So. Let's just say that the arabic I learned at Michigan does not really help at all on the streets. I knew this was the case, but I was really in denial. I would say that studying both classical and colloquial Arabic is equivalent to studying Spanish and French. They are seriously that different ( Read more... )

Today it became official. I'm in love... with Lebanon ( Read more... )

I was waiting to cross the street to go to the Language Center today and waited for a taxi to try to pick someone up. All the cars behind him were honking. Then this truck (looked more like a covered wagon) full of Lebanese soldiers pulled up and a very angry man yelled something in Arabic at the taxi driver who then sped off in extreme fear and ( Read more... )

So I posted pictures of Egypt and Turkey but not Lebanon... time to change that. There aren't many in each album. I'd say they average about 10 each, but you should get the main idea. Check it out ( Read more... )

So I just spent four awesome days in Istanbul, Turkey. I am guessing no one wants to hear me gush about the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace so I'll skip to the highlights ( Read more... )

1. I went to the "AUB rock concert" last night. The first band was actually really good! They only played Santana covers, which included "Love of My life" (one of the sexiest songs ever written). There was an AMAZING bongo player. I could go on forever about how awesome he was. Anyway, the next band started off by playing the Lebanese national ( Read more... )

My friends and I went out to dinner downtown and rented a discovery chanel movie about tigers. Then we got dressed and went to the V Lounge with my suitemates. At 1:15 Steph turned to me and said, "we have to go. There was an explosion not far from here." We walked out and her friend drove us back to AUB. Everyone left the club immediately. No one ( Read more... )

After running at the track today, I did cartwheels and walk-overs on the grass. My hair was in a braid and I did a one-handed cartwheel. I felt like I was 9 years old again and it was amazing. I can't wait to go again tomorrow ( Read more... )

Well... I disobeyed the rules and went to the protest. It was something I had to do. I thought that maybe if I went, I might understand more of what is going on here. So I met up with my suitemate on the AUB campus at 12:45 and we walked over with AUB. I swear 80 percent of the student body went. All afternoon classes were canceled...again. There ( Read more... )

OK so the internet here is so slow that I have to upload pictures one by one... I haven't figured out how to post them on livejournal so you can see them through ofoto ( Read more... )