About kinga

Currently Lives:

Kuwait City, Kuwait

Citizen of:

South Africa

Some Forum Posts:

Kuwait: looking to share an apartment:

Hi all I will be in Kuwait for at leat 11 months as from 1 September and want to share a nice big place - maybe the Spanish villas in Salwa (if I can get one) with another woman. Unfortunately I hear only women need apply as I cannot share with males! Your budget would have to be about 200KD per month. SWF, 27yrs old, don't mind pets if you don't mind smokers! Contact me on kinga23@hotmail.com

Kuwait: Looking for an IT job in Kuwait-any help would be appreciated:

Hi there You do not say much about what kind of IT experience it is that you have? A good salary to start off with would be about 2000 - 2500 KD (depending if u go contract or freelance) Am attaching a letter from a doctor who lives here who helped me a lot when making my financial decsions as whether my salary was ok or not. Cost of living is pretty cheap compared to other ME countries - but I suppose that is dependant on the salary you earn. I am working for an IT company - specialising in a specific type of software. Please email me your cv and I will let you know whether your experience is appropriate or not. Attached find doctors long but very useful letter: Hi, I live in kuwait since 3 years, I'm a docor, from Alexandria, Egypt, and by the way, I have a friend from Cape Town, he is a surgeon, we both arrived to kuwait same time. living in kuwait is not bad, you will love it, especially if you are single, I mean my trouble came from raising my children in this country, but it can be a heaven for signles regarding your iquiries: 1- is your contract in kuwait is governmental, small private buisness, or large multinational company? governmental is the best, 6-7 working hours, usually 7:30-2:3 pm, and free for the rest of the day, thursday and friday are weekend, granted salary, and no real employer who will control your way of working, your boss usually is your experience anyway, that point is not so important for professionals, but you have to be carefull if it is a private buisness, make sure to clear up the entity of working hours in your contract, before you arrive to kuwait 2- the IT buisness is good here, I don't know about what you are making back home, but for me, I need at least 3-4 times money than I make at home to convense my self of coming here. 3-live in kuwait is veeeeeeeeeeery expenssive, not like paris, but expenssive, to buy a new car will cost you for example, 4000 KD for a toyota corolla, I got a mistubishi lancer brand new for about 3000 KD, but that was a hot shot, it should be more, the most popular cars here are american big cars, 4X4s, and BMW, Jaguar, Poursche, it's Kuwait here, a camry will cost you about 6000-8000 KD, you can off course get your self a used car, althoght the maintanance here is so expenssive, I got a used mazda when I came here, then I sold it, and got a new car, because I realized that the maintanance cost, equals more than you pay as installment for a new car per month, I pay about 70KD installments, and 0 cost for maintanance, at least for 3 years. used cars start from 600 KD up to 3000 for ordinary cars, not sport ones and expensive ones, although a friend of mine just got a Suzuki Vitara 4X4, 6 cylinders model 2001 for about 2800 KD, in a good condition. any way, if you need more details about cars, contact me, because it is my hoppy. my mail is islam@radiologist.net about rent, for a small apartment for an expat, who is single, 200 KD per month will give you a nice place, small but clean, good, you can rent a studio in a complex, where there is an advantage of being all expats living there, mostly western, swimming pool, gem, tennis, and so on, that will cost you between 150-200 KD half furnished furnishing a small apartemnt will cost not less than 700KD, usually about 1500 KD I pay 190 KD rent for a 2 bedroom apartment, with central air condition (this is very important here) in a 6 years old building, almost new, clean , and in a nice neighbourhood, you can get less, or more, up to you a friend of mine is ilving in a 300KD apartment, but a wonderfull one, the place of your dreams food is not a problem, if you cook, or you prefer to use the 1000000 resturants in town, of all kinds, you will spend about 100-150 KD per month to be fine, including gasoline, cell phone, food, apart from leisure, rent and car cost joining a club will cost you about 15-20KD per month, some places are as expenssive as 500 per year, Crown Plaza hotel costs about 200 KD per year, for the swimming pool, the gem, and every thing, it is a nice place, but not on the see side cell phone, there are two ways, prepaid and post paid, there are 2 companies serving the service, the best one is MTC, to get a prepaid line it costs about 10 kd initial cost, plus the cost of the phone handset (15-150KD, depends upon the brand) you pay topping up cards 3 or 5 KD the cost of 20 seconds = 15 fils (a kuwaiti dinar = 1000 fils = 2 English pounds 3 US dollars) usually I use 2 or 3 5 KD cards per month, including international calls, which I perform from my cell phone there are thousands of places where you can dine in, play sport, malls, cinemas (although few ones only) drink coffee on the sea side, and not to be bothered usually by anyone. the culture of the contry includes absolute respect for ladies, wheather kuwaitis or expats, you have priority in ques, services, banks, resturants, supermarkets, even when police stops your car for overspeeding, they are super polite, and may let you go without a ticket diving fans are having a lot of fun hear, and so are fishing, and all water sports most kuwaities have their own boats. the whole country is the daughter of the arabian gulf (persian gulf) very nice hotels serving every thing, but NO ALCOHOL is being served inkuwait, it is prohipited by law, but you can find it in black market, and at the western parties, there are a big western community in here, mostly English, they are having a lot of fun there is no problem in getting in and out of kuwait, there are only one airport, but if you work for a governmental place, you are asked to show an exit permit which you are given at place of work when you apply for a vacation. it shows on your passport if you are working for the goverment or not. the country is very civilized, nice looking houses, streets, highways, malls, shops, shopping here is great, especially during the discount period, like now for example, prices have gone more than 50%, for example, yesterday I got an adiddas shoes, it was 30KD beofre, now it is only 13 KD I got a laptop for 540KD, Toshiba, 2410-603, but you can have cheaper ones, not for a professional like you but anyway, in general you will love the country, it worths trying, poeple are very civilized (at lesat 70% of the kuwaities) whenever you have a problem in the street, vehicle flat tyre for example, hundreds will offer help, and not because you are a lady, it happens with me too

