Bye-Bye New York: Emad Kiyaei

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Moth – "Bye-Bye New York" by Emad Kiyaei

Release Date: January 11, 2019

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Introduction to the Episode

In the January 11, 2019 episode of The Moth Podcast, titled "Bye-Bye New York", host Dan Kennedy presents a poignant and personal story by Emad Kiyaei. This episode is part of a special event, the Moth Grand Slam held in Brooklyn, New York, where ten Grand Slam winners compete by sharing new stories under the theme "Lost and Found." Notably, this event featured Emad participating remotely from Cape Town, South Africa, via Skype, marking a first in Moth Grand Slam history.

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Event Setup and Host Introduction

Dan Kennedy sets the stage by explaining the unique format of the Grand Slam, highlighting the exceptional participation of Emad Kiyaei:

"This event was a first in Moth Grand Slam history because we had one storyteller who was not live on stage, but joining us from Cape Town, South Africa via Skype Audio." [01:32]

Ophira Eisenberg, the co-host, elaborates on the technical and emotional logistics of including a remote storyteller:

"But we have an exception with the storyteller who won a slam and then he was forced to leave the country because immigration for some nationals has become more complicated." [02:30]

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Emad Kiyaei’s Story: From Arrival to Assimilation

Emad Kiyaei begins his narrative by recounting his journey from South Africa to New York 16 years prior, driven by a dream to pursue higher education:

"I yahooed a cheap good university in New York so I can make my dream come true." [04:50]

He describes his naive optimism and the physical and emotional toll of relocating:

"I packed up my small belongings into two suitcases and a backpack and stuffed all of my money, all my savings so I can pay for the cheap tuition in America into my pockets, into my jacket because it was cold winter in Cape Town." [05:07]

Upon arriving at JFK Airport, Emad faces immediate adversity amid heightened security tensions:

"As I approached the immigration officer, I gave him my passport. And he looked at me, he looked at the passport, he looked at me, he looked at the passport. And I will never forget his face or his hands when it started shaking." [06:27]

Emad vividly describes the intense scrutiny and fear during his immigration interrogation:

"I was surrounded by immigration officers, military dogs and people in plain suits, plain clothes, screaming at me, 'Step to the side, sir, step to the side.'" [06:42]

Despite the harrowing experience, a compassionate encounter helps him navigate his first days in New York:

"There was though this African American lady who was cleaning the airport. And God bless her because she gave me such accurate instructions and even took me to catch a bus to Jamaica Station and then the train to stony Brooklyn." [09:00]

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Building a Life in New York

Over the next 16 years, Emad establishes a life in New York, cherishing the city as his home:

"New York was my home. Where I first fell in love and first heartache. Where I roamed the city and hustled like everybody else. Where I got my education, my career and my friends who became my family." [09:30]

He reflects on his personal and professional growth, finding love, enduring heartbreak, and building meaningful relationships that shaped his identity.

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The Forced Departure: Immigration Policy Changes

Emad’s story takes a tragic turn following political changes and tightening immigration policies in the United States. After a prolonged and hopeful process to obtain permanent residency, his application is abruptly denied:

"Suddenly things had changed and my application was denied. I was given a very small window to pack up my shit and leave United States." [08:50]

Faced with the imminent need to leave, Emad describes the emotional and logistical challenges of uprooting once more:

"It is very difficult to reconcile that my whole life, my most important years have been spent in New York. And to that I want to say that I hope that one day will come and this time will pass." [10:53]

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Return to Cape Town: A Complex Sense of Loss and Beauty

Returning to Cape Town, Emad experiences a tumultuous mix of emotions—loss of his home and the beauty of returning to his roots:

"I was sent off and forced out of the country in the dead winter of New York in February and coming to the summer of Cape Town, which is absolutely gorgeous." [10:56]

He acknowledges the pain of leaving New York but also finds solace in the familiar environment of Cape Town:

"But it was a lost and found and loss in a sense because it is very difficult to reconcile that my whole life, my most important years have been spent in New York." [10:56]

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Reflections and Hope for the Future

Emad concludes his story with a message of resilience and hope, appreciating the support from civil society and expressing optimism for policy changes:

"I hope that one day will come and this time will pass. And it is incredible the amount of heart outpour and the abilities of civil society to really challenge what has happened in the United States." [10:56]

He extends his gratitude and love to the audience, symbolizing a bridge between his past in New York and his present in Cape Town:

"I give you power, I give you love. And I send you all from the end of the world in Cape Town. And I thank you for allowing me to tell you my story." [10:56]

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Grand Slam Outcome and Conclusion

After a heartfelt and compelling performance, Emad is declared the Grand Slam champion, receiving the highest score of the night despite performing from nearly 8,000 miles away:

"And yet the judges gave him the highest score of the night and he pulled out a win at that Grand Slam." [12:09]

Ophira Eisenberg and Dan Kennedy congratulate Emad, acknowledging the difficulty of making a connection under such circumstances:

"Consider how hard it is making a connection with an audience from 20ft away, let alone almost 8,000 miles." [12:21]

The episode closes with encouragement for listeners to share their own stories through The Moth’s Story Slams, fostering a community of shared experiences and storytelling.

