December 2003

Many lost their lives from Friday’s massive earthquake in Iran. Innocent people died in the small town of Bam. I was shocked by the terrible news, and yet I could do nothing but pray. They lost their loved-ones, their homes, their children, and their land. They might have been sleeping, or simply having dinner. Then a sudden earthquake teared their whole life, their whole future.
Every night when I go to sleep, I am aware of the roof I’m under, and I know I’m safe. That sense of saftey comes from knowing that my parents are with me, knowing that God is there, and many other reasons. But not everyone has that sense or the safety itself. Maybe there is a way to change that. Maybe some day everyone can feel safe and be safe. We should all help make that change.

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After I finished reading “Yalda” I felt different. It had been a while since the last time I read a book not in English. It was an Iranian story, it was the best book I’ve ever read. It brought me to tears and it made me laugh out loud. It was strong, deep, full of sorrow, full of love, full of energy. I was truly inspired. It took me only a week to read it. It was about 400 pages. I am much faster when I read in English, that’s why this was surprising. It means it was very good. Anyway, I am bringing it up because it was full of meaning. I learned a lot from it. Some things were sad to know, but helpful. I wish they would translate it to English. Everything in it was real. Nothing was a lie, though I believe it was a work of fiction. It wasn’t just a story, it was reality.

Continue reading Yalda

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We drive toward the horizon, calm, yet willing. We are a group of young adults, on our way of becoming important, sophisticated, and brave. We wake up by the sun and go through the day thinking of the future and what will become of us. As we journey on the road, the sun comes out, ready to shine our day. It is not easy to get up every morning, not knowing what will happen in the future, with a wave of uncertainty following us like a shadow. The days are long, yet life is too short. Everyday we make choices about our life and future, and everyday there comes many questions, sometimes with no answers.

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