I have yet to meet any Irish out here, but there's no Guiness either ;-)
There are many Brits as well as quite a few of us South Africans so there are english based expat communities scattered about.

As to what to bring - leave your sanity behind and you should be fine - but I think the biggest challenge is personal time if you're used to a more integrated and outgoing society. Sure, there are little cliches of people that constantly visit one another, but most generally hang out in there apts and surf channels or the web - in airconditioning.
I'd suggest joining a gym or studying part time to fill your personal time.

It's not the amazon so you can source most things here re personal stuff etc but the music selection out here sux.
Sunglasses / nasal spray / top up on vitamins and vit C as most get a mild dose of flu on arrival.
Sandals - and decent foot moisturiser & good hair conditioner as it's pretty dry out here.
Have you hair cut before coming out as the salon scene is kinda weird.
Bootleg DVD's are available but a laptop is a MUST - u can get them here and internet access is ok depending on which package you opt for.
Plug converters!

Clothes here can be pricey - most western based foods can be located.
It's pretty hot here now, but winter is coming and it can get pretty cool then.
I typically make up for my clothing gaps by buying 2nd hand clothes from a Friday flea market (souk) - same place I sourced my gym gear - not sure where they get the stuff from but I have some pretty top end brands from there.

It is a different world but not as exotic as one would expect ...

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I have been on this website since April when I signed my contract to work in Kuwait. I arrived August 24, 2009 and guess what, there have been many comments about Kuwait that are full of errors. If you are a go getter and a lot adventurous, everything is available and I mean everything. I do nothing illegal, mind you, so that should tell you something. Here is a hint-find yourself a Kuwaiti born cabdriver that knows the city. I pay less than most on all products and all of my needs are being met.

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I have been on this website since April when I signed my contract to work in Kuwait. I arrived August 24, 2009 and guess what, there have been many comments about Kuwait that are full of errors. If you are a go getter and a lot adventurous, everything is available and I mean everything. I do nothing illegal, mind you, so that should tell you something. Here is a hint-find yourself a Kuwaiti born cabdriver that knows the city. I pay less than most on all products and all of my needs are being met.

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Hi, I'm from the Lake District in Cumbria. I've been here a couple of months now and enjoying it so far. Apart from the driving (a bit of a white knuckle ride can be an understatement) it is a really nice and relaxed city.

Things to make sure you do before you leave;
Get plenty of passport photo's with a blue background done before you come out. You will need them for visa's driving license's etc. Also photo copy your passport. Hotels out here like to keep your passport and visa behind the desk at reception.

download SKYPE for internet phone calls before you come out here as you cannot download it once your out here and your not really ment to use it but everyone at my job seems to get away with it fine.

The music selection is not really to my taste out here and the kuwaiti internet service will not let you download music from amazon or tesco.com etc. The only thing I've find that tends to work is ITUNES and LimeWire to get your fix on western music and t.v. there is always youtube but internet connections are soooo slow.

Most atm's will not seem to take my card, so can only seem to get cash out from most malls. (Still find that strange got an HSBC international account aswell ???) So make sure you have money exchanged before you arrive. You'll also need some money to tip the guys at the airport who will insist on taking your suitcase off you and putting it on a trolly.

Also got a couple of numbers for English speaking taxi drivers if you want them. I've not used them personally as I've got a driver but a few of the guys from the hotel that I've been stopping with use them all the time. Just give us an message if you want there numbers.

Hope your move goes alright.
And you will get used to the heat in a couple of weeks.

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Hey Luminous,

There are a few Paddy's living out here me being one of them. I have been here since January of this year. So far i have not looked backed, i really like it out here. It does have the main disadvantages of no bars but you can easliy get over this. Good advice is to join a gym, you can have a new lease of life out here if you let yourself. Do you know what area of Kuwait you will be living, it is a good idea to have a car so you can get out and explore the city. there is nothing really that you can get at home that you cant get here. They have huge malls with all western style shops, boots etc.
The temperature is cooling down now which is a great relief as it gets very very hot.
The place is what you make it in my opinion!!

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