Talking about migrant workers; last Saturday I had to escort the teenager in my house to a shoe store in Verdun. Nothing bores me more than buying shoes with a boy.
Now I could send him off with a pack of dollars and hope for the best, but I am stingy and would like to have some hand in the financial choices he makes related to his shoes.
I no longer question the size and taste (you see, I have evolved), but would still like to influence the price he pays. Or actually, the price I pay, since he’s not making his own money (and may not make his own for many years to come. Sigh).
And so while he was out shopping, I hung around and enjoyed a match of cricket! Cricket? Yes, cricket. The Lebanese are a soccer minded nation. There’s some basketball in there too, but that’s it.
Yet the migrant community comes from a part of the world strongly influenced by the British, and so the Pakistanis, the Indians, the Sri Lankees and the Bangladesdeshis (I think the spelling may be wrong here) prefer cricket over soccer.
And right in the middle of Verdun, on this large empty lot, two games were going on. Soccer on the left, with a group of Lebanese, and cricket on the right, with the male migrant population. It was quite enjoyable to watch.
7 comments:
I tried watching a couple of games when I lived in England, but failed to fully understand it :). I did enjoy the greenery and the beer though !
Try to guess how long it would take for the soccer people to come over and ask to join the game, if someone would teach them how to play..
I won't hold my breath for this one.
Now that I've moved to Trinidad, I can appreciate this! Cricket is to Trinidad like soccer is to Lebanon! :D
he'll marry, someday. groet Anne
You know I left Beirut in 1991 and never came back. I guess this is on the land of the former UNURWA depot.
One of my favorites games to watch, great shots.
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