here!
"Go make an impact, kid."
...my dad's parting words to me as he and my mom dropped me off at the airport. Encouraging words for an already nervous, overwhelmed and excited traveler. But yes, now I am here. I am here in Lebanon!
I made it after a long flight with no sleep, a lot of screaming babies, children running up and down the aisle and cramped seats. So needless to say I was exhausted and also nervous as my plane started to approach Beirut. This was finally happening, the anxiety started to build. I was flying solo, what if I didn't meet up with my other teammates, and couldn't find them at the airport? What if I really could not understand the language? What if teaching these children proved to be an epic fail? However as soon as I saw the coastline out of my window, the anxiety vanished and the excitement hit me. It's finally happening :) I am in Lebanon!
We are in a refugee camp in Southern Beirut. Our taxi driver dropped us off at the front where we met our director who walked us to our apartment. What an experience even that walk was. I'll try to describe the refugee camp to you, it is unlike anywhere I have been. Apartment buildings cramped together with open windows because there is no AC, wires hanging everywhere, narrow streets in which I could probably touch both walls on either side of me with both arms. On that crowded, dusty and odor-filled street there are people walking, mopeds speeding past you, children playing and men sitting in cafes and stores. I am staying in an apartment with the other girls in my program, in which we share a room with mattresses on the floor. Already in the past 24 hours, we've had more than 5 electricity outages...so sleeping at night is a bit rough with no AC and open windows to the streets below.
Last night, we went out to watch the Germany vs. Italy game, it's so crazy how excited they are for the Eurocup here! But also it was so much fun already meeting others here and seeing how they interact.
We've already met our neighbors who have been more hospitable than anywhere I have ever been. We have a roof where it's about 5 degrees cooler because you can catch a breeze. So far we're still just settling in, tomorrow is our orientation with all the other refugee camps in Beirut and in the South. The other teachers I have met so far are great, all from different backgrounds, coming from different parts of the world and with so much knowledge, experience and insight to share and recieve.
Already I know that these next 6 weeks or so will be quite an adventure and I hope to keep you updated as much as I can (and when internet allows...no internet in the camp, so we have to search for it in cafes, etc.
My final moment to share with you today: as we were walking down the street today, we were welcomed by a group of smiling, joyful children who wanted to meet the "foreigners." Just by interacting with them (in my broken Arabic), it stirred my heart and my excitement of what is to com! And how I plan to follow my Dad's words of encouragement and "go make an impact."
Stay tuned... ;)
...my dad's parting words to me as he and my mom dropped me off at the airport. Encouraging words for an already nervous, overwhelmed and excited traveler. But yes, now I am here. I am here in Lebanon!
I made it after a long flight with no sleep, a lot of screaming babies, children running up and down the aisle and cramped seats. So needless to say I was exhausted and also nervous as my plane started to approach Beirut. This was finally happening, the anxiety started to build. I was flying solo, what if I didn't meet up with my other teammates, and couldn't find them at the airport? What if I really could not understand the language? What if teaching these children proved to be an epic fail? However as soon as I saw the coastline out of my window, the anxiety vanished and the excitement hit me. It's finally happening :) I am in Lebanon!
We are in a refugee camp in Southern Beirut. Our taxi driver dropped us off at the front where we met our director who walked us to our apartment. What an experience even that walk was. I'll try to describe the refugee camp to you, it is unlike anywhere I have been. Apartment buildings cramped together with open windows because there is no AC, wires hanging everywhere, narrow streets in which I could probably touch both walls on either side of me with both arms. On that crowded, dusty and odor-filled street there are people walking, mopeds speeding past you, children playing and men sitting in cafes and stores. I am staying in an apartment with the other girls in my program, in which we share a room with mattresses on the floor. Already in the past 24 hours, we've had more than 5 electricity outages...so sleeping at night is a bit rough with no AC and open windows to the streets below.
Last night, we went out to watch the Germany vs. Italy game, it's so crazy how excited they are for the Eurocup here! But also it was so much fun already meeting others here and seeing how they interact.
We've already met our neighbors who have been more hospitable than anywhere I have ever been. We have a roof where it's about 5 degrees cooler because you can catch a breeze. So far we're still just settling in, tomorrow is our orientation with all the other refugee camps in Beirut and in the South. The other teachers I have met so far are great, all from different backgrounds, coming from different parts of the world and with so much knowledge, experience and insight to share and recieve.
Already I know that these next 6 weeks or so will be quite an adventure and I hope to keep you updated as much as I can (and when internet allows...no internet in the camp, so we have to search for it in cafes, etc.
My final moment to share with you today: as we were walking down the street today, we were welcomed by a group of smiling, joyful children who wanted to meet the "foreigners." Just by interacting with them (in my broken Arabic), it stirred my heart and my excitement of what is to com! And how I plan to follow my Dad's words of encouragement and "go make an impact."
Stay tuned... ;)
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