December 1st 2022: Yesterday, I joined the big protest of Iranian students from 150 foreign universities across the globe. The event at our university was organized by Mahsa, a thirty-year-old woman studying astrophysics. When I saw her message in the Iranian Brandenburg residents' group chat, I knew I had to be there to help. She … Continue reading Iranian Revolution Diary (part 2)
Stories of people (Valentin)
Maybe it was one Monday morning that his melancholic headache from the last night's drinking convinced him to quit his job. He used to wear his uniform and go to the bank every day. On the weekends, he went out with his friends and had fun. His salary was not bad; it could pay his … Continue reading Stories of people (Valentin)
Helsinki
I made a trip from Stockholm to Helsinki by cruise. Although we had just moved from one nordic country to another, it felt very different in Helsinki. It was way quieter than Stockholm. The weather was much colder, and the streets looked different. In the end, I was intrigued by the city. And so I … Continue reading Helsinki
When you go abroad
Starting living on my own was a huge step. I didn’t just leave my parents’ house and move to another place, not another city, but another continent. I made a big step out of my comfort zone while I had never traveled alone or lived somewhere on my own. When I said goodbye to my … Continue reading When you go abroad
So distant to feel love?
During my last 10 months in Italy, before leaving for Sweden, I met many people, among which there were three guys that I found attractive. The first one was a Brazilian guy. We talked about philosophy, and he asked me out for a coffee. He was two years younger than me, and we only met … Continue reading So distant to feel love?
Fear of leaving home
Two years ago, at this time, I was preparing myself to study abroad. I was going to have my IELTS exam on January 11th, 2020, while I was determined to learn art somewhere in Europe. 11 months later, after lots of ups and downs, I ended up beginning my master's in astrophysics and cosmology in … Continue reading Fear of leaving home
How does it feel like to leave home?
A year ago, I moved to Europe to study. In less than two months, I am going to Sweden for an Erasmus exchange mobility. This year two friends of mine from bachelor’s came here to study. One of them is a girl who has lived on her own for four years in Iran. She does … Continue reading How does it feel like to leave home?
Do you have it all?
Last year, when I was sitting behind my desk making applications for different universities abroad, I could imagine how my life would change if I came to another country. But I wasn't thinking of how other people's lives might also change. At that time, the last thing that came to my mind was not surely … Continue reading Do you have it all?
Can we really live a fingerprint on the lives that we touch?
In early June, I had a party at my place. I invited many people and I made them Iranian food. There were 14 people and I cooked everything on my own. There were Russians, Italians, Brazilians, Ukrainian, Malaysian, and one Iranian person. I guess they all liked the food a lot. I also had so … Continue reading Can we really live a fingerprint on the lives that we touch?
What color is your passport?
Living in a cosmopolitan atmosphere has led me to notice a few differences between nations. Never can I generalize people only by their nationality. But undoubtedly only an Iranian can understand what it feels like to be nervous for several months in a row just worrying about a visa. How it feels like when your … Continue reading What color is your passport?
A slice of me 