A New Day

I've been feeling kind of bad this past week that I have neglected updating my blog, and before starting fresh at the new year, I wanted to make sure I posted one last time in 2012.  The last week or few days in the end of December, in my opinion at least, have been transformed into a time for reflection and anticipation for the year to come. Personally, I can't even believe that in a matter of days it will be 2013, and that realization brings on very mixed emotions. I'm sad to see 2012 come to an end as this past year has been the most significant year in my life this far and for many different reasons. It was my senior year of high school, the year I went to the Dominican Republic for a 10 day missions trip, a year of ending, gaining and strengthening relationships, but most of all it was a year of creating memories, experiences, and growing up. This year was also the year, the last four months at least, that I moved 7,800 plus miles across the world to Beirut, Lebanon. By far the craziest and most adventurous thing I've ever done, the transition into my life here has also been bittersweet, just like the end of the year. Being so far from my family and friends back in the states would be the bitter part, and the difficulties that come with adapting to a new culture, people and location. However, as this is the time for reflection, this year has still, no matter what difficulties arose, been the best so far. The honesty that I have grown to apply to myself and my surroundings has been eye opening, and being given the chance just  to be here makes me very, very grateful. I've learned about myself, God, my friends, my family, everything, since I left California. While the move wasn't the end of a year, the earliest months of 2012 feel long ago as I look around the corner at 2013. It's scary to know that even more change is ahead waiting for me, and that it will be happening soon. 2013 means that I will be only a few weeks away from starting the University here, and that I will be jumping into the deep end after months of sitting in the  kiddie pool. Whatever fears or apprehensions I have are gone with the promise of more experiences, more memories, more good things that I know will come. Changes are difficult to make sometimes, but what I have lived though, done and seen in this past year ultimately lead me to embrace the new year and keep my faith. So, in looking back at all the good, all the crazy, and all the bittersweet of what this year had to offer, here is to the future good, the future crazy and the future bittersweet days to come! 

Blessed!

This past week flew by very quickly. Back home it was the week everyone was going back home to celebrate Thanksgiving, and the same day was both my mom and step dads anniversary and the Lebanese Independence Day.  Being the first year away from the majority of family, and the first year sans-Thanlsgiving, it was quite a bittersweet feeling for me. Not wanting to ignore Thanlsginging as it is one of my favorite holidays, except Christmas, of course, I took the opportunity to really think bout what was goin on in my life and what I was truly blessed and thankful for at this point in my life. The past three months have been a whirlwind of differences and emotions and events; and while I've had all the time in the world to be introspective and realize all that and whom I have in my life, it was important to see beyond the surface of my blessings. It was important to see how much God provides for me, from my safety to my health and to the simple necessities in life that I have never had to go without. I focused on all the love and support I have around me, regardless of distance physically, and that even when I may feel alone I can have peace that I never am or will be. Blessings go beyond family and friends though, and I realize how much I take for granted still. Even while being in a country so set apart from the States, I still don't properly thank God for being able to see the world in this new way, or to have this opportunities and experiences that I don't even know that are around me yet. Blessings in people, places, words, feelings, books, nature,things, there are so many blessings in my life that I forget to is creepy be thankful for. So even though I missed out, begrudgingly, on turkey and stuffing and way too many sweets this year, which I should be thankful for in itself,and hated to be away from my Scarpetti family, I am so beyond blessed and prized under the love of my God. While I'd love to say and have conviction in that I will continue,everyday, to remember how loved and cared for and blessed I am with my wonderful
 family, my friends and everything else, I know that I will fail many times. So here is to Thanksgiving, an important day to look at your life and praise God for what you do have around you, and to all the other days where you won't remember to be so thankful, but can try you best to count as many blessings as you can. Happy Thanksgiving for always! 

