While visiting the British Museum in London recently, I almost gasped when I wandered into a side room and saw what stood there. Earlier in the day, I had sat with my parents and sketched out what we planned to see at the museum. The Rosetta Stone (of course), Ancient Iran, Medieval Europe, several short … Continue reading Heech
This may look like an innocent bowl of porridge. Perhaps nicely cooked oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon on top. But I am here to tell you: Do not be fooled, my friends. This is haleem (حلیم). I have listened to my husband tell the tale of haleem for a while now. He told me … Continue reading Haleem
As I shuffled into the kitchen in the morning — slightly jet-lagged but mostly just my usual pre-coffee, bleary-eyed self — my mother-in-law hurried over: “Chai mikhai?“1 The pot of tea had been brewing since she had woken up, nestled on top of a kettle of water. I nodded and managed to mumble, “Are, mersi,”2 as I found … Continue reading Stories from Iran: Tea
At about 3am, the pilot announced that we were getting ready to make our descent. I pulled out my scarf and put it over my head. “A lot of your hair is showing,” my husband mentioned as he looked over. I pulled the scarf lower, wrapping the ends around my neck and checking again to make … Continue reading Stories from Iran: The Flight
Expat Linguist 