The Diary Of Terracotta Army Exhibition

Me and my friend are so excited about Terracotta army being exhibited in Toronto and decided to go downtown to see it. Here is a summery of the events which happened that day.

As you may want to know , The Terracotta Army was discovered in the spring of 1974 in the eastern suburbs of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province by a group of farmers who were digging a water well.
The figures vary in height 1.83–1.95 metres (6.0–6.4 ft), according to their roles, with the tallest being the generals. The figures include warriors,chariots, horses, officials, acrobats, strongmen, and musicians. Current estimates are that in the three pits containing the Terracotta Army there were over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, the majority of which are still buried in the pits.*


9 a.m. having a fast breakfast, today is the day! hurrrraa

9:30 a.m. Should go for a quick grocery shopping and come back to get ready.

10 a.m. can't find a parking lot.

10:30 a.m. why everyone suddenly decided they ran out of bread and lettuce?

11:30 a.m. still in the grocery store, can't believe I'm wandering between the isles for rice flour.

noon. can't find the damn crushed tomato.

12:30 p.m. where are those salted pickles? God I'm going crazy.

1:30 p.m. in line for cashier at last!

2:00 p.m. I'm hungry and dizzy. going home.

2:45 p.m. arranging the groceries .

3:00 p.m. God! It's getting late , should meet my friend at sheppard station in half an hour. It gets half an hour to get there if I'm at the subway now!

3:05 p.m. I'm hungry and dizzy.

3:10 p.m. decided to put a pizza in the oven for 10 minutes and get ready.

3:25 p.m. The pizza is black! I don't know why?! anyway it's to late to eat, better run.

3:50 p.m. finding my friend waiting for me in the station at last, just 20 minutes late, not that bad!

4:00 p.m. having a great time laughing and talking in Persian with my friend in a crowded cabin. can talk about almost anything when you think no one understands your language.

4:35 p.m. stop at the station. A very nice lady who's been smiling all the way at us, stands up and while leaving she says: " I wish you will be this happy for the rest of your life"- IN PERSIAN! - which makes us speechless for a moment and thank her good heart then!

5:00 p.m. at the ROM museum entrance. suddenly we both realize that we didn't bring any camera with us. What a disaster! this could be an experience of a lifetime.

5:10 p.m. finally we get calm by seeing the sign of no camera at the door. huh!

5:20 p.m. can't believe the price of tickets! we would only wanted to see the Terracotta but we should pay for the whole ROM ticket as well. what a strange way to collect money from poor visitors for the museum. can't believe the government is this careless about the museum and art galleries.

5:35 p.m. breathless and excited we reach the exhibition at last!

5:40 p.m. WHAT? this was the whole exhibition????

5:45 p.m. decided not to panic and instead of expecting to see the whole army ( what was I thinking?) just look at these 5 figures very closely.

6 p.m. read the entire information on the wall and try to listen to that weird Chinese man explaining things in a dramatic way. though the music and the crowd won't let you hear clear enough.

6:15 p.m. after walking around for the fifth time , decided to go the gift shop. maybe we haven't lost everything yet! although there is a glimpse of smart thought of projecting the whole scene of the terracotta army on the wall. but its installed so high in the ceiling that it doesn't give you a slightest sense of discovering a huge treasure. It would be better if they projected it on the floor and you could watch it nearer to it's original position.

6:30 p.m. heading to gift shop. The idea of terracotta warriors as an small decorative sculpture makes our spirit.

6:45 p.m. My friend wants to see the rest of the museum very quick as we paid for it. huh! quick! we'll see.

7:30 p.m. can't see anymore. suddenly feel very dizzy and can't stand up straight. I'm must be hungry or thirsty! I just sit down. Everyone passes by with a hidden smile on their faces. Haven't seen a tired person in their life? what? I look up and see I'm about to be eaten by a giant dinosaur skeleton. his mouth over my head as if I'm in a Spielberg movie or something. not funny at all.

7:40 p.m. my friend can't find anything to drink , so we're heading out.

7:45 p.m. can't find the exit door. Oh gosh , please help me. I'm fainting.

7:50 p.m. stuck at an emergency exit door. can't go out or get in. maybe visiting a museum is not a good idea at all. You could always watch a documentary on TV.

7:55 p.m. A nice guy notices us stuck in there and opens the door. we thank him embarrassed and red faced.

8:00 p.m. decided to concentrate and read the signs carefully and find someone to ask the direction.

8:05 p.m. no one is around when you need them.

