This country has been occupied by three grand empires and thrives off of religious and ethnic pluralism, a remarkable location where the mountain and sea come together to dance a traditional Arabic dabke. This is where my heart lies.
A country that upon ascending into flutters my heart, an organ that is in a chronic state of heaviness, becomes light, as if an elephant was released off my chest and I am boundless. From the time I look out the window and see the Rawshe pigeon rocks to the breathtaking moments of just exploring a country so rich in history.
Beirut, Lebanon a country my parents were born and raised in and unwillingly left around the time of the Lebanese Civil War. I have been visiting the country almost every summer since the age of 2, and my heart has always remained there. I am aware of the country’s shortcomings, from the trash problems, political instability, electricity outages, etc. yet I am filled with an overwhelming emotion to revolutionize these issues.
They say it is easier to complain about the negative things than to be appreciative of what you have this is because you never know who is dying to be in your shoes. Typically, the people of Lebanon make the big move to the States, but I want to embark on a journey of the exact opposite. I want to make a move from the States to Lebanon. As a young generation Armenian I have an obligation to preserve my culture, advance my people, and connect my rich history to present day. If I don’t do it who will? Underlying this feeling is a sense of humbleness.
Though I have been raised in America, a country that is known for its freedom, I feel an overwhelming sense of liberation in Lebanon due to the fact that I am consistently grounded in the value of things. People always say to turn off the lights when leaving a room, its better for the environment they say, but in Lebanon, those words have a different connotation. A household can’t have multiple lights on at one time otherwise the electricity will shut off. You begin to view things through a new lens, one that involves giving attention to minute details, ones that you may not be used to thinking or seeing.
I will start this journey of cultural preservation by visiting the motherland of Armenia to understand further what drives an Armenian to be so nationalistic. Then making my way to Lebanon, which will forever be the keeper of my heart.