For me, writing clarifies things. It gives meaning, and it makes me see the connections.

In America, Christmas is the king of all holidays. To be left out of Christmas is the ultimate minority experience.

When people go to a new country, whether as refugees or immigrants, kids usually assimilate easily, but it's much harder for the grownups. Especially, oftentimes, for the mothers, because they are usually confined to the house. They're not going to school, and they're not necessarily holding down a job. It's tough. It's not easy to assimilate to a new culture when you're an adult.

Everyone except gamblers knows that gambling never pays. ... Losing, like winning, only increased his determination to play.

Marriage, in my culture, has nothing to do with romance. It's a matter of logic. If Mr. and Mrs. Ahmadi like Mr. and Mrs. Nejari, then their children should get married. On the other hand, if the parents don't like each other, but the children do, well, this is where sad poetry comes from.

My parents are highly evolved worriers. ... If worrying were an Olympic sport, my parents' faces would have graced the Wheaties box a long time ago.

Most fruits, if left alone on a tree, eventually do ripen, especially if they're not being yelled at.