Valleyford writer weaves a special tale from Iran trip

Travel warnings haven’t dissuaded other local residents from visiting Iran, including Valleyford writer Meghan Nuttall Sayres.

Two months ago, Sayres traveled to Iran to weave a knot on the World Peace Carpet, a project sponsored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Association and Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization.

She was the first American to participate in the event, which involved 700 others from 89 nations.

It was a sacred moment for Sayres, a tapestry weaver and author of the prize-winning novel “Anahita’s Woven Riddle,” which is set in Iran and inspired by an Afshar tribal rug.

It was her second trip to Iran. She first visited the country in 2005 to discuss her book during Iran’s first international children’s book festival.

Since her return, Sayres has shared her experience with a number of people including students at Sprague High School.

Her recent presentation not only gave the students a different perspective on Islam and the Middle East, based on several thank-you notes they sent her, it also encouraged the youth to reflect on their attitudes toward people from different cultures.

“I have to say that because of where we live, those of us who have lived in Sprague for many years are missing out on diversity,” one of the students wrote. “… Because we live in such a small town with (other) people like us, we forget that people who are different are not bad or stupid or dangerous.

“Many of my fellow students did not know much of the Middle East or the cultures there, so they did not like people that came from there or were racist toward them because they were different. Even though they might not have known one person that came from there.”

In their letters, some of the students indicated to Sayres that they, too, wish to travel to Iran and the Middle East someday – to meet the people, learn the culture and dispel stereotypes.

– Virginia de Leon