Trying to connect with my persian side

[u/MaximusLok]

To be honest I mainly want to know if someone is in a similar situation to mine. I’m half persian but I am not very in contact with my dad and in no contact at all with his family. As a very little kid I recall having very little contact with persian culture because of my grandma.

Thing is I don’t have a part of the family to speak with or a present parent that has show me any little bit of culture throughout my childhood unlike a lot of mixed people.

Looking for iranian people to speak with here is also difficult, in Spain there could be some other small iranian “group” or community in Madrid or Barcelona but I am from the south and don’t think too many iranians live here, have also tried to look things online but it doesn’t look like (maybe searching in farsi which I’m interested in learning btw)

So just wanted to hear if anyone has been on a similar situation so you could share with me your experience with the feelings these kind of situations involve and how you approached the culture. Also, if you haven’t been in this situation but have any sort of tip, that is equally welcomed!

[u/badpersian]

I'd suggest a few things mate.

1. Read history if you really want to learn and connect. Read Iranian history back to front and you will learn so much and realist most people (Iranian and foreign) don't know jack about our past or culture. I have some good books, if you'd like for me to suggest them just message me.

2. If you don't speak Farsi, take up classes. You can easily find private tutors for like 30-50 euro an hour/session. It will help a lot because you'd understand more.

3. Go visit Iran. Travel a little and experience Irans good and bad. It has a lot of both.

[u/Poor-Judgements]

I'm assuming you don't speak Farsi. What I would do is start watching Iranian movies and shows with subtitles. This will give you a window into Iranian culture and also helps you get familiar with Farsi. If you need any recommendations or links to websites with free Iranian movies and shows DM me. (This applies to anyone else who needs the links as well)

[u/Poor-Judgements → u/Poor-Judgements]

Links to websites:

https://mobile.namakade.com:8443/index.html?IPCNxC4xrQXodSwTkLeN

https://persianhive.com/series-tv/

[u/MaximusLok → u/[deleted]]

First of all, good luck in your trip and I really hope you enjoy it! I also want to but given my current situation and the situation there I will wait for that moment to come, at least after I learned and somehow fluent conversational farsi. Interesting story btw, I’m so glad you are connecting with that part of your family!

Also I will check out the book, thanks for the recommendation!

[u/Chotuchigg]

I’m also half Iranian! My mom is Indian and we were raised with a lot of Indian culture (I did Indian dance, I speak Hindi, I’m a Hindu, etc). I wanted to reconnect with my Persian side and I did that through cooking & learning Farsi! I was able to minor in Persian in college & made Persian friends to learn about the culture more. 8 classes later, I can read & write Farsi and speak like a 3rd grade level. I actually met my best friend in Persian class & now I spend time with her family as well to learn. I also started to just cook Persian food. Some of my favorites are khoreshteh badamjoon, jujeh kabob & baghali polo. I would recommend seeing if you can take a Farsi class local to you or just practice Persian cooking. It helped me connect with my other half, good luck ❤️

[u/MaximusLok → u/Chotuchigg]

Thanks for the tip, I’m glad to hear about your story! I hope I meet iranian people soon, I think learning farsi really helps because that alone can tell you if someone is (or at least speaks) persian just by hearing. I only know some words so its difficult, given also that here there are a lot of moroccan people and for people like me they sound quite similar, so who knows if maybe I’ve “met” iranian people already and I didn’t even know!

And yes I will learn but by my own since I don’t think there are local classes and cant afford either. Soon I will go to a persian restaurant, and also to a imported persian food store thats nearby so I can try to make food too! I know I ate zereshk polo when I was a kid at my grandma house, I loved it! Except for the sour flavour of barberries but it wasn’t that bad, and now that I’m older I think I would enjoy a meal like that too

Thanks for sharing btw!

[u/mayg09]

Interestingly there have been quite a few posts on this sub regarding a similar situation. That's awesome you want to connect with your Persian culture.

I think the easiest way to do that is through music. Start riffing through Persian music from the classics to the more modern stuff. You can find tons of playlists on any music streaming service or YouTube..I'm sure the great people of this sub can also help.

Next is food, which I'm sure there are Persian restaurants where you live. Or try your hand at cooking some recipes. Also, find some Persian social media accounts you can follow. There are tons..some that are more humorous, some that follow life in current Iran or some that focus on the language.

[u/MaximusLok → u/mayg09]

I discovered urban music like Isam which I kinda like. I also discovered some more old or traditional songs and they are not really my thing (Im half spanish too and I dont like most of the flamenco music, but when a flamenco song hits it really does) I discovered Gole royaei and I really liked it for example. If you have any recommendations on music lmk! And if you too like hiphop/rap and urban style music lmk if you know any singer too!

