The Grand Mosque (5/25-26)

5/25-5/26

Unfortunately, the Jet Skiing in the Persian Gulf off of "Failaka Island," near Iraq and Iran was delayed until Wednesday.

On Saturday the 25th, we went to the "Grand Mosque" of Kuwait, a huge, state-run Islamic complex with a 10,000 person capacity outdoor prayer area, a women's prayer room, educational facilities, and recreational areas for children. The girls in our group were asked to wear Burkas while they were inside, and we had to go barefoot into the indoor prayer rooms. We had a guided tour by a teacher from the "Aware Center" of Kuwait, a group that educates visitors and people around the world on the basic tenets of Islam, and dispelling misconceptions on the religion. It is a very simple religion, and a presentation by the teacher cleared up a lot of my questions. This was the first mosque I had ever been to. 

On Sunday the 26th, we went to class and talked for  a while with Kuwaiti students at AUK (their Sunday is our Monday). It was staggering how great their english was, as a few of them spoke the language better than I ever have. At night, we went to the "American Mission Hospital" museum. Built on the sight of the old hospital itself, this museum chronicles the story of a group of Christian missionary doctors from the US who built this hospital in 1911, effectively introducing sophisticated healthcare to Kuwait. Before their arrival, Kuwaitis and many Muslims of the Arabian peninsula denounced healthcare remedies and accepted sickness as "God's will." While they did not achieve many conversions to Christianity, it established early good-will between Kuwait and the Western world. Also in the Museum were ancient artifacts from the Arabian peninsula, and ancient manuscripts of the Koran from as early as 700AD, only decades after the religion's founding. ***Sorry to say, we were not allowed to take pictures in this building, refer to website if you want to see what was inside: Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Museum

The Grand Mosque of Kuwait

A few classmates and our professor wearing Burkas, which they had to have on to enter prayer areas.

An Imam (left) and our Mosque tour guide (right)

Child running down the colonnade of the main prayer area

Main prayer area, contrasted with the building of a massive skyscraper in the background

Main prayer area

Partial shot of Kuwait City skyline. The twisty building in the middle is the "Alhamra," the tallest "sculpted" tower in the world. 

Pita makers in the "Old Souk" open-air market. We were allowed to go in and make the bread ourselves.

Child running down street in "Old Souk" market

Kuwait City sunset over the Persian Gulf

Uniquely Kuwaiti contrast between run-down ex-pat housing on the right, and a high-class Mariott on the left. Run-down buildings among brand-new ones is a recurring theme in downtown Kuwait City.

Liberation Tower in Kuwait City

Walking by their table after dinner, this group of Kuwaiti men first offered us the food off of their plates, then asked us to take a picture of them, because they knew we are Americans. Walking around, many Kuwaitis shout things at us like "I love America" and "We love you!" It is obvious that most Kuwaitis adore America, due to our role in the First Gulf War and our current protection of their security. On the other hand, we also get a lot of stares because a big pack of American tourists stick out like sore thumbs.