I am still in Beirut, still trying to make sense of the chaos, though I have to admit it was quite a beautiful slap in the face. It is my last weekend here, and I have yet to squeeze a coffee here, a lunch there, and soak in as much sun as my skin can take before I head back to the quiet life of London.
There is so much to say about Beirut, about the youth enthusiasm, and lack of it, about the social/political situation, and the general nonchalance of summer, but as long as I am here in the midst of it all, it remains hard to define.
Yes, it is hectic in the political sphere, but I was selfish enough to bypass it all, and curse my denial of Lebanese politics if you wish, but seeing my president sunbathing in the mountains on a Friday morning, wearing a clingy speedo and innocently spreading his legs to maximize the tan on his crotch, made me a bit weary of it all... Between the "Tsuna Mi-chel Aoun" and the "I heart Geagea Kteer" and the Hariri Father and Son embrace, well...
I preferred the cozy smell of coffee and jazz music of Torino in Gemmayzeh, where, I have to admit, I spent at least 4 hours daily, sipping on wine, and seeing the familiar faces of my extended family. I know it sounds all corny, but dammit! i love that neon sign flickering at the window! My epileptic sigh of relief...
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5 comments:
Good Lord! Rasha !! your music is horrible my dear! Somebody should get a restraining order to keep you at LEAST 500 feet away from any musical instrument! .. I like your voice though. Rest assured that I'll be raiding this blogspot more frequently in the future, LOL
> I know it sounds all corny, but
> dammit! i love that neon sign
> flickering at the window!
Honey, you're not corny. I'd kill to be in Gemmeyzeh right now. Instead, I've been slaving continuously for a year on my Dissertation in Nashville, Tennesee. God I even miss the smog in Beirut.
Yeah, thats all lovely but please think of your home here in Bethnal green!? The illegal street vendors selling dodgy marlboros, The smell of rotten pigeon shit in bricklane and the sound of helicopters above your room...come back, the sign will flicker on.
Hashim... my music is horrible?! I have exquisite taste in music, if you please, and pride myself in blessing my ears with the finest that the musical diasporama has to offer...
And, by the way, thanks for the compliment on my voice. Yes, modesty put aside, I may consider a career as a cabaret singer if design fails me! Or you might just be referring to the voice of me writing on this blog, which makes more sense... Either way, I fully appreciate the flattery!
I will be there in less than a month. Last year, I left more of me behind. Today, I don't know if I go, whether I'll want to come back to the states at all.
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