What should I say?

As I'm writing this on Saturday evening after a long day, the silver walled clock in my room shows 11:20 while the more reliable PC clock is noticeably earlier at 11:15. My anxious brain obligates me to write a new post, while my fatigued body longs to snuggle in the bed and doze off! I am searching for a good excuse to continue. Torn between the heavenly world of ideals and the earthly realm of the body, I remember a rather mundane line from my favorite brooding British poet laureate, Philip Larkin:

"Work has to be done."(Aubade)

I used to brood a lot myself. In fact, I still do, though not as much as I used to. Sure the thought of an oppressive Middle Eastern regime with its lackeys residing happily in the West and a nation(?) in turmoil still haunts me every once in a while. And then there's the daily struggle of trying to fit into a society where I clearly don’t belong. Yet for quite a while, everything—including despair and frustration—has been settling into its own place in my mind, and I believe thoughts of death play an important role in that. As I'm getting older, I've started to realize its inevitability no matter how headfirst and raging one goes into that good night and that has a soothing effect on those unwanted yet resurging feelings.

I'd be lying if I said I'm not afraid of death yet I'd be equally dishonest if I claimed I feel the need for heroism in the face of its inevitability. Meanwhile, I assume this is where I have to explain what I find essential to do while caught between my inability to escape and my struggle to accept.

Why did I start this blog?

To put it briefly because I had nothing better to do! I'm neither a poet nor a postman, or a doctor for that matter. Be that as it may, I still need to busy myself while I'm waiting for the inevitable to happen. Not only that, but also the exhilarating pleasure of reading, capturing moments, and sharing them with a handful of people around me. I take pleasure in learning and teaching too. And there are not many things in this world that can make me happier than executing a well planned language lesson and having a satisfied learner by the end of it.

Even without blogging life is not too boring! Currently, I'm teaching at a language school based in Turin and have a handful of private learners from Italy and abroad. I talk to them and learn a lot from them too! During my spare time, I take photos and even try to learn how to ride a scooter. Not bad for a Middle Easterner with a modest background living around here! So much for waiting for the inevitable, right?

Granted, there is a thrill in blogging that I can't find anywhere else. I don't mind Instagram but I don't find it a proper place to communicate as it is more about hashtags, meaningless motivational quotes, flaunting materials and whatnot than a platform designed for expressing oneself. Plus, as a language enthusiast, I’d love to share my two cents on teaching and learning languages, as well as reflect on the darker aspects of the language industry.

Before I Go

It's Sunday evening and tomorrow I have to work all day . Death is a whole day nearer, and honestly, I'm starting to get sick of all my references to the poem. I'm also struggling to wrap up this blog after drifting off last night. At the same time I should avoid rambling too much on the small pleasures in life, the inevitability of death or the importance of blogging. For now, I’ll keep tweaking a few settings—maybe add some sections and definitely expand with pieces in Persian and Italian! If you know those languages, feel free to give the Persian and Italian pages of the website a visit as well!