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The Son of a Duck is a Floater…and other Arab proverbs
Blog: Half - 14 August 2009
Today was Omar’s last day in Arabic class. Ya haram! Quelle domage! Yet like me, he has fallen hopelessly in love with Beirut and is planning to come back in a month’s time. But also like me, he’s a free … Continue reading →
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Burqini Fever!
Blog: Half - 13 August 2009
In my post on Sour, I included a photo of a young Muslim girl going swimming, covered and veiled – a concept completely foreign and interesting to me. And you know how sometimes when you learn something new, it somehow … Continue reading →
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Mountain Villages, Castles and Booza in the Shouf
Blog: Half - 9 August 2009
Ozge is leaving for Turkey on Tuesday! The beginning of the end. It seems that many of the people I’ve met here over the past couple of weeks are half & half’s like me, or political science students with a … Continue reading →
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Arabic Lessons & Taxi Rides
Blog: Half - 6 August 2009
This morning I woke up at 9am. Shit. Late for class. Did the sniff test to see which of my clothes emitted the least detectable odor. Settled on jeans and a rumpled pink shirt. I need to do laundry… Decided … Continue reading →
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Fashion Statements and Neon Polish
Blog: Half - 3 August 2009
I’m not what you would call a style-savy person. Part of me has always wanted to be one of those chill girls with a bright colored scarf wrapped around my head, baggy cargo pants, patchwork bag slung over my shoulder. … Continue reading →
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Jbeil (aka Byblos)
Blog: Half - 1 August 2009
Yesterday, I was sick in bed all day with the flu. I guess that’s what I get for going on and on about how Friday is my lucky day. I jinxed myself. Damn. Knew it was too good to be … Continue reading →
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Saturday Guest Post: Café Younes in Beirut
Blog: Atlas Parasite - 1 August 2009
Submitted by: Colette Cavanagh Beirut, Lebanon When I’m not in class or at the apartment, I’m usually at cafés here in Beirut, studying and working. Cousin Stephen introduced me to this great place, right around the corner from the apartment called Café Younes, and it’s quickly becoming my regular spot. The coffee is delicious and an iced latte [...]Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
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WELCOME! Dinner at ‘Le Chef’
Blog: Half - 29 July 2009
So with Rue Gouraud in my mind, when Ozge invited me out to dinner tonight at the popular restaurant on Gouraud, ‘Le Chef,’ I couldn’t resist. Well, that and I heard that the food was fantastic and I am NEVER … Continue reading →
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Gouraud: The Street and the General
Blog: Half - 28 July 2009
If you tell a taxi to take you to the Beirut neighborhood of Gemmazeh, they’ll drop you at the start of the Rue Gouraud – the main bar, restaurant and club packed street running through this noisy neighborhood, which somehow … Continue reading →
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Beirut #1!!
Blog: Half - 27 July 2009
First off, sorry for the break in posting – my laptop died!! So until a new one arrives, I’ll be spending long afternoons at internet cafes around Beirut adding old and new entries. I’m actually at a cafe right now, … Continue reading →
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Sour (aka Tyre)
Blog: Half - 25 July 2009
The alarm went off at 10:30am. Uuuuuuuuuuhhhhh. My eyes felt as though they were cemented shut, my entire body paralyzed. Somehow, I managed to animate my left hand and flopped it against the snooze button. What felt like a mili-second … Continue reading →
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And Friday I’m in love!
Blog: Half - 24 July 2009
I’m in love with Beirut!! Today was such a fantastic day! Dude. I think Friday is my lucky day. No joke. I mean, in general, it’s a brilliant day. If you work or have class, all day you can’t help smiling because you know the freedom of the weekend awaits. If you’re Muslim, it’s the [...]
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Mezze and Wine in the Bekaa Valley
Blog: Half - 19 July 2009
This morning, my Turkish friend Ozge (she’s in my Arabic class at ALPS) and I decided to meet up for a quick coffee before hopping on a mini-bus to the town of Zahlé in the Bekaa Valley. Mini-buses aren’t actually buses, but rather, large, white mini-vans. If you get on the bus at a transport hub, [...]
