Issue 24

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DEAR READERS

If you’re a regular reader of the CITY’s, you’ve probably already noticed something different about this issue.

As much as we’d like to talk about the various inspirational stories that fill our September issue this year, as we do with every issue of theCITY, we’d like to use our September letter to share exactly where we’d like to take you, as our readers, throughout this coming year. Starting with our all-new, completely redesigned logo. We created theCITY’s new logo with a fresh vision of multi-dimensionality in mind. It is approachable, unpredictable, sophisticated, and much more intricate than what meets the eye. That’s the attitude we’ve adopted moving forward with theCITY’s upcoming editorial philosophy, and that’s the attitude we hope you’ll embrace our pages and stories with in every single issue.

And we know what you’re thinking: why so much change, and why now? Well, in short, why not? Since the very beginning, theCITY has always dabbled in new ideas and new concepts but, at our core, we essentially approached making media in the same old way. It was, after all, a time proven method and, truth be told, certain aspects of it worked great for us.

But as we wrapped our last ‘Moments’ issue of theCITY, we couldn’t help but find ourselves feeling less than inspired. We essentially accomplished the plan that we had set out to do a year earlier. We working incredibly hard but, in many ways, we felt like we were still playing it much too safe for comfort. We were still dreaming of bigger things in theCITY office, but business-as-usual wasn’t getting us there.

So, after wrapping and publishing our huge ‘Moments’ issue in May, we decided to take a break and to re-evaluate.

Instead of sticking to what we already knew, we asked ourselves: what would it look like if we could make our tag-line, ‘from Kuwait to the world,’ really come true? What would it look like to reach 10 million people around the world and to share the Kuwaiti story with everyone on Earth? What would we be doing then that we aren’t doing now? Was something more possible, not only for theCITY but for the full spectrum of Kuwaiti media as well?

Editor-in-Chief

Managing Director

Khaled Al-Qahtani

Lana Al-Resheed General Manager

Shaza Ayesh

Khaled Al-Qahtani Editor-in-Chief

Lana Al-Resheed Well, we knew that we couldn’t deliver our print editions to millions of people around the world so we created the very first Kuwaiti magazine application of it’s kind based on a global standard of production: theCITY application on the App Store. We’ve also completely recreated our online presence to both foster local pride in our Kuwaiti accomplishments as well as to invite diverse, global appeal.

The decisions we’ve made in this issue were hard. We’re taking risks, bypassing things we’ve been doing for years, and cutting things back to their very basics in order to create new margins. We’re still the same small team, in the same office, with the same revenue, but we’ve got our sights set on a completely different goal.

And don’t get us wrong: we don’t mean business or monetary goals. At theCITY, business growth has never been our prime objective. Impact was, is, and always will be what we strive for. We want to create powerful content that gives a voice to what great people in Kuwait are really doing and challenges you—our reader—to live a life full of possibility and promise, both for your sake and for the sake of Kuwait.

As we return ‘Back To Routine’ and back to printing schedules in theCITY, our September cover design captures that very return to our basic routines, all while shedding our old skin—our last two September covers—in anticipation of creating and printing a reading experiences that will surprise and inspire you towards change.

So, as you are about to swing ‘Back To Routine,’ we ask you: will you stay with what you know? Or will you take the risk of stepping out into new worlds of possibility? One direction makes you complacent; the other makes you believe in yourself. The choice is yours.

Managing Director

Shaza Ayesh General Manager Sales Director

Essa Zain Operations Manager

Hiren Kumar Graphic Designer

Hussain Kuwalawala Head of Photography

Abdulrhman Al-Yousef Co. Head of Photography

Hussain Shamo

Published and Distributed By:

GREAT KUWAIT MEDIA FOR ADVERTISING & PUBLISHING For General Enquiries:

info@thecitym.com For Advertising, contact:

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Statement of Copyright: theCITY™ is owned and published by GREAT KUWAIT MEDIA. Copyright 2012.

All rights reserved. ® the CITY logo is owned by GREAT KUWAIT MEDIA. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the publisher.

DISCLAIMER Reasonable care is taken to ensure that theCITY Magazine articles and other information in the magazine are up-to-date and as accurate as possible as of the time of publication. No responsibility can be taken by theCITY Magazine for any errors or omissions contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responsibility of theCITY Magazine. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of theCITY Magazine.

Without this issue Doha Al-Mutawa

Rawan Al-Sharif

Farah Al-Humaidhi

not possible.

Hisham Al-Sumaie

Ziad Al-Obaid

Jamie Etheridge

whom woulD

Photographers

Roqaya Shamo

Hussain Shamo

Somood Faris

Ebrahim Al-Awadi

Abdulrhman Al-Yousef

be Ramez A.Sabawi

Writers

Latifa Madouh

Yasmine Bin Shaba

Tara Sillery

Neda Al-Dihany

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LIFE 10

No Excuses: Lessons From the Big Apple

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Samia's Dream

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Life Savers

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The Rwanda Experience

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Sunny Side Up

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Challenge through Change

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Playing for Keeps

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How Routines Can Help Your Family and Creativity Thrive

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They Live Where They love

Cover By: THE CITY FAMILY

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Business 46

IDEAFEED

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The Success Spectrum

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F00d

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Rise & Shine

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Chef's Choice

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Honest-to-Goodness!

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Wellness 80

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The Smile Makers

Beauty & Fashion

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Playing By Ear

Prepping for that Bridal Body

Balancing Act

Something About Her Beckons Conversation

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A r t & C u lt u r e 92

The Life of Writing and Writing of Life

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Interior Design Trends

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The 'Lambah' Moment

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TECH & SPORTS 104

The Auto

THE CITY KIDS

oming back to work after spending time travelling, whether on holiday or for business, always leaves you with images and thoughts in your mind. You carry those thoughts back to your home town and to your work. These images and thoughts never fails to leave their own impressions and slowly open new horizons of thoughts in order to shed light on new ideas. I have never felt this concept as strongly as I have since my recent visit to NYC-The Big Apple! I was initially weary about the idea of visiting New York. Maybe because I have never been there, and had developed a lot of mixed feelings towards the place. I have always had a natural bias to European culture as opposed to the American scene. My visit to The Big Apple was for 8 days, mainly to attend a Finance Forum, however I was swiftly drawn into its life style and I was pleasantly surprised by this fast and dynamic way of life. I found myself filled with energy and wanted to do many things and see many places in this short amount of time. In a simple, leisurely stroll through this grand city with its amazing sky scrapers towering at every corner, you can’t help but feel and embrace the energy in the place, People in New York work in a very dynamic way; as construction and maintenance work build the city 24 hours a day. The whole scene around me was like a buzzing bee hive that never rests. When you're enveloped in such fast-paced energy it grows on you. You start emulating it and taking part in it's fast, productive machinery.

You'll actually enjoy it too.

C

When I first made his acquaintance, I couldn't help but notice that age was really showing on Mr. Greenspan. The guy was showing every sign of old age imaginable, but when he finally got up to conduct his panel discussion on stage, to the pure amazement of every one attending, he was very sharp in thought and responsiveness. He remembered all the tiny details, and was able to analyze and answer questions with full elaboration and knowledge, without missing a beat. To say that we were floored by this remarkable person is an understatement.

The Big Apple experience made me come back to Kuwait with a stronger will to be more dynamic and energetic. To work hard and play hard. To always carry a light of positive energy within myself and reflect it onto others. If you keep at it long enough this infectiously ambitious and strong energy will eventually be reflected on all that surrounds you. Working hard can really do that. The satisfaction knowing that you can elevate the standard of your society and develop your nation through the power of nothing more and nothing less than honest, hard work and a committed attitude is an achievement which is unparalled in it's greatness. Of course, it's not easy and it will never be. But the hard work was never an excuse for New Yorkers more than 100 years ago to get to where they are now, and it certainly isn't an excuse for us!

No excuses: lessons from the big apple

By Ramez New Yorkers come from a wide mix of races, languages, and religions from all over the world, yet they all manage to live and work in harmony. Every one seems to know what to do and when to do it--a real synchronized orchestra without any apparent conductor! Every member of this society is self disciplined to conduct his own work. Many times throughout my stay I found myself repeating the well-known NYC adage time and time again: the city that never sleeps. The statement couldn't ring truer for me. In NYC, I recognized that, in order to be a super power and a major international center for finance and business, the reward does not come easy. It takes a lot of work, organization, and development to achieve even an inch of this world standard status. The highlight of my visit was personally meeting a true life hero of mine: the one and only Alan Greenspan, the ex-Governor of the US Federal Reserve Bank. For those to whom the name doesn't ring a bell, Mr. Greenspan managed the world's biggest economy during times of extreme fiscal crisis and his decisions directly and indirectly affected pretty much the whole planet! Every economy in the world was reacting in some way or another to his decisions, and he had a heavy responsibility and power during those pivotal years. Of course no one is perfect and he had his own shortcomings but, overall, Alan Greenspan is a New Yorker who will always be considered one of the best Fed Governors in history and a global leader by many measures.

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Sabawi

Ramez Sabawi ramez_sabawi ramez.sabawi@viva.com.kw

As the Treasury Director of one of Kuwait’s telecom mega-giants—VIVA—Ramez is a man with his finger on the pulse of the latest and greatest in communication development. Through his words Ramez Al-Sabawi gives us a chance to take a step back, look at ourselves and our home—Kuwait—with clearer eyes, and fresher attitudes.

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Kifayah Al-Alban had a childhood friend and her name was Khawla. Khawla was just like any other little girl: she was bright, beautiful, and full of potential. She lived next door to Kifayah and they grew to be the closest of friends.But Khawla also had a disability. It never made a difference to Kifayah but she noticed how other people perceived Khawla and others who were like her--like they were broken creatures incapable of agency or independence. As Kifayah grew throughout the years she carried Khawla's meaningful struggle with her into her job as a teacher in Special Education Schools and eventually as a Superviser of Special Education School Activities. Along the way, Kifayah also made another friend and her name was Samia and she shared Kifayah's dream for a better tomorrow for all of Kuwait's disabled community. Inspired by their shared passion and commitment to bring change to Kuwait through disability awareness, Kifayah and Samia joined forces and set out to do just that. Unfortunately, however, Samia's life was cut short before she could see her dream come to life. It was then that Kifayah decided to keep Samia's dream alive and open Training Gate International with her daughter, Nora. Training Gate was the embodiment of Samia's dream: a facility, a community, and a safe haven to help every disabled person in Kuwait realize and embrace the true power of their full potential and their ability to contribute to Kuwait as fully-able members of society. It is a story founded on a dream, built by commitment, and fueled by love and we had the entire Training Gate family over at theCITY office to tell us all about it!

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info@tg-i.com www.tg-i.com

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What does self-advocacy mean and why is it important for people in Kuwait to be aware of it?

All too often, people with disabilities are viewed with pity or with compassion but not as human beings with capabilities -- with their own ideas, hopes and dreams. With the "disability" in focus, the expectation is that such people will always be dependent on others, and, throughout their lives, decisions are made "in their best interests" in which they often have little or no choice. This approach fails to understand that the disability doesn't define the person -- all people with disabilities are people first, who also have capabilities, interests and talents, just like anyone else. And, in time, they will all grow up to be mature men and women who will suffer in a dependent role with no opportunity for self-development or purpose for their lives..

Developing self advocacy skills for people with disabilities means giving them a voice and the skills to express who they are as individuals and the means to follow their interests, hopes and dreams. It means giving them the same dignity as a human being that a non-disabled person enjoys -- and it opens opportunities for self-development and their finding a place in society where they can be productive and happy.

Tell us about the idea and the story behind Training Gate International and the mission behind it.

Beginning in 2007, Mrs. Kifayah Al-Alban, and her daughter, Ms. Nora Al-Othman began to work together to lay a solid foundation of careful planning which has resulted in the establishment of the first not-forprofit company in Kuwait’s history solely devoted to improving the lives of people with disabilities in Kuwait and throughout the MENA Region: Training Gate International (TGI).

This unique mother and daughter story began in Kifayah’s childhood with her love of her first neighborhood friend, Khawla Al-Khalaf, who has a physical disability. With her interest in making a difference for

Abdulaziz Al Mutairi

"Developing self advocacy skills for people with disabilities means giving them a voice and the skills to express who they are as individuals."

14 www.thecitym.com Shatti Al Shatti

showcase their capabilities. Negative, political, and religious topics are prohibited; instead, one of the solid pillars is the discussion of positive human values in every gathering. To date TGI has held 104 such gatherings, which have given citizens with disabilities a venue to share themselves with the Kuwaiti community.

“KELNA” – “All of Us” in Kuwaiti Arabic – inspired by the TED talks, is an awareness campaign targeting youth in high school and above.

This campaign promotes human values, self-development and positive thinking through motivational and inspirational talks by outstanding youth, with and without disabilities. In each 15 minute talk, the speaker discusses a human value illustrated through his/her real life story.

Leadership/Advocacy Training for Youth with and without Disabilities: a series of self-development workshops which TGI provides every year, designed to bring youth with and without disabilities together in a very exceptional training format guided by TGI’s slogan, “Abilities Development.”

Open Forums held during TGI’s annual convention & celebration of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities, which gives youth with disabilities the opportunity to advocate for their rights in discussion panels with decision-makers.

How does Training Gate International prepare persons with disabilities for facing the dynamics and challenges of daily, mature life (like entering the workforce, for example)?

TGI provides direct and indirect training and preparation for youth with disabilities to have an independent and productive life: through awareness of success stories in Dewan Samia presentations, leadership training for youth, open-forums which give youth with disabilities the opportunity to advocate for their rights, and through advocacy with the various Ministries.

Hayat Al Sebeeh

people with disabilities, after university graduation, Kifayah worked as a kindergarten teacher in Kuwait Special Education schools, rising over time to the position of Supervisor of Special Education School Activities and Superintendent for Pupil Services, before her retirement in 2005.

A similar childhood experience took place with Nora, who accompanied her mother to school events as a child where she made many friends with disabilities. As her mother’s position progressed to a Ministry role as Superintendent for Pupil Services, Nora became one of the youngest volunteers and advocates to support people with disabilities in their different activities. This mother-daughter team learned a great deal from these early experiences which has led to their present work and mission.

Nora’s first job was with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development. During this time she assisted her mother in setting up Training Gate International, following a thorough, three-year study assessing the needs and services provided for people with disabilities in Kuwait and in the Gulf countries. This research resulted in the identification of gaps in services for people with disabilities, as well as a growing awareness of the abilities and potential of people, who, despite their handicaps, managed to accomplish great feats in many areas which were recognized, over time.

What is Training Gate International’s professional involvement in providing self-advocacy for Kuwait’s disabled community?