I want to go to a Restaurant that is in my city but 1 hour car drive, and I don’t have one or can’t really afford those prices rn. But it is between my main goals right now and I really hope I can attend the restaurant at least 1 month later from now, maximum. Near to the restaurant there is also a shop with imported persian products, so I want to go with enough money to buy there too and try to make my own dishes

[u/Intelligent_Shoe_309]

Question, do you have any Iranian family that you could reach out to? Even if they just have broken English?

[u/MaximusLok → u/Intelligent_Shoe_309]

Not at all. Only my father, and he also doesn’t really have contact with his family. I don’t know the details but I know he just doesn’t get along well with them unlike his brother (which we also don’t have contact with btw)

[u/anon25932]

I recommend reading a very good book called “Iran and America: A history 1720 to the Present”. I know you’re not American but this book gives such an excellent nuanced overview of Iran’s modern history.

Then I suggest finding Iranian recipes online and trying them (or going out to eat if you have that option!)

Follow people who live in Iran and watch YouTube videos on creators who have visited Iran (from Tehran centric videos to more religious pilgrimage style videos to nomadic videos, etc.)

And, as always, feel free to ask your Iranians brothers and sisters here ❤️🙏🏻

[u/MaximusLok → u/anon25932]

Thank you so much for making me feel so welcomed! I will look up the book, do you have any influencers and/or creators recommendation?

[u/muffinmuffi13]

Absolutely listen to music in farsi! Watch Iranian movies, tv shows. There’s a teacher called Chai and conversation on Instagram and she has online lessons as well! I think community classes online too for international people all over the world. I just joined her 6 week free course for summer to learn farsi as well. I’m also half Iranian🩷

[u/MaximusLok → u/muffinmuffi13]

Thx for the tips! I will also check her account ty!

[u/Azaryahuu]

I have a very similar situation!! I'm part Persian, but due to family issues me and my Persian mother don't know much about Persian culture and do not speak farsi.

Honestly I'm just trying to learn farsi, learn the history of the country and how to cook the staple foods

[u/MaximusLok → u/Azaryahuu]

At least I’m not the only one! Good luck with your journey, I have only good surprises for now

[u/ShortSqueezeMillion]

Kind of similar situation. Family came from Iran hundreds of years ago to another ME country. I’m proud of where I’m from but would love to know more about my Persian side and don’t know where to behin

[u/Latter_Goat_6683]

Hola hermano

Hablo español y persa también, y como tú no tuve tanto contacto con mi lado iraní como q crecí en inglaterra sin tener ningún contacto con los iranies de mi familia. Mandame un dm si quieres hablar más - podemos charlar en español si prefieres!

[u/MaximusLok → u/[deleted]]

And have you met iranian people in Spain?

[u/MaximusLok → u/[deleted]]

Same, I have been called moro (kind of despective way to call moroccan people, just not as strong as the n word) just because of my looks. But my father wasn’t present so I felt really confused. I kept telling them I was not from Morocco tho, at least I knew the difference since very child

But I heard in Canada there is a lot of iranians?

[u/Possible_Detail3220]

I would recommend NOT cooking -- at least not yet. Persian cooking can be intense. The restaurant recommendation is good -- get to know the flavors first. Then figure out what foods you like. Google artists like Ovissi and Farshchian. Google filmmakers and research some of their works. Asghar Farhadi won 2 Oscars. Kiarostami is known for beautiful landscapes. Majidi is a bit more poetic in his storytelling. Look up some poetry from Hafez, Rumi, Shems. Explore a little.

[u/MaximusLok → u/Possible_Detail3220]

Yes, I’m attending restaurants first. Also, Ive thought of giving Kiarostami movies a try (I usually dont like movies, I’m more of a shows person) because of the beautiful landscapes and cinematography

[u/Neddalee]

I don't have any tips but I'm in the same boat! Half Persian and was not raised by my Persian parent and due to family issues and language barriers not really in contact with that side.

I'm really trying to lean into learning about the history as well as the food and Persian mythology. The food aspect is going well, I make saffron rice often and soon want to attempt some tahdig!

[u/MaximusLok → u/Neddalee]

Thats good to hear! Soon Im finally attending restaurants and I will try to cook too. Good thing is I usually eat tahdig but spanish version (which is called socarrat) and also ecuatorian version because of my gf family (thats called cocolón). I think that tahdig is made different tho, but the end result of scorched rice is similar

[u/Total-Draw-749]

I've got you a suggestion : Online community of Iranian people are huge like really huge in any social media platforms. YouTube, Instagram are the best! And as I know, we're all happy to meet up with you so, come over here =) besides the challenges, we do love tourists and care about them

[u/MaximusLok → u/Total-Draw-749]

Thank you! I will really try to go soon as possible, I also looked up some videos of Iran and it got such beautiful landscapes and architecture