8 ways living in Lebanon changes you forever

Thinking about what it's like to live in Lebanon triggers all sorts of feelings - it's basically a love/hate relationship for most of us. 

The country is a roller-coaster of an experience, during which one can't resist being changed in one way or another. On one hand, you develop some major coping skills - or rather, superpowers - that are truly enviable. On the other, there are some changes you can probably do without.

Punctuality, optimism, minimalism ... these are some concepts that are hard to live by in Lebanon. So, if you are planning to hold onto them, then you're up for a real challenge.

Here are 8 ways living in Lebanon will probably change you:  

Oh, you take pride in being punctual? Well, not for long. 

To many Lebanese, punctuality is a foreign concept that only exists when it comes to scheduled power cuts. From coffee dates to doctors' appointments, people may casually arrive 30+ minutes late ... because "rawa2" and, well, traffic jams. And don't get me started on the weddings that usually begin two hours after they are supposed to. 

So, your punctual instincts will probably fade away the longer you live here, and you will eventually adapt to the Lebanese timing system. 

"I've never heard you cuss before," my teammate said after I spewed a slew of mom-insulting swear words during basketball practice. She was right, I never used to cuss out of anger before. 

So, what changed? I started driving in Lebanon a couple of months ago.

Sometimes it's a driver acting like he's above the law and too "jagal" for common courtesy, other times it's a massive pothole you didn't notice before it was too late, but mostly it's the standstill traffic during rush hour. You just can't help but cuss your lungs out.  

Elissa's famous "3ade" is our go-to reaction to almost anything. 

With the majority of the ruling class sinking us further into debt, and corruption, it really takes a lot for the average Lebanese to be surprised. 

Garbage crisis left unsolved, important issues ridiculed in parliament, taxes shooting up to alarming rates, political scandals, criminals bragging about being untouchable ... We've basically seen it all.

It's hard to satisfy your Arab pride and speak in 100% Arabic dialect in Lebanon. English and French will sneak their way into your vocabulary, and it will become increasingly hard for you to maintain an entire conversation in your mother-tongue. 

You really don't realize how foreign languages have taken their toll on your dialect until you try to communicate with someone who only understands Arabic, and you forget some basic words.  

With the politicians who have been running the country for decades disappointing us time and time again, it's hard to keep our hopes up in Lebanon.   

Living here will teach you to hope for the best and expect the worst. But, on the plus side, you will learn to rise above it all with an impeccable sense of humor.  

An increasing part of the Lebanese society has become overly concerned with physical appearances ...  I mean, why is everyone suddenly a fashionista and/or fitness blogger? 

Our entertainment of choice features shisha cafes and night clubs, so may the force be with all non-smokers/non-drinkers out there!   

"Ma hada merteh" (no one is comfortable) basically summarizes the general state of the Lebanese population. With the social, political and economic problems we have been struggling with for decades, many of us have become inherently angry. It's just hard to keep your cool over here.