As I walked along the Palm tree lined street in Fahaheel, Kuwait, there were couples sitting on the beach, looking out at the Persian Gulf after the sun had set. Children were playing on a huge inflatable slide, laughing and having fun. And a group of teenage boys were playing a pick-up game of basketball on a public outdoor court. The men who drove by at speeds above the stated limit, honked their horns and called out to my female companion and me. And the motorcyclers still sped around, weaving in between the other vehicles on the road.
As different as the East may be from the West, I have come to the conclusion that some things are universal. Men will speed and gawk at girls, boys will play their sports, children will laugh and play... it is only the women who are different here. The majority wear long black burkas, only eyes shown to the public. They are more shadows and images than individuls with personalities. But even there, I think I may be wrong... because when I made a stop at the ladies rest room, there were a few ladies in there. Under their burkas, they wear make-up and stylish clothing. Behind their veils, they smile and laugh and joke with one another. And of course, they still visit the public restroom in pairs (just like us girls in the West). =P
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