FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 18501 THULHIJJA 27, 1442 AH FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021 NOTICE Happy Hijri New Year to all our readers! Kuwait Times will not print August 8-9 in honor of the Hijri New Year. Readers can stay informed with breaking news and information via KuwaitTimes.net and our digi- tal media channels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. National Assembly panel calls for reopening schools, kindergartens See Page 9 2 Friday Local Friday, August 6, 2021 Vaxxed: Teens Speak Out Kuwait opened coronavirus vaccines to children aged 12 to 15 in late July/early August. Thousands of children have now been vaccinated. Kuwait Times invited some of these teenagers to share their thoughts on getting the jab. By Alexis De Leon But I wanted to get the vaccine because it y first experi- ence with the would reduce my chances of getting COVID Mvaccine was and spreading it to my family and loved ones, faster than I had expected it to be. I and for me, that was more than enough reason have a small fear of needles so I was nerv- ous about it, but from what I had heard, the needles didn’t hurt By Safyre Joseph-Etheridge sweat, and we were directed to our vaccina- that much. while that faded most of my wor- tion booth. I felt nervous and sick, like I was ries, it still made me nervous. Vaccinations was really nervous to get the vaccine at about to throw up — mostly because I hate are very unfamiliar to me but I know the shot Ifirst. But I wanted to get the vaccine needles of any kind, but especially the one is for the best. A part of me was somewhat because it would reduce my chances of that was going into me. I knew that there was excited because a vaccination meant that I getting COVID and spreading it to my family the chance of possible side effects, but it was will be closer to being able to get back to a and loved ones, and for me, that was more too late to back out now. normal life. I thought it would take hours like than enough reason. I researched about the I gritted my teeth, took a deep breath, and other hospitals, but it took less than half an risks and spoke to my cousins and family waited. hour. The needle itself did sting, but it wasn’t Prick. about getting the vaccine, my talk with them as bad as I originally thought it would be. encouraged me even more and pushed aside “Done,” the nurse said. I opened my eyes, confused that I had barely felt anything at all. My arm felt a little heavy, but I don’t feel any my anxiety. side effects other than that. I expected it to However, when we arrived, I saw the Even though the process was annoyingly hurt a lot. My vaccination experience was queue and became hesitant. It was a long long and hot, I am extremely glad I got it line, with hot and angry people all wanting to done, and would do it again. Well I’m going great and I can’t wait for my second dose. vaccinate their children. After waiting in the to in a couple weeks anyways and I can’t line for about 15 minutes, I was drenched in wait :) Friday 3 Local Friday, August 6, 2021 We’ve been in this situation for almost two years now. It’s literally draining our abilities, halting our desires for greatness and crippling our gifts and talents, so I want this to end By Rajeev Ezekiel Diesta My parents were talking about vaccines for about a year now. They waited like seven to am turning 17 next month. Why did I 10 months before they got the vaccine them- Idecide to get the vaccine? I just want to selves. My mother is a registered nurse-a help end this virus soon! We’ve been in frontliner too. But she herself would not want this situation for almost two years now. It’s lit- to get vaccinated, at least during the introduc- erally draining our abilities, halting our desires tory period. In fact she waited until my father for greatness and crippling our gifts and tal- got vaccinated before she finally decided to ents, so I want this to end! With my decision get the vaccine. She was scared. But I am not. and millions of others, maybe this pandemic After I saw they had no serious or adverse will come to an end. It’s been a crazy chapter effects, that’s when they registered my name. of our lives that we don’t want to remember! I got the jab last Monday. The vaccination We were unable to study in our classrooms, center was crowded. I saw throngs of people we were unable to play our favorite sports. In queuing for the vaccine. I went home, slept, my case I am crazy playing football with ate and repeat-I’ve been anticipating friends and because of this pandemic we were headaches or probably fever, as some of my stuck in our small rooms and now addicted to classmates told me but I was disappointed some online games! We want the normal way feeling no pain at all, only small type of insect of life without fear and restrictions. bite on my arm where I got the jab. By Annice Jinse By Angela Jinse am 14 years old, am studying in 9th grade. We went to the Mishref studying in Gulf vaccination center for the vaccine. My brother and I I Indian School, sister were also with me to get vaccinated. There Fahaheel in grade 9. I was a huge traffic jam before we reached the vaccina- went to the Mishref vac- tion center. Outside the vaccination center, there was a cination center to take large crowd too. We finally managed to enter the vacci- my first dose of the vac- nation hall, where there was a long queue of people cine. When I reached waiting to get vaccinated. Once inside, we were told to there, I saw a huge sit in the vaccination booth. I was a bit scared of the queue in the burning needle, but when the nurse injected the vaccine, I only heat. We were last in the felt a little pain. The medical staff were very informative queue. Many children and kind. As we reached the car, I was feeling a bit were there with their tired, but after we reached home, I was fine. parents. Because of the heat, a few children fainted, and parents were struggling. After 20 By Abdullah Reshamwala this year, every person in minutes we were inside Kuwait ought to be vaccinat- hall no. 5. Again there was a huge crowd, but we man- etting vaccinated ed, because you need it to aged to reach the vaccination booth. When I saw the opens many opportu- travel and stay in Kuwait. needle, I was a little bit nervous, but I was surprised Gnities for us. It allows I registered on August 4 because it finished within seconds with little pain. After you to enter malls, dine at and got the message on the we exited the vaccination center, I was feeling tired and restaurants, travel abroad, etc. very same day to come and had pain in my left hand. This was my first vaccination These are some of the things get the jab the next day. At the experience. that unvaccinated people can- vaccination center, there was not access. Countless people a very long queue, but it was have avoided the vaccine continuously moving. In 10 fearing its side effects. But I’m minutes I reached the vaccine sure that the vaccine is com- booth. In the booth there was pletely harmless. a nurse who took my civil ID To end the coronavirus, and noted the details on the getting vaccinated seems to computer. She asked me to sit breath. I was kind of scared, be the last option left. So I in a comfortable chair while so I started thinking about think taking the COVID-19 she got the syringe ready. something else. It stung a little vaccine shouldn’t be a choice, Before giving me the jab, she but it wasn’t painful. It was a but compulsory. By the end of asked me to take a deep pleasant experience. 4 Friday Local Friday, August 6, 2021 Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat uilt in 1939, the former Madrasa Al Sharqiya B(Eastern School) is now home to Kuwait’s Museum of Modern Art and houses some of the country’s most important and relevant artistic creations including several sculptures and paintings by famous Kuwaiti artists like Sami Mohammed, Khaza’al Al Gaffas, Essa Sagr and Thuraya Al-Baqsami among others. Unfortunately few of the artworks are labeled or provided with detailed descriptions. However, the building itself is reflective of Kuwait heritage and architectural history. Hours of the museum are 9am-1:30pm and 3pm-9pm Sundays through Thursdays. Closed on Fridays and Saturdays. The museum is located in Sharq, in the lot across from Souq Sharq. Friday 5 Local Friday, August 6, 2021 6 Friday Local Friday, August 6, 2021 our growth and development. Life would be items and knickknacks. When asked if he was somehow easy and smooth. In my cabinet, JUST KIDDIN’, SERIOUSLY very boring if we were all the same. The the same at home, he answered that his home there were mainly a few official papers, a few remodeling revealed some of the interesting is overflowing with things.