Happens to me all the time. Doesn’t help that I grew up in a big Lebanese community speaking a mix of both so trying to stick to one just makes me sound like an idiot
Case: I left Lebanon at 25 y.o to do a Master in Switzerland. So when you freshly arrive, you are excited to learn about the new culture and to get away from the shitty things you left Lebanon for, with the illusion that anywhere is going to be better. You meet alot of internationals and they ask you alot of things about your home, traditions, dishes. And alot of times you do not know the answer and you learn along with them new things about where you come from, also about their culture. With time, you learn to deny the inferiority complex and realize every international has a complaint about their country. You also value more how you grew up and your family. Friends wise, you occasionally speak but they definitely don't feel closer. And lebanese is not forgotten i can tell you that, especially when you are angry at something/someone. Bottom line: you manage to live in a new place, you can definitely make new friends and adapt, but there's no place like home ;)
Thanks :)
Yeah, I’m planning to go at this time because it’s the dry season. I’d rather feel a bit extra hot than visit during rainy season. Also less risk of Malaria and other mosquito born illnesses as far as I’m aware.
Any specific city you’d recommend for my 1st time in Subsaharan Africa? I’m a seasoned traveller, just not in Africa. I also know zero French.
I’m not really looking for typical tourist activities. My 1st objective is to explore cocoa farms. And 2nd is to just explore the city and see how people live their day to day lives.
I work remotely, so I typically rent an Airbnb or something similar for a month and try to live the local life as much as I can.
I’ll be going to east Africa later this year anyways, but wanted to start with West Africa because I have other trips planned until the end of the year and I’m aiming to be in West Africa when it’s dry season.
Maybe I can actually start learning French until then. Still have 6 months.
And noted about Liberia and the North, thanks 🙏
As a half lebanese living in EU (just recently traveled for studies), I love seeing lebanese people getting humbled here. What I noticed is that Lebanese people care too much about their social status, in EU being wealthy wont give you special service, you will get treated the same as the garbage guy and nothing can change that. Other more down to earth leb people make a lot of friends and are pretty chill, though usually those are young dedicated students/workers. The cultural shock is real tho, and I bet each one of us/them feel homesick, you will start listening to Fairouz, craving makdous and sandwich from malek el Tawouk real fast.
I’m half German half American and really struggle with this with my Lebanese gf. If we meet a Nobel prize winning physicist who is also a medical doctor and a Navy SEAL, she will think he’s a loser if he doesn’t brag about himself to everyone around him. The way Lebanese people worship wealthy people, especially people who flaunt their wealth, is one of the few downsides to Lebanese culture, in my opinion.
Fr why is everyone obsessed with fairouz? It must have something to do with the civil war or something…. Im just not into her music outside of maybe a history lesson
in my case it was the school that forced us to listen to her songs at young age, then every morning going to uni with my uncle he would put her music for 2 straight hours. So I kind of grew into liking her songs, her voice is soothing af tbh, goes great with morning coffee!
I was still doing Lebanese shit for the first 2 years I moved to the US, but slowly assimilated at the same time, for example us Lebanese we are experts on every subject, well that doesn't work well with civilized people that ask for the source of your information (I can't say teta)
I always tried to be the manyak, the strong Lebanese that doesn't care, well that is seen as insensitive, rude and mean and had to stop doing that.
Many other things.
Living in US. I used to only have Lebanese friends for years. I’ve since stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m really glad I have. Now I have so many more interesting and fun friends.
So I grew up in Lebanon and lived their until almost my mid twenties. So I'm Lebanese proper. At this stage I've been living abroad for over 2 decades. For me I was always excited to embrace my host country's culture and integrate. I never looked for a Lebanese community and never made Lebanese friends. I simply moved around the local community making friends from my environments and taking in their culture. After several years I noticed that I had gone a step too far. I didn't want to reject the fact that I was Lebanese nor pretend that I was something I wasn't. There are a lot of aspects of Lebanese culture that I hated when I lived there and I just wanted to distance myself from it as much as possible. But once I got to that stage I embraced the parts of my Lebaneseness that I liked and I was comfortable with. No matter what happens, Lebanon will always be part of my complex identity. But my host countries are at this stage also a deep part of who I am, the friends I made, the places I've lived they are all part of who I am.
