Where Were You During the Big Ass Kuwaiti Sandstorm? 25 March 2011 عاصفة الكويت شي من الخيال

I saw this incredible video on Mark ~ 248am and I had to steal it and share it with you. Thanks Mark :*

Where were you during the BIG Mother of Sandstorms? I was in my apartment because of a last minute change of plans. (Thank you God!) I went to open my curtains and window to enjoy my view of the Arabian Gulf when I saw something BIG, black and puffy creeping over the water. I felt immediate fear and I wasn't quite sure what it was. Was it rain? dust? sand? an explosion? The first thing I did was call my Hayati but the line was dead. Then I started taking pictures with my phone. I wish I could tell you that I'm a brave girl but the truth is I'm not at all when it comes to Mother Nature.

When I was a little girl my parents took us out on a typical boat trip that turned ugly. I was downstairs sleeping in the bedroom and the Gulf of Mexico turned ugly in a flash. I think I was around five years old and it was my first experience in treacherous waters. My Father was trying to turn the boat around when he realized the waves were getting too high. My Mother, nanny and siblings were next to him and I was all alone. The water was so rough that it was tossing the boat around and I started screaming and crying for my Mother. I could hear her calling to me but I couldn't make out what she was saying. She couldn't climb down to the bedroom until we escaped the dangerous waters. From that point on I would spend my early childhood terrified of boats, thunderstorms or anything that reminded me of them. My Family spent most of our weekends on the boat and my Father kept forcing me to go back out on the water to overcome my phobia.

If there was any type of Tropical Storm or Hurricane coming close to our house my Father would drive us as far away as possible. Nobody in my family wanted to hear me scream and cry nonstop until the storm was over. If my parents were out to dinner and a thunderstorm hit, they would rush home to be with me because the Nanny couldn't calm me down. I would almost go into shock. Loool, how embarrassing! Thankfully I overcame my fear at around nine years old and I had my first boat at eleven (Boston Whaler) that I would cruise around Destin, Florida with my friends and brother. Of course we didn't go near the Gulf or even the Bay unless we were with my parents.

Back to the Kuwaiti Sandstorm that kind of scared me a little. My Hayati doesn't even know about my childhood phobia but he called me as I was taking pictures out my window with my phone. He sounded terrified and asked me was I safe and where was I. I explained that I was at home and he almost yelled thank God. He said he kept trying to call me but couldn't get through. He was driving home and he couldn't see while he was driving and trying to talk to me. I kept telling him to hang up the phone and concentrate on getting home safe. To call me as soon as he arrived at his house but he wouldn't listen (as usual). It took him an extra 20 - 30 minutes to get home but he arrived safely.

I'm sure this storm isn't that big of a deal to most Kuwaitis but it sure scared this little girl from the south. I sure as hell do not want to experience this in Kuwait again. I am very thankful that I was safe at home and my heart goes out to everyone that was caught in the middle. Especially the people that lost theirs lives, may God bless them in Heaven and take care of their families.

So where were you during the sandstorm and how did it make you feel?