“Every morning, I wake up and walk barefoot to my grandfather’s house, where we share a cup of coffee (and sometimes a man’ousheh). I sit and listen to his life stories. In this audio recording, my 98-year-old grandfather recounts his memories of working at the airport customs and how he was one of four students chosen to study in France. He reminisces about his time in Paris and his adventures traveling by train across France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and Greece, as well as his car trips to Turkey, Syria, and Eastern Europe at dawn. He also shares his experiences in Iran and Senegal, where he was invited by his childhood friend George. He always reminds me that traveling is about connecting with people and that you are never truly alone.”

– Maya Rafie July 17, 2024