"We should cherish and embrace our freedom."

Refugee

"In the 1980s my father came to the Netherlands as a refugee. Refugees were looked at differently then. With sympathy, and an open mind."

After he received a residence permit, my mother, brother and I flew after him. We ended up in the Groningen countryside. That took some getting used to. Not just the climate or the food but also the people. Physically I was in the Netherlands but in my head I regularly returned to my country of birth. Those moments I felt close to my grandparents again, which we unfortunately had to leave behind. They secretly gave me some pocket money every week, which I immediately spent on candy."

Freedom

"Living in freedom is a privilege. I want to shout it from the rooftops when I see how often we often take it for granted. I have been back to Iran a few times and there I was confronted with the fact that freedom is unfortunately not naturally for everyone. Therefore we must embrace and cherish it."

Two-way street

"Moving to another country means you (partly) master a different culture. It starts with opening yourself up to it. But we often overlook that integration is a two-way street. As a newcomer you must have the opportunity and time to integrate.

Erasmus University is not just talking the talk. Refugee students can follow a preparatory year in preparation for a bachelor or master study so they have a better chance to succeed. And there are very many students on campus who would like to help a refugee student with learning the Dutch language."

Plan

"I have been living in the Netherlands for much longer than I have ever lived in Iran. And my homeland becomes a pile of memories, deeply tucked away in my brain.

In one thing I will never become  a Dutchman: I don't want to plan anything, not even now that I am the father of two beautiful daughters. I'd rather absorb life in all its facets as if every day is my last."