Kuwait: Moving soon to Kuwait:

Hi there I have just recently moved to Q8. I have also worked in Lebanon for the last 2 months and am going back again for a month soon. As a single western woman from South Africa I can tell you that my first impression of Q8 has not been bad. Well not as bad as I thought - it is quite liberal and people tend to keep to themselves. I can not tell you much more at this stage re. social scene etc. Depending on what u r into - parties etc. you usually have to find a contact who will introduce you to fellow expats. I am attaching a letter (rather long but very useful) I received from a doctor living in Q8 regarding costs etc. Also if you would like to contact me - kinga23@hotmail.com. I will most probably be in Beirut in about 2 weeks time in the Verdun area. Good luck with your travel plans.

Kuwait: Urgent assistance ref: position offered:

Hi there Have u taken the job? Good salary for expat anywhere from 2000 - 2500 KD but I am in IT industry so that might not help you. Concerning your other questions - they told me you cannot bring in booze but they did not physically search my bags - only x-ray. Then again I would not take the chance.... There are expat parties - you just have to know the right people. I have just recently arrived here and am picking up a few contacts. I must say as a single South African who thoroughly enjoys the social scene I have found it rather quiet thus far.. Anyway here is a letter I received from an expat doctor in Q8 when I was faced with same dilemna as you (salary, expenses etc) Hi, I live in kuwait since 3 years, I'm a docor, from Alexandria, Egypt, and by the way, I have a friend from Cape Town, he is a surgeon, we both arrived to kuwait same time. living in kuwait is not bad, you will love it, especially if you are single, I mean my trouble came from raising my children in this country, but it can be a heaven for signles regarding your iquiries: 1- is your contract in kuwait is governmental, small private buisness, or large multinational company? governmental is the best, 6-7 working hours, usually 7:30-2:3 pm, and free for the rest of the day, thursday and friday are weekend, granted salary, and no real employer who will control your way of working, your boss usually is your experience anyway, that point is not so important for professionals, but you have to be carefull if it is a private buisness, make sure to clear up the entity of working hours in your contract, before you arrive to kuwait 2- the IT buisness is good here, I don't know about what you are making back home, but for me, I need at least 3-4 times money than I make at home to convense my self of coming here. 3-live in kuwait is veeeeeeeeeeery expenssive, not like paris, but expenssive, to buy a new car will cost you for example, 4000 KD for a toyota corolla, I got a mistubishi lancer brand new for about 3000 KD, but that was a hot shot, it should be more, the most popular cars here are american big cars, 4X4s, and BMW, Jaguar, Poursche, it's Kuwait here, a camry will cost you about 6000-8000 KD, you can off course get your self a used car, althoght the maintanance here is so expenssive, I got a used mazda when I came here, then I sold it, and got a new car, because I realized that the maintanance cost, equals more than you pay as installment for a new car per month, I pay about 70KD installments, and 0 cost for maintanance, at least for 3 years. used cars start from 600 KD up to 3000 for ordinary cars, not sport ones and expensive ones, although a friend of mine just got a Suzuki Vitara 4X4, 6 cylinders model 2001 for about 2800 KD, in a good condition. any way, if you need more details about cars, contact me, because it is my hoppy. my mail is islam@radiologist.net about rent, for a small apartment for an expat, who is single, 200 KD per