So, how long have you been living here?
About six months now.
Why did you choose Beirut?
Because, Mike-my husband-and I have always loved Arab culture and the language. Mike's an English teacher and he got a job here in a language school.
Why did you want to take a year off?
Basically I wanted a break from teaching. I love teaching children but I needed a change. Also I've been drawing and painting since I was little but I've never really had the chance to study drawing. So this seemed like the perfect opportunity to have a change and learn to draw properly.
Well, I found a fantastic art teacher, called Omayma, and I've been having classes with her since October. She's great and she speaks English, which is lucky, because I don't know much Arabic yet. But I'm learning the language as quickly as I can.
Is Arabic a difficult language to learn?