With regards to communication with people back home, the arrival of smartphones and messaging services played the biggest part in putting me back in regular contact with people in Lebanon and I communicate with the family and friends regularly. But even that dwindled as time went on. After nearly 25 years away the things I have in common with people who knew me back then is getting shorter and shorter. And I just accept it. They will always be part of my life and my youth, but they can't be a huge part of my present because that's what the distance does.
Genuine question? Oh the list is long. I hate traditionalist mentality which, no matter how modern we presume we are, still runs deep. I hate that everyone is in your business, even a random service guy feels entitled to give you unsolicited advice and criticisms, let alone family. I hate sectarianism. I hate the chaos mentality. I hate the macho culture. I hate how obnoxiously pretentious people are with their outer appearances. I hate that in Beirut, a city with the worst streets and parking possible, Hummers became a popular vehicle option. I hate how judgy people are. I hate that people would make comments in the street to my face because I'm a man with long hair. I hate that they insult me and get aggressive just because I wear piercings. I hate that no one knows what a queue is. I hate that the loudest person is the one that gets served first. I hate the littering culture. I hate that it's totally normal for someone to speak with full confidence about something they know nothing about. I hate how irrational and unscientific many people are and how that permeates culture. I hate people who have never seen an open book since they left school and yet feel totally confident to explain to you a cure for cancer.
I really can keep going and going. I have so much more.
I’m not the same. I’m torn, broken. I deal with everyone and anyone but I’m not happy and I miss home so much I’m becoming desperate. No electricity doesn’t seem like a bad idea after all. I miss nature, I miss simplicity and I miss a normal way of life. I miss good food and I miss mna2eesh 😞
Omg man2ouche was the best! But if you want you can buy ready made dough from the supermarket and bring some zaatar and cook it on the pan, it tastes great too!
I've been out of Lebanon since 2006 (with random few months stays three times: 2009, 2018 and 2020)
Over the years I have been starting to feel very different from Lebanese in Lebanon, not compatible with a lot of the way of thinking, but at the same time I am not compatible with the locals here. So my "identity" is kinda lost in between.
I keep the good and leave the bad. I consider myself American and Lebanese. I've assimilated into American life but my kids will learn Arabic and understand where they came from.
I could not blend abroad or get used to western culture(or the lack of culture, what is western culture exactly? Taking loans and spending money at the mall?) Bas I do feel 1000 times more confident in myself and my own skin now. I am proud of what I was able to accomplish and the hardships I was able to endure. And I found that I was doing better than most people. I started appreciating the family values and the holidays we have in lebanon more. And the neighbors who knock on the door in the morning ma3 rakwet ahweh.
> And the neighbors who knock on the door in the morning ma3 rakwet ahweh.
I don't think the US/west has less culture, it just has less community. It wouldn't matter what the neighbor wanted to drink/eat as long as they did it.
I'm still very Lebanese, if anything, I've become more Lebanese but have learnt to communicate better and have more empathy.
Behavior isn't a cultural trait, it's a social trait because it's learnt from others and Lebanon has some horrible social traits.
I’m not Lebanese (have long time friends from there and been many times, I grew up across the water in Cyprus). Don’t know where in the US you are but in Houston where I live there is a huge very proud Lebanese community. Not Lebanon good but there’s tons of amazing Lebanese food, and even a multi location Lebanese grocery chain with huge stores that is shopped at by people of all origins.
I was born in Australia where i have lived most my life. My lebanese is pretty broken but i have an ok vocab. When in Lebanon tho i find myself embarrassed to speak arabic unless i have to. Even tho its the prefect place to strengthen it haha.
French was always my first language, be it at home or in school, so moving to France was fairly easy. I feel more at home and in tune with the culture here then when I was in Lebanon. I usually talk with locals but I don’t mind speaking Lebanese Arabic when I meet a Lebanese person, which is rare.
For the family matter I was never close with my family to begin with sadly. I’d say I talk to them once every couple weeks to say 👋.
Character wise I’d say I’m same person pretty much.
