Everyday Car Chaos

Disclaimer: This is somewhat of a soapbox. It's also my perspective as a rider, NOT a driver. So these are my own opinions about what I have seen, felt, or would feel if I was the one behind the wheel. 

I have decided that the traffic here in Lebanon deserves its very own post. This may be a cultural difference, but it is definitely not something I'm likely to miss when I leave Saturday. If you've been here you understand what I'm talking about. IT IS RIDICULOUS! It's a chaotic system that I don't understand and the longer I've been here the crazier it has become. I mean, people, when is the madness going to stop?!

One, pedestrians love reality Frogger; I know it was a fun childhood Nintendo game, but it was okay for him to go SPLAT, not you. Stop weaving through cars and "making a run for it". Also, if you hit (and/or kill) a jaywalker, you automatically go to jail. Hefty fine for something you couldn't control (and trust me, they [the pedestrians] really can't be controlled).

Two, honking. It's everywhere and because people think that where they are going is the most important place in the world, horns become the official weapon in fighting for position on the road. You really could wait more than three seconds to honk after stopping at a stoplight; we can't make the light change any faster than you can make the person in front of you step on the gas to get out of your way, and if they are anything like you they aren't going to budge when it comes to your horny protests.

Three, space. I can, on a normal day, stick my arm out the window and touch the car right next to us, or get pretty close to it. Not that I would ever do that. There was a guy who did tap on our window one morning and it kind of freaked me out. He was only asking for directions though.

Just an example. This is morning traffic too.

Four, merging. People just pull right out, nudging their way in, not caring if you stop because they just expect you to. And it's usually the slow kind of turn, like I'm-going-to-take-my-time-because-I-can kind of a turn and then they continue to go slow. At least go the speed of the flowing traffic. People will pull out and when they see you aren't stopping, they stop, but it's only inches away. 
This and the spacing would make it really really difficult to drive here because I get freaked out when people drive too close to me; I can just see an accident waiting to happen. Which is all the time here because people are crazy (not really, but I question sometimes). Case in point: My aunt and I were at a shop looking for dishware and there was a huge CRASH. Outside, almost directly behind where we parked, an accident between two cars occurred because one of them wasn't going fast enough and passing wasn't necessarily an option.

Five, vespa and other motor scooter riders. They weave in and out of traffic and they are all men, usually with another man on the back. I don't know why I find that somewhat weird, but it also happened in Eastern Europe so I guess it's more common than I think. They basically do whatever they want. They squeeze in between cars and then race through traffic lights that are for the opposite direction. They also like to stop right in front of you if you are at the beginning of the light, and they just sit and wait for the light to change.

There is also another kind of motor bike rider.  These men tend to go really fast on the highway, revving their engines and blowing past you. It really is quite irritating. A story to prove my point: there was this one young man on a dirt bike who keep doing wheelies on the highway, with traffic. And he would just be doing them for long stretches of the road, moving around cars. Why? That is my only question. 

Six, disregard for any driving laws. I don't even know if there are any, and if so then they are not enforced and they aren't obeyed either. Police just stand at the corner and let people do whatever they want. They are usually talking to someone, another officer or some other random dude, but they could care less. And people, because there is no enforcement, do whatever they want. Which leads me to my next point.

Seven, turning. This is probably the most frustrating part of driving...well, riding. People make their own turn lane. There are two turn lanes on the main street before turning onto the road that leads to where the house is. TWO lanes, you think that would be enough. Why would it be? People pull out almost in the middle of the road, turn on their blinker, and sit. They take up a "straight" lane which causes people to honk. Then the people who have patiently waited to get through the light see this and they become more defensive. I would compare it to someone in a drag car race waiting for the green light, or white flag.

This only causes more problems than it solves. Usually there are other people on the other side of the road doing the same thing so then when it comes to actually having the green light, the traffic still hasn't fully cleared the intersection from going straight and you are crunched because of the other people turning left and then you are fighting to turn while trying to beat out the people who made their own turn lane. Stressful? Yes, extremely.