The Game of Life

Have you ever wondered why as a kid, board games seemed so exciting? Maybe they weren't as fun for you as they were for me, I probably enjoyed them more as I didn't play them very regularly, but there is something so simple and timeless about them. Monopoly, Scrabble, Sorry!, Apples to Apples(my favorite through high school) and so many others, they can so easily bring together a group of friends, strangers or family. Looking back into the moments where I've played these games, I've realized something- that my life, no matter how much I wish it would be, cannot be played like the board game version. LIFE, a game of spinning the wheel and getting cards of fate; what you study in school, when you marry, how many children you have, what car you drive, the house you buy, all these things in a game of luck, fate, of Life. But that's not reality is it. I can't roll a dice or spin a wheel or pass Go and collect $200. While I wish I could see in front of me in a exciting display my options of schools, careers, potential husband, children, cities and so on, that would defeat the purpose of living. If I knew exactly what to do, where to be, what to study, then I couldn't discover, I couldn't truly experience, I couldn't learn. It's been hard for me lately, faced with the decisions and confusion of not knowing where my life is going, and that is in reality a beautiful thing. I've realized that if I knew where I'd live, what I'd do and what my days on Earth had in store, I would live a bland, boring and predictable life. Instead, if I focus each day on my faith that God has his perfect plan for me, I can face the challenges of not knowing what I love to do and where I'll be a year from now and instead, I can be grateful for the place I'm in now, the people I've met, and the joy of experiencing life every new day I get. While picking a card may be easier, simpler, less messy, the game of life is not a game at all, and for some very good reasons too. Will I travel more, will I study sociology, become a writer or find a different passion, will I live abroad, "will I and what ifs" are boundless.  I do know however, that the moments ahead of me are full of promise, full of joy and full of hardships, but more importantly, full of purpose. I don't know where my life is going or who I will be beyond who I am today, but knowing that God created the maps for the games of life long before I could roll a dice to play, I can find peace in knowing that his plan is infinitely greater than any board game or chance decision. 

Life Lessons

I have always liked school. I may not have always been the perfect student, but I enjoyed almost all my teachers, classmates and classes in my education so far. However, in the last few years I have come to understand that you don't learn solely in a class setting, but in the real world you learn real life lessons, things only learned through experience. I've learned so much already in the relatively short amount of time I've been in Beirut, but more than anything I have learned about myself and those in my life. Here are some of the things I have learned in that respect so far:

People are complex. They come with different backgrounds, different views on life and everything in it, different character traits and personalities, and they each serve a unique purpose in my life, whether they are family, a friend or a stranger I just met.

Nobody is perfect in this world, and you can't uphold standards for people that you fall short of yourself.

You need people in your life. That doesn't mean you need them for survival, but being independent, you still need people in your life who can give you love, joy, companionship, and that you can reciprocate those things with too. No one should have nobody to share life with, as good or bad as it may be.

People change. They adapt, grow and move on in life, and they may or may not stay in your life. That gives you the chance in the present to cherish the people around you and to make communication a priority with those who you care about and wish to know for as long as possible.

People matter and people make a difference.

No one knows what you expect/want/wish to have/or need from them unless you tell them and have a relationship that's honest. Expectations unmet can ruin relationships before you even realize it.
You have to check your selfishness in order to be the best friend/family member/significant other etc., that you can be. True love is an action first and foremost, accompanied by emotion in order to further another's spiritual growth. Therefore, you need to be willing to serve the other person over your own selfishness for those in your life you truly love and care about. That's nothing short of a life long challenge!

People need you too. Relationships and interactions are a multi way street.

God puts people in your life for specific reasons, even if you don't know what that reason is.

Be grateful. Now that I am far from many that I care about and I miss them every day, there are people here that deserve my attention and focus as well, and it takes trusting in God to know that I am here to learn something He has set out for me to understand.

Days Go By!

Sorry I haven't posted in about a week, I think I may have a case of "Blogger's Block" or something! It is kind of an unusual thing for me, even though I love to talk, to write about things or thoughts that go on throughout my day. As weird as it is to say, even living in a new country, my days aren't action packed with exciting things 24/7, who knew life can be as normal as ever through such a big change? While I write this I've realized how great a day I had, and now as most of your days have just began, mine is almost over. Sunday's are now my new "Tourist-y" days, and our adventure today was amazing to see. We left around 11 to drive to Byblos, an ancient port town and city of 8,000 years of ruins and history. Byblos was absolutely beautiful and the history behind the old and new of the area was exhilarating for me, I never knew I like history as much as I do until today. Walking through the ancient ruins of the city was one of the best experiences I have had in Lebanon so far. Roman columns,citadels, fortresses and artifacts are reserved in the miles long tour of the area. Huge stone towers, carved rock and beautiful architecture are nestled in on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, with the updated yet still antique looking port next to it. I learned the legend of Pepe, a man who was the decade long celebrity of the port of Byblos, and was so happy to have acces t
o walk along the Sea, as so much of it is carelessly blocked off in Beirut from construction, unused land and industrial buildings. Sunday's are ,y adventure days from here on out, and Byblos was the perfect awakening to explore Lebanon and the treasures I know this ancient land has to show me. But a little warning, if I don't post anytime soon, I've probably ran off to live on an old sailboat in the cutest port of Byblos, just so you will know where to find me:)

Never Truly Alone!

