نباید کم بیاریم

امروز که تقویم خودم رو چک کردم دیدم که روز ۱۳ ژوئن بود که ایران شلوغ شد و به این نتیجه رسیدم که بیشتر از دوماه هستش که هر روز صبح تا شب، روی فیس بوک، بالاترین، هاففینگتن پست، بی‌ بی‌ سی‌ فارسی‌، همش داریم اخبار ایران رو میخونیم. ویدئو‌های وحشتناک میبینیم، جلوی چشممون توی ویدئو جون دادن هم وطن هامون رو میبینیم، کتک زدن میبینیم، تیر اندازی میبینیم، نماز جمعه گوش می‌کنیم، به هر کی‌ میرسیم راجع به این مسائل حرف می‌زنیم، توی تظاهرات‌های این شهر و اون شهر شرکت می‌کنیم، تا صدامون رو برسونیم به گوش مردم دنیا، دست بند سبز دستمون می‌کنیم، برای آمریکائی‌ها و کانادایی‌هایی‌ که کنجکاو هستن تعریف می‌کنیم که چه خبره تو ایران، روی فیس بوک خبر پخش می‌کنیم یا هر چی‌ از ایران برامون از دوستامون میرسه سریع میگذاریم روی فیس بوک، و یه عالمه کار دیگه، که هیچ وقت در این مدت کم همش رو باهم انجام نداده بودیم. انقدر این مدت اتفاق افتاده که کلا یادم رفته بود چند وقته این ماجرا‌ها شروع شده. واقعا نمی‌‌دونم که چطور این همه خبر رو توی این مدت هضم کردم و توی مغزم جا دادم. یه جورایی دیگه دارم کم میارم. از همین هم می‌‌ترسیدم که به یه جایی‌ برسه که کم بیارم چون فکر کنم تا یه اندازه‌ای می‌تونم اخبار جنایت و ظلم نسبت به مردمی که هم زبان و هم فرهنگ من هستن رو تحمل کنم. اما چاره‌ای نیست. باید اخبار رو خوند، پخش کرد، و راجبش همه جا حرف زد. ما که اینور دنیا هستیم و در آزادی کامل زندگی‌ می‌کنیم، هیچ خطری تهدیدمون نمیکنه. خونمون هم رنگین تر از ایرانی‌‌های توی ایران نیست که هر روز جونشن رو میذارن کف دستشون و خودشون رو به خطر میندازن. پس ماهم باید یه کاری بکنیم وگر نه من خودم به شخصه شرمنده میشم و عذاب وجدان میگیرم. پس نباید کم بیاریم. باید همینطور بریم جلو. چون یه کار کوچیک هم کردن، بهتر از هیچ کاری نکردنه. شاید اگر روزی کشور ما هم وارد دنیای آزاد شد توی دلمون بگیم، ما هم کمی‌ در به دست آوردن آزادی برای ایران سهیم بودیم.

Muslims Don't Play music

In the past couple of days I've been working in this elementary school which has lots of Muslim students. In elementary schools here, it is mandatory for the 5th graders to play or at least try to play a music instrument for their weekly music class. Amazingly today I got to learn that in this school there are a couple of Muslim families who would not let their kids attend their mandatory music classes . Apparently, as they have explained it to the school board, playing Western classical music is against Islamic laws!!!!! And please, let's not forget that we live in America where religious beliefs come before everything!As a result, these poor Muslim kids get embarrassed by their classmates every week when it's time to go to music.And apparently, every week there is this conversation in the classroom before the kids head to the music room:-Why aren't X and Y coming with us?And every week their teacher has to explain : -They are Muslim! They don't play music! Please don't ask me the same question next week!!!-What is Muslim?-It is a religion. Ok? Would you please remember it for next time?-Yeah, yeah!!!!!And they head to the music class while their teacher is sure they're going to ask the same question again next week.Can you believe it?

