Return to The Homeland Part 1

- PREVIOUSLY ON SHAHS OF SUNSET... - GUYS, I'M HAVING A FAMILY REUNION IN TURKEY, AND I WANT ALL OF US TO GO TOGETHER. - TURKEY, BABY! - GOING TO TURKEY WITH THE CREW, I'M ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED AND MOTIVATED FOR THIS TO BE A SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE FOR ALL OF US. - I DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO GO TO TURKEY WITH YOU GUYS. I DON'T NEED TO HAVE FAKE FRIENDS IN LIFE. - ENJOY YOUR TIME WITH THAT FAT TUB OF LARD IN THERE. - I DIDN'T CALL HER TO TELL HER TO COME. - I DON'T GIVE A DAMN. SHE'S HERE. SHE'S IN OUR HOUSE AFTER SHE CALLS OUR MOTHER AND SAID I'M A [bleep] *** *** TO OUR MOTHER. - ♪ CUT A LOT OF GIRLS, CUT A LOT OF CHECKS ♪ ♪ THAT'S THE LIFE HERE ON SUNSET ♪ ♪ RICH AND FAMOUS, I AM SUCCESS ♪ ♪ MET HER AT LES DEUX, AND SHE DO LOVE SEX ♪ ♪ I'MA SIP THIS, YOU DO THE REST ♪ ♪ YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO, YOU DO THE BEST ♪ ♪ DO ME A FAVOR, LOSE THE DRESS ♪ ♪ WE RUN L.A. ♪ [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ [line rings] - HELLO? - HEY, BABE. - WHAT'S UP? - I'M PACKING. EVERYONE'S BEEN BEEFING ON THESE TRIVIAL, DUMB LEVELS ALL SUMMER, SO IT'S CRITICAL RIGHT NOW FOR EVERYBODY IN THE CREW TO GET A REALLY GOOD DOSE OF, LIKE, TRUE PERSIANITY. DO YOU REALIZE WE'RE GONNA BE IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE GONNA LOOK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE? - EVERYONE'S GONNA LOOK LIKE US. - EXCEPT WE'RE GONNA BE BETTER-LOOKING, OF COURSE. - I HAVE MY PASSPORT. - HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU BRINGING? - I DON'T KNOW. LET ME SEE HOW MUCH I HAVE. WHITE PEOPLE HAVE ANCESTRY.COM. WE DON'T. IF I WANT TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MY ROOTS AND MY HERITAGE, I NEED AN AIRPLANE. SO GETTING ON THIS PLANE AND GOING TO TURKEY, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IRAN, IT'S THE CLOSEST THING THAT I HAVE TO IRAN. [line rings] - HELLO. - GIRL, I HAVE TO GET ON A PLANE, AND I HAVE TO BLOCK GOLNESA OUT. LIKE, I REALLY WANT TO [bleep] KILL HER. - I MEAN, I WANT EVERYBODY TO BE THEMSELVES AND HAVE FUN, BUT DON'T BRING A BAD ATTITUDE, OKAY? [laughs] - SCREW HER. I'M NOT LETTING HER RUIN THIS. [line rings] - HEY. - HEY. [murmurs] - I JUST FEEL LIKE EVERYWHERE I GO WHEN I RUN INTO MJ, THERE'S JUST ALWAYS A PROBLEM. - YOU GOTTA SORT OF WOMAN UP OR MAN UP. THIS IS GONNA BE AN AMAZING TRIP. FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE THINGS. - THAT *** AIN'T GONNA KILL MY VIBE. BYE. - MWAH, BYE. - THERE'S THE INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL RIGHT BEHIND ME. THE PLANE IS ACTUALLY MOVING, AND MJ IS RIGHT OVER THERE, STANDING UP, NOT EVEN SEATED. - BYE-BYE, L.A. [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - WE MADE IT. WE MADE IT. - [chanting] [laughter] - WOW. WHOO! I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE HERE. - OW. - COME ON IN, HONEY. COME ON IN. [laughs] [cheers and applause] - WELCOME TO TURKEY, ***. - ♪ NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH, NAH ♪ - I WANTED TO SAY THIS IS MY FIRST TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST. - WELCOME. - CHEERS TO THAT, MY LOVE. - CHEERS TO THE MIDDLE EAST. - AS MUCH AS WE ALL IDENTIFY OURSELVES AS MIDDLE EASTERN, FOR ME, WHO'S NEVER BEEN TO THE MIDDLE EAST, I REALLY HOPE THAT THIS TRIP IS GONNA BRING US CLOSER TO OUR CULTURE. - AND THIS IS TO GOLNESA FOR ACTUALLY BEING VERY, VERY WELL-BEHAVED ON THE FLIGHT. I WAS VERY PROUD OF YOU. - [laughs] I WAS TOO DRUGGED UP, MAN. - RIGHT NOW, MJ AND GG ARE STILL AT ONE ANOTHER'S THROATS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE, OR THIS TRIP IS GOING TO BE HELL. - WE ARRIVED HERE ON THE LAST DAY OF RAMADAN, SO IT'S "EID-- EID MUBARAK," EVERYBODY. - YES. - EVERYBODY GETS TO EAT. - WHICH ONE OF YOU MUSLIMS CELEBRATED RAMADAN? ANYONE, ANYONE? - I DID. - YOU DID? YOU FASTED? - I DIDN'T FAST, BUT I WAS AWARE OF IT. IT'S A TIME OF REFLECTION, JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, IN JUDAISM. - IT'S NOT JUST-- - IT'S--IT'S LIKE YOM KIPPUR. - YEAH, LIKE CLEANSING. both: YEAH. - EXACTLY. - EXCEPT WE DO IT FOR ONE DAY. - YOU ALWAYS THINK OTHER THINGS ARE, LIKE, WEIRD. IT'S THE SAME THING. - NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT. THIS ONE ALWAYS PUTS WORDS IN MY MOUTH. I'M DOWN TO GO TO TURKEY, BUT I DON'T FEEL THE CONNECTION WITH THAT COUNTRY. IT'S LIKE ME VISITING JAMAICA OR WHEREVER. I MEAN, IT'S-- IT'S