Tala Karkanawi, Staff Writer

December 22nd, 2020

I give you messages from Lebanese expats. Messages of hope. Messages of resilience and sadness. Messages for a better future and a better dream. How does your ‘ideal’ Lebanon look like? What do you want to come back to? What does it mean to be Lebanese? I give you Lebanese expats and their messages of hope and faith.

 

Lebanon, we will come back to you someday. 

“My Lebanon is a serene mountain sitting between the sea and the plains, like a poet between one eternity and another.” – Gibran Khalil Gibran

 

 

Anthony – United Arab Emirates 

My ideal Lebanon is one with politicians who aren’t corrupt, who genuinely care about the passport they hold, and the people they are meant to serve. My favourite thing about Lebanon has to be how different every single person is but how they always manage to unite as one regardless of the circumstances that have bestowed us.

 

 

Roa – United Arab Emirates 

Being a Lebanese expat means acknowledging my immense privilege and reflecting on how I can give back to Lebanon in any possible way. After all, no one wants to be an expat forever and I would love nothing more than to be able to return to a better Lebanon. One day, I hope to be able to return to a Lebanon that is not divided on sectarian and religious lines. I hope to return to a united Lebanon that has a social security net for the citizens in need. I hope to return to a Lebanon brimming with educational and professional opportunities for youth. The Lebanon I see in the future and the Lebanon I yearn for is one that gives its citizens and refugees better lives. I want Lebanese expats to become something of the past; the Lebanon I see in the future no longer has its own people fleeing the country in search of a better life. Instead of a country that serves the ruling class, I hope for a country that serves its people. I hope for a country I can come back to and give back to.

 

 

Khaled – The Netherlands 

To all citizens of Lebanon,

 

As a Lebanese who has lived half his life in the Netherlands, I have learned many things. One of those things is that corruption is everywhere, arguably even more in Europe. The only difference is that in Lebanon corruption is more publicly open. Fortunately for the Lebanese who want to have a greater Lebanon they have unfolded the source of the corruption and are prepared to fight it. I request to not stop fighting for your right and freedom. Change takes time, it doesn’t happen overnight. However, advocate for this change; we are Lebanese after all, we are resilient. 

 

 

Kareem – United Kingdom 

My ideal Lebanon is a safe, united, well developed, and a true Lebanon. Lebanon is one of the most beautiful countries and a blessing that god gave us. Our government doesn’t know nor appreciate what we have in such country. My ideal Lebanon is a country that is full of tourists and people knowing our history. My favourite thing about Lebanon is how we as Lebanese loves to live no matter how many barriers we face in our daily life to enjoy life. We all know that inside every one of us there’s a person that doesn’t discriminate one another, it’s what we’re used to grow with in such a toxic society ruled by Corrupt rulers.

I consider myself one of the lucky people that took where able to study abroad and find a place where a person can redevelop himself correctly and most important knowing his own value in a society and believing in himself when seeing a lot of opportunities surrounded by him. I knew when I came here that in Lebanon we all have dreams but our country cut everyone’s wings. However, we can never deny that it’s never easy living away from home. Where you truly belong, where all of your memories are. It’s hard living away from your family and friends and the ones you love, we all saw our tears and our friend’s tears in the airport while leaving. We knew the feeling of leaving your home and missing where you belong and how hard it is; we know that anything in life requires a price. And this is what we’re paying for a good future.

 

 

Anonymous – United Arab Emirates 

My favourite thing about Lebanon is and will always be the people and the atmosphere they create. There’s something about being Lebanese that’s ingrained into our personality: a certain mixture of spontaneity, hope, kindness, humour, and a pure love for life, among many other things.

My ideal Lebanon would be a place where these people can live with dignity. Where they wouldn’t have to smile despite the situation, and can still love the life they live in their own country. Where they wouldn’t have their joy dimmed by having to leave, or having to say goodbye to others who leave. Where they wouldn’t have to cut out on their kindness because of the current situation. Most importantly, where they wouldn’t have to give up on hope. The weight of living in Lebanon has become too heavy for these strong people to bear, and it is slowly robbing them of the qualities that make them who they are. 

I live in hope that Lebanon will remain the creator, and the home for these people.

 

 

Farah – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

My ideal Lebanon is a Lebanon with no corruption, where leadership is not tied to religion, where people can practice their religions and beliefs freely - and mostly, a Lebanon where I am not forced to leave to look for a better life. My favourite thing about Lebanon is its people, it's culture, its love for history - and its ability to never fade away into each and every conflict it faces. Lebanon is my phoenix; and perhaps that is the greatest quality to have.

