Our Happy Life

After three grueling days of selling, packing, and moving … we have finally gotten rid of almost everything … and have put over 80% of our belongings under a tarp. It’s funny to think that all we own, our “life” fits in a 20′ by 16′ tarp.

After talking with the Iranian consulate, I realize how frustrating sexism can be and the differences between men and women. If I were an Iranian man marrying a foreign woman, then she could be placed in my passport or receive her own Iranian passport. However, because I’m an Iranian woman marrying a foreign man, he still needs a visa to enter Iran.

After much deliberation and hours on the phone with American Airlines, the basic flight itinerary is final! We leave to LA on Aug 30, 2011. A little over a month to sell all our furniture, pack the belongings we want to keep, and turn in our apartment keys on July 17th. The final itinerary is:::::

We’ve spent over 10-15 hours on the phone with the American AAdvantage International Travel desk trying to come up with…

Terminated. That word doesn’t settle well with me. Why did the lady in the Graduate Medical Education Office tell me I was terminated and needed to turn in my badge and pager? I thought it’s just a one-year leave of absence. The department chair Dr. Galli and residency director Dr. Connolly gave me permission. In fact, I approached them nearly a year earlier to ask about the possibility of taking a year off.

Many friends have asked how we’re going to be able to travel around, why we’re doing it, how much it will cost, etc. I recently found a Q&A at BootsNAll and thought it was perfect to start the conversation.

When do you leave?
July/August 2011

How long do you plan to be away?
10 months

How much have you saved?
$25k – $30k (a budget for $2,500/month)