Saturday, March 1, 2008

Weekend update

Another day trip, this time to a wetland marsh in the west Bekaa Valley. Important [bird] stopover point on the migration route from Europe to Africa and back. Fun to hear frogs, but we were too big a group (45 people) to see many birds. But across the road from the marsh we took a great trail in a nature preserve along rock-studded hills and through a wonderful forest for a couple of miles, ending at a church with a Mary statue in marble (she was stepping on a snake with an apple in its mouth). Another statue of a saint was set on a base of geodes.

Last night we had dinner with new Lebanese friends, also Friends, who, amazingly, live on the same street just a few doors down. But I met them in Broumana, and hour and a half away (at least the way I get there, by taxi and bus) at Meeting. Lovely people, with two kids at universities in America (NY and Texas). Dinner at 8 pm, SEVEN dishes (most prepared by the live-in housekeeper): humous, stuffed grape leaves (vegetarian, for me), greens with fried onions, spinach pies, rice with fish filets and a sauce, kibbe (lamb and bulgur balls), and a shrimp pasta salad. Mmmmm. Followed by an artistic mocha cake (from a bakery), a fruit salad, tea and chocolates. After dinner we heard gunfire, which turned out to be celebratory “joy fire” = firing in the air, after some politician’s speech. Honestly.

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NEWS: Of all the idiotic, STUPID things to do—the U.S. has surprised everyone (and positively dumbfounded some of us) by sending in three warships to hover off the coast to show “support” for the Prime Minister—how could that possibly help?!?

The last thing Siniora needs is to be flaunted as a U.S. puppet. The main problem here is outside interference, and the U.S. has now ratcheted up the tension in a most unnecessary and unconstructive way.

I do so appreciate that I may criticize my government. I may, and I do--freedom is important. ------What were they thinking?!! It was an arrogant and disruptive act of intimidation and I am disgusted and ashamed.

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Musings of the week:


1. The UNWRA monthly time sheet. You mark “X” for present, “H” for holiday, “W” for weekend, and “R” for riot… One “R” this month—the day schools were cancelled for the Hariri rally.

2. I think I’d rather be old in almost anywhere but America . The 60 – 70 crowd moves with purpose here, men in suits can be seen riding motorbikes, running small shops (into their 80s actually)—no shuffling steps, no defeated gaze. Wild generalizations, of course, but there is some truth. I think of Asian countries, where age confers respect. I think I would (will?) feel so insignificant and patronized as an old(er) person in the US.

3. The place we hiked last week is known as the “Holy Valley”

4. The blogger “dashboard” where I enter the website to post a blog, first appeared in English and at some point switched to Greek, then Arabic. Tonight it appeared in German! I love the wild unpredictability of life overseas

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