Life in Lebanon

Well, we’ve been here 3 weeks now, and are really starting to settle into the Lebanese way of life. Some of you have asked how that’s different from life in Chicago, so here are some of the many differences (most of which we love, some of which we don’t exactly love):      

• Long, late dinners: either at our family’s places or at restaurants, meals last for hours and often don’t start till around 10 pm 

• Extensive fruit courses: May be one of the original reasons Dena fell in love with Lebanon. 

• Mediterranean beaches. True, Chicago has some pretty great beaches, but we’re enjoying time with our family at some of Beirut’s beaches as well.

• Driving that one friend has described as “go-karting.” Best description we’ve heard yet. No lines on the roads, no speed limits, no semblance of order, few signs, many blind passes, and neighboring cars close enough to reach out and touch… just a few of the things that make a simple drive across Beirut a rush.Unbelievable bureaucracy. I’ve gotten several extensive tours of AUB trying to get simple tasks done, after being referred from one office to the next, back to the original office, and finally losing it and yelling, “Shou bedkoun yaini amil?!” (What do you want me to do?) Amazing how they respond to a little Lebanese exasperation.
• No notion of lines/waiting/order. On one of my first days, I arrived at the registrar’s office at 7:45, and they didn’t open until 8:30. I was the only student there at the time. By 8:30, about 30 other students had joined me in waiting. I naively thought they’d recognize “my place” in line. Big mistake. The doors opened and what followed was a mad rush that left the 5’5”American guy somewhere closer to the back than the front. We’ve since noticed many times at stores, bank, etc., that lines are really just for looks. When you want something, you either just yell from the back of the line or kindly make your way to the front. And of course, you act shocked if anyone seems troubled by your initiative.
  
  There are many more we could mention, but these are some highlights. We really do love it here. The people and the country are beautiful, and we’re blessed to have this time here.

 E