august 18...
today is our 10 year anniversary.
10 years ago today, august 18, 1996 we landed in canada.
land of the beaver and the maple leaf.
and hockey.
and OF COURSE tim hortons.
10 years...
weird.
it went by so fast. everyone says that when they discuss time. "oh it flies by. it goes by in a wink. you don't even realize." it is such a cliche. but it is also SO true. i really didn't even realize. i was 11, and suddenly i am 21. (how did that happen?)
10 years ago today we landed in montreal and took the bus to ottawa. we checked into the algonquin hotel in down-town. then, my parents took my sisters and i to the Ex. our first day in canada we went to an amusement park! my parents didn't want us to be sad and depressed about leaving our home, our people. every year after that we would go to the Ex in memory.
but last year we didn't go. this year we didn't either. in fact, none of us have even mentioned that today is the anniversary. i didn't even remember it until right this second. today is just another day in the life of the rajaee family.
it is as if we have forgotten that we haven't always lived here. as if before, we would remembered the day we left our home and moved somewhere else. before, we would go to the Ex to try to suppress our feelings of alianation and loss with some sort of superficial happiness, a forced joy extracted from the in-your-face laughter and silliness of a carnival.
but not anymore?
today is just another day.
business as usual.
so...is this "home" now?
where do i belong??
today is our 10 year anniversary.
10 years ago today, august 18, 1996 we landed in canada.
land of the beaver and the maple leaf.
and hockey.
and OF COURSE tim hortons.
10 years...
weird.
it went by so fast. everyone says that when they discuss time. "oh it flies by. it goes by in a wink. you don't even realize." it is such a cliche. but it is also SO true. i really didn't even realize. i was 11, and suddenly i am 21. (how did that happen?)
10 years ago today we landed in montreal and took the bus to ottawa. we checked into the algonquin hotel in down-town. then, my parents took my sisters and i to the Ex. our first day in canada we went to an amusement park! my parents didn't want us to be sad and depressed about leaving our home, our people. every year after that we would go to the Ex in memory.
but last year we didn't go. this year we didn't either. in fact, none of us have even mentioned that today is the anniversary. i didn't even remember it until right this second. today is just another day in the life of the rajaee family.
it is as if we have forgotten that we haven't always lived here. as if before, we would remembered the day we left our home and moved somewhere else. before, we would go to the Ex to try to suppress our feelings of alianation and loss with some sort of superficial happiness, a forced joy extracted from the in-your-face laughter and silliness of a carnival.
but not anymore?
today is just another day.
business as usual.
so...is this "home" now?
where do i belong??
posted by bita at 2:04 PM
3 Comments:
we need to live in a place which has enough opportunities and amenities that could direct and led us toward a path where at the end of it, we would reach our ultimate fulfilling goal of life.
Our motherland has its place in our hearts forever, we can never, if not in appearance, forget about our origin and true identity; yet, we might not be able to connect and deal with people and current social situation of our motherland, to deal with cultural dilema we have in our land, these days. That's why we choose to live in a place where we can be at ease, and be happy.
Bita, you forgetting about the anniversary of your settelment in Canada, is a sign, telling me you have found canada is your new home, and the reason that you question yourself about "where your real home is" tells me you have not forget about a place where your parents and anscestors have come from.
p.s. I know, it's too long, believe me I deleted 2 paragraphs.
you not only capture your heart, you capture ours as well in your words.:)
FOBz!
Post a Comment
<< Home