Since its founding in 2009, Training Gate International has understood the need to provide a voice and self-advocacy skills for people with disabilities in all of its programs and efforts. The cornerstone of TGI services is the empowerment of youth with disabilities to advocate for their rights as full citizens of Kuwaiti society.

“Dewan Samia” is a weekly cultural and intellectual gathering, which gives youth with disabilities the opportunity to express themselves and

Khowla Al Khalafwww.thecitym.com 15

becoming more aware of the need to develop independence in their children with disabilities. Youth with disabilities are also becoming more confident about their abilities and willingness to advocate for their rights.

Some discouraging aspects include the bureaucratic system with frequent changes in the ministers’ positions. Lack of follow-through in Ministry initiatives. Failure to implement Law 8 – 2010 for The Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Lack of cooperation and territorial behaviors of some service providers. Lack of consistent diagnosis and assessment procedures. Government educational programs that place students in programs based on handicapping conditions, not based on capability is also problematic.

What needs to be done in order to involve more persons with disabilities in advocating for themselves in Kuwait?

Commitment and follow-through from the Ministries and the Public Authority for People with Disability for meeting students’ needs; awareness and advocacy in school programs and through the media; the development of leadership for change in school cultures; and the adopting of best international practices in the education to improve the lives of persons with disabilities in Kuwait.

Any suggestions on how and where someone in Kuwait can start helping the cause, or even begin a career of helping people with disability rights?

Volunteer for TGI! TGI welcomes people with open hearts, minds, and hands to support, volunteer, and assist in any way possible to improve the lives of persons with disability in our community.

Abdullah & Fajer Al-Hendi

How can the local community start making better, more authentic connections when it comes to discussing the rights and needs of persons with disabilities?

Understanding our Islamic religion which calls for dignity, equality, and justice. Giving people with disability the chance to speak for themselves and express their needs and rights. Implementing Kuwait Law 8 – 2010 for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Joining and cooperating with international laws and standards in the disability field, such as the UN Convention for Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Learning from best international practices in the disability field. Cooperating with all local NGOs and civil society organization in the field.

What have you found to be some of the most prevalent misconceptions surrounding persons with disabilities?

Some parents feel that it is a shame to have a child with a disability and think it best that the child be hidden/protected from society. Others see their child as one who “can’t,” who must be cared for as though he/she will be dependent for a lifetime. These attitudes reflect Kuwaiti society’s lack of understanding of individual talents, skills, interests and abilities outside the area of disability. Kuwait’s present educational system lacks an understanding of the power of inclusive educational practices to change social outcomes.

What have you found to be the most encouraging changes when it comes to the providing the rights and needs of the people with disability in Kuwait? What about the most discouraging lack of change?

Encouraging? I would have to say the increasing numbers of NGOs in the disability field with an interest in collaboration, as well as parents

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Noura Al-Othaman & Kafaya Al-Alban

"all people with disabilities are people first, who also have capabilities, interests and talents, just like anyone else."

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@emskuwait @officialkfsd

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As we return back to the fast-paced, crazy rush and energy of Kuwaiti life, it helps to know and to remember the faces and struggles of those who keep us safe and secure in our day to day emergencies. In the face of dangers and endless instability, these are the Kuwaiti men who go the extra mile to keep you and yours safe and sound. We introduce a profile of two proud examples of Kuwaiti diligence and dignity: firefighter Mishary Al-Sultan and paramedic Ahmed Al-Hashemi.

www.thecitym.com 19 Photographers: Abdulrhman Al-Yousef & Hussain Shamo

Blaze of glory Firefighter Mishary Al-Sultan

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Tell us a little about yourself and your daily work.

My name is Mishari Nabeel Al-Sultan. I work in the public administration of the Fire Brigade, with the rank of captain in the Shuhad’a fire station. The nature of my work is mostly field based as I deal with fire emergencies, accidents, and rescue situations on a daily basis.

What is your daily work schedule like?

I start work at 8 AM, at which time I oversee the inspection of the inventory and tools and after that I prepare for some fieldwork training. After the training, I make routine checkup visits to the facilities and institutions within the scope of the Shuahad’a Fire Station and that is to make sure that all the necessary safety equipment is available and to make sure that there are no infractions on record. After these inspection visits I return to the fire station and prepare special reports for each visit and submit them to the Head of the Station. After all these assignments are done is when my shift starts and I have to anticipate and respond to any fire rescue calls, and I have to be ready for action at any given moment. If a rescue call is placed, I get instructions from the shift coordinator on the right protocol and strategy of action to take as far as fighting the fire and accident prevention is concerned. If after the rescue call any unfortunate accidents did occur, I have to compile a report for the shift coordinator to verify and then submit to the Head of the Station. That is basically my daily 24-hour work schedule that ends at 8 AM of the next morning.

What is the regular training period duration for your job and what does the training entail?

I usually allot anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes of training time per day, which varies depending on the kind of training. Some training sessions are based purely on oral and visual knowledge and take approximately 30 minutes or more to complete. The trainings entail a variety of skills and expertise including the proper use of breathing equipment, the proper use and extension of fire ladders in the case of a fire extinguishing mission, the proper protocol and strategy for search and rescue mission in underground or basement situations, especially in the case of fires, how to safely encounter and eliminate threats of

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flammable liquids and materials by the use of foam, and finally training for rescue situations in traffic accidents.

How do you balance between your personal, daily priorities and the demanding nature of your work environment?

Well, it takes a lot of time management, as well as paying extra special attention to the health and safety of my body at all times.

What are the most likely danger situations in your line of work?

Big, explosive fire accidents happen more often than people think and they usually are the most likely danger situations throughout the day.

What are the most effective methods of danger prevention in your field?

Making sure to properly wear the full safety gear and equipment is key to our personal safety while on rescue missions. Pre-planning our rescue plan is also a very helpful way of making sure that we can intercept the issue as quickly as possible. Routine trainings to make sure that all officers stay sharp and up to date on the latest rescue techniques and abilities—these training course are a vital source of onsite knowledge and need to be thoroughly learned by every fire fighter.

What is the usual speed and response timeframe for most rescue calls?

Responses take anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes, depending on the traffic situation.

What have you found to be the most difficult part of your work?

Having to deal with many heartbreaking, humanitarian situations on a daily basis can be quite tiring both mentally and physically. It’s difficult to see others go through such destructive, life-threatening situations that fires can cause and we try to do the best we can to help at all times.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?

Saving lives and salvaging prized possessions always make us feel great on the inside out and it makes all the long hours and the dangerous situations absolutely worth it. Every life saved and crisis averted is a sweet victory for everyone on the responding team and it stays with us long after we have left the on-call site.

Do you have any safety advice you’d like to share with theCITY readers and the Kuwaiti public?

I cannot stress the importance of preventive fire alarm equipment and technology like smoke detectors in the home. They can be real lifesavers and can prevent a lot of possibly disastrous situations from ever occurring.

It is also a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher in the house at all times just in case. A tip that some people may not be so aware of is making sure that all your electrical equipment is of a high quality as high number of fires can occur due to electric outbursts cause by cheap gadgets and electrical equipment like bad chargers or poor outlets. When it comes to car safety, it’s important to always have a small fire extinguisher on the vehicle at all times and even more important to pay attention to all the traffic signs on the road and to cease cellphone use while driving. And we ask Allah Almighty to keep Kuwait, her Amir, and her people safe from all harm and danger inshallah.

"Every life saved and crisis averted is a sweet victory for everyone on the responding team and it stays with us long after we have left the oncall site." www.thecitym.com 23

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The Unsung HERO Paramedic Ahmed Al-Hashemi

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Tell us a little about yourself and your daily work.

My name is Ahmed Hasan Al-Hashemi and I am a paramedic and have been for the last 14 years.

I can best describe the nature of my work in three words: difficult, pressure-filled, and moving.

Every single day I am faced with work-related pressures that require my presence in both safe and dangerous environments, whether it is in high climate areas or unstable, rainy areas. Regardless of all situations and all circumstances I carry out my duty with great honour, commitment, and safety, which I am afraid cannot be said for a large host of other presumably high-ranked jobs in Kuwait.

And the reason I bring this up is because, unfortunately, when I say that the nature of my work is very pressure-filled it is usually one of the main reasons that people tend repel away from choosing this line of work due to the many instances of heavy lifting and transporting that accompany this occupation. Many people in Kuwait regard Paramedic work as a lower standard job due to these reasons and will gladly allocate higher social rankings and prestige to office jobs and managerial positions instead of giving the proper due to the hardworking people who are saving lives on the ground every single day.

Further, when I say my job is moving I mean to say that it makes me appreciate the time I spend with my family and children so much more due to the situations and circumstances I encounter on a daily basis. Many paramedics are so deeply affected by the range of heartbreaking scenarios that cross our path on an emotional and mental level, not to mention of course the physical toll it takes on us as well.

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What is your daily work schedule like?

I spend most of my day between work and work breaks. Whatever time is leftover during the day I try to spend among my children and try to provide their daily needs from me at the time. Truthfully, the majority of my personal time is very limited due to the nature of my job.

What is the regular training period duration for your job and what does the training entail?

The paramedic public administration provides a specialized center facility for training the medics and supplying them with latest knowledge base of techniques and vital information. This training period takes no less than a month to complete and is repeated or updated every 2 to 5 years depending on the circumstances. In addition, there are professional trainers that visit the on-call centers themselves to provide the medics at each and every center with a continuously growing and updated knowledge of paramedic fieldwork as far as the latest medical guidelines and care techniques are concerned and are provided by the public medical board concerned with medical emergencies. Every year these training professionals spend anywhere from one month to three months training the medics on the best, most updated of medical care skills. I personally like to take a portion of my day or my week to read up on the latest books and studies that come out concerning my line of work as we are dealing with frail human lives in many situations so shortcomings are unacceptable.

How do you balance between your personal, daily priorities and the demanding nature of your work environment?

Well, mostly I try my best to win the affection and consideration of friends and family as I am kept

away from them for long periods of time due to my work. I try to make the time I spend with them count when I can.

What are the most likely danger situations in your line of work?

The danger situations that arise in medical work are so many that I don’t think I can list them all with great accuracy. The carrying and transporting phase of our job can be one of the most critically dangerous parts of any rescue call and any incorrect move during transportation can lead to a major health crisis for which we are responsible, due to the frailty to most patients that we transport. Similarly, whenever we intercept emergency calls for traffic accidents, we place ourselves at great risk of getting run over by other oncoming cars as in many occasions we have to work on the immediate collision site in the middle of the road—this is especially dangerous at night.

Many times paramedics will also have to deal with possibly being assaulted with deadly or extremely harmful weapons especially when dealing with patients who suffer from psychological ailments.

I personally almost got fatally injured during an emergency call trying to save a worker on an unstable construction site, in which an entire wall almost collapsed on me had I taken two steps forward from where I stood.

What are the most effective methods of danger prevention in your field?

Wearing lumbar safety belts when assuming carrying and transporting positions is vital, as well as wearing gloves and attire that prevents against contagious diseases. Its also very important to take careful note where you park the paramedic vehicle so as to not cause traffic jams or dangers to other drivers. Having the assistance of police or

"Whenever I resuscitate a patient who’s heart has stopped through CPR, I am invigorated with an irreplaceable pulse of energy and pride in what I do. " armed forces readily available in the case of situations where the patient might suffer mental illnesses and pose a danger to the paramedics, and the same applies to fire fighters in the case of fire.

What is the usual speed and response timeframe for most rescue calls?

Response time can vary from station to station as this depends on the geographical location, the population density, and traffic likelihoods of the station’s given area. Therefore I cannot speak accurately about the response time of every emergency center but, as far as my own center in the Mubarak area is concerned, our response time is between 5 to 9 minutes to reach the designated rescue location.

What have you found to be the most difficult part of your work?

When we have to carry a patient on a stretcher over a long flight of stairs, it can be especially difficult to do and can require the assistance of more than one paramedic to get the job done, especially if the patient in question is of heavier weight or build. This one act alone can dispense of all the energy in a paramedic in one sitting so imagine having to repeat it several times a day without complaint!

What is the most rewarding part of your work?

Whenever I resuscitate a patient who’s heart has stopped through CPR, I am invigorated with an irreplaceable pulse of energy and pride in what I do.

Basically returning someone to life through your own ability (and through Allah’s will, of course) whereas they would have lost their life forever had you not showed up is an unparalleled feeling of reward and personal accomplishment that never gets old.

Do you have any safety advice you’d like to share with theCITY readers and the Kuwaiti public?

The best safety advice is for you to look after yourself in every way. That means going in for regular medical checkups at your local hospital or clinic, eating healthy, and keeping your body fit through a suitable exercise regimen. Don’t be careless of your surroundings while driving on the road because the reality is that fatal accidents are preventable but they can happen in an instant. Do not under any circumstance use the emergency lanes unless you truly need them as this hinders the work of paramedics, police officers, and firefighters tremendously when trying to reach a crisis point as fast as possible. This rule also applies to the drivers who tend to hold up a rescue situation by lingering around the collision site to catch a closer peak or see what happened. You may not realize it but these actions affect our work and, most importantly, your personal safety in very real and dangerous ways.

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e walked through the gates on an old brick path between mass graves where a church once was and entered a small, green shed that stood at the end of the pathway and barely had room for us all.

Stepping in, I look to my right, and subsequently look to my left. On the right side of the little shed was a glass door cabinet with bones and skulls crowding on its shelves. Perhaps this is one thing you would imagine or expect to see on a trip to rural areas in Africa, little sheds with animal bones for decoration, but my stomach turned and my heart grew heavy to the realization that these bones and skulls were in fact human. On the left side there lay old, rusty tools and weapons and piles of tattered rope, which I assume were used during the genocide. Between these two terrifying sights stood a tall, thin man with a blank facial expression, but you could tell he has had an unpleasantly eventful life when you look into his weary eyes. We gather round and quickly learn that this man is the sole surviving Tutsi from his village as his story unfolds.

