Meet Maria in Lebanon (Week 2) Interview

Today we have the privilege a meeting Maria. Maria is a college student who is kind enough to give us a glimpse of her life in Lebanon. I did not know a whole lot about Lebanon prior to writing this series. My only connections are…

• My husband traveled to Jordan & Lebanon for a few weeks one summer with a soccer team.
• We have family friends, and the dad in that family is Lebanese. They helped me connect with Maria. Thank you!
• I love the Lebanese food I have eaten at a local restaurant called Aladdin’s, especially the homemade hummus & pita bread! My family even took me there for Mother’s Day!

Q: Thanks so much for agreeing to do this interview Maria. I’m sure our readers will be fascinated to learn about Lebanon. First of all, can you tell me what the capital of Lebanon is? How many people live there? And where can I find Lebanon on a world map?

A: The capital of Lebanon is Beirut. Around 500,000 people (almost 1/8 of the Lebanese population) live in Beirut. On the map, Lebanon is located to the east of the Mediterranean Sea, close to Syria and Israel.

Q: Could you describe Lebanon’s flag? Tell me a bit about the colors and design and why they were chosen?

A: Lebanon’s flag consists of two horizontal red stripes on the top and bottom of the flag, a white stripe between the red stripes, and a green cedar in the middle. The red part represents the blood of martyrs which was shed in aim for Lebanon’s freedom and liberty. The white part represents peace and the white snow on the Lebanese mountains. As for the green cedar, it represents life and immortality, the greatness and steadiness of the country and its people.

Q: What language(s) is/are spoken in Lebanon? Can you tell us the words for “Hello, how are you?” in that language?

A: The language spoken in Lebanon is Arabic. However, the Lebanese have an accent that is different from neighboring Arab-speaking countries. In Arabic, “Hello, how are you?” translates to ” مرحبا، كيفك ” which is pronounced “Marhaba, Keefak?”.

– This is Mommy Maleta jumping in. I wanted to see if I could find a video so you could hear the Lebanese dialect of Arabic. Instead of a video, I found this cool app. I just downloaded it onto my ipad a couple minutes ago and learned how to introduce myself! Here’s a screen shot.

Q: What types of activities are you involved in? What kind of things do kids do for fun in Lebanon?

A: There are many activities kids do for fun around here. Some kids enjoy playing soccer with their friends. Others prefer staying home and playing video games. Many kids also go bowling, watch movies in theaters, and have lunch at popular diners as group activities with their friends. As a college student, I’m involved in activities around my campus such as sports activities and community service.

Q: Finally, what are some popular places to visit in Lebanon? And where do you recommend our readers visit if they were to win a dream vacation to your home country?

A: Lebanon is a beautiful country. There are many places around the world to visit. The Jeita Groto in Lebanon was almost voted as one of the 7 World Wonders. The historical ruins such as the temples of Baalbek and the fortress of Saida are also popular tourist destinations. I’d surely recommend visiting the cedars reserve, downtown Beirut, Hamra – the heart of Beirut city, and if you’re into skiing and snowman building, then Faraya is the place to go.

Sidon Sea Castle/Fortress of Saida (Arabic)

Al Shouf Cedars Nature Reserve

The Largest Ski Resort In The Middle East In Faraya

 This post is linked up over at… Smart Schoolhouse , Sincerely Paula , With A Blast ,Cornerstone Confessions , Social Media Saturdays , Laugh & Learn Link Up , Crystal’s Tiny Treasures , Education Possible , All Things With Purpose , Creative Kids Culture Blog Hop