Pauline P. Bakhtiari (née Narvas)

Where is home? This is a question I asked everyone I met on my travels, when it was my turn to answer, I hesitated because I didn’t know where to begin. It’s complicated. I never felt truly at home. Until I met my husband that is when I realised who I was waiting for… I wrote this for him and read it out loud in front of our family and close friends at our civil ceremony last month. Here’s the shorter version 💜 ••• 🎬 Video by @clark.narvas 📸 Photo by @yourhandinmine.photo 🎵 The Bolter (piano version) by Taylor Swift

I knew from the minute I met him. I said yes. 💜🫒 23/12/25 Thank you @panoramaglasslodge for the beautiful memories and shoutout to @vnailsbyvania @millyandjin for preparing my nails 😂

Did one thing right 🫒

Love was once described to me as two souls, separated, trying to find their way back to each other across time, distance, and entire lifetimes. The idea was only poetic, until a year ago on this day, I met him. Thank you for bringing me home 💜 ••• I wasn’t even sure I’d return to Athens last May, but I reluctantly dragged myself back there, if only to collect the rest of my things. I’d been burned so badly that I remember thinking if one more person hurt me, I might never speak to a man again 😂 I almost didn’t go out that day either. I had a terrible headache from the night before, but somehow, I still went and I met him. It was as if I’d known him my whole life. After we met, a bird pooped on my hair (a sign of good luck, apparently). I recorded a video on my Instagram Close Friends saying, “I think I’m in love.” I deleted all the awful dating apps, stopped holding onto connections that were going nowhere, and started imagining what returning to the UK could look like. I told my friends about him, and after such a long streak of bad luck in love, they were so excited for me. Some of them even joked that I should marry him. I did within the year. ••• Everything happened so quickly it still feels surreal sometimes. Moving to Brighton, building a home together, getting engaged in Iceland, then our civil wedding in March. I never believed people when they said, “when you know, you know” — until Oliver. Now I say the same thing to everyone else. When you truly know, it just makes sense.

Thanks again to the @reactmiamiconf team for inviting me to MC this year alongside the wonderful @ryan.vgl in Miami 🇺🇸🫶 (BTW I’m a student from Taylor Swift’s school of easter eggs… we’re back to light mode again!)

There are people that say, “it’s just a job” and I get it, sometimes that is it for some people. That’s cool. But for me, my jobs have never been just a job. They’ve been the place I’ve had opportunities to find my people, figure out my “calling” in life (which I have realised is to serve and help others), to build things that matter to me and hope it improves lives or at least resonates. - Leaving Vercel was the toughest decision I’ve ever had to make, but one I know my future self will be so thankful for. Leaving this team hurt me the most, but I know sometimes change can be the trigger for massive growth. This is so incredibly true for these folks. - Just 5 years ago, I would’ve done things *a lot* differently so even though this hurts, I’m so proud of myself 💜 What’s next? Well, I’m going to touch grass, have quieter evenings without Slack triggering cortisol spikes and might travel a bit… I’ve been heads down grinding for a while, I wonder what life is like without babysitting my AI agents 😂 - → pawlean.com/posts/vercel

Ya know wot, down South isn’t too bad!

I fear I moved too fast from appreciating this gorgeous dress from @aym.studio 🤍 I wanted my civil wedding dress to honor the 3 chaotic, beautiful years in Greece where I eventually ended up meeting my husband. The picture that hangs in our hallway was taken from the balcony of his Airbnb in Neos Kosmos. It was where we spent the summer month slowly realising we were always destined to meet. Because of course… that was the reason I was in Greece in the first place and why I stayed for so long. My only complaint is I wish he found me sooner. 😆 That’s why I titled my vows “Nostos”, inspired by the journey that led to him. Όπου κι αν ταξιδεύεις, πάντα γυρνάς εκεί που αγαπάς 🤍

It’s funny how a year ago, I wasn’t sure where home was. Today, I’ve never been more sure. Here are some of my favourite shots of the UK recently 🥰

Visited GTA IRL for @reactmiamiconf ! That’s 3x times I’ve travelled to America in 4 months so far this year 😅 And the 11th place I’ve visited in the US…! I never thought I’d go so much 😂

Fun fact: the last time I was in Cambridge was in 2013(?) when I was on the film set of “X+Y: A brilliant young mind” trying to make my debut as an actress 🎭 Second fun fact: I fell down after this pic was taken cos I was 100% wearing the wrong shoes.

This town is fake but you’re the real thing 💜 The run up to the civil ceremony was nothing less than dramatic, with many moments I thought it’s so over 😂 I don’t know if I could’ve done it without the help, love and care from @rkulidzan and @joe1sou . Grateful 🥰 📸 @yourhandinmine.photo