Friday night, I am waiting for my friends to pick me up and head towards Monot , the heart of the Lebanese nightlife.
Next thing I know, I get a phone call telling me about an explosion in the Monot area.
In order to make sure this was the case, I did the bomb check test we usually do in Lebanon.
I tried to make a call on my mobile, and I got the "Network Problem" error.
The test proved positive.
This time however, I felt like nothing serious had happened. After so many car bombs, we kinda got used to it, and life goes on. Instead of staying home, we just decided to go towards Jounieh where we could hang out at Crepaway or Schtroumpf.
It is funny, but looks like we got to a point where hiding or staying home isn't an option anymore.
Whether you are at home or on the road, you don't know where the next bomb is gonna blow.
Either we convince ourselves that staying home is safer and wait for the disaster to knock on our doors, or we just continue our lives and believe that our hour will come when God decides it is time.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Monday, July 11, 2005
The Lebanese Mentality
I still remember the Mastercard adverstisement where they start showing you stuff like a soccer team T-shirt for X dollars, tickets to a game for Y dollars... And finally a soccer ball signed by the famous Brazilian player Pelé as priceless. And the message at the end: "There are some things money can't buy. For everything else there's Mastercard".
On the other hand, a Lebanese bank has been showing lately a TV advertisement about its plastic cards with the exact opposite mentality.
Usually, advertisers take into consideration the social and cultural beliefs of the targeted consumers... This case wasn't an exception.
As the ad plays, you can read messages such as "The power to give", "The power to lead", "The power to say NO", "the power to decide" and finally you see the numerous plastic cards with the message "The power in your hand".
While some might disagree with the way the message is being delivered, since it clearly states that with money you can do anything you want, I believe it is a reflection of how the Lebanese society is thinking.
Makes you really wonder how materialistic life has become in Lebanon, the land of values.
On the other hand, a Lebanese bank has been showing lately a TV advertisement about its plastic cards with the exact opposite mentality.
Usually, advertisers take into consideration the social and cultural beliefs of the targeted consumers... This case wasn't an exception.
As the ad plays, you can read messages such as "The power to give", "The power to lead", "The power to say NO", "the power to decide" and finally you see the numerous plastic cards with the message "The power in your hand".
While some might disagree with the way the message is being delivered, since it clearly states that with money you can do anything you want, I believe it is a reflection of how the Lebanese society is thinking.
Makes you really wonder how materialistic life has become in Lebanon, the land of values.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Hot Dark Lebanese Summer
So the elections are over, a new government is about to be formed, and life goes on in Lebanon.
It is getting hotter every day of this summer, being the weather or the parties on weekend nights and sunny Sunday beaches.
Wanting to increase the excitement in our lives, EDL (the local electric power authority in Lebanon) is managing to increase its power shortages just when we need it the most.
Suddenly, coming back late from a weekend party is an adventure in Lebanon.
Since backup generators are forbidden after 1:00 am , my only source of light was my cell phone's screen. I had to make it to my apartment located luckily on the 2nd floor by using the stairs without tripping. Good thing I was sober that night.
If you think that was easy, (guys) try using the bathroom in total darkness.
It is getting hotter every day of this summer, being the weather or the parties on weekend nights and sunny Sunday beaches.
Wanting to increase the excitement in our lives, EDL (the local electric power authority in Lebanon) is managing to increase its power shortages just when we need it the most.
Suddenly, coming back late from a weekend party is an adventure in Lebanon.
Since backup generators are forbidden after 1:00 am , my only source of light was my cell phone's screen. I had to make it to my apartment located luckily on the 2nd floor by using the stairs without tripping. Good thing I was sober that night.
If you think that was easy, (guys) try using the bathroom in total darkness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)