month will give you a nice place, small but clean, good, you can rent a studio in a complex, where there is an advantage of being all expats living there, mostly western, swimming pool, gem, tennis, and so on, that will cost you between 150-200 KD half furnished furnishing a small apartemnt will cost not less than 700KD, usually about 1500 KD I pay 190 KD rent for a 2 bedroom apartment, with central air condition (this is very important here) in a 6 years old building, almost new, clean , and in a nice neighbourhood, you can get less, or more, up to you a friend of mine is ilving in a 300KD apartment, but a wonderfull one, the place of your dreams food is not a problem, if you cook, or you prefer to use the 1000000 resturants in town, of all kinds, you will spend about 100-150 KD per month to be fine, including gasoline, cell phone, food, apart from leisure, rent and car cost joining a club will cost you about 15-20KD per month, some places are as expenssive as 500 per year, Crown Plaza hotel costs about 200 KD per year, for the swimming pool, the gem, and every thing, it is a nice place, but not on the see side cell phone, there are two ways, prepaid and post paid, there are 2 companies serving the service, the best one is MTC, to get a prepaid line it costs about 10 kd initial cost, plus the cost of the phone handset (15-150KD, depends upon the brand) you pay topping up cards 3 or 5 KD the cost of 20 seconds = 15 fils (a kuwaiti dinar = 1000 fils = 2 English pounds 3 US dollars) usually I use 2 or 3 5 KD cards per month, including international calls, which I perform from my cell phone there are thousands of places where you can dine in, play sport, malls, cinemas (although few ones only) drink coffee on the sea side, and not to be bothered usually by anyone. the culture of the contry includes absolute respect for ladies, wheather kuwaitis or expats, you have priority in ques, services, banks, resturants, supermarkets, even when police stops your car for overspeeding, they are super polite, and may let you go without a ticket diving fans are having a lot of fun hear, and so are fishing, and all water sports most kuwaities have their own boats. the whole country is the daughter of the arabian gulf (persian gulf) very nice hotels serving every thing, but NO ALCOHOL is being served inkuwait, it is prohipited by law, but you can find it in black market, and at the western parties, there are a big western community in here, mostly English, they are having a lot of fun there is no problem in getting in and out of kuwait, there are only one airport, but if you work for a governmental place, you are asked to show an exit permit which you are given at place of work when you apply for a vacation. it shows on your passport if you are working for the goverment or not. the country is very civilized, nice looking houses, streets, highways, malls, shops, shopping here is great, especially during the discount period, like now for example, prices have gone more than 50%, for example, yesterday I got an adiddas shoes, it was 30KD beofre, now it is only 13 KD I got a laptop for 540KD, Toshiba, 2410-603, but you can have cheaper ones, not for a professional like you but anyway, in general you will love the country, it worths trying, poeple are very civilized (at lesat 70% of the kuwaities) whenever you have a problem in the street, vehicle flat tyre for example, hundreds will offer help, and not because you are a lady, it happens with me too

Kuwait: Wanted!:

Hi there I have only been here for a couple of days but can understand your dilemna - NOBODY seems to go out - just work work and more work arghhhhh!. I am a 27 yo female South African looking to make friends and meet interesting people while I am here. Drop me a mail kinga23@hotmail.com

Kuwait: A new & different job (?) in Kuwait:

