Janneke

Almost one month after arriving in Kuwait, I finally have a car that I can call my very own!  It took nearly 2 weeks to prepare (because of Ramadan hours), but yesterday after school, I arrived at the dealership to find my car there, parked inside! Squeaky clean on the inside, sparkly clean on the outside, absolutely beautiful.

This next picture is of Janneke the first day I saw her. She was just Dusty-Grey-Car-with-the-good-engine-and-the-so-called-fancy-rims at that point. Macky, my Filipino brother, and Kamal, the sales guy, insisted that it was a good car. We didn’t even test drive it!

I went back that night to deliver paperwork. She was still there in the parking lot, still filthy, still just a big, grey car.

But now? Washed. Detailed. Brand new, fully aligned tires. And yes, the rims actually ARE beautiful. The dealer had to explain to me why they were such a good upgrade, but now I see it.

I drove her down south to Mahboula last night, and she drives like a DREAM. Unlike the Peugeot that felt like it was going 120 when it was going 80, this one is the opposite. It feels like it’s going 80 when I’m actually going 120, so I’ll have to be extra careful watching the speedometer.  Like all the cars here, it beeps after 120km/hr, but…some of the major roads have a limit of 100, or even 80.  I did semi-alright today following the speed laws :)

The shocks are like driving on moonboots. The steering is calm and easy. The air conditioning works fast and cold! The radio has clear sound. I could go on and on, but I won’t.

Except…I’ll admit that I’ve done a little light reading…the owner’s manual is surprisingly interesting! (Come on, it’s my very first car…or, it will be mine after “24 easy payments of 90KD”…I’ve got to know how to keep her as nice as possible!)

I’m still shaking my head in amazement and lifting my hands to the sky in praise. I feel like the princess that I am, totally spoiled by the King. Not because I deserve it, but because He’s so very gracious.

I named her Janneke because it means “God’s Gift” in Dutch. I never could have had her any other way.