I believe that if someone was asked to describe me, they would say that I am a social person. I consider myself to be generally friendly, extroverted, a regular "chatty Kathy" and "social butterfly". So then the question of why I moved miles and miles away from almost all of those I loved and considered friends would be a natural thing to wonder. Until the last two weeks or so I was seriously asking myself that same question, even though it is something that was in my mind the entire time since I chose to come to Lebanon. After some moments of brooding, deep thought, prayer and some Skype voice calls, I came to the answer to this gigantic question invading my mind. Being seemingly alone, not having friends or things to do that fill up my time; these are all aspects of God's will and plan for me. Leaving behind those and the activities that took away my time from God gave me not only the chance to experience a new part of the world and gain valuable life experiences and opportunities, but has allowed me to be silent for once, quiet now to focus my life on GOD first and foremost. No more of the constant going, going, going that filled my days, but Instead I can spend the hours figuring myself out, who I want to be, what I want to do, reading the Word and growing spiritually. It's been hard, that's no secret and no shock, but it's so worthwhile, taking time out from pouring into the relationships around me so I can focus on pouring into the relationship that is the most important. While I wish I could call up friends, new or old, to go get coffee or try out a trendy restaurant, to attend a concert or go to the beach with, in the end, my life is God's timing, and when he wants me to spread my butterfly wings and be the friendship centered girl I love to be, I know then I'll be ready for His path for me.

Being Intentional

What if you only lived for one day. One day to do or say or experience what life is on Earth. One day to see and create and discover; to accomplish something purposeful. It is a crazy idea, one that is not an actuality in this life, but maybe the lesson of it should be a movement for this generation. Think about it. If you had only one day to live,what would it be that you did within those 24 hours? Cure cancer, invent time travel, scale the Great Wall, perform in front of a live audience, what would it be that you would do. If you knew you had a 24 hour period to live out, every second, minute and action would be intentional. Intentionality is a lesson I learned a year ago from a very wise person of leadership in my life. Intentionality is, in my opinion, something that people my age seem to be generally lacking. Being intentional means to do with purpose, existing solely for a specific and deliberate reason and outcome. Bringing intentionality into everything you do, from your words to your relationships, and to your actions and your motivations, bring then purpose into life. This lesson of intentionality was first focused in my life in order to mold me to be a stronger leader, but this lesson of going into everything with a pre thought purpose attains to every minuscule detail in my life. From being aware of how I treat new people and how I welcome them into a situation, how I respond to a friend or family member in a difficult conversation, and to how I choose to live my life based on knowing that it influences others, being intentional has the exponential power to produce change and growth in my life. Being purposeful in my life is an example that also indirectly affects those that are in my life in major ways. If you entered every conversation with the sole intention to grow the other person spiritually or relationally, to serve them and focus on them, imagine what this generation could accomplish. Each of our figurative "one days" would add up to the end of bullying, drugs and drinking related habits, negative body issues, abusive relationships, and all the other hardships that seem to plague people of our age and younger. These 24 hours, accomplished with full intentionality, would positively change and move our generation and those older and younger. Now these goals may be of an extreme nature, but implementing a purpose driven intentional way of living, with some hard work, can be the future.

Live The Life You Love, Love The Life You Live

It's one of my favorite phrases; I even have a necklace with the words on it. Live the life you love, love the life you live. 

It sounds simple even, to fill your life with the people, job, places and things that you enjoy. Because why would you live a life that you didn't want? Looking into the saying though there is much more than the surface meaning. While it is important and should be a goal to pursue living the life you love, and seems more attainable,(being that you fill your life with positive things and people not negative habits and an unhealthy lifestyle), it's much harder to love the life you live. Contentment as it is, is a rare thing to have and a beautiful thing to practice. I have now been to two countries where I have met exceedingly strong people regardless of their circumstances, and their strength came from their faith and the peace and contentment that they had.

