Sarah is 17

I met Sarah at the set up for a large bridal shower in Beirut. 

Her mom introduced herself, and explained they were early because Sarah's music concervatory was close to where the shower was to happen, and their home was on the other side of town.  As we talked, Sarah bounced up to us, chatting joyfully in Arabic to her mother.

Right away I spotted her beautiful white flower in her long black hair and knew I wanted to get her photo.  I ask her her name, and where she was at in school.  She said her name is Sarah and is a junior in high school.

I asked her to explain the Lebanese school system.  3 languages are regularly spoken in Lebanon; Arabic, French and English.  The country is going through a lot of language transitions, so I wanted to learn about her schooling.

"I go to the English section of our school" she said "So I learn in English and Arabic."  She does take French, but it's not her primary learning language.

"How big is the school?" I asked
Her mom said "It's 1200 students"  I was surprised!  They explained that the school was all ages, and it had a seperate section for learning in French.

How did you decide what language you learned in?  I asked Sarah
"I didn't, my parents decided for me when I was young" she said

I think she was glad they chose English. 

She is a very good guitarist. 

Mike the baker

 

It was my first full day in Lebanon, and I had had a frustrating morning.   But I was determined to enjoy Lebanon.  I saw a bakery, close to where I was staying.  Bakeries always hold wonderful things.  I tentatively entered, unsure as to what to expect in terms of communication. 

I looked around the shop for a while, and the shop keeper came in.  I said something small in English with little response, so I was a bit nervous about the transaction.  I selected a pizza like flat bread, and the man asked me if I was Russian.  I smiled and said no, I am American.

Suddenly, a huge smile broke across his face.  "American?! I've been to America 4 times.  Yes, New York, Los Angeles.  I like America!"

And so we began to talk, and laugh, and talk, and eat.  It was glorious.  His name was Mike, and he thought that a beautiful woman like me should be married.  He gave me some cookies to taste as he served me a plate of the small pastries.  When I went to pay, he grabbed the pizza out of the over and said "This one, you do not pay for, it is from me!  Welcome to Lebanon!"

We cheerfully said our goodbyes, he had made my day.  His smile and laughter I'll carry with me all the way.

Fashion Sneak

Sometimes Glimpse has to get sneaky.  Fashion in Beirut is out of this world!  Colors, fabrics, texture, style, boldness.  It is breath taking, overwhelming and beautiful.  Here is a tiny glimpse into the world of color in Beirut, Lebanon!

See the beautiful things around you, enjoy them... even if you can't afford to wear them! 

Kids are the same.

Kids sure know how to play.
   Doesn't matter where you're from
      Giant mismatching shoes will always be
          A global definition of fun. 

Colors converge

Colors converge

Beautiful fabric

Miles of opportunity

Art is everywhere

Find the colors in the corners

Dragon Sightings!

I went to the National Museum of Beirut the other day.  Yes, I'm in Lebanon.  More on the museum later.
 I could resist doing a dragon post!  There were dragon sightings at the National Museum!

I found them throughout the various art on display.  Dragons!  Imagine for a moment, all the stories and legends about dragons and their slaying.  Something  in me wonders where the dragon stories came from, and how they ended up indelibly etched into stone and shaped in metal for all eternity. 

Could they have been real?  Every myth has a shred of truth.

I love dragons, the thought of a giant, flying creature is pretty awesome.  Apparently, artistic members of the ancient world agree with me.  Dragons deserve to live on in immortal memory.

Have you seen a dragon recently?  I'm sure if you look you'll find one somewhere in your world.  Glimpse a dragon for me!

Lebanese Coffee

Lebanese. Coffee.

Dark, strong, thick, caffeinated.

The beautiful fuel of this wonderfully extroverted country

Today I drank it at 5 pm

To keep up with my Lebanese friends

Not all are fueled by this dark drug

But there is a breath taking energy in this place 

Too many teachers

Lawrence just got a government scholarship to go to univeristy.

How in the world could that be a problem?

His scholarship is for education.  And, as he and his uncle agree, there are too many teachers in their family.

Primary teachers.  Secondary teachers. Vocational teachers. University professors.  They have enough teachers.

Lawrence wants to be a flight engineer. 

What's a boy to do?