Sharing a once in a lifetime adventure trip to Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
In 2005, During the first semester of physical therapy school, I received an invitation to fly to Beirut, all expenses paid, to perform capoeira at, of all things, a cigarette release party. The top performers of our group, Capoeira Brasil, were all invited. I almost declined, because I would have missed a few days of class and a test. (Was I crazy???) I talked to the director of the PT school, and she said, "What an opportunity! You should go. You can make up the test. This kind of opportunity doesn't come around very often." (Duh!!!)
Beirut was called the "Paris of the Middle East".We stayed in Jounieh at a seaside hotel called La Medina. We had a view of the blue Mediterranean Sea and the Casino du Liban.
Our hosts were the best. The food was amazing. There were great spreads of food for every meal, fresh, tasty, and plentiful. They took us out for dinner and drinks at a nightclub which rivaled any I've seen in LA. We went sightseeing at Jeita Grotto, an enormous cave in the hills.
The party was held at the Forum de Beyrouth. It was huge, and the invited performers were all international, including Japanese taiko drummers, Brazilian samba dancers, aerialists, DJs, and us, American capoeiristas.
We performed that night, stayed for the party, then went on to the after party, at an underground (literally under the ground) club. At dawn, the roof of the club opened and the party continued. I however, didn't stay, because my flight was leaving at dawn. I left early and hopped on my flight back to the US. The rest of my team wasn't so lucky- somehow their visas had been delayed. They ended up staying an extra week in Lebanon.
The night of our performance, something else happened. There was a bombing. We were there during a time of political unrest. They said the turn out for the party wasn't as big as expected- but there were still plenty of people. They were used it, they said. I'm observing that people learn to live with the risk that is present, and live as if everything were normal, until it's not. I've been drawing on this experience, as well as others- for example, in some countries death or injury in traffic accidents is quite common. It's an increased risk they accept without much thought. It's "normal." I think about this now as we are in an age where risking death by leaving one's house is now a thing. And here I am, an essential worker, leaving the house every day. At first, I had a lot of anxiety, imagining that I could be bringing the virus into every house I enter. I mean, I could be. But now, after 5 months of this, I'm ok. It doesn't work for my nervous system and my health to be so worried. I do take precautions. But I've adapted to the risk.
The Lebanon I saw when I was there seemed much like the Lebanon that was rocked by the blast today. I have friends who have family that live there. I can't even imagine the fear and panic there right now. Los Angeles just had an earthquake last week and it was nerve-wracking.
I just wanted to send a bit of love out to Lebanon, some good energy. "There but for the grace of god, go I." It could have been me. With all the risk around in the world today that is out of our hands, my philosophy is that if I can brighten someone's day with a smile, letting them in front of me in line, or a friendly word, I will. We all have the power to change the world, one moment at a time.
Thanks again for reading. Coming tomorrow, Alstrom Point, Utah.