Living eighteen years in a materialistic, consumerist and pleasure seeking  based country, contentment with what you have is not a commonly expressed popular idea. My faith, Christian friends and family instilled in me the encouragement of being happy with what you have, always being grateful for what God puts in your life. To practice that mindset is difficult though, as the media and world around us bombards us constantly with new technology, clothes, ideas, careers and skin deep thoughts that push us to want what we don't have. This more, more, more mentality fights with me at least, creating a inner battle with desiring things that I don't have, whether it's my image or money or what not, and that strays me away from loving what I have now. 

The benefits of loving the life you live and living the life you love to the best of our ability are bountiful though. Striving to live a worthy life, whatever that means to you, and then being content and grateful for what and who you have in your life is an idea that carries a lot of depth and weight with it.

But once you begin to dissect your life and contemplate what your purpose is and how you can give in this world, this phrase may not seem too far off in the distance for you to adopt.     

My Somewhat Cheesy 10 Keys To Happiness List!

1. Love is essential. Not the romantic comedy love or the valentines day love, or the way you love the new tv show. The definition of love that is first and foremost an action, accompanied by emotion, that has the purpose to grow the person spiritually is the real kind of love. Humans will always be short of the Agape love that God shows unto us, but when you truly act upon love for the spiritual growth of another, for everyone, then that is when true living begins.

2. Not all days have happy endings or happy beginnings. Everyday will present challenges, some tragic, some easily conquered, and some that threaten to make life harder than it should be. These days are what shapes character, and seeking positivity and faith when you don't see the sunshine is what is conducive to loving your life and living it to the fullest.

3. You are here to serve, not be served. Speaking in a completely stereotypical and very broad way, people like to have things done for them, to be served in life. You go to restaurants to be served, hair salons, department stores, all places where peoples jobs are to serve you, and it feels good. However, once you truly serve others, subserviently removing yourself to happily adjust to the needs of another, then you can find the purpose and fulfillment that being a loving servant to others brings.

4. A smile goes a long, long, long, way.

5. It's in the small things. Appreciating the little gifts of joy that life gives you is so important. The sweet voicemail your grandma left you, the email from a friend, the penny you find face up, the stranger who opens the door for you. These moments, whatever they may be, should be treasured for the moments that you don't see the bigger things as well.

6. Life gets messy, nobody's perfect, and chocolate makes everything better!

7. If you have a people around you who you love and they love you back, do whatever it takes to not lose them.

8. Always thank God for what you have and who He is and what He did. What if you had today only what you thanked him for yesterday?

9. You should listen more than you speak. (still working on this one!)

10. Like Forest Gump said with, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get," and C.S. Lewis' words that "There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind," I try to remember that it's not my plans for this world that my life takes, and I must trust in the far, far better life that the God who created me planned for.

Cigarettes and Coffee

Coffee, a staple of my life for the past two years, is a beautiful thing. While I don't drink coffee everyday, or better said, I don't have to drink coffee daily, I very much enjoy sitting down and drinking a cup. Hot or cold, flavored or black, instant or barista made, coffee is a varied and internationally loved food group of its own. Even more options come with the kind of coffee you drink. Whether you favor a cappuccino, double shot espresso, simple mocha, medium blend brew, or a "skim milk non fat caramel machiatto light ice", your choices are endless. Coffee here in Lebanon has a different meaning. It goes beyond a morning necessity, and beyond your moment of relaxation; nose in a book and feet up at your favorite coffee shop next door.  It's a symbol of life here, especially for the Armenian population, who generously drink their coffee in sweet little cups, piping hot, and black as mud. This Armenian coffee is delicious though, with a few teaspoons of sugar and some fruit, it's a sure delicacy of the culture. They take it to an extreme level though when they drink their "black as mud" strong coffee 4-5 times a day. In the morning after breakfast, at 10:30 am after working for an hour, at noon before lunch, at 1 pm after lunch, and yet agin at 6 pm before dinner. It is beyond me why they all are not hyper caffeine addicts, adding to this coffee consumption packs of cigarettes, creating an interesting dynamic to watch. Coffee and cigarettes, while not always the smoking, is for the people here an outlet to connect. While doing construction this past week as we begin renovating the house, the matron of the floor below us has brought the workers and ourselves coffee everyday we are there. Speaking no English, she evens brings juice for my mom and I, knowing that we do not always want the coffee or tea she brings for the men, and understanding that she cannot ask us what we would like to drink. Sweet gestures like this, completely unnecessary, have astounded me. It amazes me to see the hospitality of this nation. Just like they love their coffee, they love to be welcoming and cordial to anyone new to Beirut or Lebanon in general. So while I sit and write(type), and drink my grande caramel mocha from Starbucks next door, I can't help but feel grateful to the power of coffee, and the community it helps to create between people of different languages and nationalities. 

