The country has about five million inhabitants, but only one and a half million are Kuwaiti citizens. The rest are expats and workers from India, the Philippines, Egypt, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Life is very different for them. Kuwaiti citizens receive monthly support from the government, and housing, weddings, and even studies abroad are often paid for. Education is free, and the country has no national debt. I’ve never seen another place with such abundance among its local citizens.

Money flows easily here. Nobody splits bills. When the bill arrives at a table, it always goes to the Kuwaiti. No friend or stranger is allowed to pay, it’s part of their culture of hospitality and generosity. If you say you like something, it will be ordered for you immediately. Drivers come and go all day, picking people up, dropping things off, or bringing food.

The food is incredible, with influences from all over the world. Spices fill the air, and the bread is unforgettable: fresh, warm, and in all shapes and sizes. Huge loaves of soft, fragrant bread are served with every meal. And of course, there’s the sweet tea, infused with mint, cardamom, and other spices. It’s impossible to say no to another cup.

Most women wear long black abayas and veils, while men wear traditional white robes. People can tell where someone is from just by small details in the clothing or headscarf. “Oh, that’s an Emirati.” “That one’s Bedouin.” It’s fascinating. They don’t wear these clothes because of laws, by the way, but out of tradition and because they want to. You can also wear Western clothes here, though modesty (covered shoulders, chest, belly and knees) is respected.

Kuwaitis are modern and stylish, women wear beautiful makeup, and the malls are enormous, luxurious, and ice-cold from the air conditioning. Everyone I’ve met has been warm, friendly, and curious. On my first day, I was already welcomed into the family home of my DC friend @Fajerthenomad, sharing a big meal together. I went to a local ‘conversations with strangers’ event and had deep and interesting conversations with locals I would otherwise never have met. Young and old, male and female, traditional and modern.

Next weekend, Fajer is organizing a meetup for local and international entrepreneurs in her book store (Bliss and Paper). I will also give a workshop ‘How to write your book’ to local entrepreneurs. This is my way of ‘giving back’ when I travel.

As fascinating as it is, I don’t think I could live here myself, mostly because of the heat and how different daily life is from what I’m used to. Many families have drivers, nannies, or house staff to help, and of course countless people work in hotels, restaurants, and shops. Life is very different for the foreign workers who keep the country running.

Every evening I’m exhausted, processing so many impressions. Yet I find it all incredibly fascinating. After visiting over a hundred countries, this is one of the few times I truly feel like Alice in Wonderland again. Wide-eyed, amazed, like a child on a school trip. Everything is new, everything is exciting. I’m soaking it all in and loving every minute of it. The last time I felt like this was in Japan.

And it makes me wonder: when was the last time you did something for the first time?