High Highs and Low Lows--Kuwait School Visits

Together we've logged thousands of school visits, and there was consensus that in our two days in Kuwait we experienced visits that included one among the best in our collective careers and one of those disappointing visits that seasoned admissions officers know happen even in the best planned day. In total, Kuwait was a success--a great introduction to the country for all of us. We encountered well informed, interested students, supportive counselors who were helpful in generating student interest and in providing context--both for the students and for us. Alas, there was the school at which the counselor was unavailable (we traveled half way around the world to learn that the person with whom we had a confirmed appointment had failed to put it on the calendar?) and the school that provided us with lunch, laughter and a simply terrific visit in every way--day redeemed.

We participated in fascinating discussions of the education system in Kuwait, and the role of ex-pats vs. locals. Because of oil, there is no tax in Kuwait, and things like electricity and water are heavily subsidized. Gas is cheap--as a matter of fact we were told that it's cheaper than water which has to be desalinated. We were there for two full days and one evening, during which I had a delightful visit with an '03 grad who had been president of the international student organization while at Smith. There wasn't a moment of down time--I did notice in the driving through Kuwait City on our various school visits a broad range of living situations.

The airport experience deserves a post of it's own....