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In 1994, when the Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi was taking place, the Hutu priest of the village’s church summoned the Tutsi people and directed them to seek refuge in his church. Coming from a man of God, the village’s Tutsi faithfully trusted his words and blindly followed his directions. Once all the villagers were safe inside the church, the priest, with the help of Hutu rebels, barricaded any possible exits from the church. The savior latterly ordered the church be demolished, killing every Tutsi from his village simultaneously, except the man who now stood before us. Today, he remains living in the village. Believing he has survived for a reason, he has made it his duty to tell the story of the church, spreading awareness and warning to what atrocities

By Yasmine hatred and divide may bring within a nation and its people.

leaving in two weeks, and I’ll be back to driving a luxury car to and from restaurants with an average of 50,000 RWF (20 KD, an amount that can feed a person for 3 days in Rwanda) per meal, and I’ll be sleeping on my American Mattress finest. After I leave, what will one day become a distant memory for me will remain a painful reality to these genocide survivors. These frail bodies carrying scarred, weary souls will still walk to a well for a gallon of water that may or may not be fit for human consumption. Humans who have witnessed and have been the victims of one of the most brutal acts of inhumanity will continue to suffer its repercussions. I couldn’t shake of that thought, to this day. Spending the time we did with the genocide survivors, we learned about contentment and being grateful for what we are blessed with in a way we could never have anywhere else. These survivors were forced into this state of living after having had lead an average or fruitful life. In a blink of an eye, they had nothing to their name but the clothes on their back. Being there, you learn and realize that just as quick, not necessarily under the same circumstances, our blessings can be taken away, too. After being told and taught that we are very fortunate throughout our lives, the meaning of those constantly repeated phrases becomes clearer. You see how they are content with what little they have, and how they want nothing else, as long they have their church or mosque, access to an education, and a place they can call home, they’re happy. In turn, you begin to see what luxuries in your life you mistook for needs, and you lose interest in the materialistic things that really don’t matter.

the rwanda experience

What is heartbreaking and gut wrenching is that what happened in this man’s village was happening nationwide in an array of beastly atrocities, leaving thousands if not millions of people in poverty and extreme psychological trauma. So was the case for the villagers of Kinyinya. Walking through the village on the first day of home renovation, we saw a degree of poverty I would say was the worst any of us have come face to face with. Clothes were basic, most had holes in them or were noticeably drained of their original color.

A majority of the kids were in clothes much too big for them, I assume they would keep until they outgrow them through the years. Shoes were held together by makeshift rope laces, and flip flop sandals held together by toes. The homes were in a similar state. Each of the houses had four small rooms and a hallway (about 4.5 m long and roughly a meter wide) connecting the front and back door, an outhouse, and a kitchen that doubled as a storage room or chicken coop. The most heavily furnished room I saw had a little bed with a thin mattress, floor mat, and a radio.

Going through the village and stepping into how the genocide survivors now live their lives felt surreal. After the tour around the village, we went about renovating our first two houses.

Our first day went well, cementing and reinforcing the houses’ walls from the outside and leveling out the cement was a task made to seem easy by the men there, who had a good laugh at us trying to get the hang of it, which we eventually did. However, to my surprise, I wasn’t as emotional as I thought I would be on the first day, given that I am a “crier”.

Come the third day, walking into the homes felt like a ton of bricks was dropped on my chest. The surreal feelings faded, and reality sunk in. I’m

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Bin Shaba

YASMINE BIN SHABA @oxadventure

After embarking on OXAdventure's most recent trip to Rwanda, Yasmine Bin Shaba returned home with an entirely remade, enhanced perspective on life, the world, and their many winding possibilities. Here she offers you a heartfelt, nuanced, and starkly realistic retelling of all that she witnessed and took away from her transformative OXRwanda trip.

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SUNNY SIDE UP You have the power to become whoever it is you want, do whatever it is you dream of, and live the way you please. Every little manifestation of a dream, or little spark of desire that makes it’s way to your heart can somehow be turned into the reality you live in. All it takes is a bit of gut, a dash of determination, and a hint of self confidence. @SunshineKuwait

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www.thecitym.com 31 Photographer : Abdulrhman Al-Yousef

What makes a person confident is how much they believe in their dreams and abilities, and what makes them strong is how hard they work to achieve them. And being determined is how passionate you are towards pursuing those very same dreams and goals you hope to one day reach. Base your life around that thought. Aspire to create a daily routine that helps you reach the expectations and goals you set for yourselves.

It’s that time of year again where everyone’s coming back from vacation and going back to school, university, work, or whatever routine it is they spend their time trying to accomplish during the rest of the year. They say New Years Eve is when everyone gets a chance to re evaluate life… Where they’re going. What they’re doing. And chances to re evaluate everything from personal goals to work and what not. But here’s a cheaters guide to what you’ve been told; Going back to whatever routine you put on hold during summer has the same perk. Instead of wondering when your next

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vacation is, maybe you should set up a life that you don’t need to escape from. The last couple of days you have before going back to whatever it is you’re dedicated to are perfect for re-evaluating what you’re doing and changing things around.

In the end, we only regret the things we never got to do and our wasted time. Routine can be both good and bad based on how you implement it. When it comes to your work flow, healthy habits, and responsibilities it’s good to keep a stable schedule towards what you do to create a feeling of stability in life. But when it comes to such things differently. Routine in such areas will kill your spirit, change is what keeps us alive. It’s healthy to experience changes in yourself, your dreams, and the course of your life. Remember, change is a part of growth, and only inanimate objects remain the same. Always have a routine, but keep in mind that its ok to change and tweak what you dedicate your time and self to.

"Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life that you don’t need to escape from."

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elcome Back to us and to you!

It is great to have you tuned back after a little break; our main goal as theCITY family is to ensure the retainment of your loyalty by continuously improving!

As you may have already realized, my article for this issue does not fall under the theme of “Back to Routine”. I have decided to go astray for two main reasons.

First, this month presents everything but routine to me. I am embarking on a new academic journey.

Second, when it comes to writing, I enjoy transferring and sharing thoughts that wander in my mind during the time being. By doing so, I also give you the opportunity to learn something new, perhaps relate to your current situation, or even just feel encouraged. When writing, what matters most to me is transmitting something useful for the most of you- as if it’s an inspirational conversation instead of ink on paper!

would eventually move there for my PhD, so I just wanted a little more time in my comfort zone!). However my mind was totally blocked and I had an invisible barrier on my ears! I did not want to understand nor accept the idea.

Experience? Independence? Opportunity? Environment?

Recognition?. All these words sounded gibberish to me.

Why? Because I knew that an MBA program was available in Kuwait.

So, then came the time where I had two simple options; take it or leave it. Move to the UK and embark on my PhD journey, or stay in Kuwait and join the workforce. That is when I decided to have an open-mind and think outside the box, and eventually chose the former option. There was no more procrastinating, since now it would interfere with the time-span of achieving my goal. My countdown has already begun (mid-September) and by the time you are reading this I am already pursuing my dream. Remember, even if your boat sinks, you can still swim!

I wish each and every one of you the best and success in every step you take. It’s always hardest in the beginning.

Deciding to step outside your comfort zone is the time when you attract potential opportunities into your life. It allows you to perceive life from different angles and experience new things. You become capable of realizing and optimizing your strengths, and simultaneously minimize your weaknesses. It gives

By Doha Al-Mutawa you the sense of being ready to fly like a liberated bird... but then again you’ll question yourself. “How can I be so sure that I can fly?!”

You can never be sure unless you try. That is when the journey of challenge begins.

I will mostly miss you my Dear Mama Winner...

Challenge through Change

The majority of us like to stay within our comfort zones.

What inhibits our will to make a move is the reluctancy to change and the subsequent consequences, along with other worthless excuses such fear of insecurity, lack of comfort, lack of control, or even just pure laziness! The first step is to understand and accept that change and challenge come hand in hand, just as risk and rewards do.

Once that has sinked in, you will no longer have to worry about smooth--sailing, simply because you will learn how to float your own boat!

Personally, I admit that whenever it’s my call, I prefer to remain within my comfort zone as opposed to being open to change. In 2013, I received my Bachelor’s degree, and knew I did not want to stop there. During that time, many were trying to convince me that moving to the UK for my Masters degree would be the best choice.(I knew that I

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Doha Al-Mutawa

Doha Al-Mutaw’a is one smart cookie. At just the ripe, young age of 21, Doha is already on a fast-track route to being quite an accomplished, experienced individual in her own right! After having just polished off a fancy MBA from GUST university, she's currently en a route to getting her Ph.D. from jolly old England! In every issue Doha offers our readers an always delightful take on the world around us and within us.

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Playing for Keeps

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The therapeutic paths to discovering who you are, embracing your full spectrum of human emotion, and reaching a state of true, deep spiritual wellbeing are as far as they are wide.

For some, the path is found through traditional therapy settings--laying down on couches, having straightforward conversations--for others the path is a tad more playful; a tad more colorful; a tad more dramatic. Kuwaiti drama therapist in the making, Fatma Al-Qadfan, introduces us to a fun, new path towards laughing our cares away and getting to know ourselves like never before.

www.thecitym.com 37 Photographer : Hussain Shamo

Can you describe for the layperson what drama therapy is?

Drama therapy is the intentional use of theatrical and drama processes for a therapeutic outcome.

It’s basically a combination of theatre and psychology.

How did you first come across drama therapy and what got you so interested?

The word ‘therapy’ was not on my radar as I searched for a career in the dramatic arts. I fell in love with theatre when I was a teenager and by high school I had found my way to directing.

I was, and still am, attracted to the magic that happens in the theatre. Where else do a group of people come together and play for days and eventually present an artistic social and political message that can only be fully experienced by a live audience?

I recognized that theatre is stimulating, exciting and invigorating. I was happy whenever I was at a rehearsal for a show and I wanted to spread that feeling of creating something from nothing!

What drew you to the mental health field generally and drama therapy as a specialized occupation within that field?

A few of years ago, I watched a documentary about a director doing drama with inmates at a prison in Lebanon. Watching the prisoners talk about their journey as they staged an adaptation of “12 Angry Men” really moved me; not only did they create an artistic piece despite the limitations of being in prison, more importantly they were able to examine their own lives through the process.

It just clicked for me and I realized that is exactly why I’m drawn to theatre. It has the power to bring about freedom, heal, and bring about change!

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What sort of cases do drama therapists usually handle or are best suited for?

Drama therapy is successfully used across the board from classroom settings to summer campus, from correctional facilities to rehabilitation centers, and from hospitals to businesses. This modality allows people to explore issues through play, performance, storytelling and games, which makes it suitable for a wide range of populations and age-groups. The specific techniques, however, are adapted and scaled to suit the client(s). Some adults, for example, who might not be thrilled at the idea of playing with puppets would go to a different technique.

and mask making. The function of each technique may differ depending on the needs of the individual client or the group.

Can you share a story about an unidentified client you worked with and who found a particular therapeutic benefit through your sessions?

Most clients really enjoy drama therapy sessions.

Not everyone who attends a session is grappling with trauma, some people just want to the creative stimulation and seek a safe place where they can explore emotions.

My job as a drama therapist is to listen to a client’s needs and guide them through a creative process using whatever forms are appropriate at the time.

What have been the most rewarding moments during your time as a drama therapist? How about the most challenging?

Is drama therapy more based around talking and divulging (as in traditional therapy settings) or more based on movement and physical expression?

One of the most challenging and rewarding experiences was participating in Barrier-Free Theatre, where for eight months drama therapists from Kansas State University work with a group of adults with disabilities to create an original play that is then performed for the community. BarrierFree requires patience, hard work and dedication.

The hours are long but we learn so much from our clients and we really bond with them over the weeks. The rehearsal process is stressful but then the performance is just so gratifying for everyone involved!

A drama therapy session integrates talking with movement, yet the essence of our practice lies in dramatic play. Dramatic play is an innate form of expression; we see children engaged in dramatic play all the time. Through storytelling, puppetry and role play, children explore problems and find solutions, they are able to learn, grown and heal.

Drama therapy taps into the imagination and the therapeutic process becomes a lot more playful than in traditional psychotherapy!

Are there specific techniques that you use which are unique to the drama therapy field (like storytelling, masks, puppets, etc.)? Tell us about how each of these techniques can help in their own ways.

Creative arts therapists use an array of techniques like puppetry, narrative therapy, music therapy,

Any words of advice to those of us considering taking the plunge into the drama therapy field?

For those who are curious about the field, I suggest reading about it. Like any other field, drama therapy requires passion, dedication and flexibility!

"Drama therapy taps into the imagination and the therapeutic process becomes a lot more playful than in traditional psychotherapy!"

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nlike many people in Kuwait, I look forward to the busy fall and winter season and not only for the cooler temperatures. Routines are healthy and necessary, they create the boundaries that allow creativity to thrive. They can also be deadly, but only if the routine becomes a rut that defines your life. For creative folks and definitely for parents and children, routines are a must.

That said, we all need a break from routines once in a while. Routines can easily sink into ruts and then we just act without thinking or reflecting. This can be especially true for parents with busy schedules and small kids. So it’s important to break our routines also – to make a habit of doing something different. Instead of waking at 6am, try getting up at 5am for a few days.

Instead of watching TV when you get home at night, try reading to the kids or making a fun treat. Or go for a walk on the seaside at sunset.

It is much easier to set out plans, accomplish goals and to achieve tangible results when you have a routine. Ask anyone who works out or does yoga or anyone who writes, paints, draws, cooks or does other creative work. Having a routine helps enormously, especially on those days when you feel too lazy to get out of bed or when your mind is blocked. The routine serves as a sort of auto pilot. You get up and get going and you don’t have to struggle too much because the habit is already established.

Life requires us to stop and take stock of where we are and think about where we want to go. We must envision the future and how the routines we rely on in daily life can also help push us forward.

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How Routines can help your family and creativity thrive

As a writer, I make it a routine to write

By Jamie Etheridge every day. Whether I’m tired or upset, whether it’s rainy or dusty, whatever the time and circumstances. I write to keep my creative mind open and to keep the habit alive so that even on the days when I’m feeling uninspired, I can still put pen to paper.

Routines are also essential for children. They give children a sense of what to expect and also help them reduce anxiety and uncertainty. If you put yourself in a child’s place for a minute, you’ll realize that kids aren’t in control of their world. Someone tells them when to wake up and when to go to sleep, what to eat and usually what to wear. They don’t get to decide where they go or when. Few adults can accept such limited control over their environments so imagine how a child must feel. Routines help kids to understand what comes next. They also help children feel more secure and relaxed.

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Jamie Etheridge @KuwaitMomsGuide kuwaitmomsguide.com

Hands-on mother, prolific writer and blogger, and clearly world class multi-tasker, Jamie chimes in on every issue of theCITY with a variety of insightful parenting tips to help you make the most of your time as both a parent to your child and a thriving, happy individual in your own right. Read more from Jamie on her blog: kuwaitmomsguide.com!

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THEY LIVE WHERE THEY LOVE Food photography is one of those art forms that needs to excite the taste buds before any other sense. The best food photographers aren't just the ones that can make a dish look good--they're the ones who can make it look so good you could almost taste it. Kulsum Kunwa is one such food photographer. With a subtle flair of lighting here; a simple yet colorful arrangement there; and a personal touch of light whimsy that only Kulsum could perfect, it's no wonder that we see a bright future in Kuwait for this fresh-faced Indian photographer! We caught a quick catch-up session with Kulsum to ask her more about her experiences here and why she's chosen Kuwait to be her home in more ways than one!