JUST SOMETHING FUN FOR ME TO GO AND SEE. - HI. - HELLO. [indistinct chatter] - WILL BE ASSISTING YOU. - THANK YOU. OH, MY GOD. - WOW. - I LIKE THE CHANDELIER. - YEAH. THANK YOU. both: WOW. - [whistles] - THANK YOU. - YES! - WHO DO IT LIKE THIS? - OH, MY GOD. THIS IS THE CROSSROADS OF EAST AND WEST. IT'S THE HOME OF CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS, JEWS. I MEAN, EVERYONE HAS PASSED THROUGH THIS CITY. - OKAY, GUYS, LET'S GET GOING. - YOU GUYS, WHERE'S MO-CEDES? - MO-CEDES, MO' PROBLEMS. - SHE'S GETTING INTO MO' PROBLEMS? - LET'S GO, LET'S GO. I'M STARVING. - YOU LOOK GORGEOUS. PUT ON YOUR LIPSTICK. LET'S [speaking Farsi]. [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - NICE. ON IT FOR SURE. EE! - YOU GUYS, LOOK HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS. - I'M NEVER LEAVING THIS RESTAURANT EVER. - EVERYBODY, LET'S START. EVERYONE PICK ONE APPETIZER. - WHAT DO-- WHAT DO YOU WANT? - I WANT THE KABOB. - YEAH, KABOB, OKAY. - IS IT BREAST? - YEAH, IT'S BREAST. - OKAY, I'M GONNA HAVE THE CHICKEN PAILLARD, PLEASE. - THANK YOU. - THANK YOU. - YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW WHEN YOU TRAVEL, AND THE VERY FIRST NIGHT, YOU GET DRESSED UP, YOU SIT IN A RESTAURANT... - YEAH. - AND YOU FEEL THAT NEW AIR AND, LIKE, THE NEW VIBE? - THERE'S DEFINITELY A DIFFERENT AIR. IT'S DEFINITELY LIKE A NEW VIBE. - IT'S REALLY SPECIAL. YEAH. - AND I'M HAPPY THAT BOTH OF YOU ARE SITTING AT THE SAME DINNER TABLE. - ME TOO. - I THINK THE WAY WE ARE NOW IS AS GOOD AS IT'S GONNA GET. - THAT'S SAD, GG. - I KNOW THAT YOU AND I ARE NOT TALKING, BUT YOU KNOW THAT WE WERE THERE WHEN YOU STOPPED BY TO HELP YOUR SISTER MOVE. AT THAT DAY THAT YOU WALKED OUT ON YOUR SISTER, AND I HEARD YOU SAY, "GO HANG OUT WITH THAT BIG, FAT TUB OF LARD," MEANING ME-- IF SOMEBODY DISRESPECTS YOU, DOES IT MATTER-- - THEN I HANDLE IT WITH THEM. I DON'T CALL THEIR PARENTS. - YEAH, YOU DON'T GO TO SOMEONE'S PARENTS. - MERCE, CALLING THE MOM WAS EXTRA. - THAT WAS SO OFF THE RICHTER SCALE, I SAID-- IT BLEW MY MIND. - CAN I JUST ASK YOU A QUESTION? WHAT WERE YOU TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN YOU CALLED THEM? - AT THE TIME THAT I CALLED, I WAS REALLY MAD AT YOU BECAUSE YOU DID SOME VERY DIRTY, DISGUSTING, LOW-HANDED, UGLY, LOW-CLASS THINGS TO ME, SO I CALLED THEM OUT OF ANGER. IT HAPPENS. YOU DO THINGS WHEN YOU GET ANGRY. I DID GO TOO FAR WITH GOLNESA, AND I WAS WRONG. IT WAS NOT COOL OF ME TO CALL HER MOM AND DAD. - CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION? GIVE ME AN HONEST ANSWER. [speaking Farsi] - OKAY. - DO YOU LOVE HER? - YES. - OKAY, DO YOU LOVE HER? - OF COURSE. - IT'S NOT GONNA BE A SIMPLE HUG-IT-OUT. - OKAY, HOLD ON, HOLD ON. - PEOPLE HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. - ONE SECOND, ONE SECOND. - ONE DAY-- - ONE SECOND, PLEASE. [speaking Farsi] - OKAY. - DID YOU APOLOGIZE TO GOLNESA FOR DOING THAT? - I DON'T THINK SO. - OKAY. YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT NOW? - NO. PUT YOUR EYEBALLS BACK INTO YOUR EYELIDS BEFORE THEY JUMP OUT. WHAT HAPPENED WHEN WE WENT TO DEL MAR? YOU SPIT ON ME. YOU [bleep] ON ME. YOU CALLED ME EVERY NAME IN THE BOOK. - [bleep] YEAH, I DID. - REALLY? - BECAUSE IT WAS TIME FOR YOU TO FEEL HOW IT FEELS WHEN YOU DO THAT TO PEOPLE. - BOTTOM LINE IS YOU GUYS HAVE BOTH GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO DISRESPECT EACH OTHER. - NO-- - YOU BOTH HAVE. WHAT'S AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR ISSUE WITH GOLNESA? - HERE'S THE THING. - I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU AS MY FRIEND, BUT I WANT-- - YOU'RE GOING TO, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE ME AS A FRIEND. - OH, THEN BYE. - NO. NO, GOLNESA. - SHE JUST SAID IT. - I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS FIGHTING. - I JUST WANT THIS TO BE OVER RIGHT NOW. - AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THESE TWO LOVE EACH OTHER. - WE ALL LOVE EACH OTHER. - I CAN LOVE HER FROM FOUR CONTINENTS AWAY. - THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT, THAT'S IT. ENOUGH, I'M [bleep] GETTING HEARTBURN, ENOUGH. - YOU GUYS, I'D LIKE TO MAKE A TOAST TO BE FRIENDS-- - CAN I SAY ONE THING BEFORE YOU MAKE A TOAST? THIS IS OUR TRIP, SO FOR THE TIME BEING, LET'S JUST COEXIST. LET'S HAVE A GOOD TIME. AND I APOLOGIZE FOR EVERYTHING I SAID AT DEL MAR, AND THEN I WILL KEEP MY DISTANCE FROM YOU. - THIS IS A GREAT STEP. THANK YOU. - GUYS, ON THAT NOTE, MAY I SAY SOMETHING? - YES. - MERCE, I THINK YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO HER FOR CALLING HER PARENTS. ACCOUNTABILITY. - GOLNESA... I APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT I SAID TO YOU AND SEAN. IT WAS CATTY, IT WAS OUT OF LINE, AND I REGRETTED IMMEDIATELY. I SUFFERED THE CONSEQUENCES THAT WENT DOWN BETWEEN YOU AND ME FROM THAT DAY ALL THE WAY TO THE PRESENT. OKAY? - I'M PRETTY SHOCKED. