Lebanon people, why is it that....?

Question

people from our culture have such strong ties to their heritage & homeland no matter how long they have lived away yet others seem to be able to distance themselves from their past without difficulty ....?

Jasmine...that is EXACTLY what I said ...thank you.

Jasmine , that makes perfect sense to me ..thank you.

Belier....you brought tears to my eyes ! I went for the first time only last year as you know ....it changed my life !

Answer 1

I left Lebanon when I was 10 years old. Went to Colombia then to Canada.

I remember a day (when I was still in Colombia) I cried for about three hours... My mom came into my room and tried to find out what was it about, but I was crying so hard that I couldn't answer her!
About half an hour later, I tried to pronounce those words:
I want to go to Lebanon Mom...
I will never forget this day, I think it was the longest cry in my whole life.

As years passed by, I became more detached and ended up forgetting about my origins... I even forgot the language.
I think this was normal because I grew up outside of my homeland and my parents, throughout the years, cut out almost all their contacts with friends and even family. My father used to call my aunt just once a year...

As I grew older, I started asking myself questions; Will I go to my country one day? (My parents didn't seem much interested...) Will I see my aunt & uncles & meet their children & grandchildren? Will I go back someday to that village where we used to go in summers? Will I see a friend I had there? Her family?

All these questions haunted me. I started to like more & more the idea of going back... I always imagined what it would be like.. I started to listen to lebanese songs and to have Lebanese friends. My language got better & better.
I felt so attached to my origins that I took a decision: I had to travel to Lebanon! And that's what I did.
It was a beautiful experience...it made me recognise who I really was.

Now I've been going there almost every year for the past 6 years!

With time, I acquired back my strong ties to my homeland... I learned to be proud of my heritage, proud of being a Lebanese... Is it maturity? Is it because of my parent's influence? (I doubt it) Or is it the lebanese blood that runs in my veins?

What still hurts me is that my sister never went back there since the age of 12 and seems having no problem at all with it. Why? I think she simply distanced herself without even realizing it.

I am trying to convince her to travel with me. Haven't succeeded yet... But I know one day I will and I'll even make her cry... I think it's never too late to realize who we truly are......

Answer 2

At times, moving to a new country is a major change and can create a hardship that lasts many years. The new culture, language, customs, etc can be overwhelming. Some people repsond by trying to assimilate themselves quickly into the new country. At times this process cuts out the old ways and they lose a portion of what makes them who they are. Others though, grow slowly into their new surroundings, because they may have a small community of people from their hoemland, where they can converse in their language, watch TV, read newspapers in their mother tongue. Growing up in Chicago, I have seen both. We were a major starting place for many immigrants from all over the world. I grew up in an area very close to an Arab neighborhood and had many friends from Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran. We also had Russian, Ethiopian, Nigerian, Cambodian, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese, Ukranian, Greek, Polish, Swedish, Italian, etc. All these neighborhoods helped their residents by being a little taste of home. Unfortunately some communties were so small they could not really help each other out and these often were swiftly absorbed into the new culture. I think the area where you start of in the new country has a big influence on whether you retain those ties to your heritage or not.

Answer 3

Nadia babe, There will probably be no conflict in Lebanon, no longer this summer season nor the following. I could endorse you to inform your cousin that you're no longer staying at his/her situation, and that you're renting an condo, then might be he would inform you the reality, It is predicted that lebanon would be the TOP traveler vacation spot this summer season, I have booked my price ticket and nobody needs conflict. SUMMER 2010 goes to be GREAT ! Look on the New York Times hyperlink for 2009 best locations... And I'm only a individual who Loves Lebanon and needs each person to give up contemplating conflict, speakme approximately it'll deliver extra matters and tensions. Give it a do this time I'm Sure you are going to adore it and notice how conflict is very unlikely ! Ohh btw I have observed a few questions about yahoo requested by means of individuals who're "anti-lebanon" they search to make individuals no longer come to lebanon, or divert their tourism advantage in coming to lebanon, Please document the ones, first be certain by means of going to their profile and checking their posts out, among the instances you'll discover recommendations within the query it self. just like the final query was once " Will I be butchered In Lebanon if I come this summer season ?"... good HEEL nO GIRL !! hah besides individuals don't forget you obtained your brains and there's a document button... use them Thanks

Answer 4

It has to do with the way one is brought up. If at home, you are raised to value your heritage, to respect your citizenship, and to be proud of your homeland (regardless of whatever situation it is in...) you are bound to have those strong ties, no matter the place and the time you are in...
You can travel, settle down somewhere else and like it; it will not change the connection you have with your homeland.

Answer 5

I think it has something to do with the amount of materialistic items someone has. For some reason the more "materialistic" a country is the easier it is for someone to distance themselves from that country because they're brought up on materialistic items rather than being brought up on more important things like heritage, family, etc.

do i make myself clear or am i talking in circles?????

Answer 6

That's not true! I am born and raised in America an my parents are Egyptian and I am proud of my heritage! i wear my hijab long skirts I never forget that I am ARAB . Its part of me and i can never loose that part!!

AUSSIE
I'm sorry I sorta misread the question! What you sad is true! I also feel that the arabs whether Lebanese or Egyptian, those who leave the country and is raised outside there country they like the country more and are proud of there culture more than those that are raised in the country itself! Am I making sense to you walla no??

you know Aussie I have many friends here who dont even want to remember that they are Arabs! Your going to get shocked there are many boys here there names is Mohammed you know what they calll themselves, "MO", can you believe it! It really hurts ! When you seee these peiople acting like that! For me I wish everyday that one time I will return to my country to the Arabs were you feel home, whether its Lebanon or Egypt or Palestine as long as Im with my Muslim Arab family then I will feel good!

BELIER
your response was so nice I know exactly ghow yyou feel. Me too I have to visit my country evry year!!! Thanx for making our heads hi and by not forgetting your hertiage where you come from!
I wanted to give you thumbs up sign but I am still in level one! Love your answer!!

Answer 7

Every year i get exited b4 goin to lebanon , but i regret comin a week after i arrive i even regret gettin exited about the idea.

Answer 8

depends whether you are proud of your culture or not, how you feel about other cultures, how others make you feel about your culture; some people can reject it if its forced onto them too quickly

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