Marji moves from Iran to Austria and experiences significant culture shock in her new life. She struggles to connect with her new friend Shirin due to their different frames of reference. While Marji secretly finds Shirin "inane," she eventually connects with her classmate Lucia by using common interests in food and reading to help her fit into her new surroundings. Through these activities and her artistic expression, Marji is able to gradually adjust to life in Austria.

1. L.O. Understanding Marji’s culture shock and
changes as she settles into a new life

2. Starter
• Discuss in pairs:
• What would be the biggest problem/ culture shock you might face if you had
to move fromKenya to Iran.
• How do your issues compare to whatMarjane experiences in her first weeks in
Austria?

3. Comparing frames of reference
• What does this
conversation (page 158)
tell you about eachof the
girls’ frames of reference?
• Can youconnect it to
problems Marjanewill
havelater on in her time
in Austria?

4. Clashing characters and friends
• How would you describe Marjane at this point in her life
&
• How would you describe Shirin?
• Is it fair on Shirinthat Marjane secretly calls her ‘Shirin
the inane’ (p.160)?
• What makes Marjane connectto Lucia(p.174) andto
some of her classmates after a while (p.169)?

5. Fitting in
• Two concepts play an important
role in Marji’s attempts to fit into
her new surroundings: food &
reading.
• Look for examples of her using both
food and reading, and describe how
successful Marjane is using these
ideas to fit in.
• Also, explain how she uses images,
speech bubbles, emanata, voice over
and facial expressions to clarify
what is going on in the panels you
picked as you evidence.

6. Rounding off
• How successful is Marjane at fitting into her
new life?
• What causes this?