The Salam Alaikum Gang

I used to feel sorry for the people who clean on the streets, grocery stores & malls, parkings. Since my last year in high school, I started giving out money to those people who approach and say "Salam Alaikum." After all, they are human, and they're working to clean our country. I went off to College in the UAE and rarely came back to Kuwait on holidays and weekends, so I lost touch with the development of the Salam alaikum situation over here. Last year when I graduated, I started helping around with house chores, like going to get groceries and stuff like that. Once, as I stepped out of the car, a garbage man came close to me and said "Salam Alaikum." I had no cash at that time so I walked away. So he followed me repeating "Salam Alaikum, Salam Alaikum MAMA, Salam Alaikum!" I turned and looked at his face and as if he was cursing me or something. When I came back home I told my Dad (God rest his soul) and he told me to avoid them and not give them anything, because they already have a job. From there on, I ignored every Salam Alaikum guy, except for the old ones. I really empathize with them.
The Salam Alaikum Frenzy goes on and on everywhere, and I got used to a garbage man walking behind me as soon soon as I step off my car or get in and show me that he's working. The only ones I give money to, are the porters at the airport and the guys who help me carry my groceries to the car. Once, when I arrived to Kuwait Airport coming from Dubai, I called a porter to pick up my baggage. As we walked to the car, I realized that I only have a 1/4 KD bill, and I know that's the minimum I could give them. I felt bad because I usually don't give them less than 1 Kd and he deserves it if he's carrying heavy luggage. But I said that I'd give this guy a 250 fils and that would be it. When I gave him the money, he looked at me with a smirk on his face, and said "Mama, this is not enough." Porters got used to getting 1, 5, or 10 KD in high seasons, where lots of people are traveling or coming back from vacation. I just told him that I don't have enough and asked him to walk away.
A sort of funny and strange story happened to me once at Al Mowasat Hospital parkings. Just as I was about to step off my car, 2 women covered from top to bottom were headed straight to me. I got in my car again, locked the doors and started the engine. One of them knocked on my window and asked if she could talk to me. I thought for a second, maybe they're lost. I rolled down the window a little bit, and she said: "We're coming from Qatar, and we lost our way. We don't have any money for now, and I wouldn't like to beg, but I just wanted to ask for your help." So I asked her what she wants. She said she needs HELP, and by help she means money. I just wanted to get rid of her and I didn't know what to do in this sticky situation. I found a 5 Kd in cash and I gave it to her. I thought she would walk away, but she looked at the money I gave her and started crying "please my dear, I only need 20 KD for gas money!!" Are you kidding me? what are you filling up? a Six-Wheeler? I told her I'm sorry I don't have any money left. She offered to come with me to the nearest ATM machine, but I refused and finally she walked away. Some beggars are seriously professional! Now, whenever I see someone and have the feeling that they're approaching me, I'd simply walk away or think of something smart to say. It's really strange how people are capable of begging but not finding a job that would secure their lives.
A couple of years ago, statistics were shown in a newspaper about the porters in Kuwait airport. They found out that porters gain a lot from their job. In holiday seasons, people feel generous when traveling or coming back. Some would give them around 10 KD or more. At a monthly rate, each porter would gain roughly from 1000 KD to 3000 KD. Would you like to take that job?