Gabriella
Iran & Scotland/England
my name is Gabriella Yasmin Farahmand
[Gab-ri-ell-a Yas-meen Far-ah-mand]
my divine roots are from Iran & Scotland/England.
i identify as iranian-american.
i was born in los angeles, california.
ROOTS
I am both Iranian and American; I have always felt connected to both sides.
My dad’s roots are from Iran. He immigrated to Los Angeles in the late 70s, right before the Iranian Revolution. He left behind everything he knew and traveled across the world to rebuild his life from the ground up to pursue better opportunities.
A true manifestation of the American Dream — he began by working as a bellhop at a hotel while going to school full-time to growing his career in sales at a luxury car company.
My mom’s roots trace back to Scotland & England, but she grew up in a rural town in Wyoming. in the 80s, She and her friends decided to leave the small town life to explore new terrain. They were excited by the sunshine, warm weather, and beaches of california, so they drove across the country to los angeles.
colliding of two worlds
My mom’s first job in LA was as a bank teller. One day, my dad saw her when he came into the bank and used his charm to convince her to go out on a date with him. They went to the Bel Air Hotel for a drink followed by dinner at an authentic Moroccan restaurant in Westwood, setting the tone for their blended life together ahead. a year later, They got married.
They both experienced culture shock when first colliding worlds. My mom loved nature, hiking, and animals… My dad loved… Vegas, ha. Despite their stark cultural differences, they both came from hardworking families and homes filled with warmth and love, so they infused that energy into the home they built together.
Over the years, they learned to balance each other out. My mom embraced Persian culture – she learned Farsi, cooked Persian food for us every night, and celebrated every Iranian holiday along with every american holiday as a family.
As a humble, grounded person raised in the countryside, she also held my dad accountable as he learned to soften some of the gender roles that were instilled into him culturally.
have you visited the land?
Unfortunately, I have not visited Iran. I’ve always wanted to and tried to plan a trip, but never felt 100% safe enough to do so with the current regime. Hopefully, the current regime will be out soon and I can safely visit.
I have not visited Scotland, but I have visited London, England and did not feel much of a connection.
I feel way more connected to Wyoming, as I spent a lot of time there in nature with my mom’s family. I have great childhood memories of riding horses, picking rhubarb, dipping it in sugar… peaceful moments Outdoors with loved ones.
do you speak the language?
I understand the majority of Farsi, but I’m not fluent. I would like to take lessons and learn to be fluent so I can be more conversational at family gatherings.
we shot in HOLMBY PARK in HOLMBY HILLS, california —
why does that setting feel like home for you?
My dad shared that some of his most joyous memories in Tehran were while spending time in nature at parks, especially in the spring. We channeled that peaceful 1970s picnic feel at a park that I love in LA.
We shot this around Nowruz, which means “new day”
and is celebrated during the Spring Equinox (by many countries including Iran). Similar to New Year, it’s a time of rebirth, commemorating spring and fertility, as well as overcoming sorrow and darkness.
During Nowruz, Persians create a symbolic table spread called the Haft-Seen
which means “seven things that start with the letter S” — These 7 elements symbolize a happy new year:
Sabzeh = sprouted wheatgrass ~ rebirth & growth
Samanu = sweet wheat pudding ~ power & strength
Senjed = sweet dry fruit of the lotus tree ~ love
Serkeh = vinegar ~ patience
Seeb = apple ~ beauty
Seer = garlic ~ good health
Somaq = sumac ~ sunrise
You can also add to the spread so I added
Sonbol = hyacinth ~ springtime
Shirini = sweets ~ happiness & joy
[these are Nan Nokhodchi — Persian chickpea flour cookies]
My heart feels heavy this Nowruz, but I'm so proud of the Iranian people continuing to fight for freedom.
One thing this revolution has taught me is how incredibly powerful we are as a collective. Iranians from all over the globe are coming together for a unified cause.
This Nowruz, I will think of those mourning loved ones and those who are continuing to risk their lives for a free Iran. I will lean into the faith this holiday represents and remain hopeful for a new year of healing and change.
For Woman. Life. Freedom.
what do you love most about la?
There’s so much to love about LA – diversity amongst cultures, food, and even the terrain. Where else can you go from the ocean to mountains within an hour?
I also love that there’s a strong Persian community here, my family is here, I feel rooted here [despite being so physically far from iran]. Sometimes I toy with the idea of leaving LA, but I can’t imagine another city where I can have that access to my community. As a new mom, I want my son to experience that as well.
what don’t you love about la?
