When you are home
It never ceases to amaze me. The way my body reacts as soon as the plane lands in Shiraz, Iran. There is so much about this uncomfortable land that makes it oddly comfortable, even to an Iranian – American born and raised in the US. Twenty years since my last visit and you get off that plane and its home. Your heart is racing, the excitement and the nerves steady you after a 24 – hour journey. The smell, the sounds, the family. No matter how long you are away, Iran draws you in like an addiction.
One of the best parts of the international flight into Shiraz is the time you land. It doesn’t matter that you have a 3 am arrival time, your entire family is there waiting. Anticipating the first looks from behind the glass, waiving their bouquets of flowers and wiping away the happy tears from all the time that passed. Early morning arrival makes it a tradition to stop for breakfast on the way home. Usually, it’s Ash Reshteh (here’s one of my favorite recipes https://www.unicornsinthekitchen.com/ash-reshteh-persian-noodle-soup/) from your go-to stand; one person stops while the rest of the family heads to the house. It’s common for 20+ people to have breakfast together to welcome you home, even at 3 am.
What is it about Iran that makes it so special? Why after all these years of living in the US do I crave my homeland? After many visits over the last few years, it’s simple Iran is full of life. The streets are packed with generations fighting to be uniquely different amongst generations hanging on to centuries of traditions. It’s the perfect mix of young and old, white and black, loud and silent. Cars are lined along the street either parallel parked, two or three lanes deep or stuck in traffic. It seems that people simply never stop or sleep, there is too much life to live. Not in the same way we are used to. Their days aren’t crammed with meetings and appointments or a long list of to – do’s. Their days are filled with family, friends, and the simply joys of life. It’s not complicated and everything doesn’t have to be so serious. It’s common to run 45 minutes late somewhere and no one cares. It’s common to have dinner at 1 am and it’s not strange to bring your 2-year-old. It’s common to take all afternoon to buy fruit from the fruit stand and to stop at 2 -3 other places for your favorite ingredients. Life isn’t rushed, it’s savored. Persians are full of emotion, passion, and excitement. We love hard and it’s a blessing and a curse. It’s one of the greatest attributes that connects our culture. Everything is over the top and meant to be discussed, good or bad. In a part of the world where it’s easy to get stuck in the staleness of day-to-day life, I can tell you firsthand that emotional energy feeds your soul for months. My hope is that I’m able to share some of the beautiful aspects of Persian culture through the lens of a proud Iranian – American and with the optimism that maybe one day you will personally experience that beauty.
