Editor's correction: Previous post exaggerated a bit - we were corrected by Mr. Toastmaster that the bullet holes are NOT, I repeat, NOT in our building. They are in the building next to us. So, take heart! All is well. :)
Two glorious days have passed; we have met numerous neighbors, friends, and businessmen and successfully butchered the Arabic language. Yesterday (Wednesday), we had numerous assignments that Chicken Wing and I completed with the greatest of ease (ha!). While our friends are studying Arabic in the mornings and early afternoons, we have been tasked with the responsibility of learning the culture, gaining a better understanding of the people (very diverse in Beirut), and finding our way around the city without completely drowning in sweat.
- Find a coffee shop, order drinks, drink the drinks, and people watch. Saw a guy transporting a very large padded chair on top of his head via a moped without crashing.
- Go to the American University of Beirut (very beautiful - right on the Mediterranean), turn in our passports for a tour (!), go on the tour given by a Lebanese students from Southern Lebanon and the Ivory Coast, and go to the archaeological museum (AMAZING).
- Eat at the Golden Sheep - scrumptious shwarmas and hummus.
- Meet up with Good Earth Tea and Toastmaster
- Guy/guy and girl/girl time - Chicken Wing and Toastmaster going to poor neighborhood to pick up a bookshelf with a borrowed car, Good Earth Tea and myself chatting and making dinner.
- Late dinner together
- Watched a DVD together
- Kicked our friends out of their room since the air conditioning unit broke in the spare bedroom, and they can miraculously sleep without the A/C (80% humidity!)
Today (Thursday), Chicken Wing and I went on more adventures, which included another coffee shop with people watching (everyone stares at each other - you can look as much as you like and it's not taboo... rather unnerving at times!), a extremely long walk around Beirut with blisters to prove it, ate menieesh (thick gordita-type bread with tasty fillings), and had other yummy food. We saw the sea again and came back to a power outage drenched in sweat at 2:30 pm. We've forgot to mention, for those of you who don't already know, that Beirut has 3-hour scheduled blackouts in order to conserve energy (today was from 12-3:00 pm, others have been from 9-12:00 pm, etc). Chicken Wing had the pleasure of pretending he was driving in a video game on the busy, honking-filled streets. We all then had a great time discussing joy, reading the Word together, and laughing. Awesome.
Tomorrow (Friday), we're on our way to Tripoli to stay with another friend and venture to a different part of Lebanon. Sunday we will spend the day with different friends, and are anticipating a conversation about the kingdom. We'll write more later! Thanks again for the prayers and comments.
Update: one more A/C unit it down! Two down, one to go. :)
3 comments:
Reads like you're learning and seeing a lot--good deal! As ole foggies, we're curious about the pictures you post--could you maybe add a description so we really know what they are about? Like, is it a church, or is the building from yesterday your apartment, what's the pita filling, you know, stuff like that. Back to your flight, did you get a meal crossing the Atlantic, and how big was that plane or spacious your seats? I've seen SMF has been up to maybe 106 since you left. Thanks for such good blogs and taking the time for them. It's almost like we were there (NOT). You're doing great! Love...
Am I allowed to write a comment on my own blog?!
Thanks for the feedback... we'll explain more later, dudes. :)
Love you guys!!!
1) dude, you are totally allowed to comment on your own blog. Its all about dialog here on the interweb.
2) no, actually, they are just staring at you guys.
3) and talking behind your back.
4) go moped guy!
5) praying lots for Chicken Wing, yourself, Toast and Tea -- may you refresh eachother's spirits!
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