8:10 p.m. Out at last! huraaaaaaaaaaaa.

8:15 p.m. recovered in spirit , walking towards the closest coffee house. laughing at our scary movie experience back there.

8:20 p.m. almost melted in our seat with the first sip of latte.

8:40 p.m. we should go back. maybe I grab another doughnut.

9 p.m. in the subway. we both too tired to speak. I want my bed.

9:30 p.m. wish I was in a car…

9:40 p.m. home sweet home. exhausted and full of experience! find my husband relaxing on the couch with a cup of tea after his gym and shower. Fresh faced, welcoming me and asking about my day.

10 p.m. try beaming all the time to avoid him think that I had not a very good time.

10:05 p.m. I hear a voice in distance but too sleepy to notice. I think it was the spirit of a "Qin chi huang " talking ancient Chinese to me.

*For more information visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terracotta_Army

The Joy Of Cinema

Living in Tehran, I had almost forgotten about the taste of watching a movie on the big screen. I had forgotten about the act of walking into the theater room, the joy of sitting in the dark and hear others laughter and sighs. All those beautiful tiny details you can only notice on a wide screen, I've been missed them all.

Not that we don't have theaters back there, but me and my generation, almost gave up on cinema after some religious hard-liners took over it. Strict censorship didn't allow most of the great Iranian talents to screen their films. Just like the Eastern bloc. The only movies were allowed, were the ones which reflected the propaganda needs of the government. Therefore like any other generation, we found a replacement: The Underground film club.

Every week we were gathering at this big house of my friend and by using a projector and some dvd player, we were merged in the beauty of cinema by watching the worlds true artists as well as Iranian talents on our little screen.We were watching Godard, Taviani Brothers, Bergman, Alain Resnais and so many others.

While we had been banned of watching any American or European cinema, almost everyone who walked in the streets of Tehran, had access to all genres of movies, from Hollywood and Bollywood to the European cinema for only $1!

Now being away from my city and my friends, I enjoy the movies in real screen. I can not say that the experience is the same. I miss my film club days, when I knew I was sharing something valuable with my friends and it was always the fear of some military breaking to the house or some neighbors reports us as we watched "The lives of others" * in the dark.

*Directed by

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck		a movie about the East Germany secret Police hearing all the secrets.

Shadows and Fogs

The strangest thing about this city is it's weather. Right now it's 11 pm and I'm sitting here in my apartment writing in front of a window covered by fog, I almost can not see through. I was born in a city with burning sun and we just had a few raining now and then. We were almost praying for snow in winters. Not that it was fun, but also made our school closed and it was like heaven. I didn't hate anything like going to school in my childhood. That's another story. So yes, a fog like this amaze me! I can sit here and watch it all night. It reminds me of one of my favorite movies: "Shadows and Fog" by Woody Allen. How I would like to watch a movie by him right now. But it's late and K is sleep. He had a tough day. We both did. So, maybe tomorrow.

Come O Shadows and fogs

Surround me with your mysteries

Whisper the sound of night to me

and make me sleep without a dream

hah! That just came out as a surprise! One of my few poems in English! Goodnight my muse.

Being me

I hate it when you start a conversation whit somebody and it usually ends with: So, how do you like this country?

My mind goes blank on this question. I open my mouth and I don't know what to say. The best thing to say is that I have been here only four months and I have no idea! but, I'm usually being nice and say: I think I like it when it's summer! and we end up laughing because almost everyone freaks out in thinking of toronto's winter.

I speak another language, I encounter another culture and I only had one choice. It's completely a new experience and for that I'm grateful. I'm in places I haven't been and I'm in situations I haven't been before. I know myself as a different person here. I know my weak points, which is painful and I know how challenging it is to immigrate. I'm getting to know all about it , not so soon, but in a while. I will definitely going to write about that. I will write about that. I will write.I will. I ...

