I almost lost count of the weeks I’ve been here in Vienna. It still seems surreal sometimes but I’m finally returning!

Spring seems to be settling in nicely in Vienna. The last few days, there seems to be new bird symphonies a bit everywhere. I have been going to the park everyday, trying to take in every bit of fresh air before I leave.

This last weekend, it finally felt almost normal again. Restaurants reopened and we could sit again in the sun and enjoy a different type of food. The only thing different was that the waiters had now matching masks to go with their usual attire. You could feel their enthusiasm from being back at work. The tables were also rearranged to keep the required distance. But to feel the sun in our faces and enjoy nice food was priceless.

You could feel the relaxing atmosphere and a hopeful feeling that from here on, things can hopefully only get better.

Even the ducks seemed to be excited to see so many people again. They were coming out of the lake and getting very close. It was like they could not believe their eyes. No social distancing on their part!

Looking at the lake and the sailing boats at a distance, I thought about what is expecting me in Tehran. I am going to return after an absence of almost 3 months mostly to pack my home and say my goodbyes. This was not how I thought my time in Tehran would end. I thought I would have more time. More time to travel, more time to spend with my friends, more time to get used to the idea that this summer is my last one.

Life played its tricks again and we need to adapt and accept there are things we are unable to control. I feel life has been playing tricks on Iran for far too long. It is like a never ending story of one bad thing after another. I have witnessed and admired how Iranians have picked themselves up over and over and tried to survive the best they can.

My heart goes out to them as they are wonderful people who have received me in their country with nothing but kindness and warmth. My wish is that things will get better really soon and that they can find their way into happier, prosperous times. I’m very hopeful they will.

I’m not looking forward to bid farewell, I will try to make the most of the short time we still have. For now I just want to see those mountains again and that city, Tehran, that became my home for the last 4 years. My sails will again move with the force of other winds but Iran will stay with me forever.