Random details to love about Beirut:
(cont'd..)When you order a $1.50 small ice-cream, they ask for a number of flavors that they will eagerly allow to over-take the cone. Just when you think the cone is too top heavy, they roll the vanilla, nutmeg, chocolate, hazelnut mountain in crushed pistachio nuts and serve it with a spoon. Now that is an ice-cream cone.
On Sunday, the streets are deserted. According to my program director, “when there is silence, there is a wedding in Lebanon”.
There is much enthusiasm for food. I now know why my father at times, stands while he eagerly devouring his meal.
Contrary to the Spanish women’s constant discussion of weight and how to avoid over-eating, the Lebanese women show great joy in eating. By contrast to Spanish men, the men seemingly relish in watching their women eat passionately.
In Lebanese, one wishes you a “good meal” by toasting to your health, making it plural--”two healths!”. Your response to their well wishes is, [and to] “your heart”.
Ketchup is to Americans as Garlic sauce is to the Lebanese.
Most Arabic names have meanings. Some examples include, “Abdullah”, meaning slave of God, or “Naghma”, meaning melody.
My room in the morning hours. The rising sun pours through my Arabic red curtains, creating walls that look like glowing embers all around me.
Among a group of friends (Syrian and Lebanese), generosity is so prevalent it becomes a competition---who can treat others first? Splitting the bill is only common among students, for example.
Watching the planes come in from around the world at sunset on the sea-walk facing the Meditteranean.
A way to silence or hush someone in the imperative in Lebanese can be, “Eat Biscuits”.
I am now teaching the Syrian grocers (in my favorite shop where it all began) how to speak Spanish. We exchange one phrase every day.
In Arabic, there is a word for to vanquish that means to literally, “Break the eyes of the opponent”.
When you buy hummus, they automatically throw in a side of mint, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, spicy peppers, sweet onion and olives; inextricable to the hummus order.
As quoted by my Arabic teacher, “The only thing reliable and accurate in Lebanon are the exact times the electricity cuts in and out every day--every three hours.”
My lunch today--freshly prepared hummus with pine nuts, lubban with lemon and mint and perfectly ripe apricots--all for under 6 US dollars.
Juice markets on every corner--with carrot juice as the first option (my fave)!
Hookah anytime, day or night, and any location is acceptable.
Perfect strangers (like older women and gentlemen) calling you habibtee, or, my dear one, to address you on the streets.
The call to prayer, five times a day, serves as a reminder to give thanks and pray to God.
The expressive nature of the Arabic language: For example, psychology in Arabic is translated, Science of the soul.
Ground dates--spread it on toast for breakfast, enjoy it after dinner or eat it alone during afternoon coffee--either way, it’s simply delightful!
When you say shukran, or thank you, to the Lebanese, they respond, “Welcome”, instead of, “Your welcome”.
In Arabic, although there is a separate noun for teacher and student, the verb to teach and to learn are the same.
The Lebanese continuously tell me I have a young face for my age, looking 22 and 23 years old. This is a large contrast to the Spaniards estimates that my face reflects the upper 30’s.....eh’hem.
Walking down the middle of the street at all hours of the day/night is considered normal and very “Lebanese”.
It is common and more than acceptable for men to greet other men with kisses on both cheeks and many hugs.
Instead of fast food chains that normally pepper college campuses, LAU and AUB are surrounded by multiple chains of beauty salons. Both men and women can choose from a long menu of aesthetic treatments.
Not quite charming...
Those who have little or no moral will talk you in circles in attempts to distract you from calculating the exact price they have named for you--beware of the mindless banter.
The internet in my apartment building breaks down at least three times a week.
No one bats an eye when the electricity goes out and all conversations resume in the dark without mention to it.
Seemingly innocent, like the elderly men in Spain, the Lebanese male elders sit in the street on stools, smoking hookah or nothing at all, commenting on the women that pass by. For women that meet their approval, they state in a not so subtle way, “Tayyib!”, or in Lebanese, good/delicious.
The taxis continue to honk at you even while you are running, as if you will halt in your tracks right then and get in their cab.
Beirutis honk their horns as much as they talk--incessantly. It’s as if they need their voices to be heard at all times, wherever they find themselves.
Motos driving against traffic and on sidewalks.
No police to enforce traffic and street rules; chaos reigns.
Army tanks parked on street corners. The soldiers sitting atop always look so bored with life.
Young boys playing Beirut. This consists of pointing plastic guns at one another and shouting, “Bang, Bang, your dead!”
The dreadful task of crossing the street. Cross with confidence and don’t turn back. It is a contest between car and human--who will accelerate faster?
In Arabic, one must distinguish between their paternal and maternal aunts. There are four different terms to do so. For example, if I want to address my mom’s sister, I have to say, “Ya, Maternal Aunt blank...”.
4-7 year old boys, using their charm and almond shaped eyes to try and sell gum (relentlessly) to anyone who will pay them attention.
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