Although I stayed in Lebanon for a relatively long period of time, I cannot claim that I achieved a good level of understanding of the country. It is a lot to learn about. Lebanon has been shaped by several major civilizations of the world spanning thousands of years, and it is known for being the most religiously diverse in the Middle East. If the country is a book, I only had a few glances at the table of contents.
But listening to Tina’s stories helped breathe life into my textual understanding of the country. And it also helped me remember that each individual’s life journey is unique, so it is not correct to adopt the ‘me vs. locals’ perspective which is how I often feel like when I find myself surrounded by cultural and linguistic unfamiliarities.
@ American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, January 2019
Questions asked:
1. Tell me about yourself briefly.
2. Tell me more about your identity.
3. Tell me one thing interesting about life in Lebanon.
4. Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were a kid?
