Lebanon vs New York

Introduction:

Lebanon is where  I  have lived my entire life, where my parents were born and raised, where my grandparents were raised and where I wish to raise my children in the future. Lebanon is a Western Asian country and though it is really small and can barely be spotted on the world map, it has been through many historical events which have embedded its importance world wide and it carries a great culture which helps it move forward.

This picture was taken in Zahle 

On the other hand, New York is the most populous city in the United States, and one of the cities that I admire. My aunt and her family have moved there and I have visited them during the summer. I simply fell in love with every piece of it.

The difference between Lebanon and New York is huge and evident starting from the simplest to larger domains that represent each, such as their cuisines, weather and historical places.

Cuisines 

In Lebanon:

Falafel: 

Shawarma:

Tabbouleh:

In addition to others such as: Hummus, Kabab and Kibbeh. Also, the Lebanese cuisine embraces international cuisines  such as sushi that originated from Japan, burgers that originated from Germany, and Indian food.

In New York:

We know we can't leave New York without trying...

Bagels:                                                                         

Chicken and Waffles:

 Fast travel, international media, and the Internet have made it easy for us to communicate with people all over the world and be aware and open to other cultures which has enhanced intercultural communication. Thus, many Lebanese restaurants have reached New York and vise versa. In addition to the common food between the two, such as Burgers which is a main meal which is highly demanded in Lebanon and New York.

Weather

In Lebanon:

The climate in Lebanon is known to be a mild Mediterranean weather characterized by rainy winters and by dry, long and hot summers.

In New York:

New York City features a humid subtropical climate where it enjoys warm summers and its winters are usually cold and snowy. 

Historical Sites

Every country or city has sites that are unique, and that represent it world wide.

In Lebanon, we have:

• Baalbek:

Baalbek, Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure, can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world. The largest and most noble Roman temples ever built, they are also among the best preserved.

• Byblos:

Byblos was the first city built by the Phoenicians.

• Jeita Grotto:

The longest cave in the Middle East, and is considered the pride of Lebanon and is featured in the New 7 Wonders Of Nature Competition.

In New York:

• Empire State Building:

• Statue of Liberty:

• Central Park:

Truth is, though Lebanon and New York are very distant the spreading of globalization which is the increased interaction between people across countries enhances openness towards other cultures. Also, the ease of immigration and travelling nowadays has allowed people who move outside to start a new life around people of a different mentality and culture which they adapt to and at the same time they carry with them their culture and traditions. For example, through opening restaurants that serve food of their hometown or merchants and international companies that interact across diverse countries to promote unalike goods. We as Arabs have adopted many Western norms and values through the development of the intercultural communication and as technology improves so does the collaboration of countries.