The Beirut "Wow" Factor

So far in my life, I have been blessed generously with fantastic friends, each holding different impacts in my life. From friends from school, church, through family or other interests, these are the people, regardless of the quantity, that bring joy into my life continuously, regardless of distances from them. Along with my family, friends are those special people who you can't wait to discover life with. It has been hard  then to be in such a new and exciting part of my life without them here to share it with. Beyond that though, it is a real world lesson for me to understand that people come and go, my life comes and goes, and close friendships do not necessitate that you be close to them physically to connect with them relationally. For the few weeks I have been here, I have noticed myself caught in the vicious circle of missing everyone, holding myself back from meeting other potential friends. This Saturday night was my first night of real fun, my first night out on the town. Beirut and the downtown life is what people from the far reaches of the world come to enjoy. The party starts at midnight and goes to the wee hours, each person dancing and laughing the time away with those around them. I had heard of this nightlife and had been eager to experience it, being legal here now by only a few months. So Buddha-Bar it was, from midnight to 3 a.m., in the center of the exciting city. A gorgeous Asian themed restaurant and bar, luxe table and couches filled the bar area with red and soft glow lighting, and oriental to American pop chart music blasted from the DJ. There with one person I know, I left after having a fabulous time getting to know thirteen other equally fabulous Arabic young women. While almost all spoke English very well, it was the universal language of having fun and dancing that connected everyone together at this girls night out, Beirut "WOW" factor-style. These ladies know how to have fun, singing and moving to the music, the only thought to enjoy their time with those around them. It was a much needed experience for me, seeing that making new friends, while effort and time demanding, will be a worthwhile and enjoyable challenge. I will always wish my closest friends and my family could be here with me, wherever here is, to enjoy life in Beirut with me as I discover more of it, but now I am excited to enjoy it with people I don't know quite yet. An important life lesson learned, and a fantastic and fun night out completed, I am very excited to see what friends and Beirut has to offer me next! 

Rambling thoughts of clarifying honesty...

It has been twenty-four days that I have been in Beirut thus far. That has been a time of deep thoughts, sensory overloading, and huge intakes of life experience. These twenty-four days have also been a time of inaction though, sadly. Days filled with little things to do, a trip to the tile place, a trip to the market, but then of nothing of importance. I have put a lot of thinking into why I feel so lost in time, and why I feel so out of touch to the opportunities around me this past week. The easy answer would to be I'm still in a phase of getting accustomed, still new to the culture shock. But I honestly think it is something else. I am doing the hard work on my own heart, on the things and morals and experiences that had molded me, and I have come to a realization. My life will be filled with mundane days, and it will have moments, even phases, of the ordinary. Moving here I thought my life would be a 180 degree flip of what it had been, but I discovered that no matter where you are in the world, you are still YOU. I am me wherever I go, whatever language I speak, and whatever actions and decisions I make. The reality of this hit me, hard, when I was feeling far from God, and far from my family and friends. I was wrong to think that I would change in my lazy habits or need for people and socializing, and the loneliness , being brutally honest, is the hardest thing I have ever faced. But I am so blessed to have a God that makes sure I'm never alone. He is with me, wanting me, and directing my life. I understand now that these parts of me, my personality, want for friendships, and want for community are gifts. Drudging through these hard aspects of creating a new life will be more difficult that I thought previously, but I know now that it is the most worthwhile work. Fillings days with the unknown is what God's plan for me is, to relinquish the control I have placed over my own life into His hands is my next step. That trust is hard to give, but once completed, I can see a future of purpose and a life filled with people, love, faith, and the ordinary. While I ramble in this post, needing to write out these feelings and moments of truth, I hope some of you can resonate with me. No fancy story, no elaborate metaphor to describe this stage in my life could get my message across, and I hope that my honesty to do the hard work can maybe encourage you to do the hard work that is placed in front of you.

It's Electrifying!