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By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
Blog: Half - 18 July 2009
Okay so first of all, Friday night was fantastic! My friend Lara, a former AUB student, introduced me to some of her friends here in Beirut who invited me out for the night. The first text came in the late afternoon from Lara’s friend, Jana, informing me that we were all meeting up at [...]
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Through the snowline on Mount Lebanon - in Lebanon
Blog: Heather on her travels - 17 July 2009
On my recent trip to Lebanon, my friend and I went on a girl’s mini-road trip for 3 days, touring the north of Lebanon. There was a touch of Thelma and Louise in the fun we had, although no pretty boys or driving off cliffs were involved. From the coast near Tripoli we climbed up through [...]
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But, Friday never hesitate!
Blog: Half - 17 July 2009
Up at 8:45am, wolfed down a bowl of cornflakes and threw some clothes on before sprinting out the door, late for class as usual. Luckily, my class is about a 5-minute, fast-paced walk from the apartment (I’m not good at the whole running thing), so I was only about 10 minutes late…still, oops. Arabic class until [...]
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Lebanese Vacation Barbie
Blog: Half - 16 July 2009
One thing you can’t help but notice in Beirut, is the number of women who have had plastic surgery. Walking down the corniche (the boardwalk that runs alongside the Mediterranean), you see women with tightly pulled faces, power-walking while sporting skin tight jogging outfits, with matching shoes, manicured nails, full makeup, perfectly coiffed hair, [...]
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New Plan
Blog: Half - 15 July 2009
I have a plan for the next 2 months! Can you believe it?? Me! who never has a plan for more than a couple weeks in advance! I’m still recovering from the shock… So I found out about a week ago that George is staying in the States until the end of August. And I’m [...]
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Coffee Coffee Coffee
Blog: Half - 13 July 2009
When I’m not in class or at the apartment, I’m usually at cafés here in Beirut, studying and working. Cousin Stephen introduced me to this great place, right around the corner from the apartment called Café Younes, and it’s quickly becoming my regular spot. The coffee is delicious and an iced latte or a frozen [...]
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Roosters on the Roof…
Blog: Half - 7 July 2009
It’s 5 am. Our neighbours in Beirut have a chicken coop on their roof. You know, easy access to eggs and the occasional chicken dinner. And there is a rooster. You know, to help make more chickens. And it’s 5am. And the sun is up. And he won’t shut up. I’ve [...]
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Ma Barif…(I Don’t Understand…)
Blog: Half - 6 July 2009
Two of the first words I learned in Arabic were ‘ma’ and ‘barif’, which, when said together mean I don’t understand, no capito, no entiendo, je ne comprends pas! I took my first Arabic class today. Shit. The students in my class have already taken about 2 months+ of Arabic lessons whereas I’m starting from [...]
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Belated Birthday Breakfast in Beirut!
Blog: Half - 4 July 2009
So first of all, I’m in Beirut! George is taking a month off to visit family back in San Diego, so I’ve come up to Beirut for the next 2 months to visit Stephen and study Arabic. We arrived on July 2nd and wah! I love this city!! I’ve been here before, but only for [...]
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Cakes outside the mosque in Sidon - Lebanon
Blog: Heather on her travels - 3 July 2009
Anyone who’s travelled in the Middle East seems to come back with tales of the legendary hospitality that is engrained in the Arab and Muslim culture. I experienced this myself several times on my recent visit to Lebanon, especially in those little backstreets where there aren’t so many tourists. I was visiting the southern city of Sidon, [...]
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Meet the winemakers at Chateau Musar - in Lebanon
Blog: Heather on her travels - 28 June 2009
Unless you’re a wine connoisseur, you may not realise that Lebanon produces some world class wines, that rival the best of Bordeaux. On my recent trip to Lebanon I was lucky enough to join a visit to the Chateau Musar winery which has a world-renowned reputation in winemaking. We met with Gaston Hochar, grandson of his [...]
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Sunset on the Corniche - in Beirut
Blog: Heather on her travels - 26 June 2009
If you visited the Corniche in the daytime, you might be forgiven for thinking that it was like any other seaside promenade the world over. But come at sunset, especially at the weekend and you’ll feel it’s magic, be bathed in the golden glow as the sky turns orange and purple and feel the warmth [...]