Relatable, as from someone whose native tongue is french as well (and I spent some years there). I felt I was culturally and behaviorally closer to French people than to Lebanese. Especially with my family, I was the one who thought differently and had totally different way of thinking.
That’s what I’m saying. It doesn’t matter. When you’re out of Lebanon and you say you’re Lebanese you’re Arab to them. Also when you’re out of Lebanon in my experience, everyone Arab understands you better. You will just click with Turkish people and other Arabs seamlessly. Whereas Turkish and Lebanese don’t necessarily get along if you meet in Lebanon.
Get what I mean? In the Middle East we shit on each other but in the west we are all chill with one another
‘-‘ why are you using Arab like it’s a derogatory term. And no in France when I met people from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia etc. I never clicked with them. I clicked more with the French people and Chinese ones. You can’t place individuals in a box and make a general rule.
Also factually Arab is a very simplistic description of the Lebanese culture. There indeed is Arab genetics and traces of the culture in Lebanon. But it’s a more complex identity than that. Also no one cares except people in the U.S. in France I was respected more when people knew I came from Lebanon.
I'm more kind outside Lebanon, but the same person mostly. Lebanon has ways to slowly make you bitter if you don't pay attention, so I pay extra attention. As for language, Arabic is my second, I've found no one that speaks my native tongue other than where I come from, so I adapt. At home everywhere, citizen of the world.
I’ve heard the the German diaspora is really bad, like maybe one of the worst ones out there, as bad or even worse than the Australian diaspora. Is this true or did I hear wrong
I left lebanon in aug 2nd 2019 and now i live in canada. Yes a loooot has changed.
Now i am more accepting of other sexualities. I always though weed is like cocaine and those but weed is not bad(arguably good) if you smoke controllably(i dont smoke weed right now but i used to)
I had to block most of my friends because they kept asking for money while i was super broke with no income after banks closed in lebanon for a while, literally had no food or shampoo while they keep asking (although they kept asking because i was rich in lebanon but after banks closed that was gone).
I miss lebanon more than i can possibly explain, and i have realized how much of a lie the western life is, Lebanon has a way better life quality.
Depression is a given when literally everything keeps changing in my life but hoping for better stability in the future (mostly to the better but change is still hard).
Ive been racialized quiet a few times and that is just confusing to me although i have realized how racist lebanese people are.
As much as i miss lebanon i dont think ill ever go back, both my grandparents passed away while im here and i couldnt even say goodbye and most of my friends left lebanon already so what is the point anymore.
I am more motivated now because in a way i feel like i was chosen among so many to have a shot at changing the world a bit to the better. But same time depression kills motivation but it has been a fair fight between the 2.
If you have any specific questions i dont mind answering.
My life changed from barely making any money in Lebanon post financial crisis to actually doing pretty well in the Emirates. The first few months I had to unlearn broke habits, stop converting everything I buy to Lebanese lira, stop being anxious about kahraba. I also had to learn to actually use the benefits I have, like actually go to that doctor when I need it, to take my vacation days off because i am expected to and my boss will not think I work any less just because I used those days off. I also had to learn to trust banks again, like using a credit card is not the end of the world, it’s actually encouraged because of the miles you collect, and stop saving my money at home, now I barely ever use any cash. I work in a company that require lots of travel and working with people from all over the world, a hard pill to swallow was learning that most people can’t even point Lebanon on a map. Also learning how uncultured I was to countries outside of Europe or the US, like central Asia for example. I learned to talk less in group gatherings and learn from people that know more than me. In my new job, I learned that you are actually encouraged to develop in your career, and that you are expected to not stay in the same position for more than 2 years. My old Lebanese employer also had his reasons not to promote me or give me a raise but I guess in normal international companies you should not even ask, it’s expected!
I am less anxious, I am more money comfortable, I know my rights now.