Life: 2 for 1

I think I live in two different worlds at the same time. I'm an Iranian at home and an American outside. For instance, the other day at 7:15 in the morning, I'm in my car parked in front of the elementary school where I work. I'm early so I decide to stay in my car for few more minutes to listen to a new Kiosk song recorded live in San Francisco, featuring with the wonderful, Hamed Nikpay. The lyrics are about Iran's social issues. They are funny and sarcastic, criticizing the way things run in Iran. The song is over and it's time for me to go to work. It's 7:30 now. In about 30 seconds, as soon I get inside the school office, I immediately have to turn into an American teacher, speak English and live up to American high standards and its educational system.It seems like I can never get over it! I'm an immigrant!!!!!

Unwritten Laws

It is funny how much cultures are different. In fact, sometimes they are totally the opposite when it comes to certain ceremonies, like weddings. For instance, if an American man marries an Iranian woman, no one expects to pay for the wedding since in Iran the groom pays for the wedding and in here, the bride does. But if an American woman marries an Iranian man, both sides would like to participate and pay for the wedding since in here it is exactly the opposite.I really don't know who came up with these unwritten laws in the first place!!!!

Iranian Faces

I was looking at some very old pictures that my mom recently brought from Iran. Looking at them brought back a lot of old memories and made me ask questions about so many people that had been in my life before, but I haven't seen them for a very long time due to "immigration". And then I noticed something interesting! I noticed that my parents, my whole family and friends looked really really happy and "hip" in pictures that were taken before the Iranian Revolution, not that I'm pro Shah or anything. But the difference was so obvious I told my mom about it! She looked at them and said: "You're right! We do look happier in those pictures!"It was sad! Very very Sad!!!!

My New Addiction

I'm a big TV watcher and I'm so glad that I found myself a fantastic show to get addicted to: "The Sopranos". I know I discovered how good it is very very late but I'm glad that I finally know what the fuss is about. I can only say that I'm sorry for myself for ignoring people who told me to watch it sooner!I've been watching all the episodes back to back during last week and now I realize that my life gets better when I find myself a perfect work of art that satisfies me completely.Here is the lyrics to its theme song:You woke up this morningGot yourself a gun,Mama always said you'd beThe Chosen One.She said: You're one in a millionYou've got to burn to shine,But you were born under a bad sign,With a blue moon in your eyes.You woke up this morningAll the love has gone,Your Papa never told youAbout right and wrong.But you're looking good, baby,I believe you're feeling fine,(shame about it),Born under a bad signWith a blue moon in your eyes.You woke up this morningThe world turned upside down,Thing's ain't been the sameSince the Blues walked into town.But you're one in a millionYou've got that shotgun shine.Born under a bad sign,With a blue moon in your eyes.When you woke up this morning,When you woke up this morning,When you woke up this morning,You got yourself a gun.

Kiosk Live in Toronto

I've been meaning to write about Kiosk's concert in Toronto on September 8 since I came back home last Sunday. But first I needed time to digest and take in everything that happened there. During the concert the excitement and energy was so high I had tears in my eyes almost the whole time .I was in charge of selling CDs , standing behind a table by the door. Luckily the table was inside the Opera House so I was able to hear and see the concert from a distance. When the band started playing, suddenly I felt like hugging someone I knew. But everybody I knew there was busy with something in the middle of 850 people inside the Opera House. I finally saw Sasha passing by the table and yelled: "Sasha! I need a hug. I'm so emotional right now!" So he gave me a big hug and then I felt better. People came to the table from time to time especially when they heard a song they liked. They asked: which CD has this last song the band just played? I want to buy it. There were also some non-Iranian guests who came to buy CDs. I asked all of them "How do you know Kiosk?" The answer was one word: "Internet!"For a second I felt like going in the middle of the crowd to hear them singing with Arash. They knew all the words! So I went all the way to the front row close to the stage and waved my hand to Babak. Going back to my table for a second I decided to stay longer among the excited crowd and enjoy the music. But I changed my mind and thought to myself that I am one of the lucky ones who gets to be with Kiosk performing live everywhere it goes. So I went back to my table and stayed there until the end.Here is a short video of that night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXKPG6UttIQ