Walking down the road

A Sturbucks has opened recently near our apartment, which is great. K, and me usually go for a walk every evening and it's a good thing if you end up with a hot cup of coffee. Grande Latte! It’s amazing how these sturbucks stores grow out everywhere, like a dividing cell. I know what you are thinking. It’s where the money is. But really, how can you hate that? Or even resist? As we walked, I remembered it is our 4th months here. Are we settled down yet? This is a question, which my friends ask me often. I would say: it’s too soon to judge. We are on the way. We make laughable mistakes. We still go to super markets every day and couldn’t find the flour or we buy pickles that we can’t eat, because of the sweet taste. When the cashier wants some change, we look like a child, who has recently learned how to count coins. We still use Persian prepositions when we talk English. The good thing is, everyone understands. You don’t feel like a foreigner in Toronto and that’s what I like about this city. What I don’t like is that sometimes I feel so low and miss my family that I can hardly breathe. I miss my friends and our laughs and jokes we used to have, which they don’t mean a thing here. I hate talking trough the Internet with my mom and dad and can’t hear them because of their low Internet speed and all filtering that government does. I become nervous when I feel the stress in their voices. Their agony, in which they can not ask us to come back, because the country does not have anything to offer for our future and the their astonishment when they hear us talking about the civilization here and how people behave. They pain they feel when they have to admit; our hometown as they used to know it does no longer exist. And all that beautiful, heroic stories they used to tell us at bedtime, are no longer true. There is no such thing as freedom, honor, faith or …… there is only savagery, brutality, the fight for oil and money. But there are people who keep growing their green roots under the shadow of evil. I cherish them. We all do. And we do not lose our faith. Someday we will sing the song of freedom. Someday we will be one.

First Job

This is the building I'm going to be attend for the first job I got. It's an old building as you see and inside has a big theatre salon.

Je suis meilleur!

I feel kind of blessed these days. Whatever I wish for, is coming true! An angel must have passed and heard my thought.

I was looking at the job list on the website. This is what I do these days. I was kind of hoping to get involve in a job related to books. I send my resume to chapters, which is very near our appartment. 3 minutes walk and is a huge chain store all around toronto.

I watched closely and although I would be really get excited if I'd get the job , but somehow, secretly I wished for something more personal and not so huge. Some how a "shop around the corner" and not a big FOX store!

And suddenly I saw an add about a small press book who needed help! I know, that's crazy. I applied and got accepted on my first attempt. It's not a real job though and I should continue to look for one, but to get involve in a small book business and see their challenges and how they survive is truly exciting for me.

The other one...

I don't talk about the others, which I fear they won't come true.

see you all again, I have a meeting to catch.

meanwhile : I'm the best! (Je suis meilleur)

no comments

There is a sign in front of a church nearby which says:

Does GOD exist?

1-Yes

2-No

3-Probably

Happy new year!

Today was the beginning of our new year and our first year out of country to celebrate it. It's a celebration for triumph of sun over cold winter.

It was an extremely emotional time for both me an K. Mostly because it's about family and being home and visiting your loved ones. Although we talked via web messenger to them but we know that a simple hug is something else.Still, It's not comparable to those who haven't met their hometown for years and that is the description of homesickness.

Anyway it's the new year now and the beginning of our new life here, I will stand as an optimist. I hope for the best and for a time when I can see my family in a better country and a better living.Either here or there.

Now we are settling down little by little. We have some furniture. Our design is so minimal. Less is more. just a couch and a computer desk and two chairs. and of course a little haft-seen.

Just a glance

A normal Shopping bag which everyone carries around these days, instead of plastic ones. I like the idea. The concept is so modern.

back with internet

It's been a long time since last post and a lot has happened.

The Oscar 2010 which was a disappointment the whole time, specifically when Coraline failed to win and the only highlight was that the Avatar wasn't winning all the oscars!

And the good news is, we moved in to our new apartment.

It is almost empty . We spent the first night on the floor with some light covers. We were so exhausted that we didn't feel a thing. We woke up in the morning with the sound of rain drops, a heavy one like a shower! Then we had a long ride to find a cheap mattress for ourselves. The average mattress price here is 600 $ which with the box below and the frame will go up 1000$. But thanks to kijiji.com ( not to mention that I'm an expert in searching the web! ) I found a sale downtown and we bought a mattress and a box for only 250$. So we celebrate it with a lunch and then we came back in showers feeling so lucky.

Now we should find a desk. Next is easy , the couch and the coffee table which we already chosen from Ikea store. I think I never get tired of going to ikea , it's a sense of a European living which I adore. I never leave the store without sweet cinnamon rolls :)

The next step is going to see Alice in wonderland Imax version. We hadn't have time yet. K is so busy with his new iphone and doesn't even hear me when I speak to him. I don't blame him though! You should see yourself. It's a goddess.

blue bayou

Something amazing about this city is the scales. For instance you go to starbucks or timothy's and ask for a small coffee and they give you half a gallon of coffee. The other thing I cannot understand is the size of the entrance doors to malls or subway. they are not only huge but also very heavy. I have trouble opening them not because of their weight but for the way they open. You should pull them in , not push them out. It may confuse you at first before you get used to it.