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"If home is where your family, friends, heart and memories are then this is home."

Where are you from?

I'm from the North Western state of Rajasthan in India.

When did you come to Kuwait?

I've been here since I was 1 years old! It's truly a home away from home for me.

What do you do?

I'm a editorial photographer and specialise in food and lifestyle photography.

My work has been featured in international magazines and restaurants locally. I'm also a food blogger, recipe developer and food stylist. Qout Market last year was a great platform for me to test my skills and it was great learning curve. Since then I also do special order catering whenever I can find time.

Why did you choose Kuwait as your home?

I moved out of Kuwait after high school for good. It so happened that I got married and shifted back here for work. At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to come back since we had a lot of other options too. Ultimately, we chose what we thought would be an ideal environment for us to work and raise a family.

What do you love most about Kuwait?

When I was younger, I used to love how convenient living in Kuwait was the easier and laid back lifestyle. Now, as an adult I'm very happy to be part of a changing, slowly evolving Kuwait. Technically, Kuwait has always been a developed country but I love how it is developing now. Historically, enterpeurship has been engrained in the Kuwaiti culture but the newer generation is reviving the spirit. I love how people are always eager to start something new here. There is that spirit, it just needs the right nurturing.

What do you think of the Kuwaiti lifestyle and culture?

For an Indian expat who grew up here, I knew little or nothing about the Kuwaiti way of life. Sadly, there's always been stereotyping about expats and Kuwaitis alike and how we just live without having to know about each other. Fortunately, my work allows me to experience a lot of Kuwaiti lifestyle and culture and the more I know, I realise how similar we are.

The importance of family, gathering around food, respect for elders are very much part of the Indian culture as it is of Kuwaiti. Also, unlike what is perceived I think that Kuwaitis are very open to understanding, accepting and absorbing different cultures.

How much of an impact has Kuwait had on your life?

A lot really. My childhood memories are marked in almost every place in Kuwait. I can't visit a place without telling my husband (who's been here for only 6 years) a story about how it looked when i was growing up.

What have you gained from Kuwait and given Kuwait?

I have gained a lot from this country. It allows me to pursue my dream job as a food photographer and with the changing food scene or rather food evolution taking place in the country, I feel very excited about what I do and can do here. Through my blog, Journey Kitchen, whenever I can I try to change people negative's perspective about Kuwait or Middle East in general I am happy to do so.

What does Kuwait mean to you on a personal level?

If home is where your family, friends, heart and memories are then this is home. If I could buy a home here, I would! I don't think that can ever change, whatever be my legal status in the country.

What words would you like to say to Kuwait if you could?

Stay true to your roots, Kuwait.

@journeykitchen www.journeykitchen.com kulsum@journeykitchen.com www.thecitym.com 45

The Brilliant Startup. @brilliant-lab www.brilliant-lab.blogspot.com

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www.thecitym.com 47 Photographer : Abdulrhman Al-Yousef

H

ello The City Magazine readers.

Brilliant Lab is a startup acceleration services and we try our best to helps and fosters entrepreneurship in Kuwait and G.C.C. Countries.

In The City, Brilliant Lab will be publishing startup tips, advice, analysis, articles, and best practice news that happens on a worldwide scale, in order to share with you a valuable resource that may help enhance your startup performance.

In the September issue we will be talking about one of the most important elements for entrepreneurs, which is how you may start looking to finance your company. One of these ways is to start approaching VC’s or financers, so below are some very important tips that you really need to take into consideration.

Do your homework

It’s best to learn as much as you can about the VC before your pitch meeting. If you've done your homework — and we strongly suggest you do — you will have secured a warm introduction, evaluated the firm’s portfolio for stage and fit and generally determined whether your company is a good match for the fund. Don’t waste time qualifying a firm during the meeting. Do that ahead and of time and use the meeting properly — to tell your story.

Don't confuse courtesy with true interest.

Regrettably, some VC funds will take meetings solely as a courtesy to a colleague or to learn more about a given space. On many occasions, I've spoken with entrepreneurs who thought they hit it out of the park only to learn the fund had no intention of investing. VCs are masters of the soft “no,” so you need to carefully read between the lines. View your first meetings as an opportunity to educate and excite the partner, and ideally secure a time for follow-up.

Don't ask for advice on strategy

Don't ask or expect a VC you're pitching to advise you on strategy or help flesh out your business plan. A pitch is not the right time or place for that. The main purpose of the meeting is for the VC to evaluate you and determine whether you have a well thought-out strategy and the ability to execute. Avoid open-ended questions such as, “Do you agree with our approach?” or, “What would you suggest we do?” Instead, speak confidently and showcase your strong perspective. This is not the time to be wishy-washy.

Drop the buzzwords

Many entrepreneurs feel compelled to use what they may view as simply “industry terms” in their presentations. I've seen many a presentation rendered incomprehensible because it was chock-full of buzzwords: "Our (insert product or service) is highly disruptive and represents out-of-the-box thinking and a paradigm shift in the massively growing (insert sector) marketplace."

Lots of big words, but essentially meaningless. Cut out the jargon and explain what you do like you would to a friend who wasn't in the industry. One of my pet peeves is the standard presentation format used by most accelerators on demo day. They all look the same and lose the edges and originality that breathe life into a story. Tell your story simply, directly and with as few slides as possible. Make it personal.

Most successful entrepreneurs are great storytellers. You have a story, so tell it.

Don't expect an immediate answer

One common mistake is for the entrepreneur to try to close too quickly.

In most cases, if the answer is no, VCs will quickly form an opinion, often in the first few critical minutes of the meeting. In this case, you can reasonably expect and deserve a quick response. (Keep in mind that VCs say “no” to 95% or more of the deals they see, and do so for many reasons both related and unrelated to your company.)

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"

Remember that a quick “no” is a healthy thing because it allows you to move onto the next opportunity. Don't be discouraged if it takes five, 10 or 25 introductions before you get a “yes” — this is perfectly normal.

Getting to “yes” is more complicated.

It may require checking for conflicts; gaining partner support; defining the terms of the investment; consulting with trusted advisors; completing due diligence on you, the company and the market; and many other steps. Of course, like with a job offer, if you have other options in-hand, be upfront about it (but be careful not to overplay your hand).

"

Remember that a quick “no” is a healthy thing because it allows you to move onto the next opportunity. Don't be discouraged if it takes five, 10 or 25 introductions before you get a “yes” — this is perfectly normal. Remember all you need is one. If you really believe in your idea, don't be discouraged.

Keep going.

Final Words

Most big ideas are not blindingly obvious at the beginning and can’t be neatly scripted to fit into a short elevator ride or an episode of Shark Tank.

It may take time to develop your vision and convince an investor that you and your team are uniquely positioned to execute. As Sam Altman pointed out recently, “Great companies often look like bad ideas at the beginning.”

Conversely, many of the “hot” investments that VCs clamor for a piece of don't end up panning out. In other words, just because VCs aren't lining up at your door now doesn't mean your idea isn’t good.

So if you are passionate about your company, it’s worth taking as many VC meetings as you need to take before someone “gets it.” If you use those meetings wisely and persevere even if you get a few “no’s” along the way, you'll be well on your way to success.

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Capitalizing on the power and the strength of a stable, close-knit workforce is nothing short of vital in today's ever changing business climate. There are many phases and spectrums of development and growth that can define a successful team dynamic; each with its own set of unique characteristics and proven methods of navigation. For all these various business ecosystems, a trusty guide to employee empowerment and optimization is none too vital. Enter Mawaarid: A Kuwait-based, full fledged HR Solution company ready to provide the full suite of diverse courses and services to ensure the prosperity of every kind of team. We got to chat with cofounder Mishari Al-Muffareh to tell us more about it! www.thecitym.com 51 www.thecitym.com 51

So, first off: tell us a little more about yourself and about Mawaarid? Where did the idea come from and what’s the larger goal behind it?

All my partners come from an HR background.

I have been in the Human development field for the past ten years as a certified trainer by various institutions from the United States. My partners and I share an accumulative 30 years of experience in the HR field. The idea to start Mawaarid has been lingering on our minds since 2005. After experiences in the corporate sector we decided to start Mawaarid over a meeting we had late 2013. We began our journey and by year end we had a company.

Mawaarids aim and goal is to provide quality trainings and human capital research to our clients from the wide spectrum of HR. Our academic and work experience of HR in the region has contemplated a huge demand of revolutionary practices in the fields of training, recruitment and research. Since the beginning, we decided to focus on 2 major components of trainings in HR, which are quality trainings for employees/upper management and Public Seminars. Our edge can be defined with our Human Capital Research department.

Mawaarid's goals is to start spreading the knowledge as well as raise the bar for current training programs available.

Where do you think employers and employees in Kuwait need the most help in order to succeed?

In order for any company to succeed, a clear and real strategic mission and vision have to be established. This has to be done with the involvement of the majority of a company's staff. This way everything is clear and coherent to everyone involved in the success or failure of the organization. Any employee needs to see how his/her objectives are helping the growth of the company, and all of that is cascaded down from the company strategy,

to the department strategy, to the individuals objectives. Excelling with the right training for the staff and management is one of the key factors of a company’s success.

How does Mawaarid help both employers and employees in Kuwait on their journeys towards sustained workplace and business success? What kind of services and facilities can you offer businesses and individuals?

Mawaarid works with clients by uncovering the fundamental need for our services, in doing so we are better able to provide a more tailored service to our clients. In many cases, we notice clients are asking for a specific HR solution where in actual fact it is not the best solution for their actual problems. This is where Mawaarid really shines with its clients. Once the needs are clearly identified, we provide our clients practical solutions that they can hit the ground running with. We have many ideas on our minds, yet we make sure we apply them at the right time. At school they dont teach you hands on experience of whats going to happen and how its going to be like in your new job. Our strength lies in providing a strong knowledge link between fresh graduates/job seekers and companies. We do that by our constantly updated program to prepare graduates to the world of business.

What do you think is the key role and responsibility of a successful HR Department?

Transparency and communications. The old school of HR tends to leave units separate and closed off due to information leakage. However in doing that the employees lose value of their contribution and the job becomes another routine. However, right now the best way to run an HR department is to use Business Partners.

Having an organization with business partners and areas of excellence helps elevate the gap between the employee and the organization regarding any issue, since the person of contact

is one person the communication aspect becomes clear and coherent.

Rather than the old way where messages get mixed by multiple entities.

Why is the training and seminar stage so important in the professional success process?

We believe that lessons can be learned from the seminar stage, it all depends on how engaged you are to be honest. By having someone talk about his experience and what worked and what hasn't allows the person to tackle issues in a different way.

What kind of training courses does Mawaarid offer to prospective employees and businesses in Kuwait, and how effective have they been so far?

Mawaarid today has a strong network of local and international trainers spreading on a large area of different fields. Our mission is not only to provide tailored trainings on demand for our clients but to also become a key partner in the decision making process of choosing the right training for the right people.

We have worked with various companies in Kuwait and have tailered specific trainings from scratch to make sure that we deliver quality that lasts. In a Mawaarid training, we do not just provide another training program, however, we provide ‘the training’ that your employees and management need and we make sure its delivered as an experience that they will not forget.

What do you think is the best way to create and nurture a harmonious workplace environment?

Having a leader who leads by example, and having an open door policy where any issue can be discussed thereby reducing the communication gap. Striving to motivate employees everyday might not work on the long

"Excelling with the right training for the staff and management is one of the key factors of a company’s success."

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run, yet creating a positive loving environment that makes everyone willing to give more to the business is the ultimate goal to a harmonious successful workplace environment.

How can companies motivate and inspire their employees to produce better business outcomes?

By engaging their employees and involving them in the company strategy, and setting SMART objectives. Many variables can be part of the motivation equation, the most important one is loyalty and the feeling of belonging to the entity itself.

How can an individual best enhance his/ her skills in order to grow in their chosen fields?

By having initiative and a drive to learn and consume knowledge, as well as having the drive to implement what he/she have learned on their chosen field. There are more ways to reach your goals, how you get there, and how fast depends on what you know and how you can apply it to your individual and corporate life.

Generic trainings are not the only way to enhance skills and thats why Mawaarid Trainings are all

@mawaarid @mawaarid mawaarid www.mawaarid.com

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new joiners. We also have exciting events coming up on our calander such as Finance for non Financials Trainings along with a major public event in early 2015. We run trainings almost every week in the month, we also look How do you identify top talents in the to improve local trainers and train them to meet recruitment process? international standards of training.

Mawaarid’s capital research focuses on talents and talent management. Top talents are How does your Human Capital Research identified in the early stages of the recruitment help companies evolve? process. Realizing the strengths, weaknesses We have a strong Capital Research team and and improving the right talents increases the we constantly strive to identify the best research employees willingness to work and improve. topics that the market needs. We are not just Although Mawaarid today does not focus fully on another research house, our research is totally recruitment, we provide research for companies focused on human capital. We provide special and individuals who are seeking to find a job or overview research of specific areas in HR, recruit talents. for example, our last research measured the Tell us about the most exciting relationship of attracting talent and its effect on developments and training courses on the innovation in the telecom sector found that there is a correlation between attracting talents and horizon for Mawaarid! the increase of employee innovation.

Mawaarid’s team today is capable of designing top notch training programs for companies in the region, we are excited to work with small to medium companies along with contracting with large corporations. Our signature training is a specially designed induction program for designed -along with the technical programs- to be mostly practical and not just theoretical which will make a long lasting acknowledgement of techniques with our participants.

"we constantly strive to identify the best research topics that the market needs. We are not just another research house, our research is totally focused on human capital."

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The Smile Makers Dr. waleed al fulaij D.DS., M.S., C.A.G.S., Prosthodontist, Esthetic and Implantology - Medical Director Tufts University - USA

"He can save you and your teeth from any situation. He gave me hope and he gave me my smile back- hala abu al hasan"

First thing's first! Tell us more about yourself and about your dental specialty.

My name is Dr.Waleed Alfulaij. I'm the medical director of Bayan Clinic. Apart from my managerial position, I also practice dentistry at Bayan Clinic in the Kuwait City branch in Al-Khorafi Tower. I have achieved my DDS degree (Doctor of Dental Surgery) from Virginia Commonwealth University in the USA. I specialized in Prosthodontics at Tufts University in Boston, USA where I also achieved my Masters degree in dental science. While I was at Tufts University I also enjoyed teaching at the undergraduate clinic and the postgraduate esthetic department. During my study there I had experienced working at the Gelb Pain Center which deals with patients suffering with joint disease and myofacial pain, so it was definitely one of the most beneficial and enlightening professional experiences I’ve had. The speciality of Prosthodontics deals with achieving the patient’s oral health at an optimum level by restoring the comfort, function, and esthetics of the teeth. This includes fabricating crowns, bridges, dentures, implants, and other cosmetic procedures to achieve the best final result.

