#LiveLoveDay3a: 17 Signs You’re A Villager at Heart

No matter where you go in the world, whether it’s moving to Beirut or flying to New York, there will always be a tiny portion of your heart dedicated to the village. It might be because it reminds you of the smell of your grandmother’s zaatar, or because it simply makes you nostalgic to those few joyous hot summer days. Either way, there are some things that only villagers can understand – and boy are they hilarious!

1. You speak a different language.

Not French, not English, but a special variation of the Lebanese dialect that only your fellow villagers can understand. Your speech becomes heavier, “chou?” becomes, “ech?”, and your English? Well, RIP.

I don’t care how educated I become. When I go to my day3a, Internet becomes anternat

— إبن المعلّم نبيل. (@Dou2abou) November 25, 2016

2. In winter, the babour is your best friend.

Image via Twitter

And your favourite food is labneh sandwiches toasted on it.

3. You know exactly the perfect spot to hold your phone for the best signal.

However, 5 minutes into rain/snow and your signal is non-existent and the WiFi is completely out.

4. Everybody thinks you live so far away.

If you’re smart, you’d use that to your advantage to get into work late and leave early while sprinkling in some extra “uff, I’m exhausted today” for decoration.

5. You plan your days based on the predicted weather.

Snowstorm this weekend? That means you probably won’t be leaving the village for at least two days. Or swapping cars with your parents to try and get around, before realising that driving on ice is exhausting, and terrifying.

6. But that makes for incredible weekends away!

Oumo notla3 ne3la2 bl taljet 3ende bl jabal. Babour and wine included.

— Rita (@RitaKaddoum94) January 24, 2016

7. Avoiding Beirut’s traffic and hustle and bustle is a perk.

Can you hear that? Silence…and the occasional neighbour standing on the balcony screaming at her kids across the street to come home for lunch.

8. However, the roads only get worse…and more terrifying.

Are you really in the day3a if there aren’t any ridiculously narrow roads with no barriers, countless (and much deeper) potholes and all sorts of twists and turns that even have atheists praying to God that they, and their precious cars, make it to their destinations alive and not too badly beat up.

9. Feeling that superhuman connection when you meet someone in Beirut from the same area as you.

And then proceeding to find out that you’re related through your grandad’s cousins wife’s brother’s son.

10. The whole village has your surname.

And then suddenly you’re related to everybody somehow and your family force you to attend every funeral, wedding and birthday because 3ayb.

11. But if you’re not related, everybody still knows you.

And I mean everybody. They also somehow always know at what time you came home last night, in what car, and exactly who you were with.

12. A five-minute walk to the local shop is a high-intensity workout.

Life in the village really isn’t complete if you don’t have to walk up two mini hills, dodge a few cars because there is no such thing as a pavement and arrive at your local dekeneh in a sweaty mess.

13. You’re probably used to seeing all sorts of strange sights.

You don’t even bat an eyelid anymore, whether it’s animals on the loose, or a random guy riding his donkey.

14. Finding work in Beirut is a dream come true.

Until you realise driving back and forth every day is a nightmare and renting a small, modest room is sure to bankrupt you for the next 16 years.

15. There is an incredible amount of history and culture.

Whether it’s a saint buried nearby, Roman ruins, a waterfall, a historic convent, a vineyard or old architecture and abandoned houses – the village is jam packed with pretty awesome things that we take for granted.

16. What do you mean Roadsters doesn’t deliver here?

You know better than to attempt to call and beg for a delivery because in reality, the village’s famous shawarma/taouk guy a couple of streets away is the best delivery you’re ever going to get.

17. The best part – having killer views that you will never get bored of.

Image via @mirageorged on Instagram