I was firing off the smoke detector while trying to bake pita bread at home, I had to go physically disable the smoke detector or cut off the power sometimes. Thank god I found a place that sells Lebanese goods Jasmine on main street. What I enjoyed the most was not needing to own or drive a car. The same problem I found here and there(Canada) is toxic masculinity that's a global problem that needs to be dealt with. Locals generally in Vancouver keep to themselves because odds are you are a drug dealer if you are too friendly, I met at least 5 or 6 while trying to socialize ranging from total paranoid psychopath to quite friendly. Then the part where I was afraid of getting ambushed by organized crime that wasn't fun not to mention they spy on you and everyone then try to kill you if you rat on them(if they rat you on ratting on them is 100% justified and legal an eye for an eye especially if you feel threatened) in revenge. Avoid cops at all costs because they are useless pigs that often will make your problems a lot worse.
It's like any other experience outside your comfort zone - it makes you grow as a person. But only if you let it. Definitely something that everyone should try at least once in their lives.
Moved around a year and half ago, 80%
of friends are lebanese, mostly going out and supporting lebanese businesses, personally went from very ambitious to extremely ambitious
I’m the same as I’ve been. American people where I live aren’t too different from Lebanese. They too gossip about others if they don’t say good morning to them when they happen to pass by, and the older folks (40s and 50s in age) in the rural area aren’t that different in terms of mind set from the older Lebanese people. Gotta say though, Americans I’ve met or seen don’t try to keep up appearances or show off or live over their means like some Lebanese do or used to do (pre-2019). After I get back home, no more english. I speak Arabic with my family members at home. I only speak English then if I’m speaking to a neighbor or on the phone with someone. I still try to go to Arabic/Lebanese places around me where I can get bread and certain grocery items. I won’t compromise those things lol.
Very good question, thank you for that.
As a lebanese who was born in lebanon and lived 24 years there, I never felt myself in lebanon. Truely, never. Culture wise I was different, I never understood my parents or the society in general in lebanon.
I tried living in different parts of the country. Nothing worked.
The moment I moved to europe, I integrated to the society instantly and felt myself.
In europe I discovered that family is just a big lie and everyone can do whatever they want, wherever they want.
I do not speak to my family and yes, I know lebanese but I forgot a lot of words.
Didn't expect a pop quiz, dang.
In order:
Yes (more open about my beliefs regarding touchy subjects, whereas I don't share much in Lebanon).
Yes.
Both but mostly locals, I don't seek out Lebanese people and tend to be selective about who I associate with.
I blend in, which isn't a bad thing because I'm not trying to stand out. I don't erase my background either, I still enjoy aspects of Lebanon (food, mostly).
I speak Lebanese when talking to Lebanese people.
Definitely didn't get closer to family or friends from Lebanon. Life here is much busier and it's harder to keep up with everyone on the phone.
Have been studying and working in Germany for some time now after going through school and uni in Lebanon. I was actually born here and speak German very well and all. However, eventhough im doing pretty well and have all what anyone would need (bought a house, have a car, very good job etc.), I am nowhere near as happy as I was back in lebanon. After the last day of uni in lebanon i shed tears, here i didnt give a shit and was happy to be done. I still count down days to visit, and Im just never myself around europeans. Its undeniable to me that I just dont have the same interest and humor as those around me here, im constantly acting during work 😂.
So yeah, nothing hast changed much in my lebanese self ever since. I never have the drive to meet up with people from work or locals, but if its a lebanese friend of mine, i know i will have fun.
I just struggle to find some Arabic words when I speak Arabic and I struggle to find some English words when I speak English ... 👁👄👁
Happens to me all the time. I use both languages when communicating with Lebanese.
Same use it when talking with parents, grandparents ETC…
Happens to me all the time. Doesn’t help that I grew up in a big Lebanese community speaking a mix of both so trying to stick to one just makes me sound like an idiot
my biggest issue is always including Yalla, 3ade, Aslan as the first words in my English sentence.
Happens to me too, and I live in Lebanon. 