Did you always know you wanted to be a dentist?

As you go through your education and you gain different knowledge and experiences you almost always end up changing your passions and goals somehow in life. I cannot claim that I have always wanted to be a dentist but I can surely say that I have always wanted to achieve perfection in what I do. Thus, dentistry is the field of perfecting your work.

Besides sufficient medical treatment, what values and lessons would you like your patients to take away from you after every appointment?

It is a given that I would like to provide my patients with the best treatment, but also providing them with personal care and respect is also a very important principle to me. My patients and I have a special relationship and a level of understanding that exceeds the typical doctor-patient relationship. Punctuality and commitment to an agreed upon plan are the most important values that I always wish to pass on to my patients.

Tell us about your experience at Bayan Clinic. Why do you think it is a special place for both dentists and patients?

I have been involved with Bayan Clinic for the past seven years, and I have really enjoyed working with the management, the doctors, and the supporting staff throughout my time.

Together, we all work hard to create the best environment for our patients. We are proud to be one of the leading multi- speciality dental centers in Kuwait. We have doctors of the highest caliber and the most accredited not only in Kuwait but in the region as well.

What do you most enjoy about being a dentist?

It's not about giving my patients the perfect smile. I mostly enjoy giving them the reason to smile.

Are there any dental tips you would like to pass on to our readers?

The most important dental tip I would like to pass on is to build the dental IQ in our kids at an early age. Educate them about the proper ways and methods of dental hygiene and take them to their dental visits frequently. The second tip is to choose the right dentist and understand their educational background.

What do you think is the most special aspect of your dentistry field?

The most special thing about my field is the special relationship that I have with my patients.

@bayandentalkw

@bayandental

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For most of us, the acts of speaking, listening, and connecting the two are second nature. We don't think twice about the inner workings of what is actually quite the complex mechanism. For many, however, the pervasiveness of this process is all too clear and grappling with it can be a source of daily struggle and embarrassment. That is where individuals like Kuwaiti speechlanguage pathologist Mariam Al-Rubaian come in. With three years of intensive SLP experience under her belt, Mariam is the definitive source to identifying, treating, and thriving above speechlanguage difficulties that have daunted many families in Kuwait. www.thecitym.com 59 Photographer : Abdulrhman Al-Yousef

s t n e l r a a rm f p o t o a n h e t n e o l t h a i t s t e . n l s i e l t s m l u i s bo t sk e s a n i e ti d pm ation a o e l r eve unic d mm co

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When did you first decide to be a speechlanguage pathologist? Why? Before I enrolled in college I have always wanted to work in a humane field. So I looked for a career that fulfilled my dream. Speech language pathologist was the closest career choice. When I first started studying the major I realized that it was not what I expected it to be. However, I loved it and I enjoyed sailing through it.

How long have you been working in the field?

Next month I will complete my 3rd professional year, I have been working as speech Language Pathologist (SLP) in a rehabilitation center for children with cochlear implant.

What surprised you the most about your speech-language pathology studies?

What surprised me the most about my speechlanguage pathology studies was the wide range of services an SLP can provide. A speech Language pathologist can help with: • Speech delays and disorders including articulation, phonology and motor speech disorders.

• Language delays and disorders, including expression and comprehension in oral and non-verbal contexts • Fluency disorders, including stuttering.

• Voice and resonance disorders.

• Swallowing and feeding disorders in adults and, children and infants.

• Cognitive-communicative disorders including social communication skills, reasoning, problem solving and executive functions.

• Pre-literacy and literacy skills including phonological awareness, decoding, reading comprehension and writing.

• Communication and swallowing disorders related to other issues. For example, hearing impairments, traumatic brain injury, dementia, developmental, intellectual or genetic disorders and neurological impairments.

What are the most common speech/ language difficulties you come across?

A speech and language pathologist deals with all communication disorders. The type of disorders

an SLP will work with depends on the work place. SLP’s working in hospitals face different clients than SLP’s working in school settings. In hospitals the clients possibly will have swallowing and neurological disorders on top of other communication disorder. While in schools the clients will most likely have speech disorders, language disorders, or stuttering. And in my case the work place I work for is specialized for children with cochlear implant only.

• Does not follow simple directions (1-2 years).

What are the various conditions that speech-language pathologists are usually trained to handle?

• Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2-3 years).

Speech-language pathologists are trained to; screen, assess, identify and treat speech, language, voice, fluency (stuttering), swallowing and feeding problems for all age groups in addition to advocating for the prevention of these disorders.

How can a parent distinguish between normal and disordered speech development? What are some of the most obvious early signs?

It is not always easy that the parents pay attention to or realize that their child’s speech/ language is developmentally disordered. However it is essential that parents read about the normal development milestone of communication skills, and if they feel or doubt the way their child is communicating they need to consult a specialist to verify their concerns. Whether it’s through consulting the family doctor and then he refers them to an SLP or by directly booking an appointment with an SLP. Though here are few Signs of common speech /language disorders, and hearing loss in children between birth to 4 years of age, an important stage in early detection of communication disorders: • Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older).

• Lack of attention to sounds (birth-1 year).

• Shows delays in speech and language development (birth-3 years).

• Does not babble (4-7 months).

• Does not respond when you call his/her name (7 months-1 year).

• Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-1 year).

• Does not understand what others say (7 months-2 years).

• Says only a few words (12-18 months).

• Words are not easily understood (18 months-2 years).

• Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5-3 years).

• Pulls or scratches at his/her ears.

Tell us more about your own projects in speech therapy or pathology and how you aim to help and reach out to the Kuwaiti community.

I was a member of the Communication Disorders Science department “Speech Therapists” club that aims to spread awareness on communication disorders and speech pathologist role. In addition to that I have participated in several research projects related to speech and language pathology & through research I aim to develop a standardized Kuwaiti assessment tool to serve the field and the patients as well.

How do you see Kuwait's level of awareness and pro-activeness when it comes to speech-language pathology/therapy?

Since the field is still growing in Kuwait, Kuwaiti’s awareness of speech language pathologist is average. Many are not aware of the profession nor are aware that when a person is facing a communication problem SLP’s are the professionals to reach for. On the contrary people with family members diagnosed with communication disorders are aware of a speech language pathologist role in intervention.

What is the most exciting advancement in speech-language pathology that you have seen in the last few years?

That the profession is growing in Kuwait and the general public is becoming more aware of communication disorders and speech language pathologist roles. As well as having many opportunities for research that serves professionals working in the field, especially with the lacking of resources in the Arab world concerning this field.

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Vacations are ending, schools are starting, and we're all dusting off our alarm clocks and setting them back to the AM hours-it must be September! With all the fast-paced changes and overwhelming routines we're returning to, it sure wouldn't hurt for us to re-evaluate some of our most basic and embedded habits during this transitional period. How much coffee we drink; what we pack in school lunches; and how much sleep we get-these are all daily choices we have to start making again, and after such a long, lazy summer we sure could use a refresher course! Thankfully, we've enlisted the help of bonafide Kuwaiti dietitian Heba Ben Salama to wisely guide us back into our most common dietary-related routines and to help us pull of the balancing act of healthy eating and hectic living! www.thecitym.com 63 Photographer : Hussain Shamo

First off: tell our readers a little about yourself, about Lose It Clinic, and about what you do.

My Name is Hebah Ben Salamah. A wife, a mother of three beautiful girls, and a clinical dietitian. I got my bachelor and Masters from the United States of America. I worked there for two years and then I came back home to start my clinic; Lose It Clinic.

In my clinic we do weight loss, food management for diabetic patients and cancer patients. Also, we focus on athletes and their nutrition needs.

Now that vacations are about to end and a new academic year begins, are there any dietary habits or changes that can help us get more energized and back in working mode?

Most of the people want a new fresh start in the beginning of a year or an academic year. What I noticed is people started to eat breakfast again which is the most important meal of the day.

Also, what I usually mention to most of my clients is not to forget to drink water. In Kuwait, we have some very hot weather and drinking plenty of water is essential because it helps eliminate toxins and helps the body's metabolism. Last but not least, is getting enough sleep. Sleeping 5 to 8 hours a day helps your body's metabolism, functions, and thinking. Sleeping helps the body grow and fights any toxins and germs. Usually people who don’t sleep enough have a weak immune system.

Is caffeine really as bad as everyone says it is? What are the potential threats and are there any foods that can replace caffeine in our diets?

Too much is bad – it should be less than 200 mg per day. 1 cup of coffee is 60 mg and one cup of tea is 50 mg.

In moderate amounts coffee can be beneficial to increased brain function.

Things like eating plenty of fruit and vegetables to get enough vitamins that energize your body as well as drinking water are great replacements for caffeine.

What measures can parents and school cafeterias in Kuwait take to make school lunches healthier for our children?

The school lunch should include fruits and vegetables, milk, and a healthy sandwich such as egg sandwiches or a white cheese sandwich. Maybe adding a slice of lean turkey too.

It's also a great idea to pack water instead of juices. Juices are considered empty calories which means its high in sugar and calories and low in vitamins and fiber.

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"eating plenty of fruit and vegetables to get enough vitamins that energize your body as well as drinking water are great replacements for caffeine."

Are there any foods or eating habits that optimize and enhance brain function specifically?

Protein such as chicken or fish; B complex from vegetables such as green, leafy vegetables (like spinach); and omega 3 (fish oil). A little bit of caffeine can have some enhancing effect as well.

What is the link between sleep and body weight and how does a lack of sleep affect our dietary health?

A lack of sleep can lead to increase appetite, weight gain, decrease immune system, decreased metabolism, and increased adipose tissue.

What foods or eating habits can boost our immune system?

Protein, antioxidants (in berries, dark leafy vegetables, beans, artichoke and nuts) , Vitamin C in lemon or orange.

Are people in Kuwait eating too much salt? And how can we begin to change this behavior?

People in Kuwait eat plenty of everything not just salt! We need to minimize our food consumption on every level. Some great ways to replace salt are using different herbs to enhance flavors; lemon; black pepper; and don’t put salt on the dining table.

What are some of the reasons that people tend to overeat?

They have nothing to do except going to restaurants.

Things like watching plenty of TV that is associated with eating while watching and family gatherings are all culprits.

What does an ‘organic’ label really mean?

Basically that no pesticides were used in the fruit or vegetables.

As far as animals go, the animals have to be free range, eating food that is free from chemicals.

What do you think needs to change in Kuwait’s food industry?

More local foods!

How do you see Kuwait’s journey towards a healthier tomorrow progressing over the next 5 years?

I see more awareness, due to young parents and an eagerness to live a healthy lifestyle.

Schools will have to be more aware and implement food regulations.

I hope that this also effects junk food intake. I'm hoping that it will decrease over time.

@loseit_kwt www.loseitkw.com

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RISE & SHINE For the overworked, under-slept, daily worker bees among us, breakfast is one of those meals that can often be an unnecessarily stressful or a mind-numbingly bland time of day. We mindlessly slog through it every morning because we’ve been told we have to; but what if breakfast became more than just a tedious daily ritual? What if breakfast could be fun, nourishing, and engaging enough to give us a real impulse of energetic boost and a sense of communal purpose every morning before heading out and embracing the day? Imagine finding health, value, taste, quality, and rich simplicity in your cereal bowl every single morning; how would that feel like for a change? 5 Stripes is the local brainchild of 4 Kuwaitis—Mishaal Al Duwaila, Abdullah Fakhra, Abdullah Al Muthaf, and Dr. Abdullah Al Ali— who are on a mission to make that fantasy a reality for every cereal consumer in Kuwait. The concept is extraordinary in it’s simplicity and innovative in it’s approach: cereals that make you feel good about yourself, about your community, and about your environment. Great taste, great production, great attitude—now that sounds like a 'cerealously tasty' breakfast!

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First off: tell our readers a little more about 5 Stripes! Where the idea came from; who’s behind the project; and what it plans to offer Kuwait?

Mishaal al Duwaila: 5STRIPES was born out of our search for a healthy, nutritious and tasty option for meals and snacks. We were two partners and friends originally, Abdallah Fakhra, who is currently in INSEAD school of business, France, where he is doing his MBA, and myself. I was self employed selling organic products from the Czech Republic, where my mum is from and where I lived for a large portion of my life. While we were developing the concept of being able to choose your healthy meal and snack based on premium ingredients that you can pick and mix, we had been getting help from two other friends, Dr Abdullah Al Ali and Abdullah Al Muthaf.

Abdullah Al Muthaf: When the guys approached us, it was clear to us how much footwork and research they had already put into the concept. They had been to Europe over 5 times, spending well over 90 days, contacting more than 100 potential suppliers, and visiting more than 20 different suppliers in Germany, the Czech Republic and Holland.

They had also visited China and Turkey for manufacturers of equipment we would need.

We would always meet and brainstorm and we realized we shared many goals and that we wanted something that combined and took advantage of the skills that this team had.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ali: The team was keen on providing Kuwait and the region with something that was not only tasty, but could also be incorporated to a healthy lifestyle, which we all pursue in our personal lives. Abdalla Al Muthaf is a computer engineer and owner of two successful restaurants, and bought the experience of e-commerce and operations to the team. We wanted 5STRIPES to be a great product and also be a user friendly, interactive E-commerce gateway.

Abdullah Fakhra: So we are 4 partners, and the 5th partner is an alternating individual that we collaborate with periodically, these collaborations will be with local healthcare professionals, artists and people in the culinary field.

Abdullah Al Muthaf: And everyone asks ‘Why 5?’ so we will answer it now. We are 4 partners with a rotating 5th. There are 5 human senses. There are 5 different tastes that we interpret; bitter, sweet, sour, salty and umami. We base all our competitions and offers around the 5th day of every month, and May is a special month full of an offer every day.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ali: And don’t forget, we have 5 fingers to eat with.

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"our ingredients are our pride."

What do the ‘5 Stripes’ stand for?

Abdallah Fakhra: We believe in the responsibility of a business to its consumers and the society in which it operates. Our stripes represent values we want to constantly remember and hold ourselves accountable for. The stripes are Health, Organic, Creative, Socially Responsible, and Tasty.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ali: Each stripe represents a commitment from us.

We want to promote healthy eating habits and a healthy active lifestyle, and we want to provide the consumer with the information on what they are eating and how to make use of the natural health benefits in food, in order to avoid the need for medicine in the future, which an unhealthy lifestyle would bring. We are also committed to buying organic where we can, we believe in the natural goodness in food and want people to see that healthy is tasty.

