One sunny day in Madrid, my student’s mother had told me, “I wish I had travelled more when I was your age”. She was clearly content with her life now, but what she said had made me wonder if she had let her fear overtake her when she decided against something she may have wanted. There … Continue reading
Before I moved to Spain, I had read a lot about the history of Spain, its people, and its position in Europe. While some places in Europe are, quite frankly, less fascinating in terms of their history, Spain has always stood out to me for its extremely diverse culture. Perhaps part of that is because where my parents … Continue reading
For the past year and a half, I’ve been residing in one of the most interesting areas in the Greater Toronto Area. Etobicoke, which is located in West Toronto, is close to both downtown Toronto and downtown Mississauga. I’ve had an incredible experience here, due to its proximity to the lake, the subway, and its … Continue reading
Lately, there’s been a lot of discussion regarding a possible Rumi film. Yes, an entire film dedicated to the life of the most famous Persian poet. This got me thinking; I’ve always had a difficult-yet-poetic name. When I was a kid, I used to highly dislike being named “Ghezal” because no one ever knew how to say … Continue reading
I may never fully understand what it means to be a refugee. From my understanding of the term ‘refugee’, I know that it means to seek refuge due to unstable circumstances in one’s homeland (for varying reasons). I understand that my parents were a type of ‘refugee’, as many people of their heritage are. They’re highly … Continue reading
There are some cities whose reputations surpass reality. We tend to believe that these places are going to shake us to our very core, and that we’re going to walk away remembering them for the rest of our lives. These are the heavyweights of the travel world – the cities that never sleep, and/or never cease … Continue reading
“Just pack two outfits, and you’re good to go.” “Pack extras in case you need them.” “Make sure you take lots of underwear.” Regardless of where you’re from, what your gender is, or how old you are, you’ve probably heard at least one of these quotes. Some people are of the mindset that you don’t … Continue reading
It’s been quite a while since I’ve last written about any travel, but this has not been due to a lack of trips. It’s been the opposite, actually, leaving me with a lot to write about. Most recently, I was recently lucky enough to visit a famous American city (for the first time). The first … Continue reading
As a kid, any time I heard the words, “we’re having rice for dinner”, I would complain. It seemed as though every night, my mother would make us her classic dinner – rice, a side of meat, and a basic salad that is a staple in Persian cuisine. As an adult, I only crave those … Continue reading
There’s something extremely bizarre about feeling more culturally connected to a foreign country – one that you only spent two years of your life in – rather than where you happened to grow up. When I speak of my experience in Spain, I often have to interject with, “but those were the two most influential … Continue reading
The Rooted Traveller 