The other size problem is dresses, I always should look for XS (extra small) or size 00 ! It makes you feel you are a lilliputian outside your island.

Today we went to lease a car, we lilliputians prefer small cars , so we went for a Yaris toyota. One thing I love about it, is the color. The color name is "blue bayou" which is a song from Roy Orbison too. You can hear it :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-rlECiW4BA When you ride.

I should first get my drivers license here. I hope soon, because you can not easily live in here without a car. Car is your leg. your saviour if you are not used to the strong wind and winters of toronto. It's almost a necessity. at least for us.

scent of a country

You wont believe what strange yet normal events here can happen to you here.

We woke up in the middle of the night with such a smell that almost made us faint. We were too sleepy to notice the matter. The next day we found out some skunks have been nested in the backyard!

Skunks are normal to be seen here as well as racoons and squirrels. Skunks are those black and white striped fur animals that when threatened, squirts a spray which smells UGH!

When we walked out in the morning , we saw extremely big foot steps of an animal, which looked like a giant cat or maybe a lion? So perhaps, last night a jungle was out there.

We are still looking for a our new home. These beautiful houses are too pricey for us. so we look for condos. They are high rise buildings which are very comfortable and luxurious. Some of them are really chic and beyond our budget. we'll see about that.

I myself prefer a place near subway station. So I can run to the crowded,noisy downtown whenever I feel homesick or passionate. You know better that someone Who had lived in Tehran , can not bear this stillness.

A walk to remember

We are now staying at a very beautiful cottage in countryside,far from town with some wonderful friends.The house is surrounded by jungle. It's an inspiring delight , when you have your warm cup of coffee behind the window with a view of trees in snow and people walking their dogs. Black dogs, white dogs, small dogs, huge dogs….

The houses are very old, some of them has a sign which shows what year did they build. It means this property is a heritage.Today we had a walk ( a very short one, cause the wind was freezing!) and we saw a cottage thats was build in 1845. Then a few steps further was a cemetery . I suddenly began to think about the people who first came into this area, lived their life here and also died here. They were immigrants like us. They probably came over the seas, women with their gowns and umbrellas whom found this land colder than they expected. How did they live their life? How long took for them to feel like home again? was this river a reason for them to build their houses here? who were their ancestors? And above all why they had to leave their home , their land?

The area is so beautiful that makes you think they were all lucky and lived happily ever after.

Flying to toronto

how about a 24 hour trip? :D yeah, sounds nice , especially when you are 14 hours in a plane.

if you are one of those lucky people who can sleep in a chair, good for you. And if your not, this would be a glimpse of it:

first you get on your seat.It's not very close to lavatories, so a big success! you sit relaxed, and wait for your meal. Then you turn on the monitor in front of you and choose your favourite movie and you think , Gosh! how I love the flights. Then the movie ends, 2 hours has passed. You close your eyes and hope for a sleep. when you open them and look at your watch, it's been only 15 minutes. so who cares , you've got your favourite novel with you. Besides the baby crying wouldn't let anyone sleep. you read on , your back want a stretch. you take a walk to washroom. when you are back, the flight information says, you have 5 more hours to go …

I don't continue , I guess everyone can guess the rest of it. Crimpy muscles, headaches… then you have to spend hours in an airport. I don't like airports. They are too emotional places for me to be. Sleepy people, sad people, business man, crying children, dramatic goodbyes, even dramatic hellos wont cheer you up.

But when you arrive, a welcoming smile is a relief.

I'm too excited to begin my adventure here. I can't wait to get a nice sleep and see the morning light. I know tomorrow will be a better day.

About this blog

First thing came to my mind when I decided to start a blog was this amazing cartoon of j.j.Sempe which I couldn't find to upload here: Two women are sitting in a cafe, chit chatting. One of them says to the other: It happened at two stage, II told myself: these are my memories, nobody can take it away from me. And then I thought: who would ever really want them? So who would really want them? Maybe my family or some friends, to know what I do in a foreign country when they are not busy with their own life. That would be reasonable if I wrote in persian, which is my native language. But I live in toronto now and I should talk and communicate in English all day long, so it's a good opportunity to practise my English,as well as sharing some experiences for those who like us, are searching for a new life in far away lands. P.S: As my dear salinger once said:"If there is an amateur reader still left in the world-or anybody who just reads and runs- I ask him or her, with untellable affection and gratitude", to mention my spells or grammar mistakes.