We are also committed to buying organic and where an organic version of an ingredient is not available we guarantee that the ingredient will not have preservative or added sugar.

Mishaal Al Duwaila: Creativity is an important value to us. The region has turned into a consumerist society that does not believe it can produce. We encourage people to be creative with the mixtures they come up from our 52 ingredients, and also want them to be creative in how they use it. We are also local and regional art lovers and we want to encourage the use of local artists and promote the teaching of art and music to children and people in society.

Abdullah Al Muthaf: Every business should be held accountable to how it gives back to its society and consumers. That is what social responsibility is.

We have a fixed percentage that goes from our profits to causes we believe in that we will collaborate with local and regional professionals to promote, mainly focusing on health but also going towards the arts and the environment.

Abdallah Fakhra: Last but not least, we want to be tasty, cerealously tasty!

We are providers of food at the end of the day and we love good food. The myth that healthy is not tasty is old and stubborn, but we challenge anyone to try our mixes and ingredients and not tell us that they taste as good and wholesome as any other food. Our ingredients are all natural and have no additives or sugar added to them, but they taste amazing.

So what’s the main difference between the 5 Stripes cereals and the widely available, mass-produced cereals found in supermarkets, and why is 5 Stripes the better option between the two?

Dr. Abdullah al Ali: We have 52 ingredients that you can pick and choose from. You choose your grain base (oats, rye, corn flakes, etc) and then add anything you want from a very diverse selection of nuts, seeds, lyophilized (freeze dried) fruits and organic chocolates. You can also choose from mixes we have chosen ourselves that we call Premixes. This is a service that is not available in Kuwait or the Middle East and we are the first to provide it.

Mishaal Al Duwaila: Our ingredients are our pride- we invested thousand of hours of travel and research to source naturally produced, organic and very tasty ingredients. They are sourced from suppliers in Europe, and these farms and factories are rigorously inspected and regulated by the EU commission.

Our fruits are all freeze-dried (lyophilized), a process that uses no sugar, and maintains the nutritional value of the fruit (which is lost in traditional drying) and maintains a better texture and taste. We chose the option of investing on the extra costs of our ingredients, freeze dried fruits are approximately 5-6 times more expensive than traditional drying, and organically certified ingredients are more expensive due to the investments the suppliers have to make. But we sincerely believe the consumer will not only notice the difference in quality but will also notice it in the taste and results.

Abdalla Fakhra: Mass produced cereal is just that: it is mass-produced, with many additives and artificial sugar, and doesn't give you the option of choosing what you want in a very wide variety of combinations. We have no

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doubt in our mind that 5STRIPES is by far the better option, and probably not even comparable.

Where do you produce or manufacture the cereals and muesli and what is your quality-control process like? What are the main ingredients and nutritional contents found in a 5 Stripes cereal?

Abdullah Al Muthaf: Muesli is the term used to describe a food invented by a Swiss physician named Maximilian Bircher-Benner in the 1900s. It was traditionally compromised of rolled Oats mixed with nuts, seeds and fruits, eaten with milk, water or fruit juice.

Mishaal Duwaila: Cereal is the grain of a grass that is used to be part of a meal, traditionally breakfast, but also for snacks and dinner.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ali: So basically they are the same, and can be consumed as a meal or as a snack, with a fantastic taste and a very hard to compete with health value.

Abdullah Fakhra: As we mentioned, our ingredients are all sourced from suppliers in Europe, and mixed in our facility here. To guarantee the quality of our operations and the facility, our standards are those of the HACCP (Hazard analysis critical control point) and this is a systematic preventive approach to food safety from biological, chemical and physical hazards in production processes. Our Operations Master is Mishaal al Duwaila, no tube leaves the 5STRIPES facility without him personally checking it.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ali: We call him the hawk.

Abdullah Al Muthaf: The eagle sometimes.

Abdullah Fakhra: The shark when he is angry.

Mishaal Al Duwaila: Thank you.

What does the 5 Stripes selection variety consist of and how can local consumers make the most of it?

Abdallah Fakhra: You have to visit the website to understand the diversity we offer. We have 52 different ingredients including and not limited to: grains such as oats, rye, buckwheat and corn flakes. Nuts including hazelnuts, almonds, macadamia. Seeds such as flaxseeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds. More than 13 freeze dried fruits including bananas, pineapples, goji berries, blackberries. And fun extras such as white chocolate pearls, dark chocolate chips.

Abdullah Al Muthaf: We are adding a wider selection in November to give our consumer a wider variety, and people can also request ingredients they want for us to source.

Mishaal Al Duwaila: They can make the most of it by having fun and being creative in the mixes they make using our website, and they should also work off the Premixes as they are tried and tested. They should also follow our Instagram (@the5stripes) and blog (on our website) as we have constant updates on mixes and ways to consume them, from using alternative milks, to water with honey, to yoghurt and flavored yoghurt, and even baking your mixes. Seriously, this is not just a cereal tube, it is a tube that holds the ingredients for any healthy meal or snack you can think of.

Who do you think 5 Stripes is specifically tailored for both as a product and as a brand?

Dr. Abdullah Al Ali: Cereals and snacks are a staple of everyday life and everyday diet. This is a product that we want to serve everyone. At these early stages it will be sought after and absorbed by the health conscious, as they are always on the lookout for products that serve their need. But it is part of our mission to expose all of our population to good, natural and tasty food and we aim to make it part of everyday life in Kuwait and in the region.

Abdullah Al Muthaf: This is easy for us as the values of the brand are the values we want to live by everyday, and so we are not pretending when we say that we love it. We do love it, and we believe everyone will love it too.

we have put into this project. We want you to enjoy yourself from the start of your ordering experience, to when you taste the product you made.

This is an experience that is visual at first, followed by your navigation through the website, which we created to be informative, useful, and visually appealing.

Secondly: it is the simplicity by which you can navigate, create, and order.

The website is very user friendly and will guide the novice, you can be done from start to finish within 5 minutes. Thirdly: the experience continues to when you receive our unique packaging, which we designed to be not only beautiful but also practical. It is a tube that can be carried with you anywhere you go and can be used for many different things once you finish what is inside. Here you notice the quality, not only of the packaging, but also of the ingredients in your mix.

Which brings us to point four, the taste. We really want to show people, healthy is delicious. Finally, it is the value that people are getting from us, and what they should demand. We live in an enlightened time, and consumers should be aware of what they are buying. The demand to healthy, natural premium ingredients should be a right to the consumer and we believe we give them that right.

How have you found the reception of local consumers so far?

Abdulla Al Muthaf: Given the minimal exposure we have had, the feedback has been extremely positive and heartening. Society in Kuwait is in a trajectory of adopting a healthier lifestyle in which healthy eating is essential, and we want to help people in Kuwait and the region achieve that goal.

Mishaal Al Duwaila: In my experience in the organic products market in Kuwait, I have seen an immense rise in consumer awareness and knowledge in the last 5 years and it is only going up every day, which I believe is in the good of everyone in the community.

How does 5 Stripes, both the product and the overall business strategy, hope to contribute to the greater good of Kuwait?

Abdullah Fakhra: It is all well and good going into business for profits.

However, the money created has the potential to improve lives and communities if used in the right way. We have a transparent social responsibility strategy that we will continue to develop, with feedback and opinions from our consumers as pillars to future development. We want people to hold us accountable for the projects we set out to achieve for the good of the community.

Dr. Abdullah Al Ali: 5STRIPES is a healthy food product, but that doesn't limit the way we want to help improve the country that has given us the chance to develop the way we did. We want to invest in our people; children, adults, Kuwaiti, Non Kuwaiti; we are all one community and we need to work towards a healthier, more enjoyable lifestyle together. And that means healthier food, healthier habits, and turning into producers as apposed to just being consumers. We plan to have local suppliers providing the same quality of ingredients within 5-10 years and if we cant find them we will invest in providing people with the tools and knowledge to create that level of quality we are getting from Europe today.

Abdullah Fakhra: Thank you for having us, and we encourage everyone to give 5STRIPES a go. You won’t regret it.

Abdullah Al Muthaf: Thank you for having us and we will be sending you theCITY MAGAZINE 5STRIPES mix soon. We will even make Mishaal ‘The Hawk’ Al Duwaila choose it himself.

Mishaal Al Duwaila: It is going to be young, fresh, creative, fun and good looking. Just like you.

What do you want people to remember or take away from every 5 Stripes experience?

Abdullah Fakhra: We will give you 5 things we want people to experience and remember through 5STRIPES: the attention to details, simplicity, quality, value, and taste.

Firstly: we want them to notice and appreciate the attention to detail that

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CHEF'S CHOICE 72 www.thecitym.com Photographer : Hussain Shamo

One of Kuwait's hippest new, local eating concepts is Urban Cafe.

Right in the middle of the heart of Kuwait City, it's quickly becoming a prime eating spot for those of us who are both looking for a quick, yummy bite on the run as well as those who want to take a step back and relax amidst all the noise and rush of the city. @Chef_Ziad_Alobaid

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Thanks to Google Maps, Urban was pretty easy to find and navigate to without much frustration--which is a blessing in our crowded, summer streets! It's located right smack dab in Sharq, Kuwait City on Ahmad Al-Jaber and it's pretty difficult to miss when you drive by.

The minute I walked into Urban, I have to say I felt an immediate shift in my surroundings and my personal ambiance--it was a world away from the hot, stuffy Kuwait that I left outside. Inside Urban, Kuwait suddenly became cosy and serene. Definitely a great first impression to start that's for sure.

When I took my seat at a particularly perfect, sun-dappled spot, I thought 'sure, the ambiance is nice, but it's probably just another coffee shop.' Boy, was I wrong.

So, let's start with the number one 'back to routine' essential: the coffee. Now, I consider myself 'a coffee guy' and I have tried my fair share of different blends and flavors throughout the years so I'm not easily impressed by any old cup of joe, but my mug of coffee at Urban must have had some kind of love potion in it or something because I couldn't discern what exactly it was and I couldn't help asking for another delicious cup. Definitely a must-try for any of you caffeine addicts out there.

I then propped open the menu and, once again, fell for the false notion that this was probably just like any other regular breakfast menu. Pancakes, French toast, waffles... The usual.

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"Inside Urban, Kuwait suddenly became cosy and serene."

However, at a closer look, I found that Urban has a very wide range of options that aren't readily available at other cafĂŠs, from healthy and diet conscious to whatever you're craving.

Urban actually serves a hearty lunch/dinner menu as well but since I had visited them in the morning, I only tried out their breakfast options for this review.

The first thing I tried was the Oats Parfait with honey and greek yogurt.

The texture of the roasted oats with nuts and the honey was good, however it didn't wow me. I mean every thing came together well and you could discern some different flavors but on the whole the consistency of the texture despite the different ingredients made it just okay. I would have rather had it lightly roasted to golden brown but the combination with the fresh berries gave it a nice touch. I'd give it a 5/10.

The second thing I had my eyes on was the Brioche French Toast. Now, truth be told, I've never had the best track record with French Toast. It almost always comes out burned or tasting way too eggy for me to enjoy. In that respect, Urban's French Toast however was a breath of fresh air. It was well-balanced as far as taste goes, not to soggy, and not a notch overdone or burned. That dreaded oily smell that accompanies a lot of French toast dishes was

nonexistent too. The presentation was quite impeccable as well and reflected the restaurants airy, light ambiance quite well.

My last order was Eggs Benedict, a dish of which I am usually a huge fan because it's cooked exactly as I like it.

But I have to say that this is where my Urban experience was a little off. First of all, the eggs were basically out of shape and I couldn't believe that it took them almost 20 minutes to get my last order out. By the time they brought it out I was already full.

When I tried it the hollandaise sauce was too acidic and the pepper was just a tad overboard. Taste-wise it was just alright but in comparison with the quality of everything else at Urban, unfortunately it fell short. I imagine a small, hinted use of smoked turkey instead of bacon could have done the trick quite well.

All in all, Urban makes for a great choice for anyone looking to kickstart their day with some stellar coffee, a whimsical, airy ambiance, and an overall delicious, fulfilling breakfast.

Stop by next time you find yourself in the middle of the city with coffee craving and you won't be disappointed!

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HONEST-TOGOODNESS!

@thesouthernkw www.thesouthernkw.com 76 www.thecitym.com

Imagine this: American-style cuisine without a burger or a steak in sight. We know; you can hardly fathom it. But what if your American dining experience could be more than these overdone, non-particular eating trends? What if you were reintroduced to a branch of American culture that you’ve never known before through their food? What if it was the kind of dining experience that made your heart melt and your mouth water not just because it looks delicious, but because it tastes like home—an 'honest-to-goodness’ Southern home! Nourah Al-Shemmari is a Kuwaiti-American woman who grew up on both sides of the cultural spectrum and, having seen, tasted, and fully lived the true, heartwarming experience of a shared Southern meal on her mother’s side, Nourah developed deep, sentimental roots with her Southern identity along with all the similarly mouthwatering food choices that accompanied it. So, armed with a passion for her mother’s brand of hearty Southern food and an especially talented hand in the kitchen, Nourah introduced The Southern to the Kuwaiti eating scene and re-injected the community with a brand new understanding of true American, ‘honest-to-goodness’ cuisine.

Photographers : Hussain Shamo & Roqaya Shamo

Why a restaurant and why ‘The Southern?'

I love to cook, so I started a food blog a few years ago where I would post the recipes of dishes I created and the feedback I received was overwhelmingly positive. My husband really encouraged me to open a restaurant (he's my #1 fan!) and since most of my cooking was Southern American food, I decided I would open a Southern food restaurant. A place with fine dining quality food with a laid back atmosphere where everyone could wear jeans and t-shirts.

So how did the idea behind The Southern first come together and what was the initial inspiration?

My inspiration definitely comes from my mother. She's a true Southern Belle from North Carolina who happens to be the best cook in the world (in my completely unbiased opinion, of course!) She always used to tell us that she would one day open a restaurant and serve the wholesome Southern comfort food that she's known for cooking.

What do you think makes up the essence of a true, ‘honest-togoodness' Southern meal?

Everything from the barbecue sauce to the vanilla wafers in our Banana Puddin' is made entirely from scratch with a lot of heart using all-natural, highquality ingredients. A lot of research goes into each dish that we serve so that it is true to its Southern heritage, and reconstitutes flavors and ingredients that may have been lost to time. That’s what makes it honest-to-goodness.

Where does your deep appreciation for Southern food and Southern culture come from?

My mother has been making us fried chicken, mashed potatoes and biscuits for lunch for as long as I can remember. Not a day went by where I would open the fridge and not find a pitcher of iced tea. My granddaddy was the king of barbecue, and my grandma makes the best banana pudding in the world. When you grow up surrounded by all this delectable Southern fare, you can't not develop an appreciation for it.

