14 Things Only Lebanese Expats Will Understand

Being a Lebanese expat is kind of a niche experience, so if you’ve lived abroad for quite some time, chances are you’re going to relate to these 14 experiences.

1. The inside of your luggage always smells like zaatar

Zaatar, mrabba, zeitoun, kishik…and all the other things your Lebanese mom manages to stuff into your bag.

2. Bathrooms abroad don’t have a shattafeh, and it’s terrifying

What do you mean you only use tissues to wipe?

3. You will never be able to toshtof like your Lebanese family does

You’ll never see cleaner, shinier, and better smelling floors anywhere. AND HOW DO YOU DRAIN THE WATER WHEN THE BATHROOM HAS NO DRAIN?

4. You go for Lebanese restaurants whenever possible

And when you find a good one, you get excited and become a regular. Just look at this: Lebanese Expats Flock To Malak Al Tawouk In Montreal For A Taste Of Home.

5. You miss the simplest things in Lebanon: the smell of manakish in the morning, going to the local furn, your mom’s yelling at 8 in the morning…

You’ll never know what you had until you lost it.

6. Summers must be spent in Lebanon, and your whole life is centered around that fact

Soon after the new year, you start making plans to visit during the summer. It’s a rule.

7. Coming back home only to do all the things you couldn’t do abroad

That means haircuts, doctor’s appointments, nails, dentists, and blood tests.

8. People assume you have money because you’re abroad, but really, you’re barely able to buy new toothpaste

Cool tip: cut off the bottom so you can scoop out the rest inside.

9. The culture shock of not seeing cars smashing into potholes…or each other

So this is what it’s like?

10. You get excited when you hear someone speak Arabic abroad

And then you become besties as soon as you pick up their Lebanese dialect.

11. More culture shock: how did your Lebanese dad buy fruits in kilos and abroad its per piece?

12. You can never find something that lives up to the labneh w khebez 3arabe combo

Nothing will ever to live up to what you had growing up in Lebanon.

13. That feeling when you see Beirut from the plane when you’re landing

You even grow to miss the nasty smell.

14. Two words: passport renewal

An absolute nightmare.

Tell us in the comments, did you like the job that becomes with every Lebanese expatriate? And would you consider travelling and living abroad?