Austin trip - A different 6th street

Hanson decided to go to the 6th street. I was there once, but this time was different. When we got there, I heard a voice of someone who was singing, "Suleiman, Suleiman" I thought that he might be Arab or Pakistani or anything. However, once we got there, he started to sing a Persian song in English.

He sang, "

من مست و تو دیوانه  ما را که برد خانه

صد بار تو را گفتم کم خور دو سه پیمانه

"

It means, "I am drunk and you are lunatic; who will bring us to home now? I told you one hundred times, drink two or three cups less." It means that we are both drunken and stuck in the pothouse, and nobody can help us to bring us home. I always tell you not to drink a lot. If you had drunken a few cups less, then you could bring me home." It is one of the Rumi's songs. 

When we heard this, we became very interested to see him. The singer was a 50-60 years old person who were completely drunken. "It seems that they teleported him from Lalezar (A street in Tehran) at the 90's." Hanson said. There were many American people inside who were dancing with the music. It looked to be crowded.

Then, he read the translation of another Persian song. He sang, "I vowed not to drink again. Except tonight ... [people were screaming and applauding] ... and tomorrow night ... [people were screaming and applauding more] ... and the other nights ... [people were screaming and applauding to the death]" I was super amazing.

عهد کردم که دگر می نخورم به جز از امشب و فردا شب و شب های دگر

We stayed outside and saw his performance for about a quarter. We really enjoyed his performance. It was the performance that I have ever seen in my stay in the US. Hanson suggested to go inside. It had 5$ entry fee. The smell of alcohol was disgusting. So, I suggested to go inside and see other parts of the street first.

When I saw 6th Street, I got surprised. It was completely different from my previous visit. It was super crowded, and very live.

Henry and Hanson got a Pizza there, but I just watched around.

There were some beautiful girls in the street, but there was no chance to get to know none of them.

Many people had Halloween custom. There was also some signs of Halloween on the buildings.

There was a bar where a semi-naked girl was dancing with the music and laughing with the customers at its door. I haven't seen such a scene before in my life.

The streets were very beautiful.

Hanson really wanted to go and see that guy again. When we came back there, he was not there anymore. I also enjoyed the music there. "It was awesome. We made a big mistake by not going inside." Hanson said several times after leaving there.

Austin trip - Bicycle is Gold in Austin

"Bicycle? Bicycle is like a gold in Austin." Hanna said when Hanson asked her about why she didn't get a bicycle. Maybe Hanson didn't realize the depth of her opinion; I and Henry, however, saw exactly what she meant. We saw a wheel without a bicycle.

Me: "What else could he do? He locked his bike with a lock." 

Henry: "He should have locked the bike's frame."

It was not the only case. We saw several of them in our way.

However, the most amazing thing was this bike. The bike that was locked by its frame, and they had stolen its wheels. We laughed at this bike together.

"Without seeing this bike our trip was not complete. This is how they get wheels for the bikes they steal its frame only." I said.

Austin trip - A drunk girl who hugged Henry

Hanson called us to go back to his place. We were in our way that a cute blonde girl who were laughing and coming toward us, said hi to Henry. "How are you?" she said, and hugged Henry. "I am good." Henry said and hugged her. "Who is she? Is she Hanson's friend? How do you know us? Who is that muscular boy with her? Her boyfriend?" I was thinking to myself that she left us. "Why didn't she hug me? Where is Hanson? Who was she?" I thought to myself while I was looking at her leaving us being next to her boyfriend.

Henry: "drunkenness and the truth." (means that she was drunk and because of that she couldn't hide the truth that she had feelings for Henry)  (مستی و راستی)
Me: "Who was she?"
Henry: "A drunk girl."
Me: "I thought that she was Hanson's friend."
Henry: "No."
Me: "Why didn't you ask her to come with us? :)"
Henry: "Her boyfriend was with her. I am not looking for trouble."
Me: "It was very shocking. It was the first time that I have seen such a thing."
Henry: "But it had happened to me once again."