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"The Southern is true to its Southern heritage, and reconstitutes flavors and ingredients that may have been lost to time.

That’s what makes it honest-to-goodness."

American (or American-style) cuisine is probably one of the most common, well-known cuisines in Kuwait’s current restaurant market.

How does The Southern want to re-introduce American cuisine to Kuwait in a brand new way?

We're definitely not your run-of-the-mill traditional American restaurant; we don't have any burgers or steaks on our menu. We serve what we like to call “New Southern” cuisine. It's all of the classic, homestyle Southern American cooking with modern twists and the majority – if not all – of our dishes are unique to our restaurant. I have no problem with all the American chains in Kuwait, but I hope people don’t limit themselves to just that experience.

It’s fun to discover something new and authentic in independently-owned restaurants.

So what are the absolute Southern essentials that you most recommend for your new diners?

Pimento Cheese (we have it as a dip and as a sandwich) is the Southern essential that I think doesn't get the recognition it deserves. And our Sweet Chick is basically all things Southern in one sandwich – crispy fried chicken on a fresh warm biscuit smothered in honey butter. And of course you can't go wrong with a deep-fried hand pie for dessert!

Besides the food, how does The Southern try to instill the sense of an authentic Southern atmosphere or eating experience among it’s diners?

We play mostly country, but a little bluegrass might sneak in from time to time, and we've got Texas Tallow Berries (from our wedding!) decorating our tables.

We have a porch out front with picnic tables that we cannot wait to use when the weather is cooler, and even our little knickknacks around the restaurant come from our families in the South; we've got quilts that my mother-in-law brought back from Kentucky on our shelves as well as chickens from my mother's kitchen.

What have you found to be the biggest challenges and rewards of opening and running your own business?

Well there is rarely a dull moment and you are, as the boss, wholly responsible

for your success or failure. I’m in control of every aspect of the restaurant.

I can change the menus whenever I like; I can decide my own marketing. I get to express all my creativeness and indulge those culinary desires I could previously only dream about. Obviously that is the appeal but it is definitely not without ongoing challenges. The biggest challenge for me is learning to take criticism and making use of the feedback. It's tough!

How do you keep your kitchen staff and front-of-the-house employees motivated and focused on representing The Southern’s ‘honest-togoodness’ brand?

I think our staff understand that every little detail we put into The Southern is everything to me. Our Lexington-style barbecue sauce for our Pulled BBQ Sliders is my granddaddy's recipe, and when I explain this to them, they can see that our dishes aren't just regular menu items. And I think it means a little more to our staff too, to work at a new independently-owned restaurant instead of a franchise. They helped us make the dream a reality.

What are three pieces of advice you would give someone interested in starting their own restaurant business in Kuwait?

1. You have to have a passion for it. Work from your heart and not just for the money. It's a happy life when you are doing something you enjoy with passion.

2. Patience, lots and lots of patience. It’s a great business, but it’s also very difficult.

3. Daily, someone will tell you how to improve the menu, how to redesign the interior, how to plate the dishes, how to replant the garden, and where the future television should go. You have to learn how to sift through the flood of feedback to find what’s useful.

Where do you hope to see The Southern in 5 years time and how do you plan to grow in the near future?

Right now we're focusing on delivery. After that, we'll introduce a breakfast/ brunch menu, and we'll just keeping working from there. I want the place to be consistent, but never become predictable. And who knows? Maybe one day The Southern will become a chain, too.

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B

ecoming a bride and fitting into that dream dress is a challenge for even the most diet dedicated of us! At Rola’s, we can help you achieve your dream shape for the biggest day of your life.

Our slimming department prides itself in having the best FDA approved machines in the industry. We recommend that for best results you use both of the below machines in conjunction with each other over a two to three week timeframe.

LPG Machine – helps to contour the most difficult areas along with working on stretch mark eradication. You can also lose weight but you need to ensure you also watch your diet during your treatment. We have 8 different choices, each of 35 minutes depending on what shape you want to achieve. Our specialist team will advise you what exact course you need to take in order to achieve maximum results. Results are visible in 5 sessions and you can consecutive sessions daily.

Body Contouring Wrap – it couldn’t be simpler, lay down and let our state of the art machine massage your fatty areas. It’s a manual massage whereby you are covered with creams on the areas to target and you simply lay down and relax for 35 minutes. Totally pain free and results are seen after 5 sessions guaranteed.

Every Bride to be of The City Magazine is entitled to a 20% discount on the above courses when booked in conjunction with each other for the month of october. Please ensure to quote The City Magazine offer when booking.

Prepping for that Bridal Body

By Tara Sillery

Tara Sillery @rolasbeautylounge

Brand Ambassador for one of Kuwait's most chic hair salons and pampering havens Rola's Beauty Lounge, Tara has got you covered on the best treatments and deals to suit the likes of theCITY's beauty queens!

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Something about her Beckons Conversation Photographer and Art Director: Dmitriy Serov Stylist: Anna Gendel Wardrobe: Oksana Oleynichenko Designs Model: Alina Isachenko

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SHE KEPT TO HERSELF

SWEET DISPOSITION

LINES OF PERFORMANCE

SHE REMAINED THERE WITH HER SECRETS

DEEP BREATHE IN

INEXPLICABLY, SHE GOES ON

PUTTING ON PRETTY

UNREAD

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The art of storytelling and fictional narration is a form so intricately woven and intimately told that it can tell of secrets and truths deeper than oceans and wilder than beasts. It takes a trained, controlled grip to guide a reader on such journeys of far-flung fantasy and it requires nothing less than deep abiding love and devotion from its maker in order to sucwWceed. Talib Al-Refai is a name that is known and loved in Kuwait's circle of literary heroes, and time and again he proves that he is a writing force to be reckoned with. Few Kuwaiti authors have been able to capture the subtle swings and sways that alight and expose the essence of the Kuwaiti soul as Talib Al-Refai has. At a time when Kuwait's local literature pool is diluting of talent and vigor, we asked the time-honored author to tell us the story of when he knew that the literary path was his one true calling.

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" I was haunted by the a short story whose touch and portray the of human endeavor."

I was born in 1958 to a small family of a mother, father, one daughter, and three sons and raised in a religious family. I remember that the “Holy Quran” and a book titled “The Trials of the World” by the great Sheikh, Ahmad AlDerbi were the only two books my father, God bless his soul, ever read. Along with my blind Aunt, they used to take me into a life full of magic and mystery with the tales and stories they narrated to me. That might be what planted in my heart the seeds of passion for writing.

I lived trying to fulfill my heart-felt dreams with my surroundings in one of the old quarters of Kuwait, “Freej Al-Qudaibi," and later "Freej Borousli” located in “Sharq” area. It embraced the kind sea, the main source of livelihood of my people before the discovery and exportation of oil. As I sat on the beach meditating at the sight of the burning sun sinking into the depth of the sea, a question perplexed me: what was the secret behind the sun choosing the sea to be its home? How does it endure the chilliness of its waters during cold-piercing nights?

The first encounter between me and literary reading was in 1971, when I was thirteen. I read the novel “Mother” by the Russian author Maxim Gorky in Arabic. This encounter was a turning point in my life. I marveled at the writing, by the overwhelming worlds of story-telling. I marveled even more at the book’s ability to capture me, away from my family, my school, the joy of playing, for fleeting moments of time to take me to span colorful worlds.

Suddenly, a new world opened up in front of me, one different than the one I knew. At that moment, my world no longer revolved around my family and our small neighborhood.

Between the years of 1971 and 1978 I became obsessed with reading for hours and hours. I was surrounded by the care of a group of friends who were older than me. They were believers in enlightened thought, freedom, human rights and peace. I remember my first “teacher” who whispered to me: “The three most important things in the universe are poetry, music, and friendship”.

In 1978, I published my first short story. Publishing that first story was the

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bait that dragged me and which I continued to pursue. I imagined at the time, being a 20 year-old university student, that literature and art are able to change the world through transforming the readers’ consciousness.

Fourteen years separated the publication of my first short story and the printing of my first collection of short stories in 1992. During those years, I was haunted by the dream of writing a short story whose words were able to touch and portray the complex moments of human endeavor and, at the same time, brings memorable joy to the reader in ways that attaches him to it.

I grew up in a cosmopolitan social environment that was both religious and tolerant, where the Kuwaiti, the Arab and the foreigner lived together. Having finished my studies as a civil engineer at Kuwait University and graduated in 1982, my work in construction projects brought me in contact with a large number of impoverished foreign workers. My social class and the ideas that I absorbed in my youth and my work with poor workers afterwards ignited my desire with passion to write about the life of the marginalized.

The year 1990 marked a painful and horrendous turning point in the existence of my country, Kuwait. When Saddam’s regime invaded Kuwait, in an oppressive and barbaric manner, it mapped out a new history, not only dangerous for the people of Kuwait and Iraq and the Gulf countries, but for the entire Arab region. My short stories published in 1995 became mainly concerned with this national social struggle. They addressed the complex human relationship between man and woman, and especially the conflicts that arise between them in matrimony. My third collection of short stories, published in 1997, was more concerned with the local environment.

My first novel was published in 1998, and it was a major turning point in my life and my passion for writing, especially since I started exploring the field of “Auto Fiction” and writing about real aspects of my own life using my real name for a protagonist. Since then, reading and writing novels became my sole artistic, humanistic, and daily life concern. The short story became a mistress I cannot bear to live without, enjoying her privately every now and then.

In reality I see an important basis for the literary work. I see in it a fascinating humanistic fantasia that cannot be matched even with the most intricately

talrefai1 talrefai1

dream of writing words were able to complex moments

written artistic works. Besides, I believe in pairing reality with imagination, because art is simply a colorful imitation of reality. Therefore, my fourth collection of stories published in 1999, merges reality with fantasia not only on the surface but also deep at heart, it is about the public life in the Kuwaiti society. My second novel was written in first person to carry an image of the daily realities of Kuwaiti society, revealing the brutality of women oppression endured at different stages of their lives.

in life, and equally staring at the walls, doors, sounds, smells, towns, and beaches of my country.

I published my fifth collection of short stories, my third and fourth novels, and my sixth and seventh collection of short stories, after writing became my daily undertaking. My challenge became to write a novel which I can live, through my daily life, and assign characters to people I know, which allows me to live a new adventure with them. I lead two lives--one in reality and another between the pages of my novel.

I want from writing everything.

I read all what I read perplexed by my amazement. I wrote my short stories and novels believing in the effects they have on the lives of my readers. I was and still am present in what I write explicitly or implicitly, in every letter, word, coma, and full stop. I wrote carried away by the loves, tears, sufferings & sorrows of my mother; I am very much affected by my surroundings that include family, work, friends & society. I wrote my stories and novels while peaking at the faces, whispers, and steps of those who crossed my path

I wrote my stories and novels based on reality as much as on artistic creativity, and I always wondered, “What do I want from writing? And what does it want from me?”

After three decades of writing, the answers that came to mind are: And I hear it responding back to me in a loud, piercing voice, “I want all of you until your last breath. I want you for myself alone, and I cannot bear to share you with another person and interest”.

I want writing to help me tolerate hence change painful reality. I want it to transform a world full of violence, and injustice into one that is peaceful.

I want writing to become a warm sun that smiles every morning with love, peace and justice.

Every night before I sleep, I say to myself: Writing is my only way to live life with the least damages. I write to live a desired literary life, to live the life of writing and the writing of life.

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I

t doesn’t matter what your profession might be, when the subject is our homes, we are all, in fact, Interior Designers. From selecting tiles and paints to adorning our rooms with furnishings, lighting and accessories, the home is a canvas that portrays individual’s personality and style.

Listed below are a few popular interior design trends of the upcoming season:

● USE OF SATURATED COLORS –Leave gray’s, beige’s in favor of deeply-saturated hues like navy and plum or shades of blue like indigo, cobalt, sapphire and aquamarine. If a darker shade on the wall seems too scary, start with a piece of furniture like a sofa or sectional as your focal point and work from there. ● RICH FABRICS - Leave behind simple cottons and linens and embrace the luxurious velvet, earthy suede and even textured corduroy. These fabrics are sophisticated yet durable, and can hold up to the darker color schemes ● PATTERNS- Taking a bold approach, mix patterns to modernize the overall look. ● GO GREEN – You may also include in your decoration optionssome plants, such as ferns to counterbalance wood elements in your home. So bring the outside in by introducing some fresh, green shades into your interiors.

● WOOD FURNITURE- For many years, dark tones like mahogany and cherry dominated the wood furniture market.

Try caramel and honey tones that have taken the spotlight recently. The softer look blends with any design style and keeps furnishings from feeling heavy or fussy. You could also try out a fresh coat of lacquer on a traditional piece of furniture and voila! You have something fun and fresh.

Whether you choose to go neutral or add a pop of color, a little bit of lacquer can go a long way. It is amazing how the sheen of lacquer can quickly uplift a space Armed with more availability and knowledge of design trends than ever before, we can now take bigger risks. We all know that harmonious colors don’t have to match, and the same goes for pattern finishes. So don’t be afraid to bring different colors, textures and finishes into your space.

The confidence to try bold trends and mix finishes means a broader interpretation of design styles. There is no longer a need to place styles in fixed categories like “traditional”, “rustic”, “industrial” or “country". Picking items that speak to you individually will keep you from conforming to a rigid or overdone look.

You’ll be surprised at how far you can push the boundaries and still create a cohesive look.

INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS

By Farah Al-Humaidhi

●GGLAMOROUS METALLICS – Add a touch of luxury to your room with gold or silver or think reflective surfaces and warm whites. Like the finishing touches to complete an outfit, metallics are a chic addition to any space. ● LESS IS MORE – Keep excessive knick knacks stored away and use colorful accessories to maintain the balance between ultra-minimalist and completely cluttered. ● SCULPTURAL ARTWORK - Branch out beyond framed prints. Sculptural pieces add dimensionality to your walls. A range of materials and textures like felt, horn, ceramic and even macramé create unique focal points and conversation topics ● LIGHTING: Aesthetic in nature, lighting, at many times, has been the focal point for many to just to gaze upon.

Lightings range from minimalistic to energy efficient, sleek & smart to glamorous and ultimately from the world of Light to the world of Art. ● NATURAL ELEMENTS - Natural materials are incorporated not just into wall art, but fabrics and furnishings, too. Like

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cowhide, this is making a big appearance in the textile realm in a variety of colors and applications.

Farah Al-Humaidhi @interiorart @pa-ia

As the delicate-in-style and committed-in-excellence creative founder and brainchild behind the ultrapopular, elegantly iconic Pieces by Farah, as well as the powerhouse behind Interior Art for design and construction, we couldn't think of a better interior design guru than Farah Al-Humaidhi to give you exclusive monthly input on how turn any space into a work of art.