 

 

Stephanie – Sweden 

An ideal Lebanon is a place you would be able to call home. Home is a place where you feel free, safe, loved and cared for. When you go home, you expect to find everything you need to live. When you go home, you can be yourself with no judgment. When you go home you feel protected. An ideal Lebanon is a place where citizens don’t feel deprived of their needs or robbed of their rights. An ideal Lebanon is a place where you can enjoy life, not just try to survive. An ideal Lebanon is home. 

 

 

Shadi – Spain 

 Leaving Lebanon had to be the hardest decision I made, and it hurts a lot being away from your own country. Lebanon is one of the most beautiful countries you can ever find and the way people live their lives is the best experience; especially night life in the beautiful capital of Beirut. Every time I mention I am Lebanese, everyone wonders about Lebanon and the beauty of it. A lot of my dreams got shattered and a lot of the youths’ dreams got shattered as well. On behalf of the youths in Lebanon, we ask you to change the system, change the way things are turning, and bloom into the Lebanon you once were. Lebanon will rise again. 

 

 

Nour – Canada 

Lebanon, I just don’t feel anymore, or maybe I have mixed feelings. Mixed feelings just like a kid who lost his mom, but lost her forcefully. I think you can picture how tough it is to be detached from the source of happiness. In Lebanon, we lost our happiness, we lost the joy that ignited our hearts, we lost Lebanon. Simply deprived of the true meaning of it. I felt hopeless and helpless, so I decided to leave my family, friends and all the memories behind. I chose to break the attachment I had, forcefully. That alone explains how mixed my feelings are. When I close my eyes I picture Beirut’s nightlife and sleepless nights. I picture the people enjoying the cedars and the rivers, the hot summer days and the cold winters in Faqra. Ideally, a Lebanon where people are smiling and the happiness on their faces is radiating.

 

 

Andrea – United Kingdom 

My ideal Lebanon would be a Lebanon where the citizens would accept the past and move forward, without hatred. 

My ideal Lebanon would be a place where our tetas and jedos, mums and dads don’t have the horrific reflexes to hide in bunkers and save long-lasting food in the kitchen’s cupboards.  

My ideal Lebanon would be the trendy country for tourists, the country people associate with party, beach, nature, rich history, not war, explosion, or insecurity. 

And finally, my ideal Lebanon would be the place where people reunite, smile and laugh, dance and sing all night, hike, ski, swim, eat delicious food, and absolutely not think of leaving.

My favourite thing about Lebanon is walking around on the streets of Beirut day and night. From Gemmayze to Raouche to Sassine. From teta’s house to Zaatar w Zeit,  I miss listening to the church bell and the mosque’s mouezzin harmonizing together, and I miss Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael’s night lights and music. 

 

 

Anonymous – United Kingdom 

My ideal Lebanon would be when people stop blindly following and worshiping politicians and think for themselves and for the greater good of the country. In an ideal Lebanon I would see people respecting cherishing our beautiful country and culture and take care of the environment that we live in. Lebanon would go back to being the “Paris of the MiddleEast” and become a business hub and, therefore, create jobs attracting the Lebanese people to stay living in their country rather than being forced out due to the lack of jobs available.

 

 

Hisham – United Arab Emirates 

My ideal Lebanon is just a place where my people can live in peace and freedom. It breaks my heart to see all thats happened progressively over the years to our dear Lebanon; however, what warms my heart still is seeing that no matter how much we have been through, Lebanese people remain connected by heart. All that has happened proved that as long as we have each other we will overcome the worst together, that is something that makes us unique as a whole. I’m sure that in the near future, Lebanon will be able to flourish and earn its justice.

 

As a Lebanese expat myself, I’ve had my doubts on whether I want to stay abroad or give everything up and go back home into the arms of my mother and the beautiful smell of my grandma’s food on Sunday. This is really hard for me, and extremely hard for the millions of expats living abroad. Living somewhere else is tough, especially coming from a country as beautiful, diverse, and astonishing as Lebanon. Lebanon was once known as a country that stood against injustice and sectarian hate. A country with a capital known as the Paris of the Middle East. A country known for its diversity, resilience, strength, and beauty. 

 

My message for all the Lebanese citizens abroad and back home, whether you carry the passport or not, do not lose hope. A day will come when we can say goodbye to the countries that held us when our home couldn’t. A day will come when we can build a future full of intelligent, beautiful people that can stand up to anything and anyone. A day will come when we will stand together, for a better Lebanon, once and for all.  

 

 

لو لم يكن لبنان وطني، لاخترتُ لبنان وطناً لي