To tell the truth, I really wanted her to hug me, but she didn't do that. Overall, It was a very surprising experience. I saw so many boys and girls like that in the street. One got the other one's hand to prevent her/him falling. 

Austin trip - UTAusin in the night

We brought Hanna to her house. In the way, Hanna explained about the frat houses and some other things about the campus itself. We didn't see Hanna after that. However, she turned this idea on in me that how awesome the second generation of Iranian-American can be.

Henry and I walked along the streets and visited the campus.

Me: "I don't know why she didn't call me."
Henry: "Who?"
Me: "That girl that I gave my number to her."
Henry: "Why should she called you? Are you rich? Are you looking fashion? Are you in-shape? Are you young? Do you have hair on you head?"
Me: "I am a student now. I can't be rich. Does she need my money? I am not looking fashion now because I am trying to lose weight. I can't go and buy new clothes before I get the appropriate weight. And I am working out to get in-shape again. We could go there together. I am not young, but I am not even old. I can't do anything for my hair though."

We discussed about these things. He thinks that I am the problem. I need to be better; however, I think that this is not the case. It turns me down to talk about these things.

Austin Trip - Oasis

In the way, Hanna talked to us about a boy who wanted to be friend with her and he was very rich. She said, "he was ridiculously rich. He spent more than 50$ for a lunch in his home when I was there. He even called to bring ice-cream. Who does this? Some of the building in UT Austin is with his name because his father donated them to the university. I don't want to meet such a rich boy." And Hanson told a story about one of his friends. He said, "I was with him for a while, and I didn't know that he was very rich. I suggested to go to Europe once, and he accepted. I said, 'OK. I search for hotels and airplane tickets.' he said, 'Airplane ticket? It is not necessary. I think that we can get my father's jet.' I said, 'What??? Your father has a jet?'" We laughed a lot about Hanson's story.

The view of the streets was amazing. Hanna said, "I have never been in Shomal or any other parts of Iran. Every time we go to Iran, we just go to Shiraz to visit the family there." She didn't know that some parts of Austin was exactly like Shomal.

Eventually, we got to the Oasis. It was like a cozy places in the mountains of Iran.

I could easily see that many boys and girls are dating here because of the types of cars that were there.

It was also a marriage ceremony there.

We went to that restaurant to see the view.

I had this feeling that the things people see in the card postal, I see in-person. It is amazing.  

The view was amazing. Henry said, "My friend said that you could see the ocean from oasis." And Hanson said, "Either your friend didn't know this place, or he didn't know what the ocean is." I really liked the lake view though.

We decided to sit there and eat something. We had a very good conversation with Hanna. I really enjoyed it. She told us about her 70 days travel to the mountains of Canada where there were no antenna and no sign of human beings. She went with a bicycle team, and biked all the way. She was a very adventurous girl. "I am too old for these kinds of adventures" I said. "But I am not. When I finished my PhD, I am willing to experience it." Henry said.

We were there until night, and the sunset was as amazing as what Hanna said.

Then, they started to play a live music inside. I went to see the performance. Some people were dancing together.

Overall, it was a very great place, and very great night.

Austin Trip - Talking to an Iranian second generation - Capitol

Then, we went to see Hanna. She was living somewhere near UTAustin campus.

Some streets were very similar to Tehran streets. Hanson mentioned this several times during our visit.

It was a big game today at UTAustin, and it was crowded. Hanna came with us to see State Capitol first. She was the first Iranian-American that I talked to her during this one year stay in the US. Her talking was very amazing. She was speaking English with some Persian words in between her sentences. Sometime she was speaking English that she switch to Persian and vice versa. It was super awesome.

Capitol was not interesting to me because it was there once. Nevertheless, I enjoyed talking with Hanson and Hanna.

I hadn't seen this room before in Capitol. It was amazing. There were so many pictures on the wall of the previous years senators. It was a nice historical place.

I wanted to see other parts of the building that I haven't seen that time, but they were unwilling to see it. So, I didn't ask them to do that. Hanna suggested us to see Oasis before the sunset. I thought that she was not going to come with us there, but she came with us.