I was born at Kuwait and lived there for 18 years. But this was my first visit to Kuwait since 16 years. Although it was for business, however, it was emotional too.

Emotional in the sense that my first reaction when I landed at the airport was strange. I just stood at the arrival hall look into the faces around me searching! For what? I don’t know! Soon I realized that I was searching for missing faces. As if I should see someone I know between these people, there must be someone I know, but no. No one. I soon realized that I’m 16 years late. Everyone was a stranger. Everything changed!

The hotel escort drove me to the Sheraton, during which I was gazing around the streets. Again, I could not find anything that match a picture in my memory. The rood was very green, more than what you can expect to see in a desert country like Kuwait. Yet it was beautifully organized and kept to remain green all seasons.

To my surprise, it was raining when I arrived. One day before I arrived, I was told that a sand storm hit the city (Tooz). Both of which are out of season, as I remember that sand storms season is between July and September.

Anyway, after checking-in the hotel and making a few phone calls with colleagues at work and a brother in law who lives at Kuwait. I toke a couple of hours to rest before my possible new boss (will talk about that in a moment) picked me up and we went to a very nice a cozy restaurant on the beach. It was a farewell dinner for a consultant company who just finished their project with our mother company at Kuwait. The evening was cool, mostly talking about work and developing a unit at Kuwait similar to what I did at Bahrain.

The next day, the same gentleman picked me up from hotel. On the way to the HQ, I noticed how much crowded Kuwait city has become. Another thing is the cars. You can hardly see an old car. And when I say old, I mean 90’s models. When I asked what is happening, the answer was that “our Iraqi neighbors bought everything after the war. They bought them for reasonable prices that allowed Kuwaitis and residents to buy brand new cars.”

That was not the only new thing. Everywhere around you, you can see a new tower building. It actually reminded me of the same view at Abu Dhabi in UAE. There is a very busy workshops at every corner of Kuwait city. Old buildings are demolished and new towers are rising.

Wednesday was very busy at work. Many workshops as meetings, which ended at around 5 pm. Later in the evening my brother in law picked me up and we went around to the neighborhood where I was born. I was shocked to find out that nothing remained except the streets. I wiped my tears, which no one noticed and smiled so my brother in law doesn’t notice. Drove around Kuwait until midnight. It was amazing to see how beautiful Kuwait has become.

Thursday morning, my possible new boss picked me up and we went to one of the malls for a coffee. Why possible boss? Well, that morning I came to know that the visit was arranged so that I can assist the needs at one of the departments in our mother company, and later i was offered to move to Kuwait. To be honest, I was not surprised. I had the feeling from the first meeting the day before. And now it is confirmed.

The offer is tempting, but I told them that I have to think of it before I give an answer.

Later that day, I went back to the hotel, packed my things and ran to the airport. The worst part of this trip was traveling. First while coming I didn’t get my business class seat although I paid for it, but was on waiting list. So ended up at economy class in a very crowded flight full of humble expatriate who are returning to their work at Kuwait.
On the way back, although I had confirmed business class seat, but the system was down and we stood up in a very long line for more than 40 minutes until I got my boarding ticket. In short, Gulf Airways sucks!

Anyway, here I am back home at Bahrain. Lets see what happens