10+ Most Common Things That Get on Your Nerves When Flying to Lebanon
One of the hardest decisions any Lebanese could make is to emigrate to a new country to call it home. However, as we know of our Lebanese fellows in the diaspora around the globe, they do settle well, live even better, work assiduously, and thrive in their careers, adapting admirably to the ways and culture of their new home . At that, when they decide to visit their homeland, some details make them hit the ceiling, starting way before booking their flight and all through to the time of their departure from Lebanon. Let's take a look!
#1. Aymata Jeyeh? ~ When are you coming?
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Hold there! This is not the understandably normal "Long time, habibi! We miss you!" This starts as soon as you stepped in your new country's home after arriving from visiting Lebanon.
And that is not restricted to your parents and siblings but also includes your relatives and friends (probably your neighbor as well?) who won’t miss another day to ask you when you’re coming back again.
This kind of conversation usually happens through a phone call where EVERYONE in Lebanon believes that since you’re away, they should be as loud and clear as possible. You might be homesick by then, but.... not that much homesick yet!
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#2. Ticket Booking
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Tell us about that. If the family phone calls and nagging have successfully managed to trigger your nostalgia, the airline's companies will automatically detect that and chances are that you will be spending a lifetime looking for the cheapest ticket, but unfortunately with no luck!
#3. Badde talab mennak bala te2leh ~ I want to ask you a favor if no burden.
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If you’re living and working abroad then welcome to the club, dude! As a matter of fact, once you've booked your ticket to Lebanon, everyone would suddenly want to offer Dubai or Montreal or Paris, or whatever country you’re in, IN A PACKAGE to some family members and friends.
And you oblige! How can you not? So, you go on a shopping spree amidst your own personal preparations, try to fit these not too few extras in your luggage, consider removing some of your belongings then go for a piece of extra luggage or just surrender to the unavoidable weight excess fees.
Mankoun ta2alna 3leik is what you hear of endearing at handing over the package(s) upon arrival. Sure, it does mean 'they hope they haven't burdened you' but they do nonetheless expect you oblige them with a "Not at all , abadan! Come on, wallaw! "
And you will have to utter your Wallaw again when you realize that you are also expected to take all these items in person to the people, even if you barely know them or never met them.
#4. The Duty Free Nightmare
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If, by any rare chance, your family missed asking for the city-packages above, get ready to receive a text-message upon reaching the airport. Whether your sister, your bro, your mom or even your best friend, one or all of them send you a 5-minute voice message on WhatsApp, asking you for things from the Airport Duty-Free. Yes, because in Lebanon, we’re living - just like that, overnight- in a jungle; there are no perfumes, fragrances, cosmetics, watches, or make-up.
#5. That Airport Moment
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The moment you land in Beirut - that very particular moment when everyone claps to the pilot-, your heart begins beating too fast. You have no clue how many friends and family members will be there, waiting to receive you. You wonder how many have joined this time the welcoming crowd.