An episode of my life
I’m tired. My classmates are exhausting. They have no right to make fun of me. If they had stayed in Iran
for nine months they would not have been able to speak a single word Persian. It should be written in
the constitution that one should not make fun of foreigners. What are you thinking?
I haven’t even noticed that my father did return home. I try not to look too sad and say: “Well, it isn’t
that bad, but as soon as I open my mouth these lazy kids start are laughing at me...”
My father sits down and says: “You shouldn’t give up. They are just being stupid. It annoys your
classmates that you are top of your class! But I’m sure the Germans respect you, don’t they?”
“Hmm,...you’re right!”
He smiles:”You see?!” I’ve only been here for nine months, and the Turks, Lebanese and the other
foreigners don’t understand that. Well, it might even be because they also have a different mother
tongue and still manage to speak German. Oh, let it be. I don’t care about them.”
“Yes, just carry on! Don’t forget though: They are only your classmates!” I try to forget about everything
and say:”Let’s talk about something else. How are you getting on with your work?”
_” It’s all right...you know, generally people don’t want that foreigners are better than them. I get up
and say:” heh? ...They invited you to work for them when you were in Iran.” My father replies: “I know,
sweetie. We are and always will be foreigners, even if I were the world’s leading engineer!” After that he
stands up and goes into the kitchen. I hear his voice, which says:”Do you also want a cup of tea?”
_”No thanks, I can’t drink or eat anything at the moment. He returns with a cup a of tea in his hand after
two minutes and says:” Why did we do something like this? I did have a descent position and we also
had all family and friends around us when we were living in Iran, which was quite awesome!” I cry:” Dad,
please leave it! You always mention that. I’m very happy here. I don’t care what others think of me. We
don’t have any problems as long as we are happy and comfortable here! Currently you’re managing a
German company, regardless of you being German or a foreigner.
I feel very warm and my breathing becomes faster. He moves his head and remains silent. I begin to talk
again, whilst he continues to drink his tea:” Actually, I find it quite amazing that so many people with
different backgrounds and diverse cultures live here, hence we don’t feel alone. If this had been the
case, the Germans might have in a way discriminated us. Who knows? !”
My father laughs and says:”Isn’t it now like that…!” I look at him in an angry manner and he stops. For a
moment nobody says anything and we quietly sit there.
P3
All of a sudden I hear a ringing noise from the PC: my best mate has logged on to skype and rings me.
My father and I go on the computer. Our friendship goes back to the first grade, of course he is in Iran.
“How are you, Helia?” I’m fine, how about yourself?
Same, ...............................................
Unexpectedly, my father interferes in our conversation and says: ”Helia is feeling homesick and wants to
return to Iran!” _” Rubbish, I scream and say: “He always gets on my nerves! I feel very comfortable over
here.” My friend asks: “How do you treat your classmates?” _oh, I don’t really feel like opening this
subject all over again. I just had a deep conversation with my dad about it. Oh well, it is obvious that it’s
going to be difficult to live amongst different cultures, for instance in school, friends and on the streets
in general! However, sometimes it can be amusing, especially when I and Erisa insult other pupils in
school in Persian, because they don’t understand a single word what we talk about, haha!”
_”That’s mean though...!”
We are sitting in the car and driving on the road. I’m listening to music and watching the street. My
father says: “ I like these people who keep their cultural and religious values. Look at this woman, she
wears a head scarf.” “ Because she believes in her religion”, I say. “But I think, if you live abroad you
should adopt the peoples general way of life.” My father shakes his head: “ That’s not right.” I’m getting
excited:” Of course! Imagine a woman from Europe comes to Iran and wears a bikini instead of a head
scarf on the streets when it’s warm. For cultural reasons she believes that she is right.” “ But it is written
in our constitution that nobody is allowed to walk on the streets that exposed!” “Yes, anyway. Let’s eat
an ice cream.”
I sitting in front of the TV and relaxing. At the end of the day my father comes home. “Hi.” “HI Dad!” I
say and think: It’ s nice that Mum and Ilia aren’t here for 2 weeks. Now I can talk to my Dad in peace
and quiet.” A few minutes later my father sits next to me and asks me: “ What’s new sweety? “
“Nothing…I try to get used to the situation in my class. I just ignore it.” He says: “ That’s good,” and turns
on the TV “Hey, that’s Mehrzad!” I shout, “ He’s going to be the next Superstar!” My Dad answers: ” I’m
proud of people, who always show that Iranians are the best!” “ Haha, don’t exaggerate! But I know
what you mean. I love Nina Moghaddam. Look at her, she’s an Iranien and TV presenter for “Superstar”
and “Super RTL” in general
P5
We watch the show till the end and eat afterwards. I’m cutting my food and ask a question: “Just now
I’ve been thinking of a question: Why aren’t women with head scarfes allowed to teach, at school, I
mean? “ My father replies: “How do you know that? I have never heard of such a thing.” “It’s true! We
have talked about it in German class today. I find that unfair. If you are allowed to wear a scarf out on
the streets you should also be allowed to teach. You see?! That is why I am saying one should change
one’s culture.” He thinks for a moment and says: “When people are born in Germany, they adopt the
German culture anyway, event though their parents might come from Turkey for example. But at some
point one feels, that they cannot leave their culture entirely. It is something that’s in our blood.
“Yh, yh!” I say, “I am not talking about us anyway. Here, we don’t have any problems with our
background. I mean, we do have dark hair, dark coloured eyes and dark skin. But our way of living
doesn’t differentiate us from the rest here.”
My father smiles and replies: “Luckily! But I do hope that other countries will become as cozy and as
comfortable, so that no one will have to leave their home country. You’ll never be able to forget where
you come from.”