On our first trip to Lebanon we would go to the home of our newlywed friends in Roumieh. I LOVED to go to Roumieh. Antelias is hot, crowded, and noisy. Air conditioning is pointless because you spend half the day on generator and they can't handle a/c. Roumieh is just far enough up to be a different world.
I would regularly see clouds and just be sure that rain was on the way. But I was always reminded that it doesn't rain in Lebanon from June til September.
There have been a few exceptions. A few weeks before we evacuated it poured for about 5 minutes...just long enough for me to drag my drying racks in from the terrace. Or maybe the odd 5 minutes some afternoon.
This morning, about an hour before we get up for camp, I heard rain. A LOT of rain. And it didn't just rain for 5 minutes. It rained a really good rain for about half an hour! Whoohoo!
Except for yesterday a.m. it's been hot this week. Even in our town which is usually a lot more comfy until the hot part of day. Even mornings were warmer than I care for. But today was heavenly!
Unfortunately water games at camp were cancelled due to rain. LOL
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Ugh!
How do people put up with such ineptitude without rioting?!
If I want internet (legally) in my home, I have to wait 4-6 weeks after applying for it. How on earth do people tolerate it?
Oh, they riot here on occasion, but about politicians (most of whom are about as efficient as their services), and then sit back and just shrug when told they have to wait for almost 2 months for service that should be pretty simple to get. No wonder it's so popular to just get an illegal connection. But I'll just keep paying the guy in town to use his computer.
UGH!
If I want internet (legally) in my home, I have to wait 4-6 weeks after applying for it. How on earth do people tolerate it?
Oh, they riot here on occasion, but about politicians (most of whom are about as efficient as their services), and then sit back and just shrug when told they have to wait for almost 2 months for service that should be pretty simple to get. No wonder it's so popular to just get an illegal connection. But I'll just keep paying the guy in town to use his computer.
UGH!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
You know you're in Lebanon if...
When we lived here 4 years ago I got a cell phone. Whenever I called anyone and got a message of some kind (their phone was turned off, I had so many credits left, etc.) I'd get the message in Arabic, French, & English. Other than having to wait for the English part, it was fine.
Alfa has changed it now so that the messages are only in Arabic and you have to call a number to change your menu language to English. OK, fine, I'll do that. Oh, wait. One problem. I don't speak Arabic!
There are 3 numbers I can call for various services from my cell provider. Two of them are free. One you pay to call. The two that are free have their menu options in Arabic, French, and English. The one that you pay to call is only in Arabic. Guess which one you call to change your menu to English?
If I spoke Arabic I wouldn't need to change my menu to English. Gotta Alfa Active!
Alfa has changed it now so that the messages are only in Arabic and you have to call a number to change your menu language to English. OK, fine, I'll do that. Oh, wait. One problem. I don't speak Arabic!
There are 3 numbers I can call for various services from my cell provider. Two of them are free. One you pay to call. The two that are free have their menu options in Arabic, French, and English. The one that you pay to call is only in Arabic. Guess which one you call to change your menu to English?
If I spoke Arabic I wouldn't need to change my menu to English. Gotta Alfa Active!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
We're here!
Sorry I haven't posted in so long. We arrived on the 21st and I don't have internet yet. I'm hoping to get a land line in a week and then DSL. So for now I'm checking in from a place in town.
The kids start camp next week and the Boss is doing taekwondo. All of a sudden the Little Prince has decided he wants to do it too. {sigh} Unless he starts to really pitch a fit (and lets me know he's serious) he's waiting until school starts.
They've spent 2 nights at a cousin's house and still didn't want to come home. The Peanuts couldn't have less excited at my arrival there yesterday afternoon. But I think they're glad to be back. Speaking of, I need to get home so we can see if our neighbors are home. There's finally a little girl for them to play with who's visiting her grandparents for the summer.
My car is still trying to decide if it prefers more moderate temperatures with lots of mountain roads or heat and sand with flat roads. I just keep sweet talking it and telling it how wonderful it is. Lots of Range Rovers are being stolen here so I'm glad I'm driving my Mitsubishi.
Well, that's about it for now. Hopefully I'll be on from home next week.
The kids start camp next week and the Boss is doing taekwondo. All of a sudden the Little Prince has decided he wants to do it too. {sigh} Unless he starts to really pitch a fit (and lets me know he's serious) he's waiting until school starts.
They've spent 2 nights at a cousin's house and still didn't want to come home. The Peanuts couldn't have less excited at my arrival there yesterday afternoon. But I think they're glad to be back. Speaking of, I need to get home so we can see if our neighbors are home. There's finally a little girl for them to play with who's visiting her grandparents for the summer.
My car is still trying to decide if it prefers more moderate temperatures with lots of mountain roads or heat and sand with flat roads. I just keep sweet talking it and telling it how wonderful it is. Lots of Range Rovers are being stolen here so I'm glad I'm driving my Mitsubishi.
Well, that's about it for now. Hopefully I'll be on from home next week.
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