Lebannon
ARTICLE BY GDoc
My second story
After I finished watching the World Cup’s Portugal vs Germany on the eighth of July 2006, we received news about Lebanon saying that Israel is planning an invasion of Lebanon and that they have stricken many infrastructure sites. So, my wife called her family and her mom told her that her brother wasn’t doing well at all and that he’s behaving erratically. He was an ardent Brazil fan but did not watch any game of the world cup which was very surprising. At three in the morning of the ninth of July 2006 we received a call from my sister-in-law tolling us that her brother committed suicide using his father’s gun in his parents’ bedroom. My wife screamed so loudly and told me what happened to which I replied go back to sleep you are exaggerating. She said I swear that is what happened, and it took me few moments to absorb the shock. My wife was pregnant in her fifth month with our second baby. She said I want to go to the funeral to which I replied Israel waged a war on Lebanon it is dangerous. She said I will go by myself, and I said no way I will go with you. So, buying a ticket was not a big issue since credit cards can be used. However, we needed cash and no banks at the time will give you $5000.00 or be opened before 9:00 as our flight was at 9:00. I called a friend that I knew he always stashed cash on him. He came early on Monday and handed me $7000.00 in case I need more money for the funeral and other arrangements.
We were supposed to arrive in Beirut International. However, Israel bombed the airport, so we were stuck in Bahrain because that was the transit flight. We missed the funeral because they told us the only way to go Lebanon is to fly to Damascus and take a cab to Lebanon. We watched in the news that a lot of people are leaving Lebanon in the thousands and that Israel may bomb the border checkpoint between Lebanon and Syria. We were advised not to go but my wife insisted. We got a flight to go to Damascus finally, but we stayed in Bahrain’s Manama airport for 26 hours sitting on seats and on the floor. Mind you my wife was pregnant, and Dahlia was two years old. Sadness, shock, lack of sleep was unbearable. We finally managed to get on the plane. When we got to Damascus, my wife was a bit relieved that she will finally join her grieving parents and sister. To our amazement my daughter and I needed a visa to be in Syria being US citizens. I thankfully carried my Lebanese passport, so they stamped it but refused to let Dahlia in. The officer said go back to DC and apply for a visa at the Syrian Embassy. I started to panic and almost lost my nerves, but my wife called me and said listen let me find a high-ranking officer and slip him money. So, she was right, and his asking was for $200.00. We slipped him the money in the passport, and he walked personally with us to the Officer at the Immigration window. He yelled at him and told him how dare you do that to these grieving people. Then he told the captain don’t worry they have money they will take care of you. My wife told the high-ranking officer you said that will be enough for both of you but he said NO. So, he kept our passports until we slipped him $100.00 dollars.
Finally, we exited the airport and wanted to find a brave cab driver that will take us to Lebanon. The cab driver promised to take us to the Lebanese side of the borders, so we accepted. So, we got to the Syrian checkpoint. The officer took the passports and vanished. I was very anxious and kept asking about him. He then sent another officer saying that Dahlia can’t leave because she needs a Visa. I said she has one we just got it stamped at your airport, but he said it needed to be stamped by the Syrian Embassy in D.C. I said I am going to call the US embassy and the officer said and it will take forever for your daughter’s passport to be given back because we have strained diplomatic relations with the US. There was a cab driver listening to the conversation and told me can I talk to you on the side. He told me listen slip him a $100.00 and he will gladly give you back the passport. Surely, when he got out I did so, and he gave me back the passport and offered me coffee which of course I refused. The cab driver that promised us to take us to the Lebanese checkpoint vanished as the Israeli bombing intensified. Did I mention that I was teaching three classes back at the US? The cab driver that told me to slip the $100.00 said I will take you to the Lebanese border but it’s gonna cost you a lot of money. So, we paid him $100.00, and the usual fee was $20.00. Finally, we arrived at the Lebanese checkpoint. RELIEF. Not really. The Immigration officer asked for extra money bc Dahlia doesn’t carry a Lebanese ID and she needs a Visa. I told the officer this is how you treat your own people to which he answered I bet you paid the Syrian officers so why would not you pay us we are your people. That cost us another $200.00.
