Emancipation week
This week was a very fun week. Lucas pronounces when we had lunch in Deir el Quammar that this week is going to be emancipation week. He immediately gave the ‘good’ example to sit on the floor during lunch he explained: ‘woman has to sit under the table.
Lucas and Moritz where really motivated in this week: Girls could open the door and be the last ones who were coming in, the girls get NOT at first there food and if they want water they have to fill their class by themselves, also the girls had to carry heavy stuff. In the end the girls didn’t want emancipation anymore and the boys reach there point: to show the girls that the same rights mean the same duties.
The other part of the week looked quite normal; on Monday DEQ, again we went to the different floors, singing and of course THE Guitar was with us, with Maxi who was playing it. No spiritual meeting but a team gathering in the evening about the eastern camps and afterwards feedback round.
On Tuesday and Thursday we had uni I and our lecture was Fr. Tom, he talked about minorities in Lebanon what was very interesting. In uni on Thursday there was really loud commercial music outside, so after the lecture we went there; there was a DJ, cable line from the 5th floor you could slide down, the best part was though the manoushe they made and it was for free, Caravan ate almost everything, it was delicious.
On Wednesday we had a spiritual meeting with Abouna Romanus, he came to our house and we talked about the way to the cross and that you have to trust in him because he leads you in the right way.
Afterwards we had our last team meal; Maffi was leaving to Germany this night and she will return this Saturday in the night and Moritz will already away to Germany for his university. We had a really good Lebanese meal it was so cozy.
Lexi and Marijke who just landed came to say hi to us. It was really nice to see other Caravan people again.
On Thursday we went to Antellias and we had a great support from Joy, Patrick, Lexi and Marijke. Thanks a lot guys. Because we had two Arabic speakers we could play top schlagen and we played Pool (Dutch ball) with some boys.
In the evening there was a Lebanese youth event. First a talk of Marwan about all the great work the Lebanese Order off Malta is doing. Than we had a really amazing dinner the best sandwiches you can’t imagine. The dessert was just awesome. Patrick Jabre: ‘I am going to ask if you can take the desserts with you home.’ In the end Moritz and Matthieu were walking with 3 bags full of cake.
On Friday we had a relaxing day with only DES.
This week was perfect for the boys off DES because after a long winter we could take them out to the garden again. Spring started in Lebanon. Every day we took them to the garden, gave them sweets and drinks. They were so happy to be outside.
Saturday we split the group: Lucas, Suzanne and Daniel went with Dr. Isaa to Batroun and walked there, went to the souks and later to Sourat to spend the night there.
Matthieu, Johanna and Caroline went skiing in Faraya. Afterwards Matthieu and Caroline went swimming in the sea.
Amalie, Maxi and Moritz stayed at home slept, chilled, wrote stuff for uni and got new gas bottles.
Maxi and Amelie went also to the sea and Maxi also swam in the sea.
In the night Amalie, Maxi, Moritz and Matthieu went to this great party (they came back with green shoes, pants, because some people put green paint all over the floor)
Johanna and Caroline had to stay home because there skin was really sunburned from skiing; they were real Banadoura’s.
The next day we all came together in Sourat (except Johanna who couldn’t come because her skin would get worse). After the mess in Sourat we went with Dr. Isaa to a really old monastery which was built in the rocks. It was an orthodox monastery so the girls had to where long skirts what was really fun. We continued our trip; we walked next to a river. It was so beautiful; everybody agreed it looked like a fairytale. Some people where so crazy to swim in the fast streaming mountain river. In the end they had to walk with totally wet trousers and sopping socks.
On our way we saw many animals, cows, 500 goats with 4 dogs and shepherds and a really big frog.
We had a nice lunch with wine next to the river we chilled and talked.
In the evening we had dinner with Dr. Isaa and then some of us returned to Beirut. It was an amazing week and an awesome weekend!