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Notable Quotes

• Imad Kiyahi: "I'm so sorry that I'm not there in person. You have no idea how much I miss that beautiful city and its smelly subways." [04:16]

• Imad Kiyahi: "It was as if I had found myself again selling or getting rid of everything." [09:50]

• Imad Kiyahi: "But I don't want to end this in a bad note because... there is some beauty of it." [10:53]

• Dan Kennedy: "Hey." [12:12] (Expressing genuine emotion upon hearing Emad’s victory)

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Final Thoughts

"Bye-Bye New York" is a moving testament to the immigrant experience, highlighting themes of hope, resilience, and the profound impact of political landscapes on individual lives. Emad Kiyaei’s story not only sheds light on the personal struggles faced by many immigrants but also underscores the universal quest for home, belonging, and the courage to rebuild amidst adversity.

For those inspired by Emad’s narrative, The Moth encourages participation in their Story Slams, inviting individuals to share their own transformative experiences and foster a tapestry of human stories.

Visit themoth.org for more information on programs and live events.

Transcript

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[Dan Kennedy]

I'm Dan Kennedy. On today's episode, a story that was told last month at a Moth Grand Slam here in New York, in Brooklyn actually. So at moth grand slams, 10 moth story slam winners face off against each other. They tell brand new stories and at the end of the night, one storyteller is to declared the Grand Slam champion. So it's really kind of the best of the best from our open mic storytelling series. This event was a first in Moth Grand Slam history because we had one storyteller who was not live on stage, but joining us from Cape Town, South Africa via Skype Audio. So virtual participation in a live Moth show is usually a no go, obviously, but in this case we made a much deserved exception for reasons that I think are best explained by our host. For the evening, here's Ophira Eisenberg. She's going to introduce our storyteller, Imad Kiahi. The theme of the night was lost and found.

[Ophira Eisenberg]

Okay, so to start off the second half, I did mention at the beginning of the show, you know, people do travel to New York from all over the place and they may come to a slam. They may get the chance to come up and tell a story and they may win and if they don't live here and they travel back to their home. We invite them to the Grand Slam and they have to come to New York to do it. But we have an exception with the storyteller who won a slam and then he was forced to leave the country because immigration for some nationals has become more complicated. The moth decided that in this case, this person's story should be heard and there would be an exception made. And we are actually going to do a Skype audio with them so we can have them as part of our show. So it's going to be like a little bit of a different feel. But, you know, we all obviously can listen to this person and if you want to see if you would like a visual, their picture is actually in your program. He is going to be Skyping in from Cape Town, South Africa. I'm sure. I actually have him put together right now what the time zone is, but I'm just impressed. Yeah, it's super, super late. So a million things are happening so the storyteller can be part of the show. So please welcome Imad Kiahi.

[Imad Kiahi]

Good morning, New York. I'm so sorry that I'm not there in person. You have no idea how much I miss that beautiful city and it's smelly subways. But I hope that my story will give you a rough idea about why I'm not there. I'm an Iranian and I'm raised in South Africa. And until even now, I still work on eradicating weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East.

A simple task.

But my story begins 16 years ago when I was in South Africa and I yahooed. There was no Google then I yahooed a cheap good university in New York so I can make my dream come.

True to come to America.

And I got into Stony Brook University in Long island not knowing that Long island is not a borough of New York City. I packed up my small belongings into two suitcases and a backpack and stuffed all of my money, all my savings so I can pay for the cheap tuition in America into my pockets, into my jacket because it was cold winter in Cape Town. I embarked for New York in the heat of the August sun and arrived in JFK airport fresh off the boat, literally not knowing anyone in New York. As I stood in the immigration line, there was CNN screens with the news and a ticker on the bottom that said orange alert. Eminent terrorist attack suspect student from a third world country.

I stared at this ticker as it played over and over as I stood in this long line for immigration and for some Reason I felt like heated.

