scenery, January in Beirut

two billborads carrying two opposing campaigns, sitting side by side in peace


The sky of Beirut on black Tuesday, 23 january


Johnny walker's interpretation of the situation


a new coalition: 11th=8th+14th divided by two...

Back to Beirut

I am back, this time alone.
It is the political calm of festivities, however, all the festivities are nothing but political. Before going out last night, I was watching Manar TV, broadcasting from their party celebration. the speeches were adressed from children age 4 to 9, to Sinyora, Sayed Nasrallah, Mr Junblat...ye3neh, a Lebanese version of Political community arts.
Apparently, Tayyar have made a whole new color for Santa this year: Orange, while their opponents, the 14th of March coalition came up with a catchy slogan "I love life". Now life is branded with politics, and christmas trees are also branded with I love Life.
Anyway, also two days after my return, I bumped into Jihad and Mohammad, two of the guys who did the training with Steve. I will maybe be able to track down most of the participants in Narratives of Hope. More news soon.
Some picts for you

Thank you round II

to all those who came, and all those who couldn't make it
to all those we met in the Foundry
to Jonathan for offering us a great place
to Hanane, the Beirut surprise
to Chrissie for overriding all the work and joining us
to the sick almir and Lucia who got better after a few whiskeys
to Michael, Andrea, Jeremy, Steve, Frances and Emma
and a very warm greeting to Tiffany and her bad luck that day

to the children and people of Beirut
Cheers

drinks

Sunday 15th of october, at 3:00 in the Foundry.
we will be there to talk about the trip, to show pictures and drink!
it's a public gathering, all are welcome
The Foundry, great eastern Street, Old street tube station, exit 3.

Some of the children we met

Frances and Emma's masks workshop, Jeitawi, Friday 22 September




Andrea's music workshop, Baajour, Thursday 21 September





Jeremy's puppets workshop, Baajour, Thursday 21 September

silence

It's wednesday morning, I spoke to frances, and Jeremy, saw Andrea and emailed steve, in the last few days in London. I had posted something before but I deleted the post, still trying to analyse and think of last week. I think most of us are trying to make sense of this trip, trying to see what to share and what to keep to ourselves as Andrea said. One thing for sure is that it changed something in our lives, and it made us think a lot. the silence you are seing on this blog, is not because we have nothing to say, we have too many things to say, but we are not sure what to say, and how to say it.
we will try to post soon, once we find a way to process all what we have seen and done

some scenes from Beirut

Live from T marbouta

Me and Jeremy are sitting now in T marbouta, in Hamra, with maybe 5 other people, watching Nasrallah and his speech on a big screen. There is no one on the streets of Hamra, and maybe 5 people with computers here. They have a fast wireless connection, and very good food. we had Kebbeh Bil saniyeh, with Nawal, and Hanan.
Steve and Andrea decided to go to the "celebration". Last time we saw them was in Hamra, getting a taxi. We hope to see them again. but I told them that I am too tiered and if they get in trouble, I asked them not to call me. I gave the number of a cab anyway, so don't worry they are supposed to be fine. maybe. Anyway they have the Goldsmith authorization paper! that will do, in the celebration.
in the mean time, hearing the words of this charismatic leader, we were looking at the pictures of the workshops, so here's some of them

few pictures

quick post, I am ok

you are probably wondering where I am and what is going on. Things are very intense, too much work, 4 workshops running at the same time, and I am split in following up, documenting, providing the needed material, and of course, trying to keep the emotinal luggage under control. It's been very hard. The city is still bleeding to death, and Hizbollah are celebrating today. I have no idea what is there to celebrate.

Anyway, let me tell me about our beirut surprise, one of the good surprises, It's Hanan. We met Hanan in our first meeting with Samidoun, Sarah and Assabil. She was very nice and she came with Nawal. Hanan, today, became as valuable to the project as any of the team members. It turns out that she arrived to beirut 4 days ago, like us, and she just found herself working with us! She translated with francis in Assabil workshops, she helped Jeremy yesterday morning, Andrea as well, did all the training sessions with steve, and most of all helped us stay sane with her positive energy, or as sane as we can be here! a round of applause for Hanan

I am off for a feedback meeting with Nawal and the group