Zarin Buckingham
A cross‑cultural educator, entrepreneur, and writer exploring identity, belonging, and the human experience across continents
About Me
A European citizen of Persian origin, I’ve been privileged to call many places home; Alaska, Germany, Iran, Slovakia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and now Madeira, the Pearl of the Atlantic. Living across cultures has taught me languages, traditions, and ways of life, but also how people think, eat, celebrate, and carry their histories.
In each country, I had the chance to integrate into local society, seeing these cultures not only through the outsider’s eyes of an immigrant, but also through the insider’s eyes of someone welcomed into their communities. That dual perspective allowed me to step in, step out, compare, reflect, and understand the collective character that shapes each place.
Crossing borders enriches you, but it also asks you to uproot and begin again. Every move brings new friendships, new lessons, and new challenges, all of which become part of the toolkit you carry forward into the next chapter.
FOUNDER ROLES
A cross‑continental portfolio built over five decades in education, technology, entrepreneurship, cultural development, and community support.
Forel International School
Founder of an independent international school focused on multilingual education, cross‑cultural literacy, and modern pedagogical leadership.
Institute for Sustainable Education
Creator of a research‑driven platform dedicated to educational innovation, teacher development, and long‑term systemic sustainability.
Artistsplaza / Artistsplatform
Developer of a digital and physical ecosystem supporting emerging artists, cultural exchange, and creative entrepreneurship.
Brandplaza
Founder of a business and marketing platform helping small and mid‑sized enterprises build identity, visibility, and strategic communication.
Madeira Relocation Services
Founder of an education‑based relocation service offering guidance, cultural orientation, and practical support for newcomers to Madeira.
TECHNOLOGY
A parallel career in IT spanning programming, system architecture, educational technology, and corporate training.
Programming & System Design
Experience in software development, database design, and building integrated systems for educational and business environments.
IT Training & Educational Technology
Developer of training programs for adult learners, educators, and corporate teams, specializing in practical, accessible technology instruction.
Corporate IT Roles
Worked with major employers including Oracle, contributing to system implementation, user training, and workflow optimization.
PUBLICATIONS
The Madeira Handbook
A comprehensive 500+ page guide for newcomers and long‑term residents of Madeira, covering relocation, culture, bureaucracy, education, housing, and community integration. Used by expats, relocation professionals, and service providers across the island.
Barefoot on Ice
A 112,000‑word mosaic memoir currently in the querying stage. Seventy‑four modular essays exploring exile, identity, reinvention, and the architecture of a life built across continents.
New Philosophical Work
A developing manuscript examining fundamental questions of existence and meaning, drawing from Persian and Eastern mystics (Khayyam, Rumi, Attar) and comparing their insights with modern scientific understanding.
Barefoot On Ice
Imagine a cold winter night in Bratislava. You step out of a gala after midnight, dressed in an evening gown and high-heeled shoes, only to discover that the rooftop you must cross to reach the elevators has become a sheet of ice. Almost no one is around, but you spot a man walking in the distance. You call out to the stranger and borrow his arm to reach the elevator. When he leaves and you step inside, you discover it is locked for the night. The only working elevator is on the opposite side of the square. Nobody around. Nothing useful in your elegant little handbag. What do you do?
That winter night became the inspiration for the title of my memoir, Barefoot on Ice.
A Simple Life Philosophy
What is it like to live in different countries?
It is a bank holiday. Everything is closed, you are hungry, and there are only five items left in your refrigerator. What do you do? You make a meal from what you have. It may turn out delicious. It may not. Either way, you feed yourself.
Excerpt from Barefoot on Ice
The Conference of the Birds
The birds of the world set out to seek the mythical Simorgh, a king of perfect wisdom. After crossing seven valleys of hardship, only thirty birds survive. When they finally reach the peak where they expect to find the Simorgh, they find no king — only a mirror. In it, they see themselves. The truth is simple: what they were seeking was within them all along. Beyond its spiritual depth, the story is also a masterful play on words: in Farsi, si morgh means “thirty birds,” while Simorgh is the name of the mystical legendary bird — the phoenix.
By the Persian poet and philosopher, Attar of Neyshapur
Our pets are our little people; they are our friends. They belong to this earth far more than we do. We destroy it and take more than we are entitled to, and they don’t. They live with nature, even when they endure what we put upon them. I cannot respect a human being who is unkind to animals. As Anatole France wrote, “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”
Persian cuisine is one of the world's oldest culinary traditions, developed and refined over thousands of years. Known for its healthy ingredients, delicate balance of flavors, and beautiful presentation, it varies from region to region across Iran, with each area offering its own unique specialties. Colorful, fragrant, and delicious, Persian food is a feast for both the palate and the eyes. To discover authentic Persian recipes and bring these wonderful flavors into your own kitchen, visit The Delicious Crescent at https://www.thedeliciouscrescent.com/recipe-index/
Photo Gallery
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Photo Gallery
