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Immigrating to Vancouver Prompts Internal Conflict for Iranian Woman

After living in a religious Eastern country for 25 years, immigrating to a free Western country seems to be full of fun and new opportunities. Well, of course it is, but still there is a part in my heart that will always belong to my previous life in Iran.

Vancouver is a beautiful city, recently selected as the best place on earth. There are fewer rules, no unnecessary limitations and much less nationalism than I've experienced in my home country.

As a result, I can live my life as I wish. I wear tops and shorts in summer and go for a walk with my husband, hand in hand! We go to swimming pools together! We can even hug and kiss each other in the street! Oh my, I cannot imagine doing any of these in our country. It is not equal to death but you simply dare not even to think about it. At best, you will see people's popping-out eyes staring at you. I am not going to explain the worst. Let's just say you can end up going to prison or pay a fine if you go out without proper clothing.

Have you ever heard the Donkey's tale? A farmer and his son were traveling with their donkey, but people were bugging them, and they didn't know whether the farmer should ride the donkey, his son should ride it, or they both should do it. Perhaps the donkey should ride them? Many Iranians actually live like the farmer and his son, all the time fearing criticism or punishment by the public or government.

Considering the freedom we have in Vancouver, I should be completely satisfied. But, as I said, there is a part in me always missing my beloved family, friends and town. I wish we could have same situation as we have here in my home city. Then we would never need to immigrate.

Well, I used to think this way last year, when I first landed in Canada, but it is just a blind wish that will never come true in the short term. I learned that everywhere has its own problems. The reason we immigrated here was to live in a better place which has fewer problems. In spite of being the best place on earth, Vancouver is not perfect. Now it is up to me to accept it or waste my time by thinking about my past.

When I look at the Rocky Mountains, they remind me of Mount Alborz in North of Iran. When I walk along the Fraser River, it reminds me of Karoon, a river in south Iran. When I see old ladies in the street, I remember my grandmother who passed away while I was here and I didn't have the chance to kiss her for the last time. I feel I love them like my own grandma. There are many similarities between my memories and daily Vancouver life.

Now I love Vancouver as once I loved Tehran, knowing that there might be one day I should go and live somewhere else.

No matter where you are, enjoy your life!

When in Iran…don't blow it

Never blow your nose in public if you are in Iran.

If you do so, especially with a loud noise, then you are considered impolite. People will look at you with daggers, or laugh at you

You should hold your breath, find a washroom, go in, close the door, turn on the tap so no one can hear you're blowing and if it is safe then, go ahead blow it.

Well, this is how we are. Blowing noses is not good in our culture. I remember when I was in school I used to get colds a lot and usually my nose was stuffed up. Every time I wanted to blow my nose, I had to go under the table and wait for until students were talking to each other, then do it. Still they called me "Damaghoo" or similarly nasty names.

When I was working in an international company in Iran, my manager used to blow his nose very loudly. It was so unusual for all of us. We were surprised. We used to call him names. Like Damaghoo.

Now that I am in Vancouver, I see it is acceptable to blow one's nose, even at a meeting. I was attending a seminar in UBC when one of the students blew her nose very loudly in the middle of the seminar. I blushed for her, but the others seemed unaffected.

How freely people here live.