His life as an adult has challenged him four times over. Born and raised in Amman, where life was not nearly as complicated as it is today. Everybody came from the same culture and spoke the same language. His values came from his family, his house, and his tribe. He grew up not thinking as an individual but as part of a collective.

She fell in love and got married against her parents’ will. He wasn’t Lebanese. Foreigners divorce quickly, her parents thought. They resisted but eventually accepted. He was 27, and she was 21. Foolishly in love, they married to be with each other. Five years later, they had their first child, Jazz, and Sky came 3 years later.

Teaching is something she might like. If so, she would prefer teaching to an older student audience. At the university level, it would be perfect. Her personality isn’t right for disciplining — sit, stand up, and go out.

“Look, look!” The loudness from the dozens of people on the boat was suddenly interrupted. They look up to see a man waving the Lebanese flag across a bridge on the river in Melbourne. As they cruise closer, he shouts, “We love you, Anthony. Say hello to Lebanon.

She wants to become an actress because she likes to make people laugh. She would also love to become an interior designer. She thinks she won’t be good at it because geometry is challenging. She knows when something is isosceles, though. Everyone has their own taste, and she likes showing her taste.

His hard, strong face does not invite you at first. You would think he’s intentionally balancing his wife’s wild and loud side. This South African coconut has the most hardened shell with the sweetest and most tender inside. The Beiruti city boy is essentially a Lebanese strong-handed mountain man.

After two years of biology, she jumped into nursing. Biology as a step to pre-med was not for her. She took the risk and changed, making all the difference. The routine of finishing morning classes and studying from 2 pm until 4 am was not her thing.

It took a few weeks before we started talking. Ziad would sit on one end, and I would be on the other. Whoever shows up earlier on a given morning takes dibs. I’m unsure how we started; I like where we are today. Some souls come in and embrace you. Some stay; some dwindle, leaving smiles behind.

Raising a child was more difficult than Corinne imagined. Especially the way she goes about it and how involved she gets. She started working right after college. Then, she decided to become a full-time mom as soon as she got pregnant and for the first three years of her daughter’s life.

From where I was sitting, I saw this person immersed and taking notes on his iPad, highlighting in yellow and underlining. I’ve been eyeing the iPad for a while, deciding whether to get one. I ask: “Is this the 11” or 12.9"?” He looks up, takes a second, and puts on the biggest smile. I recognized him.

She’d walk in, order her coffee, head to her usual seat, open her choice of the book of the week, and read away. Two to three hours later, she’s still at it. Earbuds in. Sometimes not. She comes across as fresh, quiet, introverted, and a deep thinker.

Being a regular customer at Starbucks for the past few months gave me an interesting perspective on the human dynamics of this one store on the foothills of the Lebanese mountains. It’s become my go-to place: a place to work, socialize, network, and conduct business.