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The 'lambah' moment They call it 'the penny dropping moment;' 'the eureka moment;' or 'the a-ha moment!' Whatever the phrase, however, the concept never gets old. As many times as we see it and experience it, there is perhaps no moment in our professional experience that is more surged with electrifying power and igniting drive than 'the lightbulb moment.' Or, more appropriately for us, 'the Lambah moment.' Lambah co-founders Lulwa Al-Omani and Dalal Al-Houli tell us about how this exciting Kuwaiti hub for creative talents wants to brighten your life!

www.thecitym.com 99 Photographer : Hussain Shamo

What is Lambah? Tell us a little about yourselves as the founding members and about the Lambah mission.

Lambah is a venture for artists & designers in Kuwait offering different services (online on the website and live services).

The website itself includes different services from: Directory: The directory covers freelancers and firms from Fine Art, Architecture, Interior Design, Visual Communications (Graphic Design, Calligraphy), Photography and Film Making. The directory guides every person looking for architect to build his residence or graphic designer to start branding his business, etc. It aims to bringing people together Online Library: Contains books, magazines, articles and online workshops aiming for educational and personal development.

Online Store: Where artists, designers and boutiques can sell and promote their work and products aiming to create business opportunities.

Blog: Featuring the artists and designers, their latest projects, products, news, achievements and much more.

Events: Showcases all the events that will be held by Lambah.

Calendar: Explores what's happening in the art and design field in Kuwait, where to go and what to attend.

Other than the website, Lambah will do seminars, workshops and field trips that aim to develop the art and design field in Kuwait.

Lambah was founded by 3 Kuwaiti girls: Lulwa Al Omani (Bachelor in Interior Design), Dalal Al Houli (Bachelor in Finance), ans Maryam Al Omani (Bachelor in Mass Communication).

We had our Lambah moment 3 years ago when we wanted to shed a light on Kuwaiti artists & designers and creatives residing in Kuwait. We believe that creativity and talent is everywhere, and so is Lambah--the light bulb--which is related to every idea that pops up! We believe that Kuwait has the best creative people both, locals and foreigners, but somehow they are not well recognized in the society, not to mention how hard it is for some of them to find a job or even reach new clients and get new projects.

Our mission is to empower the art and design field perceptions by creating infinite possibilities that brighten the market and the creatives life as well as the society by serving needs, developing solutions, awakening knowledge and enriching relationships.

What does Lambah offer to Kuwait’s community and what does it hope to achieve?

Lambah offers a platform for art and design in Kuwait which connects business desires together, collaborating, socializing, building opportunities and enhancing the educational level of the art and design. Lambah aims to achieve building a radical change towards art and design organizational culture, increasing productivity of innovative creatives, creating market stratification and fulfilling the needs of the society through providing continuous knowledge, reliable solutions and dependable tailored services delivering cultural growth.

How did the idea and the initial inspiration behind Lambah first come to you guys?

Our struggle was the starting point: watching our circle of friends and peers struggle to find jobs, shifting careers, staying at home, unable to get inspired, our skills not developing, etc. This gave us the power to start Lambah to unleash creatives talents and work.

Why do you think people in Kuwait need a place like Lambah?

Lambah offers solutions. Today it is not as easy as you think to find a designer in Kuwait! The ways of looking for one is also limited which is either by word of mouth or through social media (which we believe may also prevent other talents from shining). With Lambah all talents are showcasing their work, which helps people looking for different varities of service to find the right one!

There are so many different types of creative individuals in Kuwait— from artists to architects to designers (and many more!). How does Lambah plan on bringing this huge group of diverse creatives together and giving them all their fair share of attention?

Lambah intershades the creatives under its directory umbrella (including freelancers and firms) which is open to everyone: architects and interior designers; visual communicators from graphic designers to calligraphers; photographers and film makers; and other art & design groups and organizations.

Our blog and social media accounts give a fair share to the members. We featuring all their latest projects, products, news, achievements and much more.

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What about the non-artists who are interested in utilizing the energy of Kuwait’s creative movements (like for inspiration or creative brainstorming)? Does Lambah offer them any particular services that they can use or workshops they can take part in?

Everyone is welcome to join any of our events, seminars, workshops, and field trips. We don’t have any particular criteria for people joining any of the mentioned services, and we also offer internships to people who wants to enrich their love in any field they want.

How are you planning on raising public, social awareness of Kuwait’s growing pool of unseen creative talents?

Lambah will be working on art movements to be revealed in the coming first year. Stay tuned and keep watching!

How can the local community start taking part in your upcoming initiatives? Where are you located and how can people reach you?

Joining Lambah is a very easy process. All you need to do is go on the website www.Lambah.co, find our circle, click the 'Join Us' icon and fill the application!

@lambahco @lambahco Lambahkw info@lambah.co +965 55065050

"Lambah offers solutions. Today it is not as easy as you think to find a designer in Kuwait!" www.thecitym.com 101

the CITY KIDS

by Latifa Maduh 102 www.thecitym.com

@latifamadouh

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theAUTO

By Hisham

Photographer :Ebrahim Al-Awadi

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@hishamq8

Just in time for us to kick back into high gear, I knew that I had to start theAUTO back off with a ride of epic proportions. It had to be monstorously strong in the engine and wickedly appealing in contoure and make. I couldn't think of a better vehicle than the all-new Jaguar F-Type V8 S to fit the bill. Thankfully, Zayani was more than happy to let me take this vivacious vixen out for a spin to see how she really drives! www.thecitym.com 105

Jaguar’s latest and greatest sports car creation, the F-type, is finally here and it's coming on to the scene with a bang! This peppy speedster definitely has some big shoes to fill, not to mention compelling competition from the new Chevrolet Corvette and the Porsche 911. Luckily, the F-type is nothing short of capable in this arena and the Jaguar brand is all too familiar perfecting this segment. The F-type’s tight suspension, smooth steering, and snarling exhaust note make for nothing less than a heart-stoppingly fun drive. The base engine is a 340-hp 3.0-liter supercharged V-6, but the F-type S ups power to 380 hp. The convertible F-type V-8 S gets a supercharged, 495-hp 5.0-liter V-8 and the coupe gets a 550-hp version of that engine in the F-type R.

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The F-type V8 S which I had the pleasure of trying is the range-topping version of this elite class. I can say with complete certainty that this probably the most exciting British sports car to come out of the country in year. It's a happy marriage of hot-rod fun, and mini GT thrust. In Kuwait, you can get it at the price of KD 21,995 from Zayani, which is standard for a car of this standard and this segment.

power, and accessibility hits you right off the bat. The gear lever falls seamlessly to the hand and the dashboard has a color, finish and details so impeccably done that you wouldn't be blamed comparing it with a cinematic warplane. The minute you start the ignition the engine growls and crackles with an oomph and a prestige that is downright operatic in weight.

Having tried my fair share of high-performance, beastly powerful Jaguar sports cars in my day, I can say that the F-Type makes an incredible leap froward from its predecessors and has the ability to give sports car giants like Porsche a run for their money.

Irresistible barely cuts the surface of what driving the snarling F-Type feels like. It drives fantastic, it's charged for power, and it feels like stepping into an experience rather than any old vehicle. Thanks again to the great Zayani group for letting me have the chance to try out this one-of-a-kind vehicular beauty and for restoring my faith in the prowess and finesse of the British Jaguar powerhouse.

From the minute you step into it, the F-Type doesn't beat around the bush. It's elegance,

"The minute you start the ignition the engine growls and crackles with an oomph and a prestige that is downright operatic in weight."

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L et ' s Cook

T h e sea rch for K u waits next bes t chef! A g r e a t c o o kin g c o m pet it ion organis ed by the talented fo o d lo v e r M o h a mm a d Al- Ras heed. @letscook_kuwait

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the vibe

Bank Boubyan and Kuwait's Physical Therapy Association join for the 3rd consecutive year to provide free checkups, medical consultations, competitions, and valuable prizes with the presence of leading medical specialists.

The checkups included diabetes, blood pressure, BMI, and other important medical examinations held on Friday and Saturday, the 12th and the 13th of September,at the avenues mall.

Checkups were available to both clients and non-clients of Boubyan Bank. @bankboubyan

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the vibe

Salvatore Ferragamo presents AcquaEssenzialeBlu CONCEPT Colour has always been a distinctive element in Salvatore Ferragamo’s aesthetics. In the creative palette of the maison, blue is an unlimited source of inspiration, a symbol of masculinity and intriguing modernity. Acqua Essenziale Blu generates from this philosophy. A decisive and seductive new olfactive creation. A fresh and intense perfume that celebrates the energy and the charismatic virility of the contemporary man.

PACKAGING The geometric shape combined to the purity of the glass perfectly expresses masculinity, essential elegance and liberty.

The silver tag that embraces the base of the bottle confers to the ensemble a masculine and modernly refined finish.

The magnificent deep blue color of the box confers an intensely sensual yet sophisticated allure.

FRAGRANCE Inspired by the natural impulse of water and the authenticity of Salvatore Ferragamo’s style, Acqua Essenziale Blu, explores new sensorial dimensions.

The spicy vibrations of Green Cardamom embrace the energy of grapefruit together with the freshness of Bergamot to create intense and delicate top notes.

In the heart notes, a surprising twist of a cutting-edge molecule, the Cascalone, joins the boisé perfume of the Cedarwood Atlas and the smoky leather notes of Cypriol, furtherly enhanced by a powerful scent of Lavander.

NISSAN & UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TO LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE GOAL OF THE WEEK ACTIVITY IN SEPTEMBER As the UEFA Champions League group stage draw takes place in Monaco today, Nissan announces the first phase of its exclusive partnership activity with ‘UEFA Champions League Goal of the Week engineered by Nissan.’ This competition gives fans from around the world the chance to vote on the best and most exciting goals of Europe’s most prestigious club football tournament.

Goal of the Week forms part of Nissan’s four-year partnership with the UEFA Champions League, and will begin during the first group stage match week on September 16/17. The competition will be available on both UEFA.com and the UEFA Champions League section of Nissan’s websites, which will officially launch September 18.

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The Region’s Largest Food & Beverage Market is Open for Business Record number of exhibitors expected for FoodEx Saudi 2014 following inaugural success of Saudi Arabia’s key F&B exhibitionJeddah, Saudi Arabia As the Middle East’s largest economy and population, accounting for 64 percent of the GCC’s total food consumption, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presents unmatched business and trade opportunities for the food and beverage (F&B) sector. Currently worth over USD $50 billion and expected to grow by 9% percent by 2017, the market is driven by a combination of double digit population growth and a robust oil-based economy.

An efficient, effective and convenient route to entering the F&B market in the Kingdom is through Foodex Saudi 2014, an industry exhibition organised by Reed Sunaidi that enjoyed overwhelming success when it launched in 2013.

Having secured more than $30 million in business deals for its 300 pioneering brands in the show’s inaugural year, this year’s event is expected to attract many more exhibitors and even greater business opportunities. Taking place from 17th – 20th November 2014 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events with over 10,000m² exhibition space allocated to Foodex Saudi 2014, the organisers are expecting sellout success well before the show.

Simon Blazeby, Head of Exhibitions for Reed Sunaidi, said: “Foodex Saudi enjoyed great success last year, both in terms of business written for our exhibitors and also because more than 10,200 visitors visited the show. Over 300 brands were showcased last year, many of whom have become show ambassadors for us this year thanks to the success they enjoyed.

“There is no doubt that the KSA market holds exceptional potential for F&B companies around the world, and exhibitors benefit immediately from Reed Sunaidi’s reach and expertise in doing business in this burgeoning market.”

Following its success last year, the show will once again run its Hosted Buyer Programme (HBP) to facilitate valuable introductions and business contacts between customers and exhibitors. More than 200 buyers are expected to participate this year.

Also taking place alongside Foodex Saudi is the Saudi Food Forum, a key industry conference that will focus this year on market trends in food distribution and hospitality, as well as the critical issues of wastage, food security and food safety. Experts and authorities from the Kingdom and around the world are expected to attend.

With the hospitality industry in the Kingdom developing at an exceptional rate, a new feature at this year’s Foodex Saudi is expected to attract strong interest. Organised to recognise culinary talent and skill, the Saudi Chef Competition will pit celebrity chefs against locally-based chefs to find the finest cooks in the Kingdom.

Foodex Saudi 2014 will run from 17th – 20th November 2014 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums and Events. The exhibition is targeted at business and trade visitors from within the industry, but it will also house a dedicated consumer area to enable clients to offer product activations and demonstrations to end-users. For more information on exhibiting your product / service or visiting the event, please visit www.foodexsaudi.com

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Come Fall in Love with our New babyGap and Gap Kids Fall Collection!

Gap launches a lightweight kids and babies collection in soft colors that your little ones can wear as the weather transitions from summer to winter.

For Fall 2014, Gap kicks off the season with ‘Urban Uniform’ denim.

The collection is all about key items basics with a touch of modern newness such as a popover sweatshirt in printed floral, the denim dress with clean blocking and a range of sweaters. For babies the focus is elevated logo, layering and tonal color bottoms.

As the summer temperatures tumble, ‘End of Summer’ is the perfect nod to fall’s beginning. Fashion denim and sweetly printed woven play nicely with cool tomboy pieces such as the bomber jacket. For babies aged 0-24 the concept is focused on a neutral fresh palette with hits of camo in baby boy and pretty florals in Baby Girl.

For outdoorsy offerings the ‘Late Summer’ assortment provides casual non- denim bottoms, vintage washed knits with surplus outer wear options with detailed surplus. A transition into twills and herringbones for woven shirts, which are worn back to color chinos.

Top Twenty Qualifying Players to Attend Manchester United's Training Program in England with VIVA Executives VIVA, Kuwait’s fastest-growing and most developed telecom operator, announced that the top 20 qualifying players will be travelling to Manchester – England, to practice at Manchester United’s Cardington training ground, on 8 August until 17 August 2014.

The top 20 players were chosen from over 200 participants who joined in the Manchester United Soccer Academy try outs, which were held in April 2014. All the players will enjoy a fully funded week-long training camp in Manchester, being trained by the best Manchester United coaches.

The Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS) is a private facility very close to Manchester city center. The players will be accompanied by trainers, supervisors as well as VIVA officials who will all ensure that they are taken care of during their travels.

The top 20 players were chosen by a joint judging committee consisting of MUSS coaches and a Kuwaiti team led by players from the Kuwaiti National Football team. Each of the players were judged on the basis of their foot-balling capability and talent, physical fitness, discipline, their communication skills amongst each other as players and their general conduct on and off the field.

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