Learn Arabic as it is really spoken. Listen to and read Levantine Colloquial Arabic.

Romy tells us about an afternoon in a village with Feyrouz and a missing sheep.

صيفية الماضي ، كنت عم بتمشى بضيعة، اسمها انان. هي بجنوب لبنان. معروفة ببحيرتها الحلوة. صراحة بحب مضي عطلة اخر الاسبوع بالضيعة مع عائلتي، لأنه مطرح رايء. فجأة، شفت قطيع معزي و خواريف، كانوا عم يرعوا و معن راعي و كلب كتير مجوي، قربت منن و سلمت على الراعي و سألني:” في خروف ضايع ، شفتي؟” قلت له:”لا بس اذا شفتوا دغري بقلك.” و كفيت تمشايتي. كانت الشمس شارقة بس الطقس كان حلو و الطبيعة بعد على احلى! و تسمعت على صوت تغريد العصافير و شفت الفراشات كيف عم تتنقل بنعومي . عنجد الطبيعة بالضيع اللبنانية كتير حلوي. برمت نص الضيعة و ما شفت الخروف. بعد شوي، بشوف عجقة إدام الدِكان. بقرب منن و بشوف خروف عم يأكل خس و ملفوف. كان شيء كتير بضحك. الكل كان عم يضحك و يأخد صور عنه. من بعدها الراعي اجا و صرخ:”هي هون!” بعدين، رحت مع رفيقتي على البحيرة، و تسمعنا على اغاني الفنانة فيروز. بلبنان و بكتير بلدان، الفنانة فيروز كتير محبوبة، لأنها مرأة موهوبة و صوته رائع. حد البركة، في فرن ببيع مناقيش،رحنا و جبنا اثنين، و كانوا كتير طيبين. و اكيد اخدنا صور عن البحيرة و نزلناهن سنابشات! بعد ساعتين، رحت علبيت و تغديت مع اهلي، و اخر النهار رجعت عالمدينة.

Last summer, I was walking in a village called Anane. It’s in the south of Lebanon. It’s known for its beautiful lake. Really, I love spending my weekends in the countryside with my family, because it’s a calm place. Suddenly, I saw a flock of goats and sheep that were grazing. A shepherd and a very dirty dog were with them. I got closer to them. I saluted the shepherd and he asked me, “I’ve lost a sheep. Have you seen it?” I said, “No, but if i see it, I will let you know right away.” I continued my walk. The sun was shining, but the weather was beautiful, and the nature even more beautiful. I listened to the sound of the tweeting of the birds, and I saw how butterflies were moving with softness. Nature in the Lebanese countryside is really beautiful. I did the tour of half of the village, and I didn’t see the sheep. A while later, I saw people in front of the shop. I got closer and saw the sheep eating lettuce and cabbage. It was really funny. Everyone was laughing and taking pics of it. Then the shepherd came and shouted, “Here he is!” Then I went with my friend to the lake and we listened to the artist Feyrouz’s songs. In Lebanon and in many countries, the artist Feyrouz is really loved because she is a talented woman and her voice is awesome. Near the lake, there is a bakery that sells “Manakich”, we went and got two, it was really delicious . And of course we took pics of the lake and posted them on Snapchat! After two hours, I went home and ate with my parents, and at the end of the day I went back to the city.

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