Summer feels harsher this year, even from a distance. My husband doesn’t say it, but I hear it. I sense increased activity on his WhatsApp with his childhood friends, ex-colleagues, and a few individuals he knows only through LinkedIn. A country shaken but not stirred, Kuwait is caught in the midst of the geopolitical goals of the US, Israel, and Iran, and lately, not all days have been pure sunshine. It’s no different here in Dubai, where we both live now. Summer feels quieter here too. It’s natural that he is reminded of the summer of ‘90, when his home faced the Gulf War. They were away, thankfully. His father returned to Kuwait soon after the War, and his mother and elder sibling joined later. During many summers, they would travel to the home country, spending time with relatives in India, carrying Tang (orange flavor) and Nido milk powder, often picked up at the airport, along with a selection of electronic items (VCRs and cordless phones!). “But what were summers like when you stayed back? ” I ask, hoping to change the mood. “Did you really cook sunny-side-up eggs on the car bonnets?” I throw him a lifeline to change the mood and to draw in some laughter too. “Or is that purely for the ‘Gram and TikTok?” And we go down the memory lane.
Every kid in Kuwait knew how to ice skate. Now, that’s not just an aspiration or a false claim; it’s a fact I can vouch for. He can, and so can all his friends! The Ice Skating Rink was the spot to be seen at if you were a cool kid, and many summers were spent skating against the backdrop of the latest music. Inaugurated in 1980, the rink was not only the first in Kuwait but also the first ice skating complex in the Middle East. I learned how it was minimalistic and not commercial, “The way most entertainment zones meant for kids these days are.” It was large, with walls adorned in geometric Sadu weaving patterns. It was cool not only to be inside, but also the time spent on the seats around the rink, or even waiting outside to be picked up by parents, was as exciting. And how much did it cost for, say, an hour of fun? “KD 5.00/person for a 1.5-hour session, including skate rentals!” And at just KD 1.50, you could rent the penguin-shaped walker.
And then there were Marina Beach days in Salmiya; as school-going children, everyone looked forward to this outing. When school was on, herds of kids in school buses would make their way, with a snack and beachwear in the excursion bags. “Just a drive on the Gulf Road and you could see the beaches and ocean; they stay full in view, not hidden by a barrage of buildings.” Sunrise at the beach was another common activity and summer goal.
There was also some gully cricket in the home compound, a few cycle rides in the neighborhood (and when left unlocked, they were stolen, but that’s a story for a different day), and when there was not much to do, there was always the KDD Rocket Lolly (apparently, banana and raspberry were the most popular) to fall back on. Growing up brought it with it, Sheesha, yes, even in the summer: It was and perhaps still is the one staple pleasure of their lives. I laugh, comparing it to the gathering of men over a game of backgammon or a Karak. “Back then, you could easily spend an evening for just 1 KD sheesha.”
The ice skating rink was demolished in 2020. Most of the beaches are now promenades lined with fine-dining eateries. Sheesha flavors cost a tad more and are fancier, too. But what’s stayed intact is the resilience of the kids, now adults, who know that after having spent a handful of summers in the country, one grows fond of even 46 degrees, out of habit, yes, but also out of love.
Purva Grover is a UAE-based author, journalist, and creative entrepreneur. You can stalk her on Instagram, @purvagr.
Photo by LATIKA SARKER on Unsplash.
