Lebanese Expat Frequently Asked Questions

As an expat living in a foreign country you get faced with some pretty weird and awkward situations when dealing with people from other nationalities and culture.

When i first arrived to Angola, specially with the language barrier, i used to shy away from initiating conversation or even contemplate the thought of opening a discussion with a non-arabic /french or english speaking person. But then when i did learn portuguese and i did adapt into the living surrounding of Luanda, i was more at ease in communication. And this is where it all started , the frequently asked questions about being Lebanese or Lebanon in general :

-the one that wins them all and that almost pops out in every conversation, be it with Angolan nationals, French expats and so on :

Question

How come your Lebanese but you are not veiled(Muslim headscarf that some choose to wear for modesty)?!

Answer

Well no am not, but I am Lebanese and not every Lebanese is veiled and so you go on explaining about the cliché of the diversity, the 19 sects and so on...

Mind you there's someone who once surprised me out of no where came and asked me about the garbage situation and how was that being handled in Lebanon! Talk about trying to polish the image , well i try!

Question  these are usually the same people who asked the previous question continuing the conversation with an intrigued face ; is it allowed to drink or are there pubs and clubs?

Answer

I don't bother! I just open google and type in Gemmayzeh , Sky bar and so on , their intrigued face turns into an excited one and they want to start planning their next summer vacation to Lebanon. Hey Ministry of tourism where's my commission huh?

                                       

Question with surprised face

oh you speak three languages (4 now with Portuguese) that must be really special!

Answer

A wide majority of Lebanese do speak or understand a minimum of these 3 languages Arabic French and English.

Surprised face still there, might as well take a proud moment and surprise him even more by saying my 5 year old speaks 3 languages perfectly as well!

Question this one is from two days ago at the supermarket cashier.

After he asks whether am from Brazil or Cuba, and i say no Lebanon; Pity face slips right on "oh it must be terrible with the war right now over there"!

Answer

i got to give it to him though for getting the correct region at least and not saying ohh that's like Lybia right?

And then there's my absolutely adorable grandmother who still after 7 years calls me and asks me about each and every type of vegetable and fruit and whether am being able to find them in Angola or not. I should probably tell her we are not finding Nutella anymore, but I don't think she will care that much as long as it's not the oranges being cut off the market!

These questions do not bother me or surprise me anymore. I am just amazed how we as Lebanese seem to know , and in detail, about so many different countries and cultures. And although personally am not patriotic and have my reservations about so many things in Lebanon,when asked about it, i do speak about passionately.

Love,

Youmna