There are FOUR turn lanes here. The one on the left and the one we are in are the legitimate turn lanes. the red van and the green car to the right are illegally turning. Who cares though? No one is going to stop them. 

Ce-dars the way of life

So there has been quite the press attention for Lebanon lately. "Clashes in Beirut" and "Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria", etc. So really, to the world, it looks like a disaster and it seems as if the fighting that is going on is right outside my doorstep. The world media has a way of twisting the story, as they do with many other subjects and places. Yes, there was protesting in Beirut over the last few days because of things (in)directly related to Syria, but the thing the world doesn't understand is that the fighting isn't happening everywhere. I am not sure if that is comforting to know or not, but that is how it is. Not everywhere is violent with deadly intentions. Daily life goes on just as it does at home or in Europe. We go to work and we go home and people are still seen walking around outside, the traffic just becomes a lot lighter the day after. 

This is a beautiful country with wonderful people and a wonderful culture. People are quick to judge this region when they haven't experienced what it has to offer. I have only been here a little over two weeks, but this is an extraordinary place. I went to the Cedars of Lebanon and it was breathtaking. The drive was two hours through mountains speckled with green and orange tiled roofs and deep gorges and valleys that steeped so low you could hardly see the bottom.  The Cedars themselves are so majestic and peaceful. I haven't seen anything like it in my life.

The other really big adventure I've taken since I've been here has been to Harissa, the Virgin Lady of Lebanon. On top of a hill overlooking the entirety of Beirut, you can't help but appreciate what this small country has to offer. You have beautiful huge trees that lead to the city and then beyond is the sea. Gorgeous blues and greens as you gaze below you, taking in this amazingly unique city.

Beirut has everything to offer. They get all types of American brands, like Heinz and Cheetos and McD's, and they have all kinds of shopping with H&M, Mango, Promod, and they have absolutely delicious local foods that I am still learning how to pronounce; good thing I have family tour guides! Lebanon, and Beirut more specifically, is a misunderstood place that deserves more respect for its way of life. Not everyone here is looking for a fight, although the honking in traffic might suggest otherwise. Yet, this is all part of the charm of Beirut. It is a culture that has a lot to offer and teach the world, I just wished more people wanted to know it better. 

I was just in Bulgaria and I learned a lot about living there and what they consider important and how their culture operates. They are still getting over their post-communism ways after decades of being caught in a puppet act, and people are very serious and outwardly reserved. They like to drink a lot and love to people watch in the middle of the day at cafes. The food everywhere is mainly the same options and after a while you just rely on ham and cheese toast to get you through life (well that is what I did at the end of the semester, partially because I knew I wouldn't be getting it again, even though it's a panini-ed ham and cheese. Nostalgia was kicking in, alright?!). Lebanon is completely different and I am still getting used to the generosity and friendliness of everyone here, and I am learning that they love family and huge get togethers and being loud and having fun. It's inherent here, which is something I am coming to love more and more each day. The food is delectable and healthy and there are so many certain Lebanese dishes that I have tried and still need to try. 

Life is about experiencing the world God gave us and taking what you learn and using that in your life. Learning certain things more fully from different people and different cultures and becoming a meld of all that you have been through. I guarantee that you will come away changed forever. How could you not? The best advice I could give from all that I have seen and experienced is to be open. Don't close yourself to a custom because you haven't done it before. Be open to new perspectives in the people you meet because chances are you will come across something extraordinary. Always try something at least once, that way if you don't like it, you know you don't like it instead of just snubbing your nose at it. Plus, the people you are with will appreciate your enthusiasm and desire to get to know their culture.

It's hard to step outside the box that you have gotten yourself into, but do it. Take the risk. No souvenir could possibly impact you more than getting out and doing it yourself. The memories you'll gain and the friendships made will make your life that much richer and more meaningful. I watched the movie the Way, about a father who walks the Camino de Santiago in Spain after his son died starting it. In a scene where the father is taking his son to the airport, he says, "It may not seem like much but this is the life I've chosen," and his son replies, "You don't choose a life. You live one."  Go, live life, and appreciate whatever comes your way, good or bad, because in the end, it makes you who you are.