work so hard doing so much that never sees the light of day anyway. Enjoy the weekend.
LIBRA
AQUARIUS
(September 23 - October 22)
People will have a very hard time denying you even the smallest request on Saturday, November 8. Use that extra charm with discretion and win lots of affection. Don't be afraid to spend a little money, especially on something you need anyway, under the New Moon on November 11. There's always going to be a reason to deprive yourself, but it's dispiriting, especially if more money is coming in. The Full Moon on November 25 may inflate your plans for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Let your neighbors, friends, and family keep things under control and entertain you for a change.
(January 20 - February 18)
November 1 could be an emotional day when nobody understands you or people just want to be difficult. The month improves after this rocky start. Get serious and smarter at work or in some public place with the November 11 New Moon. If you want to start something new at work, you can figure out the right way to proceed now. The November 25 Full Moon shines on good times and maybe some crazy fun. Have big fun and surround yourself with lively, lighthearted people. It's a long holiday weekend for many people and everyone will appreciate blowing off some steam.
SCORPIO
PISCES
(October 23 - November 21)
You can solve some sticky problems on November 2. Your thinking is sharpest and your desire is high. Be tactful and avoid direct confrontation. A sense of humor helps. The New Moon on November 11 lights up your cleverness and shrewd assessment of money, friends, and how other people image you should do things. But you aren't them - you're you. You may get several invitations for the long holiday weekend, and the Full Moon on November 25 will make several of them appealing. You'll want to be a gracious and helpful guest. This will win you admiration, affection, and maybe some material gifts later.
(February 19 - March 20)
November 6 starts a lucky, emotional weekend when you can have a pleasant time at home. Keep plans small and see big enjoyment. The New Moon on November 11 may inspire a lot of dreams and big ambitions. It's always good to look at the big picture and want to live a bigger life. You can do all this and still complete whatever daily life requires. Sweet family emotions can surface with this Full Moon on November 25. It's the day before Thanksgiving, so nerves and any unresolved family stress could be in the air. You can make it a good experience for everyone.
*All the Illustrations on this page are done by: Sandra Bakhamian @SandraBakhamian and are Copyrighted
HOMEWORK FOR GROWN UPS EVERYTHING YOU LEARNED AT SCHOOL... BUT CAN YOU REMEMBER? General Knowledge Quiz 1. What colour/color is produced by mixing equal amounts of red and green paint: Blue; Yellow; Brown; or Pink?
Test Your Vocabulary Which of the following is most likely to terrorize others?
2. In Germany a gessellschaft is a: Coalmine; Helicopter; Company; or Idiot?
10. A 2015 study by China's Dalian University found that owls fly silently because their feathers convert a biproduct of mechanical energy into (What?) instead of noise: Light; Heat; Radioactivity; or Sugar? 11. The slogan of the controversial infidelity dating website Ashley Madison, whose users' personal details were hacked and published in 2015 is: "Life is short - Have an affair"; "Broken Hearts R Us"; "Do it - Your Partner does"; or "Your Privacy is our Business" ? 12. The extreme sport of 'BASE jumping' is named acronymically from which four of these: Building, Bungee, Antenna, Acrobatics, Span, Self, Earth, Edge? 13. The ancient Silk Road caravan/trade route connected which two of these regions: Central China, Southern Africa, Eastern Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Western Sahara? 14. Renaissance is an Anglicized-French word meaning: High quality; Rebirth/revival; Old-fashioned; or Lots of gold decoration?
MATH TRICK I saw Jeans for KD97. I dont have enough money, so I borrowed KD50 from my mom and 50 from my dad = KD100. I bought the Jeans, and had KD3 change. I gave dad KD1 and my mom KD1 and kept the other KD1 for myself. Now I owe my mum KD49 and my dad KD49. 49+49 = 98 + My KD1 = 99. Where is the missing 1KD?
