I called my mom in Iran to give her the good news. “Mom, I’m coming home for Nowruz for 10 days. She said, Besalamati (in good health) enshallah (Allah willing) khoshhalam kardi (you made me very happy) But what about your family, your husband and your boys? ?Mom they will be fine. It’s only for 10 days. She said, ?I know, it will be over soon. Like last year that you came. It was too short only for 10 days, it felt like a dream.”
I came to US at the tender age of 18 like many other Iranians to study at university and go back home. As a young person it was very fascinating for me to meet other young people like myself from all over the world and see how much we were alike despite our differences. I felt I can be true to myself and appreciate the diversity around me. It was the celebration of our differences, which was an awakening experience for me and nurtured my interest in cultural studies.
I became very interested in learning more about Iranian culture after I got married and had my two boys. This new-found interest turned into a real passion which has kept growing into my academic interest.
And now my journeys to Iran have made me feel more at home.
I arrived at Imam Khomeini International airport around 2:00 AM a few days before Chaharshanbehsouri. My sightseeing itinerary included: Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. I was ecstatic to go to Shiraz and visit the ruined palaces of the Achaemenid Empire.
We took an early morning flight from Tehran to Shiraz. I was accompanied by my sister and my niece. As soon as we were on-board, the flight attendant announced the name of the captain: Mrs. Shams. A female captain (Khanoom Khalaban)? We were all very pleasantly surprised! My niece suggested that I take a picture with her at the end of our flight. Good idea, I thought. The prospect of showing the picture to my students was a cultural education in of itself. I recalled my students’ perplexed reactions when they saw women driving in Iranian films. “Do women drive in Iran?” They asked.
We took a taxi from Shiraz airport to our hotel, Homa Hotel. The cab driver greeted us with the famous Shirazi hospitality. ?Ghadametoon sabz. Baroon Avordin Ba khodetoon.” Your steps are green. You brought rain. Shiraz like the rest of Iran has been dealing with drought in the last few years. When my sister told him she lives in Isfahan, the driver praised all the new modern buildings in Isfahan and added, ?We Shirazis like to take it easy. That’s why we have the poets and gardens here. The tall buildings will come. We’re in no hurry.” He organized our sightseeing schedule with my sister starting in the afternoon for the next two days. He dropped us off at our hotel to freshen up and get ready for our afternoon tour into the center of the Achaemenids. We were greeted by the hotel manager and his team. They brought us freshly baked bread noon (bread) Taftoon with yogurt and sesame seeds as ingredients, Shirazi style. Umm yummy! (Kheili khoshmazeh)
Day 1
Our first stop was Pasargadae, the capital city of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great, the founder of the empire. (580- 530 BC)
The tomb of Cyrus the Great, resting on high platform is the main point of attraction in Pasargadae.
Although the palace is in ruins, we can envision its past glory. An amazing feeling of being connected to the past!
Finally my dream of taking a picture in front of Cyrus’s tomb is coming true!
Persepolis (Takt-e Jamshid, the mythological king in Shahnameh, the Iranian epic) The entrance into Persepolis reminded me of Disneyland. It is surrounded by tall trees with beautiful landscaping, gift shops, and restaurants. But as you set foot in the monuments, you’re reminded by signs and guards on duty not to touch the tiniest gravels. You realize you’re standing inside a very sacred place. At this moment so many storybooks pop up in the head as one starts ascending into the main platform through the double stairways to Apadana, the main audience hall.
Lion devouring the bull symbolizing the arrival of spring, the Persian New Year.
Day 2
Hafez Mausoleum–
Restaurant at Tomb of Hafez
Eram garden- In Shiraz built during the Ilkhanid dynasty in the 13th century.
Bazaar Vakil– Shiraz
Isfahan
My sister’s Haftseen – The arrival of spring, Nowruz, new day.
Khajoo Bridge, Isfahan, a marvel in bridge engineering built by Shah Abbas the Great, Safavid in 17th century.
Tehran
I returned to Tehran one day before my departure. My brother scheduled the itinerary for the day: Milad Tower in the morning, lunch, Ab & Atash (Water & Fire Park), Tabiat, pedestrian bridge, and Taleghani Park in the afternoon.
I left Iran the next day. The trip feels like a dream in some ways while the reality of my family’s love, the people’s hospitality, even the merchants’ ta’arof, ghabeli nadareh ( it’s not worthy ) made me feel at home.