Nearly 30,000 feet in mid-air it dawned on me: I love Lebanon. Now you might think I'm crazy. So did I when we finally descended and the smell of rotten eggs started seeping through the cracks in the plane, but I'm being completely honest in this revelation. I sat there floating in a metal carrier that still astounds me with its ability to carry hundreds of people for hours in the clouds.
But I digress.
The summer escape to California was a total of five weeks. That's five weeks with clean free beaches, fresh air, sane drivers, organization, political stability (relax Trump boycotters), 24/7 electricity and water, and ultimate peace of mind. However, it was also five long weeks without grandma's cooking, ordering Tonino at the office, family BBQs, tabouleh, constant action, happening nightlife, and familiar traditions.
To be completely honest, it didn't take the entire five weeks to start missing the mess I called home. These are a few things I learned after I left Lebanon.
Never take a vacation for longer than 3 weeks
Unless it's to study abroad or to enroll in a specific course or workshop, three weeks is more than enough. By the time I tasted all that needed to be tasted, visited the beach several times, and crossed off every tourist attraction know to the citizens of California and just about anyone with access to Trip Advisor, I was a little, well... bored. Besides, trying to get accustomed to my routine after so long wasn't very easy.
Lebanon is breathtakingly beautiful
If you completely disregard the garbage and sewage for a moment, you'll realize just how beautiful this country is. From the breathtaking waterfalls of Jezzine, to the picturesque villages in the south, Lebanon puts travel magazines to shame. Having explored everything from Big Sur's bridges to the Hollywood sign trail hike in California, I can still confidently claim Lebanon has incomparable beauty.
Lebanese are always on the move
We finish work at 6PM, head to the gym, and then hit up a pub, new restaurant, or some sort of activity before making it home late. Americans are the complete opposite. Depending on the city or neighborhood, you'll find people coming home from work around six to bundle up and call it a night. You rarely see people participating in activities other then exercising at the gym, and even then you get the impression that the city sleeps at 9PM.
While Lebanon may have its shortcomings, it is undoubtedly one of my favorite countries and I couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
By : Laura Hamade
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