Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Simple lunch, sidetracked.

This is how most of the more interesting experiences have happened while here- not turning down invites, seeing how things happen.


Lisa and I decided we were going to go across the bridge to the other half of our office complex and have an easy lunch of some appetizers, hummus dishes, etc. While waiting at the elevator, one of the guys asks where we are going to lunch, and if we would like to join him instead for a "traditional Arabic lunch." We go along, and it turns out that this is more like a traditional shisha session... Everyone ordered their shisha before they even order drinks.


With the two of us, its 6 in total- a Lebanese man from TBWA, two Brits from that side, and a Palestinian from Ketchum, my side. Topics from lunch:
  • Palestine v. Israel: The borders from different years, the international recognition of Israel, occupation of cities over the years, settlements in the territories, etc.
  • Football vs. American football vs. baseball: How American sports are terrible, because of instant replay and how it's not the referees call.
  • How I Met Your Mother: Ted vs. Barney, with several references thrown in.
  • The invention of artificial clouds for the 2022 World Cup... say what?
  • A few English language semantics lessons from the Lebanese guy to the Palestinian.


"Stripped of your ordinary surroundings, your friends, your daily routines, your refrigerator full of food, your closet full of clothes - with all this taken away, you are forced into direct experience. Such direct experience inevitably makes you aware of who it is that is having the experience. That's not always comfortable, but it is always invigorating." -Michael Crichton 

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