[swipe ⬅️but Don’t let the video distract you from THE CAPTIONS]
Sunday, 11th of June
The amazing Couchsurfing experiences continue with @forooq.life in Rafsanjan. Her high energy is only topped by the amount of things that she showed me during my time in the city of Rafsanjan. Calligraphy exhibition, Zour Khane routine, traditional handcrafts, carpet weaving, English conversation circles. Breakfast and lunch with some new friends in between. You name it. (See Bonus pics) But the absolute highlight is the surprise birthday party she throws @barkhordaripour_hadi and me. It’s moments like these where I most strongly feel the truth of one of the sentences I wrote on my Couchsurfing profile 9 years ago: „I believe you can find amazing people anywhere in the world.“
Monday, 12th of June
I get to join an English conversation class at @noavaran_language_center and even get to give a tiny little German class. the students are curious of course. Being asked so much about life in Austria, my travels, my experiences in Iran and much more makes me reflect. It makes me think about where I come from, not only geographically but also biographically. It makes me think about what I am doing here and why I am doing it. Am I still on track? Am I even still doing what I set out to do? When one of the most curious students comes up to me after class and tells me she’s learned a lot today I know: Yes! You are doing exactly what you’re supposed to be doing!
Tuesday, 13th of June
„Just be yourself“ – it sounds like a cliche when I ask an art professor from Tehran about one thing he would tell all his students. The man in is Seventies had just told me his life story. Well… surely not everything but the most exciting bits. How he was illegal in the US after escaping Iran during the Islamic revolution. How he just knew the universe would be kind to him when he took his leap of faith and escaped the plane that he was on. A plane that was meant to go to Mexico. He took a chance. And life rewarded him with invaluable experiences and a story to tell. A beautifully inspiring random encounter in the beautiful Ganjali Khan Complex in beautiful Kerman.
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#beyourself#lifelonglearning
