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Mia Arawi

12 Signs You’re In A Conversation With A Lebanese Person

We Lebanese have a great many good qualities, but lack some others (tact, for starters). If you were just thrown into a conversation with some random stranger and you’re not entirely sure if this person is of Lebanese heritage, this is the guide for you. If you answer yes to more than half of these, you’re most likely dealing with a fellow Lebanese.

1. Has your weight been brought up several times?

2. Has the phrase ‘ya di3an el balad’ been said?

3. Did someone just interrupt you?

4. Do they look like they’re just waiting for their turn to speak anyway?

5. Is your personal space being invaded?

6. Are eyebrows the subject of discussion?

7. Is the conversation alternative from Arabic to English or Arabic to French or Arabic to English to French to Spanish to Cantonese?

8. Is the volume of the conversation escalating as it progresses?

9. Are people starting to look your way?

10. Is “inshallah” understood as “no”?

11. Are you forced into extending an invitation to your home even though you barely know the person? “Sharfoona… heh”

12. When food is the discussion, is everyone just talking about how they only eat at home and how “ma byid2aro l MacDo” yet they still nickname it MacDo?

If you answered yes to six or more of these questions, you may have been talking to a Lebanese!

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