Wednesday, August 08, 2007

The 08/08

Today is the anniversary of my arrival to US. Four years have passed. I look back at the girl who arrived in O'hare with two big suitcases and a bigger spirit to explore the brave new world. She saw new things, made new friends, tasted new tastes, learned new customs, fell in love, had her heart broken, played a fool, acted wisely, stood up, struggled, learned, cried, laughed, and still keeps looking forward.

What would my life be like had i not left my home country? It's always hard to see the counter-factuals, but one thing is for sure. This country gives you more chances to grow, the opportunities that you had to fight hard to get back home. And I'm grateful to be exposed to that.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Its really interesting that for all of us, our arrival date is a special day

Thats really interesting indeed.

jeerjeerak said...

Yes, it's like you're born to a new life. And birthdays are special:)

Nazy said...

Happy Anniversary Jeer Jan! I remember mine, too, June 23rd, a beautiful sunny day. Thank you for sharing your sentiments my friend. I share the same ones with you. I hope your life gets better and better everyday. Only when we cry bitter tears do we appreciate the laughter we will experience later, and only in hearts broken will we feel the splendor of an enveloping love. The future is all yours, full of promises of success, achievement, growth, joy, and love. You will see. Be good azizam.

Anonymous said...

Nice one jeerjeerak, I like your post, I don,t know why ,but all of us never forget our arrival day, It is like an other birthday , first years are very thugh, it make a new person of you, some one who you haven't known befor,I always think , is it worth to be far from your countery, your people, and your family, but as you said, there is somthing in this countery that makes you love it gradually,
Happy anniversary dear jeerjeerak :)
bayramali

Anonymous said...

Dear Jeerjeerak
as I told you earlier, 08/08 reminds me many things as well. I agree with you on special days. I have two of them the one i left Iran and the one I came to America. both represnet a new begaining a new life a birthday. happy 4th anniversary.

A Fly on the Wall said...

i heard something interesting on the radio the other day and I am paraphrasing because i can't remembert the exact quote - but somehtign along the lines that when we travel to new places and countries, it is like we are reading a different book. So the more we travel, the more books we read and... ok I really messed up the quote but i hope you get what i mean.

Coming to a new country where you have to become fully independent and self-reliant is huge and we all can't help but live life and grow.

I can't say i think of my arrival date as anything especial, but I really think I have grown into myself. The point is also that you are removed form all the people and things that used to influence you and you are now on your own. Anyway...!! :-P

jeerjeerak said...

To Nazy jaan, I do like the nick name you made for me!

To Mahran, how about we share the anniversary party next year and devide the kharj-o-makharej?;)

To Bayramali, I have another theory for this too. We remember the date cause we need it to fill up our 1040 forms every year!!!

And to Gadfly, i liked your take on it. Living alone and independent is a signifgicant part of this.

Anonymous said...

Godspeed for the fifth year

Anonymous said...

Happy anniversary!
I wish you have many more years full of joy and wonderful experience!

Reza Mahani said...

i do not remember the date anymore, sometime in november, that i arrived in urbana ... strangely enough, the main thing i remember and always brings back the memory of those cold days is the strange aroma associated with family housing office and the old building of international office ...

jeerjeerak said...

Cuckoo jan! My 8/8 however bears a kind memory of you and sima. Your home was the first place i came to in cu:)

Unknown said...

salaam Jeerjeerak jan,

your post reminded me so much about myself when I arrived in Chicago 5 years ago. It was a bitter cold day late December.. I left Chicago this past March after I finished my school. Like you I went through many joyful and painful moments.. they all made me a different person and now that I look back I cannot tell you how much I love all those moments..
Wish you the best!

jeerjeerak said...

Nasim Jan, thanks for your comment.
I was lucky enough to arrive here on a nice summer day, so my very first memory is kinda warm;) It's a pity that we didn't meet while you were in Chicago. I wish you good luck in pursuing your career wherever you are now:)

NeGaR said...

جیرجیرک جان،

چهارده آگوست امسال، سال چهارم من خواهد بود... و تک تک کلماتی که نوشتی میتونن کلمات من باشن... چقدر قوی و شادم کردند... ممنون. زیاد.