I grew up in the 80s and 90s in Iran. My parents’ travel methods were basically focused on road trips because they wanted my brother and I to see and feel our diverse country and culture in a tangible way. So instead of flying to our destination we drove there. We would swivel around in …
I remember how hypnotizing it was as a child looking at my father’s pen scribbling on paper. He is among the last generation of writers who still use a pen on a sheet of paper. “Typing is soulless,” he says. Writing for him is a process of thinking, planning and creating, which all happen at …
Ever since I can remember my mother has loved growing plants and so there has been always two or three large ones like Norfolk pine and ponytail palm in the corners of the living room and some small ones like geraniums on the windowsills. Everything matched together — our small apartment, the furniture and the …
How my mother filled her empty nest with African violets Read More »
Dec. 10 marks Human Rights Day, an opportunity for the world to celebrate global progress toward human dignity and also to recognize how far we have to go to achieve what we deserve. As this day approached this question began to beset me more than any other time: What is my responsibility as an ordinary …
On Human Rights Day, let’s stand up for our rights and for those of others Read More »
Last winter, I took a drawing class in an art gallery. The first day of class everyone introduced themselves and talked about their favourite artists and why they took the class. But when my turn came, I felt uneasy. The first thing I said after my name was, “I am an immigrant.” It was a …