On the other side, having a child brings everything into reality – lately I’ve felt very unsafe here, there are higher crime rates, and the city feels more divided than ever.
People seem to be more into political/party affiliation versus openly wanting to discuss actual human issues. I wish we could come together as a whole instead of focusing on politics.
Sadly it’s not the same LA I grew up in, which is hard to come to terms with because I’m so proud of being from LA.
how has your experience in la affected your worldview?
I’m really grateful to have been raised in LA, because I was able to have access to my culture as well as encouraged to diversify my surroundings and learn from other cultures.
Growing up, two of my best friends were also half-Persian, so that gave me a sense of community and helped me not feel completely out of place. While we came from different religious backgrounds, that never stopped us from connecting to our cultural identity or connecting as humans.
one of my best friends is a Persian Jew and My dad is Muslim. Growing up, our families joined each other every week for Shabbat dinner. Those moments always felt so special because regardless of our belief systems, we all connected through food, laughter and love.
I’m also so grateful to have freedom here. In America, we have the privilege and opportunity to say and wear what we want, to celebrate publicly… under the current regime, Women in Iran can’t sing or dance in public.
what are examples of intergenerational trauma in your culture?
Overall, The Western world has painted such a dark picture of Iran and the Iranian people.
Especially since the current regime, the women of Iran have been portrayed as “less than” – less dominant, more subservient and docile. People have been conditioned to accept these unrealistic expectations and assumptions about women and their role in society.
While the current regime is absolutely dark, the people and culture are so vibrant. We must shift the narrative of Iran being a gloomy, one-dimensional place. in reality, Iran is a poetic, art-filled place.
In my own experience, 9/11 was one of the first times I felt I should be “embarrassed” to be from Iran, or the Middle East overall. Islamophobia was at an all time high and I remember a few of my classmates teasing me about my last name and making backhanded remarks, like joking that my dad was a terrorist. While they may have thought it was lighthearted, it made me question my own cultural background.
what are examples of intergenerational resilience in your culture?
My dad set the example of always being so proud of his roots, no matter the backlash, at any point in time. He was always so joyful about the culture, he encouraged everyone to try to experience the beauty of it.
The current revolution in Iran is being led by a new generation of women and students, where the women are reclaiming their power even in the face of death. It's chillingly inspiring.
And the men are fighting alongside them, for their mothers, sisters, daughters, and the future of Iran. Everyone is coming together to break that cycle of fear, injustice, and trauma the current regime has instilled. That bravery and resilience despite the horrific consequences is unimaginable.
how do you break the cycle?
As painful as it is to talk about what’s happening in Iran, I will continue to raise awareness in my community.
From emailing my elected officials to ensure bills like the MAHSA Act get passed, to signing petitions, to posting on social media, and sharing the names and stories of these brave people; with enough outcry and pressure from the international community, I do believe that it can spark change.
While it can feel exhausting to do so, only to see performative media coverage with no actual action behind it [from the international community], it makes it worthwhile knowing that keeping the current revolution in Iran top of mind, reignites the flame of the people in Iran who are fighting to make change.
Iranians Knowing that their stories are not being silenced, and that people all over the world are supporting them, gives them a renewed sense of hope and fuel to go out into the streets to protest, sing, dance, take off their hijabs, and stand against their oppressors. They are reminded that no matter how dark it gets, they are not alone.
I will also continue to celebrate and share my culture here in America, and inspire my son to do so too, just like my dad inspired me.
how do you honor your roots / culture?
I intentionally decided to name my son a Persian name — Iman which means “faith” in Farsi. I want to encourage him to be proud of where he came from and to have the confidence to carry and love such a strong name, even if people mispronounce it.
In my home, I incorporate items from iran that I deeply cherish, like furniture passed on from my dad & grandparents as well as rugs, tapestries, and paintings.
Family is an integral part of Persian culture. I put a lot of energy into continuing to keep those relationships close by carrying on traditions like weekly DINNERS and spending time celebrating our culture TOGETHER.
Gabriella built her career in the fashion industry but now she’s focused on her favorite job of all, motherhood
@gabriellafarahmand
places in the local community that feel like home:
Saffron and Rose Ice Cream in westwood. My grandparents would always have Persian ice cream at home so eating it brings back good memories. they have lots of unique flavors, My personal favorites are white rose and green pistachio.
Someone in the online community you are inspired by
@middleeastarchive - an instagram account that shares archival photography from the Middle East. I love it because it shares glimpses of true beauty and depth that are rarely publicized when recounting the diverse experiences and rich history of the Middle East.