Persian: Fight and Revenge – Never, Ever, Give Up Your Passions

How It All Started: From Hungarian Forums to Geopolitics

In my last post, I talked about how Hungarian and online communities introduced me to a new way of connecting with people. That experience was powerful—but it was only the beginning.

In November 2011, I stumbled upon something that would completely change the direction of my life: Iran.

Back then, geopolitical discussions about Iran were everywhere. The more I read, the more I realized how little I knew. Curiosity turned into obsession.

As usual, I found myself on Omniglot.com, the multilingual haven for language nerds. I didn’t even know what language Iranians spoke—maybe Arabic? But then I clicked on a Persian audio file, and boom.

I fell in love. Instantly.

Falling for Persian (Literally)

I headed to Milan and bought one of the best language books I’ve ever seen. Published in 1974, it confirmed something I still believe: the older the language book, the better the quality.

Alongside that, I bought a guidebook on Iran and carried it everywhere for nearly a year.

A Party That Changed Everything

By coincidence, I learned that quite a few Iranians lived in my hometown of Lecco. One thing led to another, and in February 2012, I found myself at an Iranian party.

That night was pivotal.

I’ve always been extremely selective with my friendships. I hate small talk and would rather be alone than bored. But Iranians were unlike anyone I’d ever met—curious, kind, open. They brought light into a very dark moment of my life.

It didn’t take long before I was practicing Persian with strangers on buses, trains, even in the streets. My go-to line?

“Bebakhshid, shoma Farsi harf mizanid?” (Excuse me, do you speak Persian?)

Their responses were always warm, always encouraging. That kindness only made me fall deeper.

Why Persian Meant So Much (Especially Then)

Let me give you some context: I had just returned from five years in Brussels, and I felt suffocated in my hometown. I hated the atmosphere, and Persian became a form of rebellion, of survival.

Later on, I met wonderful Belgians and people who inspired me in a different way. But at that moment, Iranians gave me a reason to breathe.

When Passion Meets the Internet

Just like I had done with Hungarians, I dove into online groups. This time, I joined Facebook communities for Iranians planning to study in Italy. I shared info, offered help, and practiced Persian.

Eventually, friends encouraged me to open my own group—and I did. Within months, it had 4,000 members.

That group became the highlight of my days.

Especially because at the time, I was stuck in something I hated: law school.

A Quick Rant About School and Wasted Time

Honestly, I don’t have many good memories from university. I thought it would be a liberation from the meaningless pressure of high school, but it turned out to be another cage.

High school was even worse. I had abusive, old-fashioned teachers who were more interested in power plays than education. They could have seriously ruined my future with their arbitrary grading.

I felt like I was drowning in a system that rewarded conformity and punished creativity.

Looking back, I know I was too immature and insecure to fight back. I overvalued university. I wish I had had the guts to say:

“Fk this. Fk them. This is my life.”

If my kids go through something similar, I’ll be vigilant. I’ll teach them that they don’t have to suffer to succeed.

Why Fight?

Because everything was against me.

Everyone around me told me that Persian was a waste of time. Some even asked when I would shut down my Facebook group.

It broke me.

It felt like someone was ripping away the only source of joy I had. Learning Persian wasn’t just a hobby—it was rescue.

And Why Revenge?

Because it worked.

Thanks to Persian, I landed two small jobs at international trade fairs. I worked for Iranian companies, using a language I had taught myself with no help from anyone.

Later, it played a role in landing me an internship at the Italian Embassy in Moscow.

Today, I work as a language teacher, and guess what? A lot of my students are Iranian. They choose me because I can speak their language. That’s not a coincidence. That’s proof.

Trust Yourself

If you find something that gives you life, even when nobody else understands it—hold on to it.

You might be the only one who sees the value at first, but that doesn't make it any less real.

Don’t give up. Ever.

Persian gave me purpose, joy, friends, jobs, and identity during a time when I felt I had none of those. If you’re in a dark place, I hope you find your own version of Persian.

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