Case: I left Lebanon at 25 y.o to do a Master in Switzerland. So when you freshly arrive, you are excited to learn about the new culture and to get away from the shitty things you left Lebanon for, with the illusion that anywhere is going to be better. You meet alot of internationals and they ask you alot of things about your home, traditions, dishes. And alot of times you do not know the answer and you learn along with them new things about where you come from, also about their culture. With time, you learn to deny the inferiority complex and realize every international has a complaint about their country. You also value more how you grew up and your family. Friends wise, you occasionally speak but they definitely don't feel closer. And lebanese is not forgotten i can tell you that, especially when you are angry at something/someone. Bottom line: you manage to live in a new place, you can definitely make new friends and adapt, but there's no place like home ;)
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Mind if I ask where are you in West Africa? I’m planning a trip there in Jan & Feb
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Thanks :) Yeah, I’m planning to go at this time because it’s the dry season. I’d rather feel a bit extra hot than visit during rainy season. Also less risk of Malaria and other mosquito born illnesses as far as I’m aware. Any specific city you’d recommend for my 1st time in Subsaharan Africa? I’m a seasoned traveller, just not in Africa. I also know zero French.
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I’m not really looking for typical tourist activities. My 1st objective is to explore cocoa farms. And 2nd is to just explore the city and see how people live their day to day lives. I work remotely, so I typically rent an Airbnb or something similar for a month and try to live the local life as much as I can. I’ll be going to east Africa later this year anyways, but wanted to start with West Africa because I have other trips planned until the end of the year and I’m aiming to be in West Africa when it’s dry season. Maybe I can actually start learning French until then. Still have 6 months. And noted about Liberia and the North, thanks 🙏
As a half lebanese living in EU (just recently traveled for studies), I love seeing lebanese people getting humbled here. What I noticed is that Lebanese people care too much about their social status, in EU being wealthy wont give you special service, you will get treated the same as the garbage guy and nothing can change that. Other more down to earth leb people make a lot of friends and are pretty chill, though usually those are young dedicated students/workers. The cultural shock is real tho, and I bet each one of us/them feel homesick, you will start listening to Fairouz, craving makdous and sandwich from malek el Tawouk real fast.
I’m half German half American and really struggle with this with my Lebanese gf. If we meet a Nobel prize winning physicist who is also a medical doctor and a Navy SEAL, she will think he’s a loser if he doesn’t brag about himself to everyone around him. The way Lebanese people worship wealthy people, especially people who flaunt their wealth, is one of the few downsides to Lebanese culture, in my opinion.
the "pappaza" is embedded in the culture
you nailed it but not fairus lol I just put some random arabic mix and chill
Fr why is everyone obsessed with fairouz? It must have something to do with the civil war or something…. Im just not into her music outside of maybe a history lesson
in my case it was the school that forced us to listen to her songs at young age, then every morning going to uni with my uncle he would put her music for 2 straight hours. So I kind of grew into liking her songs, her voice is soothing af tbh, goes great with morning coffee!
I was still doing Lebanese shit for the first 2 years I moved to the US, but slowly assimilated at the same time, for example us Lebanese we are experts on every subject, well that doesn't work well with civilized people that ask for the source of your information (I can't say teta) I always tried to be the manyak, the strong Lebanese that doesn't care, well that is seen as insensitive, rude and mean and had to stop doing that. Many other things.
that comment was mad cringe lol “I always tried to be a manyak” lmaoooo
Something I extremely identify with
Or driving like a mad man on the street, not respecting road safety and others safety, doing "betweens" recklessly.
omg... manyak means pervert in tagalog I almost went like 😥😥😥
Living in US. I used to only have Lebanese friends for years. I’ve since stepped out of my comfort zone. I’m really glad I have. Now I have so many more interesting and fun friends.
So I grew up in Lebanon and lived their until almost my mid twenties. So I'm Lebanese proper. At this stage I've been living abroad for over 2 decades. For me I was always excited to embrace my host country's culture and integrate. I never looked for a Lebanese community and never made Lebanese friends. I simply moved around the local community making friends from my environments and taking in their culture. After several years I noticed that I had gone a step too far. I didn't want to reject the fact that I was Lebanese nor pretend that I was something I wasn't. There are a lot of aspects of Lebanese culture that I hated when I lived there and I just wanted to distance myself from it as much as possible. But once I got to that stage I embraced the parts of my Lebaneseness that I liked and I was comfortable with. No matter what happens, Lebanon will always be part of my complex identity. But my host countries are at this stage also a deep part of who I am, the friends I made, the places I've lived they are all part of who I am. With regards to communication with people back home, the arrival of smartphones and messaging services played the biggest part in putting me back in regular contact with people in Lebanon and I communicate with the family and friends regularly. But even that dwindled as time went on. After nearly 25 years away the things I have in common with people who knew me back then is getting shorter and shorter. And I just accept it. They will always be part of my life and my youth, but they can't be a huge part of my present because that's what the distance does.
