Adopt a Cedar: the story of a stubborn Lebanese who cherishes her country all the way from South Australia to the tip top of the Barouk Mountain

Hello, I thought I'd share this with you. I live in Adelaide, Australia and my father-in-law is turning 60 on the 4th of June. He has everything that money can and cannot buy, so I had to get very creative in finding a suitable present. We thought very hard, and we went through the cufflinks, the wallets, the Cartier pens and I even found out that my sister-in-law had bought him "flying lessons"! Try and top that one! 

Well, I know he loves Lebanon and everything Lebanese and his dream has always been to live in Lebanon again one day. I suddenly remembered a show that I had seen on LBC (through satellite) where they were giving out to their guests as a present, a cedar tree placed in their name in the Jabal el Barouk. I thought if I can do that for my father-in-law, it would be the perfect present. It's something that is psychologically "healing" for someone his age who is frustrated about not being in Lebanon. It is something that he cannot lose, and doesn't get out of fashion. It is something that would put some part of him back in Lebanon, among the cedars, the very symbol of the country itself. The more I thought about it the more I got excited and convinced that I couldn't find a better present than this one. 

So I went online and searched and searched but all I could come up with was an offer from bank Byblos to people opening an account and depositing $10,000 US, that they would plant a cedar in that person's name. That wasn't good enough, I needed to find the source. I got on the phone to my mother in Lebanon who herself got onto her own connections. She couldn't get very far. No one had any idea what she was talking about. The most help she could find was a suggestion by a person she rang that maybe I should just open an account in bank Byblos and deposit the 10 grand! I had to laugh. But the best thing she did was ring my uncle who worked in a government department. He got me onto this website that had every phone number in the Lebanese government. But it was Friday and most of the government offices were closed. I waited till the next day and started ringing the ministries. 

I called the ministry of Agriculture. A woman answered the phone as if she had just woken up and was answering from home. "Allou". I introduced myself and said that I was calling from Adelaide, Australia and would like her help in the cedar matter which I explained elaborately. She paused and said "la7za", placed me on hold and the phone was picked up by another "Allou" this time a man. So I introduced myself. "Ahla" he replied. I stated my issue again and he paused and transferred me to another person. I forgot how many times I repeated the whole story to a different person all over again until the idea was starting to sound really silly to me, but then someone in that ministry finally had the mercy to tell me that it's the ministry of Environment that I should be talking to. And no, he can't give me their number. 

So I rang the Ministry of Environment and was greeted in an equally unenthusiastic way. This time I was answered by someone who sounded like they were eating a "man2oushe". "Maba3ref" seemed to be a word that I was hearing too often, and "sorry madame" was another one. But then I was told to wait again and was put through to someone called George. From the way he answered his phone I felt that I finally got somewhere. He knew what I was talking about! And yes he can help. He emailed me the contact details of an organisation called "adopt a cedar". I rang the contact person and he sounded like someone who was digging and planting trees. His voice was loud and he was very welcoming. He was all "tikram 3aynik" and "w'ala y himmik" and he said that to adopt a cedar it would cost $100 US but for me because I was abroad it would cost...$150! I was still happy though. He said that once we pay, a plaque will be made in my father-in-law's name and will be placed under the tree. Also, a certificate verifying the whole matter will be issued in his name. Mom will have to send that to me by DHL.. I feel a great sense of achievement. I literally, dug deep enough, and I found some answers. I love Lebanon!