 Learning to love English
"Mom, you need to start reading in my language"
Sima Shahriar
November 27, 2004
iranian.com
I recently wrote an article for a friend's website in Minneapolis
[MOMbo.org]. It is about my
struggle and growth with identity. I would love to share the story.
I was thirteen when my
family moved from Tehran, Iran, to Minneapolis. It was 1978.
It wasn't an easy move. Our move coincided with the
Islamic Revolution in Iran and the hostage taking of Americans
for 444 days.
I've lived between two cultures for so many years that I really
don't know what it means to be in my comfort zone. I don't have
one. I used to resent this. As I've aged, I have realized what
a blessing this has been for me. It has allowed me to open myself
to almost anything or anyone that inspires me without judging them!
This is true mostly with my children.
When we had our first son, we decided to speak Farsi to him.
My husband is also Iranian, so it seemed the natural thing to do.
Besides, I had dreamed of going back "home" for the past
fourteen uncomfortable years in Minneapolis.
Arman wasn't two-years old when I decided to go back to Tehran
for a visit and also to do a little research as to whether we could
move back. As the plane was landing in Tehran, my body was overjoyed.
Tears came down my face, and I had to explain to Arman that Mommy
was very happy and these were the tears of joy. Well, the tears
of joy turned to tears of overwhelming sadness during our five
week stay in Iran. It took about a week for Arman to get used to
the time change. There were nights that I had to rock him and sing
to him for hours until he'd fall asleep. Then I would go to the
balcony
facing the Elborz mountains -- the most beautiful sight and
such a comfort to me when I was just a child. I would cry for hours.
I couldn't help but feel homeless. I felt so foreign in my own
country.
I came back resolved, knowing that Minneapolis is my home and
I would never spend another day wanting to be somewhere else. I
couldn't help but feel sorry and angry for having wasted fourteen
years of my life wishing to be somewhere else.
However, I still had to speak Farsi to Arman. He is one of those
energetic children who used to get up at five in the morning and
wanted to go Da-Da (in his language, outside). So we did. We'd
head out to either Lake Harriet or Lake Calhoun and the fresh air
brought so much joy to us. At the park we'd still speak Farsi and
would get all kinds of attention from people. I was resolved to
pass on my mother tongue to Arman.
Since life was so new as a family and we really didn't have a
community to participate in, I started looking for venues to belong
to as a family. Minnesota Children's Museum became that place for
us. We would go there on Friday nights and spend the whole night
watching and playing with Arman. There were all kinds of celebrations
every month.
One month a group of Menorahs had caught my eye, so
I took Arman to the display and explained to him their significance
to the Jewish culture and their celebration. He turned to me and
said, "Mom, when are we going to share our celebration at
the Museum?" He was referring to the Iranian New Year (Noruz)
which is a celebration of the beginning of Spring. His thought
became my goal.
With the help of a couple of old friends and many
new friends we made the celebration happen at the museum for
seven years. Arman taught me to feel comfortable and share what
I knew
with others. It was a huge leap for me.
 When our second son Armeen was born, we had to deal with a whole
different personality. Armeen cried for the first seven months
of his life. Once he found some comfort in his new world, he blossomed.
He is my analytical child. At nine months he decided that there
was no need to waste his energy crawling around, he just wanted
to walk. So he'd find all kinds of strategies to get himself up,
find someone to help him tiptoe around the house.
I used to read every book in Farsi to my kids. I got really good
at it. At the library, I would have Arman and Armeen listening
to me. Often another child would come to join us. He'd start
listening, then I would get that puzzled look from him. I would
always explain
to our new listener that I was reading in Farsi. Sometimes the
child would sit and listen!
When Armeen was about three, he stopped me and said, "Mom,
you need to start reading in my language." It didn't register
for me, until he said it to me another time.
It made me think quite a bit.
Arman had helped me share my culture for the first time at The
Children's Museum. I met some of the most inspiring people in my
life there. Now Armeen pushed me to assimilate. He pushed me to
learn and love English.
I continued to read in both Farsi and English to the boys. Little
by
little, I switched. It was hard for me to give up that last bit
of what made me comfortable in life. Farsi was my connection to
my old childhood life and I had hung on to it.
I have been in this uncomfortable zone for a while now and I'm
beginning to feel comfortable in it.
Every day I tell my children how much I love them. When I learn
something from them, I thank them for that. Someday they will read
my journals and I hope I will still be here to thank them for showing
life to me all over again, for helping their mom find a new home.
They helped me love another language.
 Sima Shahriar
I am mom to my boys Arman and Armeen. I am a part time salesperson/dishwasher
at Cooks of Crocus Hill, and during the winter months I teach children
Alpine skiing at Hyland's Ski School. My highest priority and passion
for the past two years has been the food I put on our table, educating
myself on nutrition and eating a balanced diet, and making simple
awareness in my children's schools with regards to lack of nutritional
food for many children in our nation. I am a big supporter of my
Co-Op in Linden Hills and love to support our farmers at St. Paul
Farmers Market. Community Supported Agriculture and local organic
farmers are my inspiration to healthy living. I studied Architecture
at the University of Minnesota and practiced before my first son
was born. I love gardening and discovering beautiful natural treasures
in Minneapolis with my family. Some of our local favorite treasures
are the Walker Sculpture Garden and Conservatory, the magnificent
bike route all along the Mighty Mississippi, and Wirth Parkway's
Wildflower Garden, bike route, and of course their soft and cushiony
Bog. The three local organizations that have impacted my thoughts
and life style immensely are In The Heart of The Beast Mask and
Puppet Theatre, The Green Institute, and Nutritional Weight and
Wellness. Local, Local, Local is my motto.
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Learning to love English
