Intro and first two days in class (5/22-5/24)

Summer Course in Kuwait-"Politics and Oil in the Gulf"

Boston College, May 22nd-June 17th, 2013

By Campbell Wallace

Introduction and few things learned, seen in first 3 days

Thanks a lot for checking in on my trip; I appreciate it (and especially those who funded this thing). So I just started a BC Political Science/International Political Economy course in Kuwait that lasts from May 22nd-June 17th. We are based in Kuwait City, but throughout the trip we take two 3-night, weekend "side-trips" to Doha, Qatar and two cities in the United Arab Emirates: Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We take our classes at American University of Kuwait, an English-speaking college in Kuwait City that schools some of Kuwait's best students. The course in taught by a BC Poli-Sci professor, Mrs. Kathleen Bailey. 

Some stuff I've learned right away in Kuwait

• This place is hot. It's been in the hundreds, and in about two weeks the temperature is expected in the 110s-120s
• We're in a desert. Kuwait has almost zero rainfall every year, so the country is basically unable to grow any food for itself. I haven't seen a cloud in all my 3 days. 
• Although more modern from oil wealth, Kuwait is still a very conservative place. The executive is a monarch (Emir), women only gained the right to vote in 2005, a few years ago the parliament voted to prohibit Christian churches (but it was not signed by the Emir), and political parties are banned.
• The population is only 1/3 Kuwaiti. The rest of the people are ex-pats from all around the world who come to work in the oil business, and many are from SE Asia who work in the service industry (maids, waiters, etc..). Most ex-pats are discriminated against, and don't enjoy the same rights and benefits as Kuwaitis. 
• While ex-pats are doing all the hard work and producing most of the country's GDP, native Kuwaitis themselves are the beneficiaries of a massive welfare state. Using almost entirely state Oil revenues, the Kuwaiti government give out massive amounts of money and jobs to its people. Over 90% of Kuwaitis are employed by the government in some way.
• There are ZERO taxes in Kuwait, and the unemployment rate of Kuwaitis is 2.2%

Now for more fun stuff: things I saw in first few days

View of Kuwait City in the distance, from the shores of the Persian Gulf.

Flag of Kuwait, Kuwait City in distance

Kuwaiti Saints fan

My favorite picture so far: Man selling dates, a historical Gulf commodity, in the "Old Souk" open air market

NEXT UP: Tomorrow trying to go and jet-ski on the Persian Gulf, then touring the "Great Mosque" of Kuwait. Sunday: going to Failaka Island, Kuwait off the coast of Iraq and Iran.