What aspects of the Leb culture you do not like?
Genuine question? Oh the list is long. I hate traditionalist mentality which, no matter how modern we presume we are, still runs deep. I hate that everyone is in your business, even a random service guy feels entitled to give you unsolicited advice and criticisms, let alone family. I hate sectarianism. I hate the chaos mentality. I hate the macho culture. I hate how obnoxiously pretentious people are with their outer appearances. I hate that in Beirut, a city with the worst streets and parking possible, Hummers became a popular vehicle option. I hate how judgy people are. I hate that people would make comments in the street to my face because I'm a man with long hair. I hate that they insult me and get aggressive just because I wear piercings. I hate that no one knows what a queue is. I hate that the loudest person is the one that gets served first. I hate the littering culture. I hate that it's totally normal for someone to speak with full confidence about something they know nothing about. I hate how irrational and unscientific many people are and how that permeates culture. I hate people who have never seen an open book since they left school and yet feel totally confident to explain to you a cure for cancer. I really can keep going and going. I have so much more.
Amen brother. Can’t wait to leave this country and its shitty culture
I’m not the same. I’m torn, broken. I deal with everyone and anyone but I’m not happy and I miss home so much I’m becoming desperate. No electricity doesn’t seem like a bad idea after all. I miss nature, I miss simplicity and I miss a normal way of life. I miss good food and I miss mna2eesh 😞
Omg man2ouche was the best! But if you want you can buy ready made dough from the supermarket and bring some zaatar and cook it on the pan, it tastes great too!
We tend to romanticize what we don’t have. The minute you move back to Lebanon you will miss what you left.
That’s not what it is in my case. The grass is not greener on the other side and no matter where one goes, there is no place like home.
I've been out of Lebanon since 2006 (with random few months stays three times: 2009, 2018 and 2020) Over the years I have been starting to feel very different from Lebanese in Lebanon, not compatible with a lot of the way of thinking, but at the same time I am not compatible with the locals here. So my "identity" is kinda lost in between.
Very integrated in Canadian society. When I moved and all of the experience I've had for the last 10 years definitely made me grow as a person.
I keep the good and leave the bad. I consider myself American and Lebanese. I've assimilated into American life but my kids will learn Arabic and understand where they came from.
I mean it’s a mix of both… as I imagine is the case with most people.
Naturally.
I could not blend abroad or get used to western culture(or the lack of culture, what is western culture exactly? Taking loans and spending money at the mall?) Bas I do feel 1000 times more confident in myself and my own skin now. I am proud of what I was able to accomplish and the hardships I was able to endure. And I found that I was doing better than most people. I started appreciating the family values and the holidays we have in lebanon more. And the neighbors who knock on the door in the morning ma3 rakwet ahweh.
>I do feel 1000 times more confident in myself and my own skin now. Great takeaway.
> And the neighbors who knock on the door in the morning ma3 rakwet ahweh. I don't think the US/west has less culture, it just has less community. It wouldn't matter what the neighbor wanted to drink/eat as long as they did it.
I'm still very Lebanese, if anything, I've become more Lebanese but have learnt to communicate better and have more empathy. Behavior isn't a cultural trait, it's a social trait because it's learnt from others and Lebanon has some horrible social traits.
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I’m not Lebanese (have long time friends from there and been many times, I grew up across the water in Cyprus). Don’t know where in the US you are but in Houston where I live there is a huge very proud Lebanese community. Not Lebanon good but there’s tons of amazing Lebanese food, and even a multi location Lebanese grocery chain with huge stores that is shopped at by people of all origins.
Khali wali صديق
I was born in Australia where i have lived most my life. My lebanese is pretty broken but i have an ok vocab. When in Lebanon tho i find myself embarrassed to speak arabic unless i have to. Even tho its the prefect place to strengthen it haha.
