And We're Back!!

Yes, we are back and starting year 3 here in Beirut! It has been remarkably hot here. Even the locals say so! Here are some pictures I have taken since I've returned mid-August. Some of the most recent pictures are from yesterday and today. Yes, we are in the middle of a sandstorm here.

This is my Basil plant. Thanks to my friend, Philippe, otherwise know as the plant whisperer, it is almost 4 feet tall!

This is a cat on the street next to our school napping while he's waiting for the lady who brings food to the kitties every day.

And this is part of the street. They start gathering around 4:00 in the afternoon and she is usually feeding them between 4:30 and 5:00. Janna has counted over 80 cats on this street at one time before!

As a middle school, we come here to do team building before school every year.  It is a nice opportunity to connect and also prepare for the beginning of the year.  

A side garden at the retreat.

This beautiful olive tree was right in front of the building.

These grapes were above us on the trellis.

A beautiful Mosque off in the distance.

I loved seeing the dates just hanging off the palm tree.  Still not ready to pick yet.

Hibiscus are very common here. Here are some examples of why they are so popular.

We started school and all was busy but going well.....

Every day you will see these men coming out of the Med after their morning swimming.  They usually change right there by wrapping a towel around themselves. They often smile, wave and say good morning if you smile at them.

And this is the next morning when the sand storm started coming in.  While it looks like a cool, foggy day alas it is not.  At about 7:15a.m it was about 88 F. There was no wind that you could feel and 80% humidity. Very wet!

We got to school and this was just outside Janna's classroom. Trust me, this was just the beginning!

At the end of the day I took this picture from the library. You cannot even see the water.

Going home, Janna said that she always wanted to put a smiley face on a car with sand all over it.  I said it was okay.....

Thank you to my friend D.J. who took and posted this picture from the roof of the building he lives in. This is the American University of Beirut. It is between where we live and the school we teach at.  Pretty sandy!

Our next blog post will be a quick catch up from the summer and some events that happened at the end of last year.  I hope to finish it soon....Insha'Allah!