9 Things That Happen When You Have More Than One Nationality

1. You become the perfect catch

Your parents’ acquaintances all want to marry you off to their kids so their grandchildren can have a “passport ajnabeh” too.

2. But where do you feel like you’re from?

Your entourage always asks if you feel more Lebanese than Canadian and you’re always anxious and uncertain about how to answer.

3. Getting together with your family is a true struggle

You probably have relatives who are still living abroad while you’re back in Beirut. Time zones are a real enemy and planning trips to visit each other yearly means lots of logistics and Skyping.

4. It’s not always easy to explain

It’s always confusing when people ask about your origins: are they asking where you were born? Where you grew up? Where you live now? Should you give a brief history of your ancestors too?

5. You’re the King/Queen of the world

You feel like you’ve beaten the system because having two passports means you get to travel wherever you want without having to go through the hassle of applying for a visa.

6. The airport lines

You want to show off at the Beirut airport arrival by standing in the foreign queue but you feel cheated because the “Lebanese Passport” line means less waiting.

7. The real deal

Since you probably know a second language really well because you grew up abroad, it almost feels like you cheated a little bit. You didn’t even have to try to get that extra skill on your CV.



8. You’re charming and exotic

Though you’re fed up with people finding your Senegalese origins exotic and unusual, you’re still happy it gives you some kind of secret charm that makes you look more interesting with possible partners.

9. You lead a double life

Like the real Lebanese you are, you have the freedom to go undercover either with your Lebanese or foreign identity when you’re abroad, depending which one suits your situation best.

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