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Transforming Former FBI Real Madrid old newspapers director to lead within point into something Russia probe of Liga title beautiful4 15 46 Min 27º Max 44º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 17232- Friday, May 19, 2017 70th Cannes Film CANNES: Thai actress Araya Alberta Hargate known as Chompoo poses as she arrives on May 17, 2017 for the screening of the film ‘Ismael’s Festival kicks off Ghosts’ (Les Fantomes d’Ismael) during the opening ceremony of the 70th edition of the Cannes Page 22 Film Festival. — AFP Local FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017 Local Spotlight Photo of the day Flying gravel By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] he court of appeal rejected a claim by a Twoman for KD 5,000 in compensation for damage to her vehicle as a result of flying gravel on the roads. The rejection of the case sent a message to everyone not to trouble themselves to file more cases and hire lawyers, because those who are affected due to the bad job by the con- tractor and the ministry of public works need to remain silent and accept the reality. Or take the long road of insurance companies and garages to repair the damage and pay for it. For more than a year now, many people have been suffering from the flying stones on the roads that is damaging their cars, especially when the windshield shatters, forcing motorists to pay from their own pockets to change the glass and repair the cars, whether tires or other parts. These complaints led many people to sue the govern- ment for damages, but it is no surprise that the case was denied. However, the committee for public utilities at the National Assembly issued a report on the inci- dence of flying gravel. It stated that the main rea- sons for the occurrence of the problem is due to KUWAIT: Local performers in the midst of a Kuwaiti folkloric dance. — Photo by Ahmed Srour / Kuna lack of control, supervision and poor procedures to ensure quality, and the responsibility for the dam- In my view The report added that the Intrusion reasons for the problem were volatility in terms of traffic density and the By Dana Al-Rashid absence of weight stations for trucks. [email protected] re we really, and I mean truly, free? Are we able to there are many social expectations for us in store - but age to the roads is between all concerned official Ashape our lives as we wish - as long as it does not often very hard to fulfill. For example, there are pres- authorities, the ministry of public works and the violate the law - or are we forever burdened by sures to choose a certain major in college, followed by road contractors. societal expectations? Our personal choices are often expectations of when and where to work. There is also a The committee also recommended not using judged, scrutinized and even limited by “the social lot of intervening in deciding which life partner to norm”, even if those choices are deemed harmless to choose, and when one should get married - if ever. It any new method unless scientific tests are con- others. does not stop here; societal intrusion reaches as far as to ducted over its durability and quality, and after We all face social conditioning from early childhood. your choice of having children. Blatant questions such proving its success, to take appropriate measures In our teenage years, we start to experiment with indi- as “When are you having children?” and “Why don’t you to prevent wastage of public funds. The report viduality and self-expression. We begin to realize that have more kids?” are asked with no consideration of the added that the reasons for the problem were any different outfit or unique haircut could either get person’s privacy or personal preference. volatility in terms of traffic density and the absence you positive attention, or turn you into a laughing stock, As for women, there are endless social expectations of weight stations for trucks. The committee depending how you pull it off! and limitations on how to look and behave. Not owning assured that these considerations had to be taken But what is truly fascinating is that individual think- a luxury brand bag or shoes is enough of a reason to into account when finalizing contracts for the ing, more than anything, is what can really classify you shun a woman in the local female society. It seems that design of asphalt mixtures. as a “weirdo”! Your only consolation would be to either these kinds of intrusive questions, pressures and sug- I believe that what is mentioned in the report is create or join a community of like-minded individuals, gestions are here to stay, no matter how personal the understandable and clear to all. When we drive our or live as a hermit. As for your last resort, it would be to matter at hand. People need to develop quite a thick cars on a highway that was only built a few years suppress those strange thoughts - or your individuality - skin to be able to still choose to live the way they want ago and we find cracks on the road, it shows the and adopt the common way of thinking and living, at despite these all-too-familiar voices. poor work of the responsible party. Clearly, the the price of your inner voice. Perhaps there are good intentions behind all these report indicates that there is no supervision in the Individuality has a dear price that not many are will- questions and unsolicited advice, but how far will we performance of the work. We the people are affect- ing to pay; therefore most people choose the easier allow ourselves to decide for others how to go on about ed and even pay money to fix others’ mistakes, path. And why not?! It’s a friction-free life where one is their lives? And why do we ostracize anyone who is while complaining is unacceptable! So what is the easily accepted, only as long as they follow popular even slightly different than us? But most importantly - solution? The public utilities committee has played behaviors and views, regardless of how true or how how far are we willing to compromise our constitution- its role, and we have to wait for a new disaster to suitable they are to the follower. ally-given freedoms to please others? This is a question remind ourselves that there is continuing neglect. In a conservative and closely-knit culture like ours, definitely worth pondering. FRIDAY 19 MAY 2017 Local Papercraft: Transforming old newspapers into something beautiful and useful By Ben Garcia nalee Garcia, 55, is a domestic helper who also works as a part-time office cleaner - and a paper crafter. She can make something out of Aalmost anything - left over newspaper becomes flower vases, bags, paper chandeliers, laundry baskets and pen holders. She sells her skillful artworks for prices ranging from munity event for the first time, it all sold out within a KD 5 to KD 50, depending on the size and design. few hours. She then made some more because of pend- "People buy my products not only because they are ing orders. "This inspired me to make and sell more. My beautiful, but also because they know how much effort boss is very supportive of it and all the earnings come I put into it," she told Kuwait Times. Analee manages to me - they take nothing from it," she said. both her jobs and still finds time for her hobby. Analee, who is unmarried, is the mother of an adopt- Moreover, through her newfound pastime, she earns ed son. The boy is now 16 years old. Ironically, Analee extra to support her family. "For my paper craft job, I said that she herself was adopted, just like her son. "I collect newspapers from many offices that are in my only knew about my situation (of being adopted) a few apartment building. Thankfully, they have a steady sup- years before my parents died. My foster mother died ply of newspapers, so I collect them a day later," Analee after a cataract operation due to an infection. I was 14 said. She said she discovered her love for paper craft years old at that time. Then, my foster father remarried when she started working as a cleaner. "I was clearing and I felt mistreated, so after sixth grade I left home," my boss' desk and noticed a pile of newspapers. Just she said. when I was about to throw them away, I saw a beautiful "At the age of 12, I was living on my own to sur- paper candy holder made out of newspaper on the cen- vive. I had to work from a very young age because I ter of the table. My colleague who made it inspired me knew none of my siblings would ever show up to to put the newspapers to good use," she said. help. I applied for all sort of jobs - from a construc- Analee learned the art of paper craft from her col- tion worker to a farm worker to a caretaker of a fish- league, and what started as a pastime soon turned into pond. I also worked as a street cleaner, clerk and a passion. "I went to my colleague's house to learn how timekeeper," she said. to make the candy holder," she recalled. "At first I only At 22, Analee met her biological father. "I remember wanted to recycle newspapers, but soon I became more it was at a party that one of the attendees claimed to passionate about it and wanted to create more and know my mother.

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