Being American, there are many things that I am accustomed to. From certain brands, ways of living, types of food and so on, there are things that happen in the U.S., and things that don't. One such thing that doesn't happen very regularly in the U.S., for at least the cities I've lived in, is power outages. These happen in big, dramatic events that most doesn't know how to deal with, since they are not a normal part of a middle class American's life. Like the big southern California power outage last year, where schools were cancelled and gas stations were shut down, creating complete chaos for a few hours in our lives. While some relished in the opportunity to make their own adventures, to take advantage of the time off and relax; others turned to freak out mode over their refrigerators and inability to charge their phones/computers. It was the first time I had met my neighbors that night, and luckily for me, I LOVE candles, so besides a lack of communication, I was happy. But the days after the outage, it occurred to me that the power going off was not a normal event, and most dreaded it happening again. On the other side of the world in Beirut, Lebanon, the power being off is one of the most regular things about life. From the first day we were here, until now, almost a month later, the power is off multiple times EVERY DAY. Because of this, everyone has a personal generator. Where we are staying until the renovations are done with the house, there is only six hours of city electricity every day, forcing us to use the generator the other eighteen hours. By now, this is just one of the things that you respond to with, "WELCOME TO LEBANON!" No matter where you go, whether it be a fancy restaurant or to the local cafe next to your building, everyone's power goes off daily. Luckily for us, when we move into the house my stepdad owns with his sisters, we have city electricity twenty-one hours everyday, a rarity in this city. If you would have explained this to me a year ago, I don't know if I would of been to excited about being in Beirut, electricity-less. Living here now, this comical part of life has not phased me at all. Except for the times when, four grocery bags in hand, the power is off and you have to take the stairs, and not the lift(elevator). This is just another of those things that push me to be as adaptable as ever, and to thank God for the things in life that really matter.

P.s., I actually kinda wish the generators were not always coming on when the city power turns off, you miss the excitement of candlelight and the solace of the darkness! But then again, no one wants to eat rotten food and drink warm milk!

A Different State of Mind

Naturally, when moving from one country to another, everything changes and becomes different, and that's amplified even more when the country you moved from is the U.S. However, the differences go beyond a change in nationality, language, food or culture. Instead, the changes occur in a varied state of mind, a unique way of thinking that transform these "differences" into a way of life that, in my opinion, should be adopted by others. Even if it is just in moderation. The differences include the way people eat, in that they live to eat, rather than eat to live. This then contributes to the ever popular saying that if you have your health, and you have your family, then life is good. Further aspects of this state of mind include the slowness of life here in Lebanon. Beyond the young, billion dollar businessmen and women who work 24/7, most of the older generation here were brought up with the idea that, slowly by slowly things are done. Why rush through life? This concept has been frustrating for me, as I am used to the "go, go, GO!" nature of the United States. Here though, things get done when things get done, even if that means you go back to the person or place a few times until completion. While that aspect can also be a issue, it has benefits for life too. It forces you to take a moment and relax, and to realize that time goes no faster when you stress and rush to be successful. Here, people enjoy the company of others, closing their shops at 3 to serve coffee to a friend who dropped by. Here, people offer you the clothes and jewelry they own when they see that you love it more than they do. Here, people realize that, yes, their way of life may be slow or crazy or ridiculous in the eyes of others, but that they ENJOY LIFE. Life here means being grateful for the food on your plate, grateful for your family, and grateful for the health God blesses you with. You appreciate this so you may enjoy those around you to the fullest. The slow nature of life here at certain moments can be extremely frustrating. I realize though that learning to appreciate this "Lebanon state of mind" is something that can only increase the happiness and joy in my life in the years to come. It also adds a healthy dose of coffee, cars honking, frustratingly slow days and much more walking than any southern California girl is accustomed to. At least that is, until university starts in February...  

Expectations. Everyone has them; each a different mix of how that person lives, sees the world, and values life. Expectations are dangerous, they can go easily unsaid or unmet, or can be just as quickly a disappointment to the person who holds them. But expectations are something that, if consider thoughtfully and carefully, can bring to that person experiences, a view into the differences of this world, the uniqueness that life offers. Coming to Beirut, I regretfully had expectations, how could I not? Expectations of the city, the culture, the people, and expectations for myself, my life, and my future. Letting these preconceptions and thoughts go has and will continue to be difficult, but it is a life lesson, a crucial one at that. Leaving these notions behind of what I believe Lebanon should be like, how life should be, and how I should react to it only gives me freedom. Without the confines of expectations I am free to see the world that God designed, with the bad, the good and the beautiful, along with the ugly, the different, and the unknown. I have almost five months until I will be enrolled and starting college, and with that time, if I can be free from expectations, I can explore and learn and grow from this adventure that I am a part of. Will it be challenging, absolutely, it already is, but can I come out a year from now or decades from this time in my life and look back, blessed, completely. This movement, this ideal of seeing the world or situation for what it is, and absorbing and learning and growing from it; this is not a widely popular or easily accepted idea. But the challenge is worthwhile, especially with the knowledge that this is what change comes from. This is the thought process that is conducive with a life filled of purpose, of meaning. Yes, that fulfillment comes in my life through my faith in God and my relationship with Jesus Christ; but that alongside this mentality of learning and listening over speaking and putting up barriers to adversity, I can only look ahead to a future filled with possibilities, opportunities, and experiences.

