15 Things That Happen At the Start Of Every Semester In Lebanon

Regardless of which university you attend, the experience in Lebanon is actually quite universal. Here are 15 things that happen at the start of every semester in Lebanon.

1. Cringing every time you hear “ana awal sene”

You can smell them a mile away, and you think they’re the most annoying people ever. Well, hate to break it to you but you were a first year student a couple of months ago…

2. Mentally preparing yourself for the “bta3teene notes?” crowd

The people who seem to believe that you are supposed to give them your notes and check their assignment’s, piece of advice ZAHETLON MIN EL AWAL!!!!!!

3. Nearby coffee shops and food joints = the gulag

Crowded with students, almost all the good stuff is off the shelves, and your coffee got cold just by as you were pushing through the crowd to make it out alive.

4. “Rawa2”-ing your way through the first week

Instructors spend the first week introducing the course. All the tests and assignments seem to not be due in a long time. You start to actually enjoy university. Word to the wise that feeling usually goes away VERY soon.

5. Stray cats…everywhere

Universities in Lebanon were built for stray cats. They come first and you are on their turf, not the other way around.

6. Trading courses like it’s a cartel

When students start trading course spots on the university WhatsApp groups during Add/Drop period. There’s also those people who just seem to think that someone will drop the course for them if they’re like “Guys hadan wants to drop ENG101 yehkene prv”

7. Stereotyping everyone on campus

The nayeem, the 7akwaje, the barreesh – the list goes on.

8. Setting semester goals that are going to fail (like your New Year’s resolution)

“Badde koon mkhalles l material abel b jem3a” yeah right…

9. Getting stuck in Beirut traffic

You spend DAYS waiting for a course override only to get stuck in Beirut traffic on your way to the first class and you miss it.

10. Meeting new classmates

You won’t meet everyone in class on the first day, maybe not even the first week. It’s above them to come and learn how the instructor will be giving the course; they just repeat the questions I mentioned earlier.

11. Getting stuck in on-campus rush hour (aka 12 PM)

It’s more crowded than a bolted up bank in Beirut on a Monday morning after pay day.

12. Securing your “wasta” early on

Whether it be for your notes, access to a nice professor, or someone with test banks, you have to make connections early on for your semester to go smoothly.

13. Figuring out your go-to study spot that you’ll fixate on for the rest of your undergrad years

And if you still haven’t figured them out, check out this guide: A Definitive Food Guide For University Students In Beirut

14. Realizing eno ma baddak tkoon mhandes your first week in

Sorry teta…

15. Contemplating dropping out just so you don’t ever have to get stuck in traffic ever again

You won’t drop out and you’ll get stuck in traffic every single day, no matter how hard you try to avoid it.