Interested in traveling and discovering all kinds of cultures and places, Caleb decides to go on an exchange program to Beirut and spend a semester there. He directly surrounds himself with both international students and citizens. A short while int...
"So what did you do in the weekend?" Danny asks me.
"Not much. To be honest, I would like to do more. But I feel like I just got here and still have time."
"Uhum." Danny nods.
"I walked along the seaside on -I guess it was- Sunday. The Rawshe. I saw the famous rock. Very nice indeed. So I stopped at a nice, a little fancy restaurant there and had dinner."
"Uhum. Nice."
"What did you do?"
"I spent the weekend with my family. You know, my grandparents and an uncle. Since my parents aren't here."
I nod and the waiter comes back with the sandwiches quite fast.
"How many siblings do you have?" Danny asks me.
"I have a sister. She lives in Paris though. She went there when she was around 25. Found a job and decided to stay. You? Do you have any?"
"I have a brother and a sister. But they live back in Brazil with my parents. They're still young."
"So have anyone made you a list of places you need to visit on your stay here?" he asks me after waiting for the waiter to put the manoushe on the table and leave.
"Not really. I made one myself before I came. Google made me one, to be precise. But now that I am here I feel like maybe I should just go with the flow. There are places that I would like to see and that I am sure would not be listed anywhere on Google."
"What do you mean?"
"Like, old villages. Or like poor neighbourhoods."
"Why would you want to visit poor neighbourhoods?" Danny asks laughing.
"Because, it is part of this whole experience. You know. I would like to see Lebanon fully. Not just the nice parts of Lebanon."
Danny shrugs.
"Even the nice parts of Lebanon have many defects you know."
"Like what?"
"Like, they are not very well taken care of. You'll see when you start going around. But... I don't know. There are quite strong feelings associated with these abandoned beautiful places. Like not everything in the world is fair. Not all beauty is noticed and appreciated. Something about the way they are so beautiful and so lonely makes them intriguing, different. You feel like you want to pour your heart there. Because no one else has."
Danny stops talking and starts eating. I do the same. I take in his words. Beautiful and lonely. What a combination.
I have made plans of sightseeing around since the first day I got here. But I am waiting to build my circle of friends first. The main treasure of any country are, in my opinion, is its people. And that is where I want to start.
——— Author's note:
The green oval:
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AUB main gate and stairs:
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AUB Moto written on the main gate:
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The Rawshe Rock:
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A manoushe:
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