Shirin is nine years old and lives in an apartment house in northern Tehran. Her father bought the apartment four months ago. As far as Shirin can remember, the family moved to a new apartment year after year. Each time the apartment was a little bigger and was a little further north in Tehran. Here the houses are more expensive and therefore also highly secured.

Today is a special day, because Shirin is going on a school excursion to the Saadabad Palace Complex. Shirin has been assigned to afternoon school shift, while her brother, on the other hand, was assigned to the morning shift. Due to the enormous population growth, children in Iran have to attend school in shifts.

Now Shirin puts on her school uniform, consisting of black trousers and a long black tunic. She also wears a black hijab. Since it is cold outside, she puts on her new pink winter coat. Then she takes her schoolbag. Shirin’s mother drives her to school and later on she will pick up Shirin’s brother at his school.

Shirin and her girlfriends are excited as they climb onto the bus that will bring them to the former palace of the Shah. Their teacher has promised to show them the beautiful wedding dress of the last empress on exhibition in the museum. Like most girls, Shirin and her girlfriends would like to be a real princess.

When Shirin at last gets back home, it is far after eight in the evening. Her brother has already done his homework and is now playing a game on the computer in his room. Their mother prepares dinner and then they make a short call to their father, who is in Shiraz on business. After dinner Shirin watches a Disney film with a princess and remembers the beautiful clothes, she saw in the museum today. Then it's time to go to bed. She'll do her homework tomorrow morning before going back to afternoon school.