Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Good Morning Miami


I am in Miami today as a guest of the National Union of Kuwaiti Students - US Chapter. It's their annual conference this week and they have been kind enough to invite me to talk about... blogging! I still can't believe they found me interesting enough to invite. I'll be posting from the conference, and let's just hope I don't screw up my speech/presentation/whatever..

The flight from Kuwait to Miami (via London) was more boring than tiring, and when we got to Miami I was taken in along with a few other Kuwaiti travelers into the immigration "holding pen". I didn't understand why, since I've been going to the US every year and at JFK I sail through immigration as fast as I do at Kuwait Airport. They have my fingerprints on file since 2003, and I kept telling the officer about it but it was like talking to a brick wall.

With this so-called "special relationship" between Kuwait and the USA, you'd think all this nonsense at the airports would decrease. But apparently not, and I hear that Miami airport is staffed by morons anyway. And then of course I remember all the hell that we used to put people through at Kuwait Airport, so I guess it's karmic payback time!

Watch this space for updates from the conference.

20 comments:

  1. I think repenting would be an interesting topic.

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  2. bloboz, ask him tough questions.

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  3. I think only major airports are the one you wouldn't have much trouble in (JFK, O'Hare). The others simply don't have as good experience in dealing with immigration matters. I see that in our city's airport, they give me hell everytime i arrive here.

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  4. hah JFK , last time i went to the USA JFK airport immigration nearly made me miss my connection flight to london , and the officer told me why i wasn't there 4 hours before my flight ( while i was setting at the door for over 2 hours )

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  5. You are the godfather of Q8i bloggers, if they did not invite you, whom should they invite? good luck and enjoy.

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  6. They couldn't have picked a better representer for the Kuwaiti blogging community.
    Go Zaydoun :)

    ترد لنا بالسلامة

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  7. dammit!

    i didnt go this year :( it would have been fun to see you there..

    oh well.. i hope you have a great time :D

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  8. Thanks all

    Arabiazoom... ma fahamt

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  9. Good luck mate and have a safe trip - oh yeah, and stay off areas where Germans hang around :o)

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  10. Zaydoun! I saw you today in the opening ceremony and conference room (before the Nadwa).. (I am helping organize the Crown Kuwait live conference).

    Bloggers, You can watch Zaydoun's talk/speech/thing either by going to the hotel (Crown Plaza | Kuwait) on Saturday @ 5.15am - 6.15am. We should be replaying the show sometime that evening. There is also a Mobile video feed to MTC subscribers with GPRS.

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  11. 3ash Zaydoun Mara thania ..

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  12. hehe allah wanasah , thats so cool
    good luck zaydoun .

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  13. troo7 o tred bel slaam ya 7lo... o goood luck:)

    about the airport i think its totally depends on the immegration officer mood.

    i was in NY on sept 11th i traveled several times through JFK o Lguardia and i didnt face any of this bullshit

    its about luck and mood:)

    goood luck again and take care

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  14. zaydoun , dont forget to pass by NY , i believe you miss that place enough , maybe its time to get rid of that nostalgia

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  15. MC... I will be going to New York for a couple of nights after the conference..

    ما يصير أوصل أمريكا بدون ما أمر على الحبيبة نيويورك، أخاف تزعل مني

    :-P

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  16. Zaydoun, tistaaaaahil walla o they couldnt have picked a better person to talk about blogging than u!

    Blogging is popular in Kuwait simply because of ur blog and nibaq's online community effort in creating kuwaitblogs.com!

    Troo7 o tirja3 bilsalaaama inshalla o we want all details from the trip and the conference plz! :)

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  17. Zaydoun,
    We have the DVD recorder ready for your lecture on 'Life as a Kuwaiti blogger'. Best of luck .. I am going to try to catch it if I wake up early enough.

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  18. Best of luck Zaydoun and we are proud of you :)

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  19. Zed,

    Well, what can I add ? You've said it all, and so well too!

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Keep it clean, people!