Katie, I think that’s a good theory. I mean, coming out of Beirut’s noisy traffic sometimes makes me want to crawl under a large rock and never hear another sound again. I could see how a woman who seeks the convent, and a sort of cloistered life to begin with, would go all the way in today’s zippy world.

I’m assuming you’re talking about the two young girls pic? I walked past the classroom and they were singing. So I snapped a pic of them. Afterward, they smiled curiously and we exchanged a “secret” moment. They’re super duper cute. And their uniforms remind me of my old grade school uniform :)

PS your writing is amazing!!

I have to say though my one and only interaction with a nun was here in Lebanon a ‘couple’ of years ago, during my first year in college. And it shattered the image I’ve had of nuns prior to meeting this one!

I was at Azarieh looking for a place to stay in the dorms (I was told the rooms there are very affordable). When I walked in, the nun in charge looked me up and down, asked me what I wanted, and after hearing my case, told me that rooms were only available to students. This was followed by a (saintly?) smirk and her best impression of ignoring me until I left. If she bothered to ask, she would have been pleasantly surprised to find out that I am indeed a student. But I guess even women married to religion can have their prejudices :)