The Kuwait Pecking Order

I am quickly learning how segregated the population here is and the amount of racism that exists.  The job site alone is something of a microcosm of the community as a whole, at least in terms of expats, so it's been interesting to experience.  Most of the laborers are Pakistani, Indian or Egyptian.  They speak little or no English, are unskilled, work long hours doing back-breaking, often dangerous work and get paid very little (I'll go into more detail on this later). 

The discrimination I find the most interesting is less obvious, though.  You see, there are Kuwaitis and then there are Kuwaitis.  Interestingly, being born in Kuwait with Kuwaiti parents, grandparents, etc. does not make you a real Kuwaiti.  To be considered a real Kuwaiti, one must be from a certain lineage, tribe or origin.  Being a member of this "superior" class entitles one to a number of perks.  Not only will the government pay for private schooling and a university education at any school in the World, but they will also buy you your first house. What?! From what I can tell, it also implies that you will wear Prada and Gucci for the rest of your life and drive an Escalade, but I could be reading into this.  Needless to say, the amount of wealth is mind-boggling.  

Now, if you're a fake Kuwaiti (someone actually described them to me as this), you get none of the above.  Then again, not being able to claim "ownership" of this country doesn't seem all that bad...