international languages

Many things are difficult to translate when you fully don’t speak the common tongue of the country you are in. I fumble over my Arabic words at times trying to discuss things and don’t feel like I am fully expressing myself. With my words not fully able to express how I feel, I am realizing the things we have that can be considered an international language.

The number one translatable item through every single city, culture, religion, and continent is a smile. Laughter, happiness, giggling, a big wide toothed grin is understood by all.  When you are at a loss for words just smiling reassures the person that you are appreciative and pleased. A smile indicates so much; it can reveal gratitude, happiness, or bliss. Smiling towards a stranger walking on the street is always returned with a smile.

Our last trip to Lebanon, another international dialect became apparent to me and that was futbol (also known as soccer). The World Cup was airing 5 years ago when I was last here and futbol is understood by all. You didn’t need to speak the language to root on your team and just enjoy the game. 

Today on the longest day of the year north of the equator, the summer solstice, and first day of summer I realized another language understood internationally and that is yoga. Today marked the first international yoga day and we participated here in Beirut. Yogis all around the world understand the essence of yoga and no language barrier can stop the flow.

We all may not speak the same language and understand each other constantly.

But we all can share a smile and recognize happiness.

We can cheer on our team in futbol all together.

And we can all OM and flow together.

in this moment

Being across the world and not in my comfort zone has made me a bit wary at times. I feel incredibly lonely when sitting in a room full of people because of the language barrier. I notice myself sitting in silence and blankly staring into space. I’m realizing I am not in the present moment. I let my mind wander to other places and don’t focus on what is right in front of me. I think about what’s happening back at home, of the future, of the past, of everything but the now.

This trip is going to teach me a lot. It is going to show me things about myself that I have not noticed before. And more than anything it is going to help me grow more than ever.

I need to appreciate the moment I am in. Focus on the sounds around me. Focus on how I am feeling. The air that I am breathing in, the smells I am inhaling, and all that I am seeing.  Take everything at a slower pace instead of racing through to the next moment.

This past Saturday, I took in every moment and I never felt more present.

I went to Tyre Beach with its grainy soft sand, crystal turquoise water and cityscapes framing the sides. We planted ourselves underneath a tent. Ordered some waters, handed the bag of fresh fish to the waiter to cook for lunch and prepared ourselves for our swim.

We slowly walked towards the water with incredible anticipation. It was vibrant, pure and inviting. The color was intoxicating to look at with all of its shades of blue. As I stepped into the water a chill shocked through my feet all the way through my spine and instant goose bumps grew all over my body as I continued walking through. It was cold but I couldn’t help but keep marching forward, I felt a pull from the sea bringing me in.

And then the moment came where I could plunge myself into the Mediterranean Sea. I dove into the water and swam deeper into the blue. My eyes wide open under the water, I could see so clearly. I came up for air and let myself lay upon the water. I didn’t move and let the waves carry my body; I let the sea cradle me. I trusted nature. I knew no wave would be too big to knock me down and I looked up at the sky. I felt my arms and legs flow freely in the water and move with the movement of the sea. I let the sun beat down on my face and warm my body as the cold water cooled it. The sensation of temperatures and the movement of the water was so calming.  The sea was tranquil and the water cleansing. I swam deeper into the ocean with my eyes open. I came up for air and my eyes burned from the salt but I didn’t care. I felt the sea cleansing me internally and externally. My hair clung to the salt water and the dirt washed away. I felt my worries melt into the water. I felt the past, the future and everything but the now just dissolve into the sand. I was here in the sea swimming deep into the present. I came out of the sea purified. I took a huge inhale and then exhale. I am here, and I am happy.

appreciation

10,582 km or

6,575.35 miles

The distance from Beirut, Lebanon to Fort Myers, Florida, United States.
I am on the opposite side of the world.
& everything is different.
Small things such as using kilos instead of pounds.
Centimeters instead of inches.
Lebanese pounds instead of dollars.
Putting straws inside their soda cans.

To bigger things such as everyone drives how they want.
There are few lines in the streets to guide traffic and few street lights that people actually follow.
Driving is an intense experience. My mom has to take a few breaths before getting in the car, she said she compares it to going to war. You have to be cautious of everyone around you but at the same time incredible aggressive. People rely on asking each other for directions and Google Maps is incredibly useless. Courageous is a word I would have to give any driver that drives in Beirut.

The electricity is taken away from each city for a few hours a day and given to a different city. They rely on using generators. Each city varies in the time that the electricity is taken away for. In the capital 2-4 hours and in the outside villages up to 6 hours a day.
The wifi is pretty iffy and is very hard to connect to.

Things we see as essentials in life in the United States is hard to come by in Lebanon and probably other places in the world.
We don't realize how easy we have it.
I am appreciating the small things in every aspect.
Appreciating the strong spring breeze that is cooling down the bustling city.
Appreciating he melting pot of people I get to experience everyday.
Lebanon is very similar to New York City. A melting pot of cultures, languages and people.
The Lebanese are incredibly educated and they speak either two or three languages.
Including Arabic, English & French. And they typically combine them all into their own language.
Appreciating the culture I am able to immerse myself in.

Appreciating the internships I have been able to obtain.
Appreciating my mother coming across the world with me to drive my around and experience this adventure with me.
Appreciating the fresh vegetables and fruits that taste so rich and flavorful that it almost taste fake.
Appreciating seeing how my parents grew up; their villages, their families, their universities, and their friends.

It's been about a week and I am learning so much about myself and my country.