We managed to find a cab driver that was willing to take us to the in-law’s house. In the middle of the way he stopped and said get down. He said can’t you hear the explosions and we said yes just keep going. I told him I will double your fee if you take us. He said OK but it is gonna be a longer trip since I will try to avoid the places the Israelis are bombing. To our surprise he took the wrong turn and we ended up in the crossfires. Dahlia was crying hysterically, and the cab driver wanted to get out of the car and run. I yelled at him and told just duck and wait until things subsided. We saw few corpses and Dahlia’s eyes were covered by her mom’s hands. Things subsided a bit and we managed to keep going. The cab driver threw our bags and hauled ass so quickly. We arrived Wednesday and I can’t explain to you how somber and sad the situation was. The war has escalated tremendously, and I told my wife I have to go back to my job. My Department Head at the time didn’t even know that I left the country. I managed to go to an Internet Café to check my emails and grade few assignments. On Sunday I was advised by many people to leave now as the Syrian Lebanese border will eventually close. There was a huge problem finding a cab driver to take me to the border. We managed to find an ex-militia man that was courageous enough to do so. He asked for $300.00, and the usual trip would cost $50.00. I said let’s go. When we got close to the border the Lebanese army told us to go back as it was very unsafe. They said the militias fighting against the invasion are in great numbers and that’s what the Israeli air force and army are targeting. I begged them to let me leave and then they said it’s at your own risk. The driver said let’s go back man. I said I will give you an extra $100.00 just please take me to the borders. Again, the bombing was very intense, and explosions were very close to us. The driver when he arrived back safely told my father-in-law that your son in law is a brave man. I finally made it to Damascus Airport. There so many Lebanese trying to go back to the US, UK, Australia, Canada, etc.. I could not even get to a terminal. I was advised to check in a hotel and find a travel agency in Damascus to get me out of there. On Sunday no agencies are opened. I went on Monday and finally I found a travel agency. My original ticked was cancelled and I had to buy a new ticket and had to give the lady a $100.00 to get it for me ASAP. Finally, Wednesday came and off to the Airport again. Because it was so congested at the airport, I missed my flight again. So, there was another flight in eight hours, and I took that one without leaving the airport. Got to Bahrain and was kind of relieved. To my surprise the flight to Frankfurt, Germany was overbooked, and I was kicked off. I stayed almost 22 hours at the airport to get to Germany.
The layover in Germany would be eight hours but it felt like eternity. I checked my luggage in Bahrain all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. To my surprise I was called by the German Police to identify my luggage from the belly of the plane. Of course, most of the travelers on my plane saw me. They took all the passengers’ luggage out and asked me and another Iranian female to identify our bags. Luckily for me I found one. They escorted her away because none of her bags were found. I told the Policeman look I have a connecting flight that I may miss. He said no problem find your second bag first. An hour passed and they told me that they found the other bag. I asked what is going on and they said your original destination was Syria and it is a war zone we want to make sure that the passengers on your plane are safe. They asked me to open each bag and I compelled. One of the Policemen then asked me why you do have so many shoes. Remember few months before there was a shoe bomber. He asked me to turn them and stupid me said it’s not like there is a bomb in here. Suddenly, German Shepherds appeared to sniff my bags and five more Policemen were standing by me. I then said I want to call the US embassy and only then they started being nice to me. They finally let me go after three hours of grounding our plane. I went back to the plane and almost every single passenger cussed me out “Mo fo, AH, S.O.B.” I heard it all because they all missed their connection flights.
I slept the whole way to Chicago and did not even eat a meal. When I finally got home, I couldn’t get in touch with my wife as the bombing was completely out of control and telecommunication was very bad. I was devastated and haven’t heard from them for days. A truce was finally made for 48 hours, and I managed to talk to my wife and Dahlia. I advised them to leave for Syria and they did. That trip gave me nightmares for years. My wife lost 30 pounds and when she got back to the States her gynecologist could not believe that the baby was still alive. My mother-in-law kept her until October and that drove me insane. I am so lucky to be in the US and have my kids be born here. The US has given me a stable life, a job and peace.
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