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS REGISTERING IN MY BRAIN THAT MJ JUST APOLOGIZED. I KNOW, DEEP DOWN INSIDE, MJ LOVES ME, AND I GUESS I'M REALLY HAPPY. IT'S TIME THAT SHE STEPPED UP AND APOLOGIZED AND PROVED THAT LOVE FOR ME. - I DON'T LIKE TO APOLOGIZE, BUT I WANT FORGIVENESS. GG'S LIKE A LITTLE SISTER. SHE CARES ABOUT ME, AND SHE'S MY NUMBER ONE GIRL. SIT DOWN. - I CAN'T SIT ANYWHERE. - I'M DONE. - SIT. - COME HERE. COME HERE. - FIT YOUR FAT *** ON THE CHAIR. - MERCE, COME THIS WAY. - I DON'T HAVE AN ***. - I'M GONNA GO SIT OVER THERE. - MY BONE IS FITTING ON HERE. - GO AHEAD. - I DON'T HAVE AN ***. - HEY, YOU TWO SHOULD KISS. - WHOO! [laughter] - OKAY, THIS THING IS FINALLY OVER. THANK GOD THESE TWO ARE BACK TOGETHER. - [speaking Farsi] I LOVE ALL OF YOU. I'M A GAY MAN STANDING OUTSIDE OF A MOSQUE. IF ANY OF THEM KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE OF ME, WOULD THEY START THROWING STONES AT ME? [exotic music] ♪ ♪ - I NEED A CHAYEE, STAT. - OKAY, I WANNA SIT OVER HERE. - TURKISH BREAKFAST IS THE BOMB. - GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING, GOOD MORNING. - GUYS, WE'RE GONNA GO SEE, LITERALLY, ALL THE AMAZING SIGHTS TODAY. WE'RE GONNA GO TO SULTANAHMET, WHICH IS THE OLD PART OF TOWN. IT'S GORGEOUS. WE'RE GONNA GO TO HAGIA SOPHIA, WHICH IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURES IN THE WORLD. WE'RE GONNA GO TO THE BLUE MOSQUE. - IS THIS A FUNCTIONING MOSQUE? IT'S A REAL ONE, OR IS IT A MUSEUM ONE? - [laughs] IT'S A PROP. - MY FAMILY'S ARRIVING TONIGHT, SO I'M GONNA GO RECEIVE THEM. I GOT AN APARTMENT FOR THEM, SO I GOTTA GO THERE. I-I JUST STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT. - HAS ANYBODY HEARD OR SEEN GOLNESA THIS-- - NO. - NOTHING. - LIKE, I POUNDED ON HER DOOR. - WE GOTTA GET HER UP. I REALLY DON'T WANT TO WAIT AROUND TODAY. I WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND HAVE A DAY. MY MOM'S ARRIVING IN THE AFTERNOON, MY FAMILY FROM IRAN IS ARRIVING AT NIGHT, AND I WANT TO SQUEEZE IN AS MUCH SIGHTSEEING AS I CAN IN THE MORNING. - OKAY, HERE WE GO. - GOOD MORNING. - WELCOME, YOUR HIGHNESS. THANK YOU FOR-- THANK YOU FOR COMING. THANK YOU. - SULTANAHMET IS AN AREA IN ISTANBUL WHERE ALL THE GREAT MOSQUES ARE WITH LITTLE STREETS, COBBLESTONE ROADS, AND IT'S ANCIENT. THOUSANDS OF YEARS THESE BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN HERE. OH, I JUST WANT TO, LIKE, LAY UPON ALL THESE RUGS AND JUST FEEL IT FOR A SECOND. - GUYS, READ THIS. 4 A.D. - "THIS STONE PILLAR IS ALL THAT REMAINS "OF A BYZANTINE TRIUMPHAL ARCH "FROM WHICH ROAD DISTANCES TO ALL CORNERS OF THE EMPIRE WERE ONCE MEASURED." WHEN THE PRIESTESS IS IN ISTANBUL, I'M, LIKE, CHANNELING THE, LIKE, ANCIENT HISTORY AND WHO I AM, AND I GOT MY LITTLE HEAD WRAP, I GOT MY KHALEEJI CAFTAN, AND I'M JUST SLIDING THROUGH THE STREETS OF ISTANBUL. - OH, MY GOD. THERE'S A BRIDE. - [speaking Farsi] CONGRATULATIONS. [both speaking Farsi] - THAT'S WHAT YOU DO AFTER A WEDDING. - OH, YAY, WE'RE IN TURKEY! I'VE BEEN TO TURKEY AND IRAN MANY TIMES, AND I JUST LOVE GOING THERE BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS MY BACKGROUND, AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU BELONG TO SOMETHING. - I FEEL SO ALIVE HERE. - YEAH. - I JUST FEEL ALIVE. - I AM AN IRANIAN-AMERICAN, AND THAT MEANS THAT I AM MIDDLE EASTERN, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M NOT REALLY CONNECTING. IT'S WEIRD. I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT. GUYS, THIS WAY. - HEY-EY! HEY-EY! - HEY-UP! HEY-UP! - YOU GUYS, THAT IS FREAKY. I UNDERSTOOD THE CONCEPT OF THE VEIL, BUT ARRIVING IN ISTANBUL, SEEING THE VEIL EVERYWHERE FOR THE FIRST TIME-- I THOUGHT ISTANBUL WAS SECULAR. - YOU GUYS, LOOK AT THE HAGIA SOPHIA. THIS IS, LIKE, THE SEVENTH WONDER OF THE WORLD. LOOK AT THIS. - OH, MY GOD. [speaking Farsi] - THERE'S STILL REMNANTS OF ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY. - THIS BUILDING ALMOST REPRESENTS ISTANBUL'S SORT OF CULTURAL LANDSCAPE. IT'S CHRISTIANITY. IT'S ISLAM. THE HAGIA SOPHIA HAS BEEN A HOLY HOUSE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS