English

 

I went to see a new play, titled English, at the Wallis in Beverly Hills. The story takes place in a classroom setting with a couple of Iranian students, and a Persian teacher. The students are taking the class because they have to pass the TOEFL—a global exam that measures the students' English skills before they can go and study abroad. 

 

As I sat sat in my seat, I was expecting a large Iranian crowd. But no. Most of the audience were Americans. Perhaps it was unique to the day and time I attended. Nevertheless, that was a big surprise. Now, on to the play... The story explores the struggles foreigners face when learning a new language, and having to uproot their life to another country. Some people look forward to it. And I can relate to that.

 

When I first came to the U.S, I was really excited. I didn't have to take the TOEFL. At age 12, I hardly spoke English. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The first year, I cried a lot because I didn't understand what the teachers were talking about. The math class was super easy since it's a universal language, and the level of seventh grade math in the U.S was something I had already learned at age seven in Iran. But science and history were tough because they required an understanding of the language. Learning English eventually got easier, but fitting into a completely different culture was tough. It changed me from being a funny, confident person to being shy, and awkward. And it wasn't until my college years when I was able to blend in. 

 

And that's what this play was about. The teacher who used to live abroad, felt more at home in Iran. Other students couldn't wait until they could leave, and study outside the country. Another student with an Iranian heritage, who was born in the U.S, had also decided to come back because he couldn't fit in the American culture.

 

Overall, the play was enjoyable. It took me back in time to my own struggles. The only problem I had with the play was the ending. The ending was in Farsi which I understood, but the majority of the audience didn't speak Farsi. I thought that they should have had subtitles for the American audience. Perhaps the writer, Sanaz Toossi, or the director, Knud Adams, thought that people can figure out the just of it. Also, this play was advertised as a comedy. But instead, it was a dramedy. The first half was funny, and the second half got more serious, and emotional. 

 

Searching for France in L.A

I've been thinking a lot about France lately. Not sure why. I lived there many years ago as a student, and although I had a great time, I kind of moved on. I don't know. Perhaps life just got busy, I got older, and my interests changed.

What I've been missing most about France is their lifestyle, culture, and a sense of community. Most of the time, you don't need a car, and can get anywhere by metro, subway, bus, or train. Although we have a little bit of that here; it's not the same. Cities are not spread out like Los Angeles. You don't have to drive in traffic for hours to visit family and friends.  

There's something about France that makes you want to sit at a café, read, journal, write a poem, a short story, or a novel. It's such a different vibe than L.A and people hangout in smoky cafes for hours, chatting, and enjoying life.

Long ago, there was a lot of French culture in L.A. We had events, French markets, neighborhoods, restaurants, and cafés with French employees. Now we just have replicas of things. I miss the authenticity. I guess for now, my hanging out at Le Pain Quotidian will have to do.

France has many beautiful parks and gardens, and you can get lost walking for hours. Out in L.A, everything is concrete, walls, and fences. Take the above walking path, for example, that was reached through a shortcut at Ralph's parking lot in Marina Del Rey. It has been shut down by walls and fences. To get there now, you have to walk for a longtime through traffic, cars honking, and the unpleasant smell of gasoline. It gets frustrating at times, and makes you want to live elsewhere.

The Bodmer Oak, Fontainebleau Forest, 1868, Claude Monet

Spring Bouquet, 1866, Pierre Auguste Renoir

Woman bathing her feet in a brook, Camille Pissarro, 1894 

I use to love doing cultural things, be it attending the theater, an art exhibit, or watching a French film with subtitles.

And it didn't end there. Afterwards, my friends and I would discuss and analyze what we saw over a glass of wine. The above film, Joueuse (Player)—Queen to Play is really good if you can find it on Netflix or Prime. 

And yes, you may be able to do these things in L.A, but to do so, you have to drive to many different places. So, there it is. My search for France in L.A.

And I guess nothing is complete without a French song. The above song is about the city of Paris—Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille by Jacques Dutronc

  

 

It takes a day to make a friend 

I'm getting ready to go to Dublin soon to do research for a new book. So, my life has been a bit hectic for the past month as I try to get some things out of the way, leaving me little time for social media and blogging. My mom used to be my travel buddy because we got along well on trips, but since she passed away, I travel on my own, and meet people along the way. (Photo credit: Diogo Palhais)

It's hard to keep in touch with those who live abroad. In my lifetime, I have met hundreds of people all over the world. Good-hearted people, fun to hangout with. But at the end of the day, you know that once you leave the country, life kicks in, and you lose touch. Except that once in a while, there comes a person you befriend for a day or two, and you may not talk for years, but you may still reconnect. That happened to me in Hong Kong when I met my friend Dominika. (photo credit: Robert Anasch)

 

We met on a tour with Danny. I wasn't sure if she would even remember me because it has been six years since we last spoke. She lives in London, not too far away from Dublin. She told me long ago that if I ever wanted to travel again, to let her know. So, I texted her, and to my surprise she not only remembered me, but she wanted to meet up for two days. We're both really excited to hangout again. (photo credit: Michal Pokorny)

 

We already made plans for what we're going to do on the first day when we meet. I know that it's just two days, but still...Obviously, I'll be in Dublin for longer than two days. I don't think I'll be doing all the touristy stuff. My main goal is to learn about the Dubliners, their city, and their culture, and to figure out the logistic of where everything is located. It should be an interesting trip. (photo credit: Karsten Winegeart) 

(Photo Credit: Valerie)