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A Shirazi College Student
We met at Persepolis. He spoke fantastic english, and we conversed about a massive collection of topics. It wasn't the bunch of caring messages I received from friends on facebook that stuffed fear into my head before I left for Iran, but I must admit I'd never been so worried about a trip before getting to my destination. All right, I admit that as soon as we landed in Tehran, I was petrified of getting beaten by security guards at the airport for pinning my headscarf all wrong...bloody hell, it was all a bunch of tunnyfish worries.
In the past I've been fortunate enough to visit and live in a number of locations around the world since I was a kid (such random examples range from my birth in Palau throwing rocks at a pet stingray, dinosaur-museum visits driving around Utah, waving at Pope John Paul II from the Piazza S. Pietro during Easter to wild clubbing extravaganzas with my mother in Shanghai). Regardless, this certain journey definitely captured my heart in the best possible way.
As you can probably figure after few of my blog entries, I fell in love with Iran. It is something I thought would be impossible while spending most of my college days in New York City, as I'm pretty
College life in NY!
Another insight into my 'usual' life...Aquarians socialize a LOT. updated when it comes to the news...I spend a lot of time on the net or burying my head in a newspaper, and watch telly often.
Of course, I didn't assume that ever since the Iranian Revolution in 1979 locals would be kidnapping every single bloody foreigner they saw on the street or have anti-western demos 24/7. But it was my first occasion meeting Shi'ite muslims, and despite my knowledge of Islam I'd only visited Sunni nations (most of my time in western Turkey, Hanofis, where I could purchase alcohol a few feet away from a mosque) I wasn't sure what exactly to expect in a nation banning alcohol, my usual short-skirted japanese fashion and copies of FHM that randomly ended up in my Astoria mailbox.
At most of the places we visited, there was a mixture of locals and students from rural areas - they all stared at us in complete blindstruck curiosity of course, as some of them had never seen east asians before, but they were all respectful, extremely friendly and rather charming. Although there was the existence of a tough language barrier (only a few spoke some simple words of English, but they tried
Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi~
Fine. I don't donn my Aussie regalia THAT often. so hard to communicate, my limited Farsi did come in handy as it developed along the way), we still made close contact via gestures or a million words thrown at one another. The Iranians I met of all ages were a tender peoples who lacked the vicious hostility I felt in several European destinations I've visited. For one, I never needed to worry about being cheated out of my money at a bazaar or kiosk as it seemed such thoughts never crossed the vendors. Compared to some major European sites, I didn't clutch onto my handbag in fear of getting it stolen by a dude on a fiat who'd mercilessly drive away for kilometres as you clutched onto your possessions while being dragged on the pavement.
I learned a fair amount (obviously not enough) about Shi'ism. A few Sunni friends of mine described them as crazy conservatives who'd willingly do anything bizzerk if God willed it. Well, although I am aware of the terrors that do occur these days, seeing 'normal' Iranian Shi'ites brought me to see them as peace-loving characters who love conversing and basking in green parks and historical sites during their free time picnicking away in
Tehran & the Nescafe boys
Young Iranians giving out yummy samples of coffee at Saadabad palace. non-segregated groups sipping away at their water-pipes and sipping tea.
It is not that majority of these people are illiterate and hence have no input about global issues, as a matter of fact, more women receive a tertiary education in Iran than men. Why do women go on female-only train carriages? Well, there is a similar phenomenon even in Japan - all men are not perverts/'hentai' but they are present in such crowded places...and as part of the polite culture it's not quite pleasant to see such disgusting behavior amongst fellow humankind. (I am not saying though that since the last time a flasher in the Tokyo subway got away with it...I grabbed him by his collar, kicked him in a painful fashion and took him to the station master after causing the biggest racket in the train carriage. Bastard.)
I will not comment about US-Iranian relations, as it is not in my right. I am japanese, and I suppose some of you may think that we're submissive peoples without individualism as we keep our little heads bowed down to western nations. yes, it is partially true and I feel embarrassed by it occasionally, but we do have our national pride in immense proportions. I do admit though that I am very aware of it as a lover of global history and politics. However, please allow me to express some thoughts about comments I hear. It is extremely depressing to read these debates that go on on such sites as youtube.com when I am merely trying to watch a documentary on Iranian history, where unnecessary expletives show up everywhere and users fight one another with demented comments like, 'Algebra was Iranian???? Well he was a $%&!ing moron too and you all deserve to die' or 'all Americans must die'. I used to make fun of these ignorami, but when I see so much of it during my freelance studies it saddens me beyond will.
All right, enough of my stupid rantings. Please allow me to continue my travel blogs.
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Robinson
non-member comment
You are right
right what you said,even my English is poor,I could know what you want to express.a small girl with a big heart.