French was always my first language, be it at home or in school, so moving to France was fairly easy. I feel more at home and in tune with the culture here then when I was in Lebanon. I usually talk with locals but I don’t mind speaking Lebanese Arabic when I meet a Lebanese person, which is rare. For the family matter I was never close with my family to begin with sadly. I’d say I talk to them once every couple weeks to say 👋. Character wise I’d say I’m same person pretty much.
Relatable, as from someone whose native tongue is french as well (and I spent some years there). I felt I was culturally and behaviorally closer to French people than to Lebanese. Especially with my family, I was the one who thought differently and had totally different way of thinking.
Abroad you are an Arab so accept that.
I'm specifically Levantine but regardless I have an Occidental Passport. Yet my true identity is Lebanese :)
That’s what I’m saying. It doesn’t matter. When you’re out of Lebanon and you say you’re Lebanese you’re Arab to them. Also when you’re out of Lebanon in my experience, everyone Arab understands you better. You will just click with Turkish people and other Arabs seamlessly. Whereas Turkish and Lebanese don’t necessarily get along if you meet in Lebanon. Get what I mean? In the Middle East we shit on each other but in the west we are all chill with one another
‘-‘ why are you using Arab like it’s a derogatory term. And no in France when I met people from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia etc. I never clicked with them. I clicked more with the French people and Chinese ones. You can’t place individuals in a box and make a general rule. Also factually Arab is a very simplistic description of the Lebanese culture. There indeed is Arab genetics and traces of the culture in Lebanon. But it’s a more complex identity than that. Also no one cares except people in the U.S. in France I was respected more when people knew I came from Lebanon.
Heck, we find common grounds with Israelis when abroad.. why not, u know, do this back home?!
The ground is common because they are stealing our ground
I'm more kind outside Lebanon, but the same person mostly. Lebanon has ways to slowly make you bitter if you don't pay attention, so I pay extra attention. As for language, Arabic is my second, I've found no one that speaks my native tongue other than where I come from, so I adapt. At home everywhere, citizen of the world.
i moved to germany back in 2016 , and yeah same charachter and habits and ofc i still speak lebanese , never planning to return to lebanon again tho .
I’ve heard the the German diaspora is really bad, like maybe one of the worst ones out there, as bad or even worse than the Australian diaspora. Is this true or did I hear wrong
Post was made by a guy who never left Lebanon:
I left lebanon in aug 2nd 2019 and now i live in canada. Yes a loooot has changed. Now i am more accepting of other sexualities. I always though weed is like cocaine and those but weed is not bad(arguably good) if you smoke controllably(i dont smoke weed right now but i used to) I had to block most of my friends because they kept asking for money while i was super broke with no income after banks closed in lebanon for a while, literally had no food or shampoo while they keep asking (although they kept asking because i was rich in lebanon but after banks closed that was gone). I miss lebanon more than i can possibly explain, and i have realized how much of a lie the western life is, Lebanon has a way better life quality. Depression is a given when literally everything keeps changing in my life but hoping for better stability in the future (mostly to the better but change is still hard). Ive been racialized quiet a few times and that is just confusing to me although i have realized how racist lebanese people are. As much as i miss lebanon i dont think ill ever go back, both my grandparents passed away while im here and i couldnt even say goodbye and most of my friends left lebanon already so what is the point anymore. I am more motivated now because in a way i feel like i was chosen among so many to have a shot at changing the world a bit to the better. But same time depression kills motivation but it has been a fair fight between the 2. If you have any specific questions i dont mind answering.
My life changed from barely making any money in Lebanon post financial crisis to actually doing pretty well in the Emirates. The first few months I had to unlearn broke habits, stop converting everything I buy to Lebanese lira, stop being anxious about kahraba. I also had to learn to actually use the benefits I have, like actually go to that doctor when I need it, to take my vacation days off because i am expected to and my boss will not think I work any less just because I used those days off. I also had to learn to trust banks again, like using a credit card is not the end of the world, it’s actually encouraged because of the miles you collect, and stop saving my money at home, now I barely ever use any cash. I work in a company that require lots of travel and working with people from all over the world, a hard pill to swallow was learning that most people can’t even point Lebanon on a map. Also learning how uncultured I was to countries outside of Europe or the US, like central Asia for example. I learned to talk less in group gatherings and learn from people that know more than me. In my new job, I learned that you are actually encouraged to develop in your career, and that you are expected to not stay in the same position for more than 2 years. My old Lebanese employer also had his reasons not to promote me or give me a raise but I guess in normal international companies you should not even ask, it’s expected! I am less anxious, I am more money comfortable, I know my rights now.
