International Schools Review have recently posted this on their website- I’m sure the owner of FBS wil tremble in his sandals……not. Check out for some entertaining (non)insight into reality in Kuwait…..
http://www.internationalschoolsreview.com/lavinia-results/survey-results.htm
One poster (I suspect aTES forum crossover called CanadaShirleyBluesomething who had a bad time in the KwikIntranceExitSchool in Kuwait and who thinks all of Kuwait is like that) writes, somewhat bitterly:
“I taught in Kuwait. I am a single, American woman. I have over 15 years teaching experience – including a master’s degree in education. I am certified in two US states.” -Wow-two! Are you TWO Masters ( you have to be a Basil Fawlty devotee to get that).
“My advice…stay away. I do not know of one single western woman working in Kuwait who is not depressed.” You should get out and meet a few more people then….it’s not Wysteria lane.
“I do believe that unless we stand up and say – “enough” – Kuwait will set the precedent for the rest of the GCC. In Kuwait, I have observed very few certified teachers. ” Perhaps you should have looked for the qualified ones and observed them…..
“Of the teachers/administrators that are western certified; very few have ever worked in their home countries. The country of Kuwait is very happy with these “semi-professionals” – they don’t question, they are happy for a job.”- so you are claiming that simply because a person prefers to work abroad they become a ’semi-professional’? Strange logic(or no logic)- all those Euro MPs in Strasburg would be very upset..
”A true professional would leave the country at the earliest opportunity. This is doubly true for the directors who are well past their “shelf life” and are hanging on by their finger nails – well past the time they should’ve retired. Many of them are an embarrassment to education and their home countries.”-but if they are only ’semi-professional, what’s the worry?!
“As professional teachers, we MUST say “no” to the practices of Kuwait.” -but (Shirley)you said we were SEMI-PROFESSIONALS! Make your mind up dearie!
“They can certainly run their educational system as they choose;” -that’s most gracious of you.
Bitter ….bitter….bitter…..
noname said,
October 29, 2007 at 7:12 pm
I think the person who is replying is typical of nasty unsupportive teachers who work internationally. Teachers of such ilk wouldn’t last 2 minutes in the real world – hence the reason they work internationally – no unions checking on them, administrations rewarding power tripping backstabbers, frustrated unpromoted teachers bitching their way round the international circuit……please-you’re better off where you are. Don’t come back to the real world.
Happy said,
November 8, 2007 at 7:08 am
I am working here in Kuwait, and I have been for the past 5 years. I am single, Western and happy!!!! Yes, their are frustrations. Find me a country where there aren’t.
I am working in one of the schools that has been under fire from bitter ex-staff recently. All I have to say is “Get a life”. If you don’t like Kuwait, run home. But leave us alone, please. We like it here.
Alexandra The Great said,
November 12, 2007 at 11:59 am
Let’s try again, maybe this time you’ll post me…
Alexandra The Great said,
November 12, 2007 at 12:04 pm
Well, well…And let’s try again, maybe you’ll like me this time:
Ok, let’s not take into consideration the 1st person, simply because s/he actually uttered such thing as “Don’t come back to the real world.”, meaning Kuwait. If you think that that dung hole is the real world, you need to be checked into a mental institution.
Now let’s see what the 2nd comment is all about, but 1st it needs to be corrected:
“I am working (simple present tense would have been more suitable-I WORK) here in Kuwait, and (AS) I have been for the past 5 years. I am single, Western(ER-let me guess, French?) and happy (no wonder, it’s the perfect place on Earth for all the m0r0n$ in the world to enjoy themselves and they don’t even need to be fluent in English!)!!!! Yes, their(THERE!!!-WATCH YOUR SPELLING! ARE YOU IN THE 1ST GRADE, BUDDY, OR SIMPLY FRENCH, LIKE I FIGURED?) are frustrations [I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU WANTED TO SAY...FRUSTRATING ISSUES, MAYBE?! You mean hectic traffic, lack of respect, plain stupidity, hypocrisy, INBREEDING (yuck!) ?]. Find me a country where there aren’t. (UMMM, DENMARK, LICHTENSTEIN, MONACO, NORWAY, IRELAND, OK, MAYBE NOT IRELAND, but you can pick any country that doesn’t lie in the desert and the weather is bearable.)
I am working (AGAIN, SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE-I WORK) in one of the schools that has been under fire from bitter ex-staff (,COMMA) recently. All I have to say is “Get a life(!)”. If you don’t like Kuwait (no sane person can possible like Kuwait!), run home. But leave us alone, please (Has anyone done anything to you, dear?!). We like it here.”
All right, rest assured, I am one of the numerous persons who went home as soon as possible. I still regret the fact that I wasted one year of my wonderful life there!
(
Nobody has done anything to you, dear lovers of the d^ng hole. If you like it so much and you trumpet it all over, we also have the right to not like it so much and it’s our freedom to mock and b!tc# about it whenever we have the chance; why would that bother you, anyway?!
There are others who should know in advance what it is all about and many people would appreciate the fact that we present the reality as it is. Not your reality, but the real one!
We do have a life, that’s why it is impossible for us to get used to the chaos in that artificial country. We’re very happy that you like it there, it means there is a bit more happiness in the world! I mean, if there was no person at all to like it, it means that Kuwait really is H3LL!
And btw, I am one of the “nasty unsupportive teachers” who find the teaching system there completely unworthy and plain dangerous, yes dangerous! Kids are not safe, nobody cares about them and their education, really; it’s all about the earnings (money, in case you don’t know the term). Not to mention that I was shocked to meet veeeery “supportive and professional” teachers who drink themselves till they get sick and smoke illegal stuff, as well!
But I guess the second comment shows the reality about schools in “beautiful” Kuwait…
Best regards,
Alex The Great.
Alexandra The Great said,
November 12, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Me again (I’m also bitter, bitter, bitter); check this out and the happy ones, just shut up!
http://www.internationalschoolsreview.com/nonmembers/emergency.htm