FOR BOTH CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS, AND WE'RE ALL HERE TOGETHER AS A GROUP OF PEOPLE. IT'S--IT'S JUST MAGICAL. - YOU GUYS, OH, MY GOD. - ISN'T THIS GORGEOUS? LOOK AT THIS. - I AM MESMERIZED, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO BUILD THESE STRUCTURES BACK IN THE DAY. - LOOK AT THIS MARBLE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT'S AMAZING? LOOK AT THE MARY AND JESUS AND THEN THE ALLAH. THAT'S SO SYMBOLIC, YOU KNOW? - DO YOU KNOW WHAT YEAR THIS PLACE BECAME A MOSQUE? - 1453. - SO THEY ADDED THOSE IN 1453? - THE ALLAH? - THE ALLAH WAS ADDED? - WOW. - THAT'S INSANE. YOU GUYS... [speaking Farsi] - BEING A JEWISH MAN IN THIS TEMPLE RIGHT NOW, I FEEL LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER. I FEEL LIKE I DON'T BELONG. - OKAY, GUYS, WE'RE GOING TO THE FRONT. - WE GOTTA GO THIS WAY. - DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE GOING? - YEAH. [speaking Farsi] - OH, MY GOD. 390 A.D. - THAT'S AMAZING. - THAT'S SOME O.G. [bleep] RIGHT THERE. - WHAT ARE YOUR IMPRESSIONS SO FAR? - IT'S COOL TO BE SOMEWHERE THAT'S KIND OF, LIKE, ETHNIC. - IT'S NOT ETHNIC. THIS IS US. EVERYBODY HERE LOOKS LIKE US. - I GET THAT, BUT I HAVE NO CONNECTION WITH IT BECAUSE-- - [speaking Farsi] DOESN'T IT FEEL-- - DOES NOTHING FOR ME. - IT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING? - NOTHING. - REALLY? - I SWEAR. I FEEL LIKE I'M A SOLDIER OF ONE WALKING THROUGH THE STREETS OF ISTANBUL, 'CAUSE IN BEVERLY HILLS, THERE'S JEWS EVERYWHERE. BUT BEING A JEWISH MAN IN ISTANBUL RIGHT NOW, I FELT ALONE. - LOOK AT THIS. both: OH, MY GOD. - LET ME GET A PICTURE OF ALL OF US IN FRONT OF IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. - THANK YOU. - THE BLUE MOSQUE IS AN ANCIENT, ANCIENT MOSQUE THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A VERY LONG TIME. PEOPLE COME TO JUST LOOK AT THIS BEAUTIFUL ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURE. IT'S LIKE GOING TO ROME AND NOT GOING TO THE SISTINE CHAPEL. WHEN YOU GO TO ISTANBUL, YOU HAVE TO GO SEE THE BLUE MOSQUE. - [sighs] - THIS IS CRAZY. OH, MY GOD, YOU GUYS. THIS IS, LIKE, HARD-CORE FRIDAY O.G. STYLE. WE'RE WALKING AROUND ISTANBUL ON ONE OF THE MOST SACRED OF MUSLIM HOLIDAYS, WHERE TONS OF PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GO INTO THIS SACRED HOUSE OF WORSHIP TO PRAY. - OH, YOU GOT A BAG? - I GOT SOMETHING. - WHAT DID YOU GET? - [chanting] - THIS IS DOPE. - I LOVE THIS. - THE CALL TO PRAYER IS A PERSON WHO GOES UP INTO THE TALLEST TOWER OF THE MOSQUE AND SAYS A PRAYER OUT LOUD, BASICALLY REMINDING PEOPLE, LIKE, "NOW, IT'S TIME TO PRAY," AND PEOPLE PRAY TOGETHER. THAT SOUND JUST TOOK ME HOME. I'M FEELING FEELINGS I HAVEN'T FELT SINCE I WAS LITTLE, AND HOW SPECIAL TO BE HERE WITH MY FRIENDS. - [chanting] - WHEN YOU'RE A MUSLIM KID IN AMERICA AND YOU LOOK LIKE THIS, YOU HIDE IT. WHEN I'M ASKED IF I'M MUSLIM, I RESPOND, "YES, BUT..." I ALWAYS SAID, "YES, BUT NOT PRACTICING. "YES, BUT I'M NOT ISLAMIC." YES, BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THAT I'M GONNA BE LABELED AS A TERRORIST. AND FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE, THERE WAS NO SHAME ATTACHED TO BEING MUSLIM. - GOES STRAIGHT INTO MY HEART. - PIERCING. IN IRAN, EVERY DAY, YOU HEAR THAT PRAYER EVERYWHERE. AND THAT SOUND-- IT KNOCKED THE WIND OUT OF ME. - [chanting] - I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH. - [speaking Farsi] - HEARING THE CALL TO PRAYER WAS JARRING. I WAS WORRIED THAT I'M A GAY MAN STANDING OUTSIDE OF A MOSQUE, HEARING THIS CALL TO PRAYER. AND I'M THINKING, "IF THESE PEOPLE "HAD X-RAY VISION AND KNEW WHO I REALLY WAS, WOULD THEY START THROWING STONES AT ME?" - [chanting] - NO DISRESPECT TO MUSLIMS, BUT IT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME. PEOPLE ARE JUST RUSHING INTO THE MOSQUE. I GOT THIS OVERWHELMING FEELING INSIDE OF ME THAT I JUST COULDN'T HELP. I FELT LIKE A LITTLE KID THAT HAD LOST HIS MOM AND DAD, AND I WAS LOOKING FOR THEM. IT WAS REALLY WEIRD. MY POOR MOM WAS PREGNANT WITH ME, AND THEY'D BE ON THE LOUDSPEAKER LIKE THIS. MY MOM WAS AFRAID. SHE'S LIKE, "[bleep]. WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?" SHE SAID SHE-- SHE WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH, CRYING. CRYING. ALL I COULD THINK OF IS, "OH, MY GOD. "THIS IS WHAT MY PARENTS WERE SUBMERGED IN WHEN THEY WERE FLEEING FOR OUR LIVES." IT'S A PRO-MUSLIM, VERY FANATICAL, VERY CRAZY COUNTRY THAT KICKED US OUT, THAT SAID, "NO, YOU'RE JEWISH. "YOU CANNOT BE A