Narrative Sample Four

In the news we often hear about a small Middle Eastern country called Iran. The people of Iran are usually portrayed as evil terrorist who teach their children to act out in violence and spend their every waking moment trying to build bombs so that they can attack America, all while wearing a nifty Keffiyeh(Arabic headdress). So imagine my surprise when I was told that my dad wanted to spend his whole summer in Iran visiting his family and that my brother and I had no choice but to go with him. My reaction, of course, was to beg, plead, and whine to get out of it but ended with no success. Soon I was packed up and shipped across the ocean. A tedious 12 hours later we finally made it to our final destination. As my father, my brother and I made our way off the plane and in the airport I could feel the anticipation in the pit of my stomach. What was waiting for us behind these walls? Camels and sand with a side of untimely death presumably. But I soon found out how wrong I was.
As soon as I stepped into the airport I was gathered up in a hug by a petite, plump, older woman. I was told not to be alarmed because the little lady was, in fact, my grandmother. She was welcoming and loving with a sense of comfort around her. Standing next to my grandmother was a slim, tall man with gray hair, my grandfather. There was a certain air around him, I had never met him before but I already knew he was a man who was to be respected. Surrounding my grandparents were my two uncles, Armine and Homon, and my Aunt Farah. I could tell almost immediately that I would get along well with them because they seemed loud, carefree, and playful, just like me. Soon after the introductions, hugs, and kisses we were loaded up in the car and taken to our new home for the summer.
In our trip we stayed in the authentic Iranian home my dad grew up in. The house itself was so peculiar; it was in a way its own unique work of art. Every piece in the house had a certain Persian charm to it, from the paintings on the wall to the rugs on the floor. But the first thing noticeably different about the house was that it was completely surrounded with high walls that were so tall that no person could look above it. I was told that almost all the houses are built like that in Iran because the walls block out the occasional dust storm, provide shade in the extreme heat of the summer, and protect the city from any invasions. During my trip though, I found the walls offered more than just protection, it created a kind of oasis for us. We could wear what we wanted, run around acting silly, and talk about any subjects without having to worry about getting in trouble under the watchful eye of the government. The overall structure of the home was about the same as the ones in America with a kitchen, living room, dining room, office, and bedrooms. The only big exception is that the toilet and sink may be in the house but the showers were not. The showers were in a separate building located behind the main house. The shower was comprised of one big room with tiles from floor to ceiling and about a handful of shower heads on the wall. When I first learned that I was going to have to walk outside to shower I was in utter horror. But seeing as how I was stuck there for about three months I had to learn to compromise.
It seemed every day that went by my brother and I made ourselves more at home and even started getting accustomed to Iran’s day to day life. We would go walking the streets, go to a family friend’s house, and even to the market with my grandmother. The streets of Iran can easily be compared to the busy streets of New York City. I learned that the car’s horn was not just a convenience, but a necessity. It was as if the horn had to be used as many times as possible in a day and if your car horn didn’t work you might as well not even drive. The traffic laws and lights were also there purely for suggestion, and most people didn’t follow them anyway. Even seatbelts were not of importance. On several occasions my brother and I rode in my uncle’s car standing up in the backseat with our heads sticking out the sunroof with no fear of getting in trouble with the law. I also learned that it was no big deal if a car only seated five people and there were eight of us, no need to bring out the second car when there is a perfectly good lap available.
While dealing with the fast pace shuffle of the city a person has to try and remember to take in the scenery around them, if they don’t they might miss the beauty of the buildings that they are surrounded by. In my opinion, Iran’s architecture is some of the most breathtaking in the world. It has the same feel and wonder as the Taj Mahal. It seems as if Iran’s philosophy was the bigger, the better because the buildings are massive. The structures are made with elegantly worked stone, dome rooftops, various arrays of columns, and mosaics. The landscape of Iran’s country side is just as amazing. It is scattered with mountain ranges, streams, farmlands, and to my surprise no sand or camels. On several occasions we gathered together with relatives and ventured outside the city limits to go mountain hiking, swimming, and have family picnics on the riverside.
By the time my summer vacation came to an end and I had to say goodbye to my family and my new home, I was heartbroken. Being away from home and out of my element for a couple of months had changed me. The trip made me open my eyes to the world around me and embrace my heritage. I became comfortable with going out into the streets of Iran and meeting new people. From what I was told at home I automatically assumed we would be shunned from society and treated with disrespect. But I have never been greeted with such enthusiasm and affection from complete strangers. It seemed every person either wanted to hug us, kiss our cheek, or invite us over and cook us dinner. It saddens me to think that most American’s connect Iranians with misogyny, deserts, and terrorism. It took me coming to Iran to realize the way things are and how the citizens act aren’t always the same as described on the news and I honestly can’t wait to go back for another visit.