Wow...what a day yesterday was!!! We got up at 7 in the morning in Rome to get to the airport. However, Rome seems to run on its own time schedule and our plane left over an hour late and no one made any mention of it. We just sat in the airport and did nothing until we were told it was time to go. Its all very un-D.C. to me where everyone wants answers to everything and they want them right away. Slowing down and just waiting things out will definitely take some getting used to.
I also felt a moment of tension when the man at the gate asked for my passport , I always think of the too many tv shows I watch where people get unexpectedly or expectedly (Locked up abroad). However, the guy at the passport check was more interested in getting the booger out of his nose and onto the floor then paying any attention to my passport. Success for both of us really!
So, we landed in Beirut at around 5 and got a little held up at the airport. We could not find the man to stamp our passport and then we could not find the man to pay for the stamp. It was very frustrating and overhwelming, but eventually we made it through. We had a wonderfully nice driver the school had sent us. He did inform us very early on there are are no rules on the road in Beirut and we encountered that fact several times in a 20 minute drive. We are very happy to not have access to a car right now..=) However, getting across the street will quickly become a game of frogger.
The drive from the airport was a bit surreal. This is our new home now and it was a lot to take it. The builidngs are an interesting juxtaposition of old and new. A lot of buildings look rundown and bordering on unlivable and then all of the sudden a new and modern building would pop up in the middle. It is not as sandy and desert looking as I thought it would be.
Then about 2 minutes from our apartment we drove all the Corniche. It is a boardwalk right along the water. The sun was starting to set and lots of people were out and about walking and running. It was really beautiful. It was the moment I truly needed, where I said "ok" I can live here. It's beautiful.
Our apartment is also quite nice and we will adjust here quickly. We just need to make it a little more homey.
We went out for our first Lebanese dinner last night and it was fantastic. It is still very strange to be the minority. I have never really experienced that before in my life but I look at it as a huge learning experience and an important part of this trip.
Sorry for all the information. I had some helpful advice that I should write down everything I feel so in a few years I can read this again and remember things perfectly.
So all and all I am excited, slightly terrified, and minorly stressed. All the normal emotions. Michael has been an unbelievable support through all of this and I believe and know that this experience will be invaluable to our relationship.
Its time to go for now, we are getting a tour of our neighborhood and our Lebanese apartment manager may or may not be taking us to the supermarket. We are having slight communication issues with our building manager. My fast pace talking and sarcasm are a bit confusing to him right now..=) However, I have little doubt I will soon become his best friend..=)
Thanks for reading that was a long one!
I also felt a moment of tension when the man at the gate asked for my passport , I always think of the too many tv shows I watch where people get unexpectedly or expectedly (Locked up abroad). However, the guy at the passport check was more interested in getting the booger out of his nose and onto the floor then paying any attention to my passport. Success for both of us really!
So, we landed in Beirut at around 5 and got a little held up at the airport. We could not find the man to stamp our passport and then we could not find the man to pay for the stamp. It was very frustrating and overhwelming, but eventually we made it through. We had a wonderfully nice driver the school had sent us. He did inform us very early on there are are no rules on the road in Beirut and we encountered that fact several times in a 20 minute drive. We are very happy to not have access to a car right now..=) However, getting across the street will quickly become a game of frogger.
The drive from the airport was a bit surreal. This is our new home now and it was a lot to take it. The builidngs are an interesting juxtaposition of old and new. A lot of buildings look rundown and bordering on unlivable and then all of the sudden a new and modern building would pop up in the middle. It is not as sandy and desert looking as I thought it would be.
Then about 2 minutes from our apartment we drove all the Corniche. It is a boardwalk right along the water. The sun was starting to set and lots of people were out and about walking and running. It was really beautiful. It was the moment I truly needed, where I said "ok" I can live here. It's beautiful.
Our apartment is also quite nice and we will adjust here quickly. We just need to make it a little more homey.
We went out for our first Lebanese dinner last night and it was fantastic. It is still very strange to be the minority. I have never really experienced that before in my life but I look at it as a huge learning experience and an important part of this trip.
Sorry for all the information. I had some helpful advice that I should write down everything I feel so in a few years I can read this again and remember things perfectly.
So all and all I am excited, slightly terrified, and minorly stressed. All the normal emotions. Michael has been an unbelievable support through all of this and I believe and know that this experience will be invaluable to our relationship.
Its time to go for now, we are getting a tour of our neighborhood and our Lebanese apartment manager may or may not be taking us to the supermarket. We are having slight communication issues with our building manager. My fast pace talking and sarcasm are a bit confusing to him right now..=) However, I have little doubt I will soon become his best friend..=)
Thanks for reading that was a long one!
Oh, Tracy, I love this!! It so perfectly captures what a first day in a completely new place feels like. I love the moment where you saw the beach and said, "Okay, I can do this." Yay for growth!
ReplyDelete