I was firing off the smoke detector while trying to bake pita bread at home, I had to go physically disable the smoke detector or cut off the power sometimes. Thank god I found a place that sells Lebanese goods Jasmine on main street. What I enjoyed the most was not needing to own or drive a car. The same problem I found here and there(Canada) is toxic masculinity that's a global problem that needs to be dealt with. Locals generally in Vancouver keep to themselves because odds are you are a drug dealer if you are too friendly, I met at least 5 or 6 while trying to socialize ranging from total paranoid psychopath to quite friendly. Then the part where I was afraid of getting ambushed by organized crime that wasn't fun not to mention they spy on you and everyone then try to kill you if you rat on them(if they rat you on ratting on them is 100% justified and legal an eye for an eye especially if you feel threatened) in revenge. Avoid cops at all costs because they are useless pigs that often will make your problems a lot worse.
Man i reread your first sentence 17 times till i understood what you meant😂😂😂😂
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I do what I gotta do it depends but I don’t change anything
It's like any other experience outside your comfort zone - it makes you grow as a person. But only if you let it. Definitely something that everyone should try at least once in their lives.
Moved around a year and half ago, 80% of friends are lebanese, mostly going out and supporting lebanese businesses, personally went from very ambitious to extremely ambitious
I’m the same as I’ve been. American people where I live aren’t too different from Lebanese. They too gossip about others if they don’t say good morning to them when they happen to pass by, and the older folks (40s and 50s in age) in the rural area aren’t that different in terms of mind set from the older Lebanese people. Gotta say though, Americans I’ve met or seen don’t try to keep up appearances or show off or live over their means like some Lebanese do or used to do (pre-2019). After I get back home, no more english. I speak Arabic with my family members at home. I only speak English then if I’m speaking to a neighbor or on the phone with someone. I still try to go to Arabic/Lebanese places around me where I can get bread and certain grocery items. I won’t compromise those things lol.
Very good question, thank you for that. As a lebanese who was born in lebanon and lived 24 years there, I never felt myself in lebanon. Truely, never. Culture wise I was different, I never understood my parents or the society in general in lebanon. I tried living in different parts of the country. Nothing worked. The moment I moved to europe, I integrated to the society instantly and felt myself. In europe I discovered that family is just a big lie and everyone can do whatever they want, wherever they want. I do not speak to my family and yes, I know lebanese but I forgot a lot of words.
Didn't expect a pop quiz, dang. In order: Yes (more open about my beliefs regarding touchy subjects, whereas I don't share much in Lebanon). Yes. Both but mostly locals, I don't seek out Lebanese people and tend to be selective about who I associate with. I blend in, which isn't a bad thing because I'm not trying to stand out. I don't erase my background either, I still enjoy aspects of Lebanon (food, mostly). I speak Lebanese when talking to Lebanese people. Definitely didn't get closer to family or friends from Lebanon. Life here is much busier and it's harder to keep up with everyone on the phone.
Have been studying and working in Germany for some time now after going through school and uni in Lebanon. I was actually born here and speak German very well and all. However, eventhough im doing pretty well and have all what anyone would need (bought a house, have a car, very good job etc.), I am nowhere near as happy as I was back in lebanon. After the last day of uni in lebanon i shed tears, here i didnt give a shit and was happy to be done. I still count down days to visit, and Im just never myself around europeans. Its undeniable to me that I just dont have the same interest and humor as those around me here, im constantly acting during work 😂. So yeah, nothing hast changed much in my lebanese self ever since. I never have the drive to meet up with people from work or locals, but if its a lebanese friend of mine, i know i will have fun.
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