Living Abroad

This week had me reflecting a lot about living overseas. There are so many things I have learned from living in a different country with a different culture than what I have grown up with in Chicago. However, there are so many ways in which things are similar too. The people here are much more hands on, hugging and kissing people when meeting more frequently, walking with arms around each other, sitting with arms around friends and more. It is really nice to see such outward signs of friendship and love. I am still constantly amazed at the generosity as well of the people in this country too. Today ordering a Saj at the place by school I only had a 100,000 ($75) and Feras, the owner, didn't have change since it was early in the morning. He was prepared to say just pay me next time no problem. I can't even imagine this happening in Chicago.

There was a moment this weekend where Ryan and I were a little homesick as well. This comes and goes of course, but with the Superbowl on Sunday we reminisced about all the Superbowl parties from before. We always went to Ryan's friend Jake and Kelly's house and all of us got together with great snacks and some watched the game, others the commercials and most importantly half time show. I sent them a text yesterday to find out about what snacks they were serving. However, when hearing about the blizzard going through Chicago, and the trouble my friends were having getting to their Superbowl parties, while sitting in a t-shirt and jeans here, I quickly got over my homesickness. I do not miss that snow and cold!

We had a great weekend, starting on Thursday at Jai for dinner with Nick, Margaret, Gretchen and Mike. Jai is the Asian take out place with only a round table in the kitchen so you are the only ones who are there eating while the food is being prepared next to you. The food was delicious and sitting at a big round table like that makes it seem like a big family meal, and these people have so quickly become my family over here. Friday Ryan and Mike had basketball games and Saturday there were two Football (Soccer) games that we attended. Our Varsity is ready for the championship game of the League Ryan started this year next week after demolishing the big rival IC, the school we face and share the road with. Saturday night we did a progressive dinner in a building where some teachers live, where we started at the ground floor, and worked our way up eating appetizers, dinner, and dessert on the different levels. It was a great time with lots of different food and people all over.

We are heading to the Pyramids this weekend! I am so excited. A group of us are flying out Saturday morning and coming back Monday. We don't have school on Monday, so it is a great way to spend the long weekend. The flight is only an hour long so it is nice and easy to get there. We have been talking to a lot of people here who have lived there before, so we have the inside scoop on where to go. Right after Ryan heads to Cyprus for the big conference football tournament, with jv and varsity boys and girls playing. We are going to be busy the next few weekends, we realized that the two of us won't both be in Beirut, without guests on a weekend until after Spring break, and then only for 2 weekends before week without walls. So crazy and fun!