And started to sweat wearing this oversized jacket with all my money in it. As I approached the immigration officer, I gave him my passport.

And he looked at me, he looked at the passport, he looked at me, he looked at the passport. And I will never forget his face or his hands when it started shaking.

And within a few seconds it felt like eternity.

I was surrounded by immigration officers, military dogs and people in plain suits, plain clothes, screaming at me, Step to the.

Side, sir, step to the side. And they moved me, hushed me.

Inside this cubicle just out of the movies and a light table, two chairs, a one way screen. I sat there, been interrogated over and over and over again as they went through every piece of my belongings. And in it they found a letter that my father had written me just before I left. Since I had left my home, my family, my loved ones. And it was a long letter in Farsi with Arabic Alphabet. And they found all this cash Benjamins stuffed in my jacket and they thought that I was the one. They brought in a translator to read this letter as if it was instructions by some terrorist organization. The translator looked at me as he read this letter and translated it. Your father. I see this as a letter from a father to a son. And your father is such a poet. It is a beautiful letter. And yet he said, I'm sorry that you have to go through this. Eight hours later, after being in an 18 hour flight from Cape Town, I finally was let go. I found myself alone with my suitcase wide open with my clothes spilling over and my belongings on the floor of jfk. Packing myself, feeling ashamed, feeling so lonely and not knowing how the hell do I get to Long island in the dead of night. There was though this African American lady who was cleaning the airport. And God bless her because she gave me such accurate instructions and even took me to catch a bus to Jamaica Station and then the train to stony Brooklyn. I tell you this story because I would like to now Fast forward to 16 years later in this odless time. New York was my home. Where I first fell in love and first heartache. Where I roamed the city and hustled like everybody else. Where I got my education, my career and my friends who became my family. But unfortunately, in the aftermath of the elections, my people, my kind, were no longer welcome. And after a strenuous process of trying to get my permanent residency in United States. And while everything was fine, suddenly things had changed and my application was denied. I was given a very small window to pack up my shit and leave United States. It was as if I had found myself again selling or getting rid of everything. My books are scattered among homes of my friends. My treasures have been given to friends and family. I packed up my stuff and ironically again, two suitcases and a backpack. This time the contents are a little bit more meaningful and important to me. It was with heart that I had to leave the city that I call home. And it is an irony that after so many years, again I'm packing my bags and thanks to immigration and to the policies of the United States government, it has become so difficult for us to be mobile. But I don't want to end this in a bad note because I, I was sent off and forced out of the country in the dead winter of New York in February and coming to the summer of Cape Town, which is absolutely gorgeous.

So there is some beauty of it.

But it was a lost and found and loss in a sense because it is very difficult to reconcile that my whole life, my most important years have been spent in New York. And to that I want to say that I hope that one day will come and this time will pass. And it is incredible the amount of heart outpour and the abilities of civil society to really challenge what has happened in the United States. I give you power, I give you love. And I send you all from the end of the world in Cape Town. And I thank you for allowing me to tell you my story. Thank you.

[Ophira Eisenberg]

Imad Kiai.

[Dan Kennedy]

That was Imad Kiahi. It was almost 4am in Cape Town when Imad told his story. And yet the judges gave him the highest score of the night and he pulled out a win at that Grand Slam.

[Ophira Eisenberg]

Imad is on the line. Imad.

[Dan Kennedy]

Hey.

[Ophira Eisenberg]

You are a winner. Congratulations.

[Imad Kiahi]

That's amazing. That's amazing.

[Ophira Eisenberg]

Wow.

[Dan Kennedy]

Consider how hard it is making a connection with an audience from 20ft away, let alone almost 8,000 miles. As he mentioned, Imad is continuing his life's work of ridding weapons of mass destruction in the Middle east and bringing peace to the region. From his current home in Cape Town, South Africa, he's also a professor and a storyteller. If you've got a story of your own, you can find a Moth Story Slam, our open mic storytelling competition nearest you. You can throw your name in the hat and maybe even go on and tell your story that night. To find the Story Slam nearest to you, just check our site and get details on all of our upcoming [e-mail] we hope to see you soon. And from all of us here at the Moth, we hope you have a story worthy week.

[Intuit Representative]

Dan Kennedy is the author of Loser Goes First, Rock on and American Spirit. He's also a regular host and storyteller.

[Dan Kennedy]

With the Moth Podcast production by Julia Purcell and Paul Rueest and a special thanks to Chloe Salmon and Jennifer Hickson for their help on this episode. The Moth Podcast is presented by prx, the Public Radio Exchange helping make public radio more [e-mail].