Lebanon is Calling

I moved to Lebanon at a somehow precarious time. In 2009, assassinations were taking place and the general mood was that of unease and uncertainty, definitely not the ideal time for a single, early-twenty something girl to leave her family, a stable career in Toronto in search for a new adventure in Beirut. My friends and extended family thought I had somewhat lost it when I announced to them I would be moving here for good, while most people would have killed to move to North America or the UAE, my heart was set on Lebanon.

I’m not going to pretend I don’t have my doubts every now and then, political instability can really make you question a lot of things, but I persevered, even more, I built a life for myself here. The first thought that came to mind when my fiancé (now husband) and I got engaged was to look into purchasing some real estate, a place where we can put down our roots and call home.
It was another tough one; this would make things all the more real, it would mean we were invested and in it for the long run. Picking up and leaving wasn’t as simple anymore. And I’m glad it isn’t. I’ve grown attached to this country I now can finally call home. For my entire life, Lebanon was simply, a summer destination, a place I’d visit for a month or two enjoy, make some beautiful memories and friends, though always limited by an itinerary.

But as I wake up today and every day to my homegrown organic thyme mixed with olive oil from the village, have a strong locally brewed coffee and take in the gorgeous view I’ve been blessed with from our balcony, I know that I would have never stopped wanting to move here, and instead wondering about what could have been my life here, I made my dream a reality.

And things are starting to look up even more. The past week has been a historical one, after more than 30 months without a president and a grim looking economy we’ve finally been able to amicably elect a president and begin a new chapter. The future is looking bright and I plan on remaining optimistic. Because like myself, there are some folks who never gave up on this wonderful place, the ones that stuck around, and would like to see this country flourish. Companies such as DEMCO Properties who despite the numbers, continued to invest and build a steady portfolio of top notch properties that have made Lebanon more appealing and developed. The only thing missing now is Lebanese expats, the people that need to believe in their beloved Lebanon again and make it home, or at least a second home by coming back. That’s why I’m sharing with you this inspirational new ad by DEMCO Properties, now running on CNN; Lebanon is calling. I don’t want to say more, watch the ad yourself below, and pick up the call…