After three years, finally, I could make it. Every morning, I wake up with this thought; To see my country again, to hug tightly my family members and relatives, walking in Iran, eating Iranian traditional ice cream, kebabs , breads, visiting the places that I had been before; the university, the streets, the cinemas, to see how they have changed. Now, that time has arrived and I am eagerly packing my bags but, I feel so strange. I am supposed to be more relaxed but, I neither can eat nor sleep. I am not focused at all. I like to recline somewhere and only dream about my trip. I wish these last hours would pass as fast as the speed of light. However, the thought of visiting Iran sends huge flow of blood into my mind pushing me to collect my stuffs as quickly as I can.When the universe has helped me to go back home, I do not want to leave my second home, Canada! I feel I am standing in the middle of a suspension bridge not knowing what I really desire. Now, I am missing Canada so much as if I won’t see my amazing friends and my home any more. This feeling became much stronger when a friend of mine said: “We will be waiting for you to get together again. Go and come back soon.” By these polarized feelings, I lastly decided to pack all my stuffs and get ready to go to Iran.At Toronto’s AirportThe flight is at 10:30 at night so I will be at the airport two hours in advance. Everything went smoothly at the airport. And, we managed to get board on time.On the planeIt is 10:30 when I always go to bed but, now I can’t sleep at all. Sweet dreams are flooding to my mind. I imagine what will happen when I see my parents and my brother again. When should I see my cousins? Where can we go? I was drowning into my thoughts that the flight hostess asked me what I would like to eat. I can hardly eat! However, the food package was so tempting that I accepted it thinking that the inside is so yummy too. I put them on the table in front of me and again got back to my sweet dreams.The same middle-aged blond flight attendant came once again asking this time about what I would like to drink. This question sounds like tough to me! Even drinking water is so difficult. I can’t even swallow water! All my throat muscles are numb and can rarely move. I ignored to have a glass of water. But, the flight hostess in the light blue suit with red scarf, insisted: “You will have a terrible headache, so drink this glass of water, please.”Again, I put it on the table calculating how many hours we should spend on the plane. By remembering what the pilot said, I laughed over and over: “Let’s fasten the seatbelts, otherwise, I will be mad at you guys and have to go to the hotel and we won’tttt fly! Reeeady?”So, I spent these five hours on listening to the musics, counting how many passengers are walking on the plane and how many are at sleep, laughing with the pilot about his funny announcements and finally, watching our route to Iran on the plane’s TV screen. Only one hour has left. And, these last moments are moving as slowly as a turtle. By entering to Iran’s border, my heart was beating as fast as a sparrow’s heart wishing the plane could go faster and faster. By taking a deep breath, I want to put Iran to my body. Now, we are in the north western part of Iran, Orumieyh. Next is Rasht. We are heading to Tehran, the capital of Iran. After one hour, we reached over Tehran. My heart is running this time. I can breathe with difficulty due to the excitement of seeing my family members. I feel the pressure of two strong big hands around my neck squeezing it. I need more oxygen. Through windows, sleepless Tehran was glowing at midnight. I could clearly see the movements of vehicles in that time which flood happy tears into my eyes.“Thanks a million time! God! Once again, I could visit my homeland! Thanks God! And, I am so sorry that I said this city is so polluted and populous. I took it back.”