ANSWER: It was only a trick: I borrowed my parents (KD50 + KD 50 = KD 100). I bought the jeans for KD 97 and I had KD 3 change. So, the money that I borrowed and bought the Jeans are KD 100 (borrowing money) and the change KD3 also the borrowing money the jeans is KD97 Total: KD 97 + KD 3(the change) = KD 100 The money that I used to buy the jeans all I borrowed. KD 97 is the borrowing money, change: KD 3 also the borrowing money. KD 97 + KD 3 = KD 100
9. London's 'pedicabs', which came under new regulatory controls in 2015, are: Horse-drawn carriages; Cycle-rickshaw taxis; Street chiropodists/podiactrics; or Pigeons?
ANSWER: 1. In this question, terrorize is a verb that means to coerce by violence or with threats.
8. The iconic protected scientifically studied Zimbabwean lion killed by a US recreational hunter in 2015 was: Leo; Aslan; Cecil; or Walter?
There are more and less serious ways to terrorize someone: actual terrorists, who use violence to achieve political goals, are a
7. The comic book franchise behind Spiderman, Hulk, X-Men, and Fantastic Four is: Marvel; DC Comics; Action Comics; or The Beano?
When you terrorize someone, you act in a way that makes that person feel terrified, or full of fear. A bully might terrorize his younger victims by threatening to beat them up.
6. Which modern nation was home to the Aztec people, notably 14-16th centuries: Mexico; Peru; Spain; or China?
classic example of people who terrorize. A less grim way to terrorize might be an older sister coercing a younger brother into
5. The Sandals corporation headquartered in Montego Bay is famous in the industry of: Fishing; Shipping; Holiday resorts; or Footwear?
doing her chores by threatening to hide his favorite toys. In either case, the victim experiences some degree of fear, and the
4. In August 2015 Hamas claimed to have intercepted an Israeli (What?) equipped for spying and armed attack: Solar-powered drone; Hot-dog stall; Cheerleader dancegroup; or Dolphin?
1. a gang of outlaws 2. a band of musicians 3. a troupe of actors 4. a panel of scholars person who terrorizes feels a sense of power and control.
3. The Elvis Presley song Hound Dog was originally written about a: Dog; Cat; Girlfriend; or Gigolo?
15. What is a quarter multiplied by a quarter? 16. The element Silcon is vaguely yet generally categorized as: Gas; Metal; Nonmetal/metalloid; or Rubber?
JUMBLED WORDS
17. The American Mastodon is an ancient long-extinct relative of the: Horse; Tiger; Elephant; or Badger?
R A P O E
18. Ilya (pronounced 'eelya') Kuryakin is a: Russian weightlifter; Raspberry meringue souffle; Comet; or Man from UNCLE?
T I W Y T
19. The Cantonese/Chinese dish 'foo yong' (also 'fu young') is similar to: Fish and chips; Omelette; Jacket potato; or Beans on toast?
G E D d E R
20. The Hundred Years War (inappropriately c.1337-1453) was between which two of these: Spain, England, China, France, Japan?
W R E A b e
ANSWERS: OPERA, WITTY, DREDGE, BEWARE, SUBTLY
ANSWERS: 1.Brown, 2.Company (or society or association), 3.Gigolo (originally a hit song written in 1952 for the imposing blues singer 'Big Mama' Thornton by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller), 4.Dolphin, 5.Holiday resorts (notably Jamaica and the Caribbean), 6.Mexico, 7.Marvel, 8.Cecil, 9.Cycle-rickshaws, 10.Heat, 11."Life is short - Have an affair", 12.Building, Antenna, Span, Earth (with parachute/wingsuit - Span represents bridges; Earth represents cliffs), 13.Central China and Eastern Mediterranean, 14.Rebirth/revival, 15.A sixteenth (or 0.0625 - The calculation is 1/4 x 1/4 = 1/16, or 0.25 x 0.25 = 0.0625), 16.Non-metal/metalloid (either or both - it is definitely not a metal or gas), 17.Elephant, 18.Man from UNCLE, 19.Omelette, 20.England and France
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B L U S T Y
– /Noor-Clinic @MyNoorClinic @NoorClinic
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