L.A. Reunion-Labor Day W.E. 2004

Fire

I think I was in 4th grade when there was a fire in the classroom that opened up in front of the jungle gym. It was in the middle of the day when we were told to go into the yard. Smoke was coming out next to the dining room and everyone was anxious. some teachers were holding us back from getting too close. A space heater had been turned over and perhaps some of the desks were burning. We saw Mohsen Khaan carrying the kids bags out of the class. He kept going back into the room, disappearing into the thick smoke. He had black smudges on his face and his hair looked burned and messy. At that moment I thought he was the bravest man alive. I felt taken care of and protected and with all the fear and anxiety I felt safe. From then on I had great respect for him and grew to like him more everyday.

The hooks

There was a class rivalry which began, I believe, around 4th grade. We used to ambush one of the kids from another class who happened to be walking around by himself. We typically needed at last 3 kids to do this, but there was no limit. After scaring the poor kid we would lift him up and hang him by his collar from one of those metal hooks that were abundant in all the hallways. The hooks were high enough on the wall to keep the kid's legs off the ground. He would usually be quiet since being caught hung from a hook was not well received by other kids. His friends would help him down usually.after we were gone. Needless to say I had many uniforms with holes in their collars.

First Grade with Hakimeh Khanoom

In first grade, Hakimeh Khanoom our teacher issued an ultimatum: "Anyone who has the dirtiest uniform will have his or her uniform hung above the blackboard after recess".  Well you can guess whose uniform was nicely hung from a nail on a hanger. I was very embarrassed as you can tell by the length of time it has remained in my memory. But that was not the only time I was embarrassed. My mom had asked her sister Hakimeh khanoom (or my khaleh Hakim) to have me drink a glass of milk every day. I remember very clearly how I hid under her desk from the rest of the class to slowly drink that horrible white "shame". As I was sitting there I would hear giggling and then little faces who would peak to meet mine only to hear my grumbling. Ah! the good old days.

Dorothy L. Nolte (1950's)

If a child lives with criticism
He learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
He learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
He learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
He learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with suppression
He learns to make trouble.
If a child lives with neglect
He learns not to care.
If a child lives with pain
He learns to feel hurt.
But
If a child lives with tolerance
He learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
He learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise
He learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness
He learns justice.
If a child lives with security
He learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval
He learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
He or She learns to find love in the world.

Farhad School Trees

I remember those Majestic pine trees soaring above my head. It seemed their canopies were scratching the sky. They had straight trunks and very rough barks. I used to cut out pieces of the bark and curve out the back and turn them into small boats which I used to float in our kitchen sink at home. There was also a shah-toot and a khormalou tree. I always wonder who would eat all the fruits. We used to hunt for the fallen pine cones and play soccer with them in the hayaateh-poshtee. I also remember getting hit in the face with the pine cone in one of those games and since then I told everyone that it made my nose crooked.

More memories

This one for Cina.

Ba dorood:

I only spent half a day at kindergarten. I cried my eyes out and my father picked me up. I did not come back until first grade.

The only memory of the day I have is somewhat funny.

When I was crying, I saw Sia Derafshi with his Blue ROOPOOSH with buttons on the back and big huge kangaroo style of pocket in front. I remember thinking why is this boy dressed up like girls?!!! That weirdness attributed my refusal of attending school that year.

I missed you all at kindergarten but got with you all at first grade when I fell in love with Simin Khanoom....did you know that I proposed to her?!!

Yeap I did and she said when I grow up and get a job she would marry me. Eat your hearts out.

Oh, yeah, I talked to her back in early 90s when she came on Iranian Radio (KRSI) and I called her. She recognized me and I told her that I am married now but is her offer still valid? :)

Ba sepas
Cina

Share your memories of Farhad school.

I'll start with pre-k and Kindergarten days. One of my very early memories and one that I really liked to do is of the finger paintings we did in pre-K. I remember the brown and orange colors I used to smudge around the sheet. A few years ago my dad sent me a package of my very early art work from those pre-K days and now I can show my kids those paintings and see the smile that grows on their faces.
I also remember the dreaded nap time when we had to put all the tables together to make a giant platform to spread all the little blankets.
That slide in the yard was a giant structure that only gave soaring pleasure coming down it.
We we moved upstairs for the Kindergarten we used to call down: "moghadamaatee-ah beyon baallaa, roghanabaatee-ah beyon baallaa".
And that horrible day when I fell on the planter's railing and split my knee. That was the first time I saw my own flesh. brrrrr.
Omid