This is Tehran from above taken by my lovely friend, SoniyaAt Tehran’s AirportThe wheels of the plane touched the ground like a mother who cuddles a baby. All praised the pilot’s landing skill. As soon as doors were opened, I jumped out and walked so fast. Terrible odour of pollution teases my nose. In addition to that, I do not know why I lost my patience in these last moments as if my feet are on the fire and I must jump every second. “Be calm, why are you in hurry?” said to myself.A formal army band welcomed us at the airport since teenager Taekwondo sport team achieved silver medal in Mexico’s competition and they were on our plane. So, the band is playing some famous Iranian songs. A deep breathe again...Despite not having enough sleep, I am so relaxed and even heavy traffic in transit area was not able to break my internal calmness as if I am walking along the beach and enjoying the view and the sound of the waves.I passed the custom easily and reached the baggage claiming area looking for my bags. I found one of them and put it on the card. I looked through the glassy window if I can see my parents and my brother. With a blink of an eye, I found them. “Ohhhhhhhh, heyyyyyyy! “, I cried out so loudly and hastily, I jumped to grab my bag.A short medium-height lady pointed to my red bag and said: “This is mine.”-“No, ma’am. This is mine. You should look at the baggage claiming area not at my card!”-“No, mine is red too. I am so sure this is mine.”, she insisted.-“Ma’am, I checked the barcode with my tag on the bag. Do you have your barcode?!”-“Ohhh, I am so sorry. I don’t“Shortly afterward, a long line for inspecting bags stopped proceeding again. “Oh, Godddddd!” I skilfully joined the winding line and passed the inspection area. In the end, after 30 minutes, we could manage to go out.
First day of arrival, I took this photo of downtown Tehran.The sweet moment I dreamed of beforeA week ago, my mother told me on the phone she bought all the ingredients for making my favourite dishes, deserts and jams. My father lost his patience and called me constantly to be sure if I packed my bags or not. He was filled with bliss as if he was drunk. My brother prepared Iranian movies and songs in order to watch and listen together. I hugged my parents and brother so tightly trying even the air cannot separate us. I didn’t want to lose them again. My parents had lost a lot of weight along with the deep wrinkles on their face. This put me into a deep sorrow but, I could see the sparkle of sheer delight through their eyes. My brother became taller and got his driving license. So, he gave us a drive to home. Home sweet home!
This is so true and true happiness comes from withing as you said and no treasures or pleasures can compensate it...Thank you so much for reading the diary...my pleasure!
Dear Nafis,
When I read your diary I was thinking"OMG the same thoughts and the same feelings that I usually had when I use to fly to my daughter" and I made a conclusion for me "these feelings come to us when we are going to met our lovely ones",you know what I mean.The life is empty and nothing without our loved ones even if we have all the treasures and pleasures of this world...For me the Family is above of everything!!!!
Thanks a lot for this wonderful diary.
BTW:I think you wrote this diary instead of me:-)
Cheers,
Ruzan
Really? If so, I am so glad. Yes, thanks to God that I could find a chance to come to visit my country again. And, also come back to Canada safely. I am so glad you liked the diary.
Full of deep emotions ....You described your moments so skillfully ...I could imagine you as I was going through your blog !
Well-done ...
It was so touching and interesting to read!
Thanks for sharing your diary with us ...
& happy to know that you could visit your lovely family and home...
Have a great time
:)
Where do you want to go? But, wherever it is, it's a good journey because it teaches us a lot of lessons. It is great so I hope you be successful wherever you are!
Comments
This is so true and true happiness comes from withing as you said and no treasures or pleasures can compensate it...Thank you so much for reading the diary...my pleasure!
When I read your diary I was thinking"OMG the same thoughts and the same feelings that I usually had when I use to fly to my daughter" and I made a conclusion for me "these feelings come to us when we are going to met our lovely ones",you know what I mean.The life is empty and nothing without our loved ones even if we have all the treasures and pleasures of this world...For me the Family is above of everything!!!!
Thanks a lot for this wonderful diary.
BTW:I think you wrote this diary instead of me:-)
Cheers,
Ruzan
Really? If so, I am so glad. Yes, thanks to God that I could find a chance to come to visit my country again. And, also come back to Canada safely. I am so glad you liked the diary.
Love,
Nafis
Well-done ...
It was so touching and interesting to read!
Thanks for sharing your diary with us ...
& happy to know that you could visit your lovely family and home...
Have a great time
:)
Where do you want to go? But, wherever it is, it's a good journey because it teaches us a lot of lessons. It is great so I hope you be successful wherever you are!
Take great care,
Thank you very much for reading my story. Distance is one of the comelling reasons to go ahead in the new environment.
Grazie mille,
have a lovely time,