How I ended up in Kuwait

During my school years, I always envisioned myself heading to Asia. The dream involved writing Chinese, embarking on grand adventures in the land of fried rice, and living in a busy metropolis like Shanghai. I felt a sense of destiny in this vision, likely influenced by my dad's experiences working in China. He returned with a traditional Chinese dress (which I still have), telling me and my family with stories of life there in the '90s, a time significantly different from today. He even sent me postcards in Chinese, one of which I've kept and hangs on the wall in my childhood room at my parents' house.

Life, however, took its own course. Despite studying Chinese language and culture and making two trips to China (one for learning Chinese and another for leisure with my best friend), I found myself in a place I had to look up on the internet to pinpoint.

Having graduated in 2009, my efforts to secure a job in Italy related to the languages I studied proved challenging. The only job that had given me real satisfaction during university was working in a manpower agency office, helping new immigrants find employment. Though I was only an intern at the time trying to get my credits, it was fulfilling. Little did I anticipate that it would eventually become my profession.

In 2010, I began applying through a now dead I believe job platform, lavorofuori.net, looking for opportunities in unconventional locations and where English level required was not fluent - as I was definitely far from that. The first positive response came from a hotel in Kuwait seeking staff, mainly for F&B service roles, italian speaking. Despite having no experience in serving, and without a proper interview, I was given an offer (paid very little as should be at the beginning) and a decent package with accommodation provided that made me more at ease to accept.

The months leading up to my departure were quite challenging. Securing a visa for Kuwait, a process that I believe remains unchanged, required a comprehensive medical check-up, with results needing attestation at the Kuwaiti Embassy in my home country (Rome, in my case). Unfortunately, my medical tests turned out to be quite messy. A misread lung X-ray initially raised concerns of possible TB, prompting a visit to a specialist. Fortunately, subsequent tests confirmed that I didn't have TB. There was another misinterpretation, suggesting I had malaria, but further testing cleared any doubts. My mom still recalls going through all these ups and downs with me, at one point questioning whether these challenges were signs for me to reconsider and stay home. But at that point, there was no chance of me changing my mind.

I remember leaving, and as everyone was thinking I would be back home soon. Instead, I never went back. That MIA flight, the worst flight of my life where my eardrum almost exploded (blood coming out and panic) - yes, I did end up in the hospital as the first place to visit in Kuwait, has been the first of a long series taking me around the Middle East from 2011 to 2023.

The job that I started there was as a Guest Relations Officer (basically a hostess) in the Italian restaurant. I did my best to carry trays, do mise en place, help out with service, but definitely, that was not meant to be. And shortly after, I started to help out in the F&B office with admin tasks and "recruiting" Italians for the restaurant, as somehow, some experience was there and definitely a passion for it and didn't go unnoticed by my manager.

It was all quick, almost without even realizing that it was the start of a career, not only a job. Quickly going from F&B to HR, from Admin to Executive, from one country to another one.

It has been an adventure, and still is.

There is a big misconception about countries like Kuwait. I always get asked how it was for a woman, if they are so strict and unwelcoming to foreigners. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Yes, you need to respect the culture and be mindful of that aspect, but apart from this, Kuwait is a country where you can start a career, that will give you opportunity and that will welcome your know-how. Yes, it is not for everyone; there are downsides like in every place. But I would go back every day and experience it again, a place where everything started, where I got friends who are still friends today, and where I learned to work hard because hard work will pay you back one day.