The Day to day living in Beirut is difficult, not knowing how long we’ll be here makes it harder. Our original plan appeared as though we would be living here through mid September and then we would move on. Because of the original plan we avoided accumulating items that would make our life easier but were not absolutely necessary. We didn’t buy a hair dryer because we had no occasion to go out where I wouldn’t have time to air dry; we didn’t buy an iron because I could borrow one from the housekeeper for a couple hours with half days’ notice; we didn’t buy toys because we didn’t want to move them so we got creative and made do.
I suppose I didn’t realize just how much ‘making do’ we’ve been doing until my mother visited and referred to our lifestyle as ‘camping out’. It had become commonplace to turn on the 2 burner hot plate that acts as our stove before I change the kids’ morning diapers and then go back to it hoping it’s hot enough to cook. I’d gotten used to turning the oven on an hour before I needed to use it or just use the crockpot. While I tired of pan fried EVERYTHING I had not purchased an outdoor grill because the logistics of carrying it home from the shop with two kids were prohibitive. We grocery shop daily because our fridge is too small to accommodate more and the trek from the grocer with two kids is a sweaty affair. We walk wherever we can manage which is not a bad thing but it invites reactions from passers by varying from mild amusement to bemusement (specifically when we’re red faced and dripping sweat) as to why we would subject ourselves to the streets when we could catch any number of the taxis honking at us as we go…
We were camping out, we were making do, we were hunkered down trying to make it through the week (nay, day, at times). We had put our heads down and were slugging through the city in a daze. We were tired and burnt out and in need of rejuvenation (and maybe a little homesick). And then my parents visited.
This past week has shown us just how rejuvenating doing something a little different can be. We left the city limits and explored the history of Lebanon. We were emboldened by our longer treks within the city to explore some unexplored areas around us (which proved highly fruitful in making some aspects of life a little more interesting and maybe even a little easier). We were reminded of the beauty and newness of this place by experiencing it again through the senses of our guests. We lifted our heads out of the fog of our daily lives and found the strength to continue moving forward with our adventure.
I caught Tom saying the other day as we wandered amongst the walls of 5th and 6th century ruins that ‘Beirut is actually pretty interesting.’ I had to smile wondering how much more it’s going to take now to impress him after touching the stones of a crusader castle.
After a week of semi-suspended reality with visitors and rich food and a couple extra sets of hands and eyes on the twins (and maybe a little too much to drink) I know my tank is back to full and I am ready to move forward and make the best of our time here (maybe I’ll even remember this time to be grateful for this experience for a little longer). That being said, we look forward to future visitors so that we can share more of this wonderful adventure with those we love the most…come one, come all!
Oh, and we bought an iron; no sense fighting that this is home.
Categories: Lebanon
Going Walkabout 
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