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!