After three weeks in Beirut, I'm just starting to adjust to this new culture. I've been sick for a couple of weeks of the three, and am just beginning to feel like myself. Hopefully, I'm getting past the physical adjustment of living here, along with the new foods to my system. Many of my non-Lebanonese colleagues say that they went through a similar adjustment when they moved here and have named it the "Beirut Belly."

I haven't taken a prescription drug or been in a car accident in many years-probably 15 years ago, and within two weeks I've done both in Beirut. The car accident occurred last week when I was driving with the principal of ACS (American Community School at Beirut) to check out outdoor education sites up in the mountains of Lebanon and someone hit us from behind. It was just a fender bender. Speaking of cars here-they are crazy! Pedestrians do not have the right of way and cars honk when you are in their way to warn you to get away. There are no real traffic laws, just "guidelines" that most drivers don't pay attention to anyway. Cars will go any where to get around other cars or people. Also, no one stops at stop signs-whoever gets in the intersection first wins.

Another adjustment has been seeing military tanks and automatic weapons on the streets. Last week, there was a dispute over a parking space and two individuals staring fighting and both were from different political groups (Hizbollah and another group). Well, all these militia groups have weapons and they started shooting at each other and, soon enough, their comrades join in and four people ended up killed. The government sent tanks and soldiers out in the streets to make sure there was not any other fighting occurring. Several of my colleagues heard the automatic gun fire from their apartments, but it wasn't close to my apartment for me to hear.

Internet service here is really frustrating! I've ordered it for my apartment the first week here but it has not been delivered yet to my place. The internet provider mentioned that it may take up to a month. The connections in the cafes and coffee shops are very sporadic. So, it has been difficult to post anything on Facebook, especially pictures. Evidently, the service that I get my apartment is more efficient and reliable.

We have a long weekend because of a Muslim holiday that is occurring-the end of Ramadan. We didn't have work yesterday, or today. There is a big street festival tonight and tomorrow in Hamra-the part of the city that I live near. This festival is in celebration of the holiday-food, four stages of music, and artist's booth. There is a parade starting at 5 tonight. I'm curious what a Muslim parade looks like?

As for Beirut...the city is a really cosmopolitan city full of vibrancy and tons of diversity. There are Muslims and Christians alike throughout different parts of the city. And, different sects of Muslims. On any given street you will see fully veiled women, covered head to toe with only their eyes peeking through the veil; along with women hardly dressed at all, with their chests hanging out for all of Beirut to view. It is definitely a city of contrasts!

One aspect of the Beirut life that is hard for me to adjust to is that there are no smoking laws in the country. So, everywhere you go, people are smoking-in the coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants. And, it is estimated that 60% of the population from 11-18 smoke in Lebanon. Many start at a young age with the traditional Hookah pipe filled with flavored tobacco.

My apartment is huge. I have way too much space to decorate. My cats, Neitschze and Lao, both love it because they have a lot of room to roam and frolic. I have three balconies, the biggest just outside my living room. I'm on the 5th of 10 floors. All of the people that live in my building work at ACS, but we hardly see each other. I just met my floor neighbor two days ago because we were both leaving for work at the same time. I walk to work everyday and can walk to most everything that I need. Cabs are plentiful and relatively inexpensive.

Next weekend, I'm going to a yoga retreat in Tyre in south Lebanon, near Israel. A friend (Hiba), who I met through a yoga studio is organizing it. In addition to yoga, we are going to snorkel, scuba dive and kayak in the sea. I'm going to teach the Sunday morning class on the deck of the resort that we are staying in for the weekend. Hiba will be teaching the other classes. There will 10-15 people attending.

I have missed my bike. I had it shipped over with several other materials about two weeks before I left, but it has not arrived. I'm anxious to ride here. I've been running and yoga, with more yoga than running.

That is all for now. I just wanted to give a quick update as I found a good internet connection this morning in my favorite cafe.