Hi Jim Please read below: A response I received from a doctor in Kuwait answering some of my questions. Write to him on his personal email address - he is more than willing to give useful info and answer any queries you might have! Good luck! Hi, I live in kuwait since 3 years, I'm a docor, from Alexandria, Egypt, and by the way, I have a friend from Cape Town, he is a surgeon, we both arrived to kuwait same time. living in kuwait is not bad, you will love it, especially if you are single, I mean my trouble came from raising my children in this country, but it can be a heaven for signles regarding your iquiries: 1- is your contract in kuwait is governmental, small private buisness, or large multinational company? governmental is the best, 6-7 working hours, usually 7:30-2:3 pm, and free for the rest of the day, thursday and friday are weekend, granted salary, and no real employer who will control your way of working, your boss usually is your experience anyway, that point is not so important for professionals, but you have to be carefull if it is a private buisness, make sure to clear up the entity of working hours in your contract, before you arrive to kuwait 2- the IT buisness is good here, I don't know about what you are making back home, but for me, I need at least 3-4 times money than I make at home to convense my self of coming here. 3-live in kuwait is veeeeeeeeeeery expenssive, not like paris, but expenssive, to buy a new car will cost you for example, 4000 KD for a toyota corolla, I got a mistubishi lancer brand new for about 3000 KD, but that was a hot shot, it should be more, the most popular cars here are american big cars, 4X4s, and BMW, Jaguar, Poursche, it's Kuwait here, a camry will cost you about 6000-8000 KD, you can off course get your self a used car, althoght the maintanance here is so expenssive, I got a used mazda when I came here, then I sold it, and got a new car, because I realized that the maintanance cost, equals more than you pay as installment for a new car per month, I pay about 70KD installments, and 0 cost for maintanance, at least for 3 years. used cars start from 600 KD up to 3000 for ordinary cars, not sport ones and expensive ones, although a friend of mine just got a Suzuki Vitara 4X4, 6 cylinders model 2001 for about 2800 KD, in a good condition. any way, if you need more details about cars, contact me, because it is my hoppy. my mail is islam@radiologist.net about rent, for a small apartment for an expat, who is single, 200 KD per month will give you a nice place, small but clean, good, you can rent a studio in a complex, where there is an advantage of being all expats living there, mostly western, swimming pool, gem, tennis, and so on, that will cost you between 150-200 KD half furnished furnishing a small apartemnt will cost not less than 700KD, usually about 1500 KD I pay 190 KD rent for a 2 bedroom apartment, with central air condition (this is very important here) in a 6 years old building, almost new, clean , and in a nice neighbourhood, you can get less, or more, up to you a friend of mine is ilving in a 300KD apartment, but a wonderfull one, the place of your dreams food is not a problem, if you cook, or you prefer to use the 1000000 resturants in town, of all kinds, you will spend about 100-150 KD per month to be fine, including gasoline, cell phone, food, apart from leisure, rent and car cost joining a club will cost you about 15-20KD per month, some places are as expenssive as 500 per year, Crown Plaza hotel costs about 200 KD per year, for the swimming pool, the gem, and every thing, it is a nice place, but not on the see side cell phone, there are two ways, prepaid and post paid, there are 2 companies serving the service, the best one is MTC, to get a prepaid line it costs about 10 kd initial cost, plus the cost of the phone handset (15-150KD, depends upon the brand) you pay topping up cards 3 or 5 KD the cost of 20 seconds = 15 fils (a kuwaiti dinar = 1000 fils = 2 English pounds 3 US dollars) usually I use 2 or 3 5 KD cards per month, including international calls, which I perform from my cell phone there are thousands of places where you can dine in, play sport, malls, cinemas (although few ones only) drink coffee on the sea side, and not to be bothered usually by anyone. the culture of the contry includes absolute respect for ladies, wheather kuwaitis or expats, you have priority in ques, services, banks, resturants, supermarkets, even when police stops your car for overspeeding, they are super polite, and may let you go without a ticket diving fans are having a lot of fun hear, and so are fishing, and all water sports most kuwaities have their own boats. the whole country is the daughter of the arabian gulf (persian gulf) very nice hotels serving every thing, but NO ALCOHOL is being served inkuwait, it is prohipited by law, but you can find it in black market, and at the western parties, there are a big western community in here, mostly English, they are having a lot of fun there is no problem in getting in and out of kuwait, there are only one airport, but if you work for a governmental place, you are asked to show an exit permit which you are given at place of work when you apply for a vacation. it shows on your passport if you are working for the goverment or not. the country is very civilized, nice looking houses, streets, highways, malls, shops, shopping here is great, especially during the discount period, like now for example, prices have gone more than 50%, for example, yesterday I got an adiddas shoes, it was 30KD beofre, now it is only 13 KD I got a laptop for 540KD, Toshiba, 2410-603, but you can have cheaper ones, not for a professional like you but anyway, in general you will love the country, it worths trying, poeple are very civilized (at lesat 70% of the kuwaities) whenever you have a problem in the street, vehicle flat tyre for example, hundreds will offer help, and not because you are a lady, it happens with me too have I covered all your inquireis? I still have thousands of info about kuwait, may be you would like to chat with me sometime, my ICQ # is 68640981 and e-mail islam@radiologist.net good luck in your career

Kuwait: Single female ..Clueless about Kuwait! Help!:

Hi all I have recently received a job offer in Kuwait. I am an IT professional with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. I see this as a great opportunity to earn some good money but more importantly to travel around the area. I am a bit concerned with the following: What is a good salary for a highly specialised software consultant? i.e enough to save, travel and live comfortably. What is the cost of living like? Food, cellphone, rent, car etc? How is the party scene? Coming from South Africa I like my red wine! Do hotels and clubs serve alcohol? How easy is it to get in and out of Kuwait for travelling purposes? I have travelled to a lot of Muslim countries in Africa and it is not half as bad as people make it out to be? Is this the case in Kuwait? Thanks and waiting in anticipation for your replies

Kuwait: Mr F R Davids Sunglasses:

Hi there Would love to have coffee with you when I get to Kuwait. I't seems like it's difficult to meet people over there?? Can't understand why cos there is over a million expats?? Even better if we could share a bottle of WINE!! Is that at all humanly possible over there?? Good luck with the house hunting.

Date Joined:

12/3/2003

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