PART OF THIS COUNTRY ANYMORE. "YOU MUST HAND OVER WHAT YOU HAVE. AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, WE'RE GONNA THROW YOU IN JAIL." SO I HAVE DEEP--I HAVE DEEP-ROOTED THOUGHTS, MAN. MY POOR MOM, SHE SUFFERED. - MIKE IS VERY OFFENDED RIGHT NOW. HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE HERE. - WHY? WHAT HAPPENED? - WHAT'S HE OFFENDED BY? - THE... - THE MOSQUE? - PRAYERS AND STUFF ARE UPSETTING HIM. - WHY IS HE OFFENDED? WHY IS HE OFFENDED BY IT? PRAYERS? - JUST BECAUSE OF WHAT HE'S BEEN THROUGH AND HIS FAMILY'S BEEN THROUGH, HE'S NOT DOWN WITH THIS. - WHAT HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN THROUGH AFFECTED OUR FAMILIES TOO. HE'S NOT THE ONLY PERSON-- - MY AUNT WAS KILLED. - EXCUSE ME, BEING JEWISH-- - HELLO, HE'S RIGHT HERE. - LET ME-- LET ME SPEAK FOR MYSELF. I RESPECT YOU GUYS. I HAVE NO DESIRE TO GO IN THERE. - CAN I GO? - ONLY FOR MEN. LADIES, BACKSIDE CORNER. - CAN YOU BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA SEE OUR FAMILY TONIGHT? - THERE ARE RELATIVES THAT ALL OF US HAVE THAT WE'LL NEVER GET TO MEET. - [speaking Farsi] [knocks at door] - [chanting] - I HAVE NO DESIRE TO GO IN THERE. NO DISRESPECT, YOU GUYS CAN GO. - WHAT HAPPENED TO US HAPPENED TO ALL OF OUR FAMILIES. ALL OF OUR FAMILIES WERE DRIVEN OUT OF IRAN BECAUSE OF THE ISLAMIC REGIME. YOU GET THAT? - OKAY. - SO IT-- THIS IS NOT-- HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. - BUT YOU'RE CONNECTING SO MUCH, AND YOU'RE CRYING. THIS DOES NOTHING FOR ME. - IT'S VERY MOVING BECAUSE-- - OKAY, GOD BLESS YOU. YOU--YOU ARE MORE THAN OKAY TO FEEL THAT WAY. THIS DOES SOMETHING FOR YOU. FOR ME, IT JUST-- IT SPARKS MEMORIES OF STORIES THAT I'VE HEARD, AND IT DOESN'T MAKE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE. I CAN'T HELP IT. IT JUST--IT DOESN'T MOVE ME. BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TO TH-- I DON'T WANT YOU GUYS TO BE OFFENDED BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU-- - WE'RE HAVING ONLY BEAUTIFUL FEELINGS, NO ONE'S OFFENDED. - I'M NOT DOWN WITH WHAT'S GOING ON UP IN THAT ***. I JUST WANT TO LOOK AT THE ARCHITECTURE REAL QUICK. - I RESPECT THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO COME IN. END OF DISCUSSION. - THAT'S IT. - MIKEY, YOU WILL BE MISSED. I LOVE YOU. - YOU GUYS HAVE FUN. - WE'LL SEE YOU. - HAVE FUN. - MAZEL TOV. - [chanting] - WE GOTTA GO WAIT IN THIS LINE. - IT'S LITERALLY A THOUSAND PEOPLE WAITING. - IS THIS THE ONLY ENTRANCE? - YEAH, BUT MOST PEOPLE ARE STILL LEAVING, SO IT'S CRAZY. [overlapping shouting] - [speaking Farsi] - IT WAS REALLY ALARMING TO SEE PEOPLE PUSHING AND SHOVING. - LET'S STICK TOGETHER, GUYS. - YEAH, LET'S STICK TIGHT. - [speaking Farsi] - STICK TIGHT. - KEEP IT TIGHT. - IT WAS REALLY SCARY. THERE WAS A POINT WHERE I THOUGHT MAYBE THE GAY ONE SHOULD TAKE A PASS ON THIS. [indistinct chatter] - WHERE'S MERCEDES? - MERCEDES? - YEAH, REZA. - MERCE, STICK WITH US. - THIS IS MY VERY FIRST TIME I'M GONNA BE IN A MOSQUE. - THAT'S AWESOME. - I'VE NEVER, EVER-- OH, MY GOD. - WAS THIS WORTH IT? WAS THIS WORTH IT OR WHAT? - OH, MY GOD. THIS IS INSANE. - HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS? WOW. - [chanting] - IT WAS SCARY TO BE A JEWISH MAN SURROUNDED BY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS. AT THIS VERY GIVEN MOMENT, I'M FEELING MORE JEWISH THAN I AM FEELING IRANIAN. [sighs] BECAUSE OF MY RELIGION, I COULD'VE LEFT IRAN AND WENT TO ISRAEL IF I CHOSE TO BECAUSE THEY WOULD TAKE ME IN. MY COUNTRY DIDN'T WANT ME, BUT MY RELIGION DOES. IF I HAD TO FIGHT FOR ONE OR THE OTHER, I'D FIGHT FOR ISRAEL. - [chanting] - AH. REALLY OLD. [soft music] ♪ ♪ MADAM? MADAM, CAN I GO? NO? - ONLY FOR MEN. LADIES, BACKSIDE CORNER. - WHERE? IN THE BACK? REZA! [speaking Farsi] - RIDICULOUS. - I KNOW. [speaking Farsi] BACK CORNER. - YEAH, THEY'RE IN THE BACK CORNER OVER THERE. - [speaking Farsi] - THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. - I KNOW. - ASA IS 100% MUSLIM. AND HERE I AM, THIS GAY MAN, YET I'M WALKING AROUND FREELY IN THE MOST SACRED MOSQUE. THE IRONY OF THAT WAS NOT LOST UPON ME. - YOU KNOW-- YOU KNOW WHAT MAKES ME CRAZY? - HUH? - IT'S LIKE, I FEEL LIKE EVERYBODY'S THE SAME. MEN, WOMEN, ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF. THIS NONSENSE ABOUT WOMEN CAN'T GO PRAY THERE, THEY HAVE TO GO IN THE BACK CORNER... ON A RATIONAL LEVEL, I WANTED TO ACCEPT THEIR CUSTOMS HERE. I-I'M NOT GONNA MAKE A SCENE IN THIS MOSQUE. LIKE, "WHY CAN'T I GO IN THERE?" YOU KNOW. BUT IT'S-- YOU KNOW, IT'S HURTFUL. WHAT'S DIFFERENT BETWEEN ME AND REZA, THAT HE CAN GO IN THERE AND I CAN'T? YOU KNOW ME-- I'M ALWAYS DEFENDING, YOU KNOW, ISLAM AND DIFFERENT RELIGIONS. THERE'S ONE GOD. THIS IS REALLY-- THIS IS REALLY STUPID. - WHAT IS GOING ON RIGHT HERE AND THIS SEPARATION THAT'S FORCED AND THESE LITTLE CORNERS FOR THE WOMEN-- - UNACCEPTABLE. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU? I DON'T THINK GOD, IF YOU BELIEVE IN GOD, WOULD EVER PUT A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN, OR TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE OF ANY RELIGION. IT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE. - THAT WAS VERY INTENSE. - THAT WAS REALLY INTENSE. - I'M READY TO ROLL. ARE YOU GUYS READY? WE HAD ENOUGH? YOU GOT IT? - I GOTTA GO PICK UP MY MOM AND MY BROTHER AT THE AIRPORT. [upbeat music] ♪ ♪ - BABY, LOVEY. HELLO, HELLO. - MOM, DON'T TOUCH HIM, PLEASE. - HI, BABY. [speaking Farsi] - COME ON, WE NEED TO GET FOOD FOR TONIGHT. OKAY, SO LET'S HAVE A PLAN. SO MY BROTHER TOOK THE LUGGAGE TO THE LOFT. MY MOM AND I ARE SHOPPING FOR DINNER TONIGHT, AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M MORE EXCITED ABOUT: THAT MY MOM IS HERE WITH ME, THAT MY FAMILY IS COMING FROM IRAN, OR THAT WE'RE SHOPPING IN TURKEY. MOM, CAN YOU BELIEVE WE'RE GONNA SEE YOUR SISTERS AND OUR FAMILY TONIGHT? - STILL NOT, BUT WHEN I SEE THEM, YES. - [speaking Farsi] MOM, THE FIGS ARE BEAUTIFUL. - OH, THAT'S THE SAME AS WE HAVE... - IN IRAN. WE LEFT IRAN WHEN I WAS EIGHT AS POLITICAL REFUGEES. SO TURKEY IS THE CLOSEST COUNTRY TO IRAN THAT ME AND MY FAMILY CAN ACTUALLY ENTER LEGALLY. WE NEED SOMETHING IN HERE. CHEESE. [both speaking Farsi] OKAY, I WANT TO GET SOME OF THE SPICY POWDER. [speaking Farsi] - OKAY. OH! [speaking Farsi] - IRANIAN BELUGA CAVIAR. - UNBELIEVABLE. - THAT'S AMAZING. - WE CANNOT GO TO IRAN, BUT WE CAN GET THE IRANIAN CAVIAR. - THERE'S A SANCTION ON ANY TYPE OF IRANIAN GOODS IN AMERICA, SO IT'S ACTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO BUY ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM IRAN HERE. IRANIAN CAVIAR. - CAVIAR. UNBELIEVABLE. - UNBELIEVABLE. IT MUST BE CRAZY FOR MY MOM TO LITERALLY BE ABLE TO HOLD IRAN IN HER HANDS BUT NOT BE ABLE TO GO BACK. 27 YEARS AGO THAT WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOGETHER LIKE THIS. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT ANYBODY LOOKS LIKE ANYMORE. - CAN YOU IMAGINE THEY HAVE BABIES? - NO. - WOW. [speaking Farsi] IT'S TOO MUCH FOR ME. I CANNOT THINK ABOUT THAT. IT JUST-- I DON'T KNOW. SOMEHOW, I THINK ABOUT THAT, IT JUST-- OH, I GET SCARED AND SAY, "OH, NO. LET ME THINK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE." - I KNOW. WELL, I'M SCARED TOO. I'M HAPPY, BUT I'M SCARED. - [mutters] both: OKAY. - THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY. - ALL RIGHT, BYE-BYE. - SAME TO YOU. - MOMMY JUUN, AFTER YOU. - OKAY. - MOMMY, WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU'RE GONNA DO WHEN YOU SEE [speaking Farsi]? - THAT, I DON'T KNOW. WE HAD SO MUCH GOOD TIME. WE HAD THE BEST LIFE. I THINK ABOUT THE PAST AND SAY, "OH, MY GOD." WHEN I REMEMBER WE GROW, GOING TO A SCHOOL, DOING LOTS OF THINGS. WE NEVER CAN DO THAT AGAIN. YOU CAN'T DO THAT WITH YOUR COUSINS. YOUR KIDS NEVER CAN DO THAT. - YEAH. - WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? ARE WE GOING BACK ONE DAY? - WHAT DO YOU THINK? - I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. A LOT OF IRANIANS THINKING SAME THINGS. - DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK IF YOU COULD ONE DAY? - I'D LOVE TO GO BACK, VISIT MY MOM AND DAD'S GRAVES, SEE MY OLD NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, CLASSMATES. OH, A LOT OF THINGS I'D LOVE TO SEE, BUT I DON'T KNOW. - BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE SEE THEM TONIGHT, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A PIECE OF OUR LIFE THAT WE LOST IS WITHIN THEM. - YEAH, OF COURSE. THAT'S LIKE A PUZZLE. THEY PUT THE PIECE THERE AND MAKE IT MORE COMPLETE. WHY WE HAVE THE BORDER? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT? THAT'S THE COUNTRY I BORN. WHY I CANNOT GO THERE? I WISH I COULD. THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD. - TO FAMILY. - KEEPING THE CONNECTIONS GOING. THIS NEXT KNOCK ON THE DOOR IS YOUR SISTER FROM IRAN. [knocks at door] - OH, MY GOD. THAT'S SO CUTE. - DON'T [bleep] WITH THESE CATS. THEY'LL PULL YOUR EYEBALLS OUT OF YOUR SOCKETS. THESE CATS DON'T [bleep] AROUND. THESE AREN'T, LIKE, STREET CATS THAT YOU, LIKE, TOUCH OR MESS WITH. - OH, MY GOD! - THEY HAVE, LIKE, RABIES. - THESE AREN'T JUST NORMAL CATS. THESE CATS HAVE JOBS. SO THE PEOPLE RESPECT THEM 'CAUSE THE CATS HELP CONTROL THE RODENT POPULATION. SEEING THEM... HELLO, ZETTI. WITH CHEWED UP EARS AND MANGY COATS, IT BREAKS MY HEART. ALL I WANT TO DO IS FEED THE CATS AND PET THEM AND KISS THEM AND PICK THEM UP. HELLO, BUBBA. YOU GUYS, I'M GONNA BE HERE. - NO, REZ, LET'S GO. - WE JUST SAW LITTLE TURKISH ZETTIS. [exotic music] ♪ ♪ - BY NOW, THEY'VE LANDED. - THEY LANDED. - AH. OH, MY GOD. IT'S REAL. - GET MORE EXCITED. - LET'S GET ALL THIS STUFF READY, SO WHEN THEY COME, IT'S--THEY HAVE FOOD. - WHEN THEY COME, THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT. - BEAUTIFUL. - WOW, WOW, WOW. LOVE THAT. OH! I LOVE THAT. - VERY NICE. WE'VE RENTED A LOFT FOR MY FAMILY TO STAY IN WHILE THEY'RE HERE IN ISTANBUL. INSTEAD OF GETTING A HOTEL ROOM, WE LIKE, LIKE, A COMMUNAL PLACE, SO I THINK THIS--THIS IS MUCH BETTER FITTING FOR US. MOMMY, WE HAVE TO-- LET'S GO LOOK AT THE VIEWS. 54TH FLOOR ABOVE ISTANBUL. - WOW. - LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS GONNA BE SO MUCH FUN. HIGH TEN, MOMMY. GOOD JOB. THIS LOOKS GOOD, RIGHT? THEY'LL BE VERY COMFORTABLE HERE. IT'S SO AMAZING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I STILL FEEL SO CONNECTED TO THEM BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE PART OF US. - YOU GROW TOGETHER. THAT'S THE LIFE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BAD THINGS HAPPENED. WE GOT SEPARATE. ALL SISTERS, BROTHERS, COUSINS, EVERYBODY GOT SEPARATE, AND THAT'S THAT. - IT JUST WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER IF WE WERE ABLE TO GO TO IRAN OR THEY WERE ABLE TO COME. THIS IS SO--YOU KNOW? - [sighs] IT COULD HAPPEN. GOD KNOWS. - TODAY'S SAD AND VERY HAPPY. LET'S--WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE BEAUTIFUL, HAPPY THING, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO BE HERE AND HAVE THEM HERE WITH US. THIS IS VERY SPECIAL. THEY'RE GONNA BE HERE SOON, SO LET'S QUICKLY-- OH, MY GOD. ARE YOU FEELING IT YET? - I FEEL IT. - OKAY. THERE'S THE CAVIAR. - OKAY. - HALLELUJAH. - HALLELUJAH. - [laughs] OKAY. IMAGINE THE LIFE YOU LIVE RIGHT NOW, AND YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY, AND YOU HAVE A LARGE FAMILY, AND YOU'RE ALWAYS TOGETHER. IMAGINE SUDDENLY, THIS WHOLE THING STOPS, YOU LEAVE EVERYTHING BEHIND, AND YOU CAN'T TELL THEM. YOU CAN'T SAY GOOD-BYE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO THIS WHOLE NEW ENVIRONMENT THAT'S HOSTILE TOWARDS YOU. MOMMY, YOU HAVE TO TASTE THIS. - THE BEST FIG IS FROM IRAN. - SALAMATI. - SALAMATI. - TO AN AMAZING, EPIC NIGHT. - BETTER THAN GOOD, BEST, WHATEVER NIGHT, AFTER SO LONG TIME. - SO YOU SPENT A DECADE NOT BEING IN TOUCH. YOU KNOW, WHAT'S HAPPENING IS A HUGE PART OF YOUR HEART AND SOUL HAS BEEN TORN OUT. AND YOU HAVE TO IGNORE IT, 'CAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU DIE. I'M SO SCARED AND HAPPY. I THINK WE SHOULD ALL, LIKE, DO A FEW OF THESE. OKAY, LET'S ZUMBA A LITTLE BIT. - [scats] I'M NERVOUS. - I FEEL SO CRAZY. - REALLY NERVOUS. - OH, MY GOD. [laughter] [speaking Farsi] [knocks at door] - HELLO? - WOW. - HI. - [speaking Farsi] MWAH, MWAH. - I'M SO HAPPY YOU GUYS ARE HERE. - [speaking Farsi] - HAPPY, CRYING, HAPPY. - THIS PLACE IS AMAZING. - HEY. - SALAM, SALAM. - THAT'S TOTALLY NATURAL. SALAM. - THIS IS AMAZING. - YOU GUYS, WE HAVE SOME LITTLE THINGS. WE HAVE DRINKS. - ASA, PUT SOME SAD PERSIAN MUSIC ON. - I CAN'T. - [laughs] - LISTEN, THAT SAD PERSIAN MUSIC IS PLAYING IN OUR MINDS THE ENTIRE TIME RIGHT NOW. YOU GUYS, THIS NEXT KNOCK ON THE DOOR IS YOUR SISTER FROM IRAN. DUDE, YOU GUYS. - IT'S AMAZING. - INSANITY. - I DON'T WANT-- I DON'T MEAN TO BE A DOWNER... - IT'S, LIKE, INSANITY. - BUT, LIKE, THANK GOD YOU GUYS GOT THE OPPORTUNITY. [speaking Farsi] I NEVER GOT TO SEE HER AGAIN. YEAH. - [speaking Farsi] THIS IS OUR LIVES. - YEAH. - YEAH, SO WE'RE A LITTLE BIT ON THE CRAZY SIDE EMOTIONALLY. - THE IRANIAN REVOLUTION DESTROYED AND SEPARATED MANY FAMILIES. THERE ARE RELATIVES THAT ALL OF US HAVE THAT WE'LL NEVER GET TO MEET. SO THE FACT THAT ASA IS ABLE TO MEET AND REUNITE WITH HER RELATIVES IS A HUGE DEAL. YOU GUYS, LET'S DO A LITTLE TOAST. TO-- - TO-- - FAMILY. all: FAMILY. - TO FAMILY. - TO FAMILY. - KEEPING THE CONNECTIONS GOING. - YEAH. - ALL OF US. YOU GUYS, IT'S SO GOOD HAVING YOU HERE, BECAUSE BEFORE YOU CAME, WE'VE BEEN-- NO, WE'VE BEEN LIKE THIS. WE'VE BEEN