When I got in a good friend of mine, Dina, who is Lebanese (but not currently in Beirut) had her brother, Adib, and her mother pick me up from the airport. They were both so, so, SO sweet, and I felt at ease completely. I couldn't stop smiling because they kept offering me delicious food, advice, well-wishes, and welcomes, and they took me all around to run errands that I needed! It is so good to have someone here who makes me feel so at home. But, really, nearly everyone I have met have been very friendly. It has made the adjustment much easier.
Beirut is great. The streets are always bustling, taxis honking, people walking everywhere. It's hot, though. Gets up to the mid 90s, then add humidity. But the temperature is perfect at night. The campus is gorgeous too. I don't have many pictures up yet, but all of them are here.
 |
| From BEIRUT! |
Pretty much all the pathways on the campus look like this. I feel like I'm in a forest all the time! All of these beautiful trees and flowers and ferns on a hill that overlooks the sea. It is really gorgeous.
 |
| From BEIRUT! |
(That's the sea in the background!)
On campus and in Beirut, there are all sorts of stray cats that just wander about, almost like squirrels! It took me by surprise at first, but I really enjoy it. I have never been much of a cat person, and I think this makes me like them more. Cats are too aloof to be pets -- but they're entertaining to watch and cute from afar. So it's fun! I tried taking a couple pictures of them yesterday evening, but none of them turned out very well. I'll take more to show you all soon :)
I had my first day of class today. It went well. The professors only spoke in Arabic, which was hard to follow at times, but I got the gist of everything that was happening. I'm sure I'll get accustomed to it soon, and I know it will help me learn much better. From all day in Arabic class only speaking Arabic (no English allowed!) I'm already starting to think automatically in Arabic, which is really fun! My vocab still isn't very extensive, but it helps a lot just to get into the rhythm of using Arabic all the time.
Before I end my post, I have to include something about the food! What a dream to be surrounded by Lebanese food all the time! Yesterday evening, my friend Jeff, who I know from Notre Dame, and I went to a restaurant called Kababji that Adib recommended to me. It is right across the street from AUB, and it was delicious! I got shish taouk...
 |
| From BEIRUT! |
...and we also got tabouleh (which they served with cabbage leaves, to use to roll it up -- It was good! And I felt so healthy eating cabbage and tabouleh), grape leaves, babaghanoush (which they call something different -- I forget now.), and fresh pita bread. And the best part about Lebanese food is that I feel like it is all pretty healthy. Lots of delicious vegetables, and olive oil, cheese, bread. Yum. It was all delicious, as you can see!
 |
| From BEIRUT! |
I think this post is long enough now, so I'll talk about more later! Might try and nap now, to get over this jet lag some... I miss you all and send my love. Ma' assalema! (good bye!)