So, I know there are a lot of misconceptions about Lebanon, so I thought I would compose a list of the things that are different about Beirut so people can have an insight to what it, so far, is really like!

1) THERE ARE NO CAMELS! Unless you go to the mountains or another area and pay a high touristy place for a camel ride, there are no parking spots for the camel that People believe I use as a car....

2) Pedestrians do not have any rights of way, or any rights period. Traffic here is chaos, full of BMWs, Mercedes and such other nice cars, that are full of dings, scratches, and dents from the lack of any traffic control, lanes, and any sort of order! However, it's not too scary, mostly just a comical feature of life!

3) There is not any danger or threat of me getting kidnapped, unless I were to travel near a dangerous border, which I am not close to in reality, it's very safe and common to walk, EVERYWHERE, in 100 degree heat.

4) The food is amazing! From traditional Lebanese food like, chicken shawerma, hommos, beef kabobs, or pita bread dishes, or to the very popular Chinease, Italian, and Burger restaurants. The food at Burger King, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, and Carl's Jr. are also very popular too!

5) Not all Lebanese men are hairy...though most are!

6) Everyone smokes! Whether it's the "aguileh" that we know as hookah, cigarettes, or cigars and pipes, smoking is everywhere, indoor, outdoor, and at all times of the day. AND, they know it's bad for them, but it's a way of life here!

7) Lebanon is a very, very, very hospitable and welcoming nation. Every neighbor, old friend, or new acquaintance wants to bring you coffee, cook you dinner, or give you the cross that you like that they wear, as you are their new family member! Also, you can't say no, that weird dish I never tried, I learn to love it!

8) It is extremely beautiful here! Full of sea views, trees, mountains and coastlines, Beirut and all of Lebanon is a naturally exquisite place to live.

9) Cats are everywhere, and no one knows why, and Mosquitos love new tourists(me)!

10) Life is slow and enjoyed here! If you have your health, you have a beautiful and full life. Wellness, Family, friends, and food, it's what every Lebanese, Armenian, or Arabic person needs.

11) Most people speak English, everyone drinks coffee, the tops of soda cans come off ,and you drink Pepsi with a straw!

12) Every woman and teenage girl here dresses, daily, as if they were going to either the club, or a wedding/party. Full hair, makeup and clothing, with high heeled shoes that look impossible, even for me, to walk in. 

13) The real fun starts at 9pm, whether it is your dinner reservation, or your snack before the nightlife, the city comes to life later, and wakes up at 10am after a isn't of partying and being with friends.

14) Beirut is amazing, it's different, it's new, and it's bizarre, but it is full of places to explore in wonderment and people to love and learn from, all while eating delicious home cooked food!

So, it has been 11 days so far in Beirut, and it's been nothing less of a whirlwind thus far! Getting here was easy enough, a cramped plane ride straight to London-Heathrow and a connecting flight to Beirut, Lebanon. After some 13 hours of sleep and rest, the first noticeable difference was the heat. Being from SoCal, I like to say I love the heat, but 110 degrees with humidity is just ridiculous! Thankfully, that heat is only present for a few days of August, and now a comfortable 85-95 is the current state through November. Other differences are even more obvious,  with the main languages being Arabic,Armenian and French, then English, and the crazy traffic and lack of street lanes or traffic control. However, despite these differences, life in Lebanon is lovable! The traffic and honking is comical, the languages are interesting to hear and learn, and the people make it feel as if I have lived here forever. 11 days in and I have already been blessed to see the beautiful natural Jeita Grotto, full of stalagmites and stalactites, the Harissa mountaintop church and Our Lady of Lebanon, and the Mediterranean Sea. Full of beauty, wonder, and places to explore, it's what will motivate me these next four months before I can start the American University here, knowing I have the opportunity and time do see and do something that has MEANING.