LIKE... [laughter] - WHEN YOU SEE THEM, IT'S ALL GONNA COME RIGHT INTO PLACE IN ONE SECOND. - LIKE, I CAN'T. I JUST-- - WELL, I HOPE THEY GET HERE RIGHT NOW. - LIKE YOU GUYS HAVEN'T BEEN APART FOR A-- A MINUTE, IT'LL FEEL THAT WAY. - MAKES ME, LIKE-- WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, IT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO CRY. - THAT'S GOOD, YOU CAN. - I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY. LIKE, I'M HAPPY. I'M SAD. [knocks at door] [tense music] ♪ ♪ [overlapping chatter] - [speaking Farsi] - I DON'T KNOW. WHEN I HOLD MY SISTER, I SMELL MY PARENTS. I FELT THEM. THEY ARE IN THE ROOM. I FELT THEM, MY PARENTS WATCHING US. [all speaking Farsi] - SALAM. [overlapping chatter] [all speaking Farsi] - AW. - WHEN WE WERE PLANNING THIS TRIP, I, OF COURSE, WANTED MY DAD TO COME WITH US TOO. AND HE KEPT ON BEING LIKE, "OH, I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE." AND, YOU KNOW, HE WAS ACTING, LIKE, TOUGH ABOUT IT. BUT NOW THAT WE'RE HERE, THIS IS SO HEAVY, I'M BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND WHY HE DIDN'T WANT TO COME. THIS IS A LOT TO FACE, BUT I'M WISHING HE WOULD'VE COME. - [speaking Farsi] - GUYS... [speaking Farsi] [all speaking Farsi] I'M FILLED WITH SUCH AN INTENSE JOY. I'M JUST LOOKING INTO MY AUNT'S EYES AND HUGGING MY COUSINS, AND THEY HAVE BABIES. LAST TIME I SAW MY COUSIN, SHE WAS HER DAUGHTER'S AGE. [speaking Farsi] - MERCEDES. [speaking Farsi] - [speaking Farsi] - ♪ LA, LA, LA, LA, LA ♪ - ♪ LA, LA, LA, LA, LA ♪ - OH. - OH! - [speaking Farsi] - AREN'T THEY CUTE? THEY'RE TWINS. YES. [speaking Farsi] WOW. WOW, THAT'S A COOL HAT. A SOGHATI IS A GIFT THAT YOU RECEIVE FROM A TRAVEL... - [speaking Farsi] - AND MY MOM IS LIKE THE SANTA CLAUS OF SOGHATI LAND. - [speaking Farsi] - SO CUTE. [speaking Farsi] - SEEING ASA'S FAMILY REALLY STRUCK SUCH A DEEP CHORD. I FELT LIKE I WANTED THAT TRADITIONAL PERSIAN FAMILY LIFE FOR MYSELF. I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL. - YOU GUYS, I'M SO HAPPY RIGHT NOW TO BE-- - I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU. I LOVE YOU. - THANK YOU. I LOVE YOU MORE. - ASA AND HER IMMEDIATE FAMILY ARE LIKE FAMILY TO ME. SO TO WATCH HER EMBRACE HER RELATIVES, IT'S AS IF I'M EMBRACING MY RELATIVES. THIS IS AS CLOSE AS I WILL EVER GET TO HAVING THIS EXPERIENCE. - YOU GUYS-- YOU GUYS ARE SO HAPPY. NOW, WE JUST WANT TO LET YOU GUYS HAVE THE QUALITY TIME. [speaking Farsi] - I LOVE YOU SO MUCH. - I LOVE YOU MORE. - MWAH, MWAH. - THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING HERE. - I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. - HAVE A GREAT NIGHT TOGETHER, YOU GUYS. WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW. - [speaking Farsi] - BYE. MWAH, MWAH. - [speaking Farsi] [overlapping chatter] - [speaking Farsi] - IRAN HAS BECOME, LIKE, THIS PERFECT PLACE OR GARDEN OF EDEN THAT WE HAD TO LEAVE 30 YEARS AGO. THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. [all speaking Farsi] - I REALLY NEED TO, LIKE, PINCH MYSELF BECAUSE I CAN'T BELIEVE MY FAMILY'S HERE IN TURKEY WITH ME. [all speaking Farsi] - ASA. [speaking Farsi] - I LOVE MY AUNT FOR EVEN LISTENING TO ME WHEN I ASKED HER TO BRING ME A BAG OF DIRT FROM IRAN BECAUSE SOMEBODY ELSE WOULD BE LIKE, "HA, HA, THAT'S RIDICULOUS." BUT FOR ME, I HAVE MEMORIES OF JUST FAMILY, BEING TOGETHER, GREAT FOOD, WARM, JUST PERFECT LIFE. - [speaking Farsi] - I THINK IF YOU'RE IRANIAN, YOU'RE JUST POETICALLY ALWAYS A LITTLE BIT SAD. IRAN HAS BECOME, LIKE, THIS PERFECT PLACE OR GARDEN OF EDEN THAT WE HAD TO LEAVE 30 YEARS AGO, WE CAN'T GO BACK TO. IT'S PROBABLY A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE NOW. BUT IN OUR MINDS AND IN OUR HEARTS, THAT'S HOW WE FEEL ABOUT IT, BECAUSE LAST TIME WE WERE THERE, IT WAS PARADISE. THE BEST FEELING IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. - NEXT ON SHAHS OF SUNSET... - BIG WAVE, BIG WAVE, BIG WAVE. - WHOO-HOO! - NO, YOU'RE NOT. AAH! - MO-CEDES, DO YOU WANT A KID? - YEAH. I NEVER THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NOT GONNA BE A CHOICE. I THINK MY CLOCK IS JUST NOW STARTING TO TICK, AND IT'S TOO LATE. - WE CAN GO TO THE BORDER OF IRAN. - ARE YOU [bleep] WITH ME? - NO. THIS IS THE CLOSEST WE'LL HAVE BEEN TO IRAN SINCE WE LEFT IN THE '80s. THEY HAVE SNIPERS UP THERE? - YES. IT WASN'T ABOUT THE DESTINATION. IT WAS ABOUT THE JOURNEY. WE'RE THIS CLOSE, AND WE CAN'T GO IN. I WAS A PRISONER FOR SO LONG. BUT NOW, I AM FREE. FOR MORE SHAHS OF SUNSET, GO TO BRAVOTV.COM.