همسفر را در سفر باید یافت You find your co-traveller while traveling

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You find your co-traveller while traveling

As I travel around, people often ask me why I travel alone. My answer is aways the same : I find my co-traveller while in travel. Once again this concept came true for me. I met and became friends with several people in Kish, Gheshm, Esfahan, Mashhad and other cities. I have been moving around in Iran for several weeks now. I have seen many cities and met many people and have heard many life stories. I find people anxious to talk and learn about life outside of Iran. In Iran the young men and women generally are deprived of accurate information and real news in the world. The internet speed in many places are on the 1MG level and higher speeds are cost-prohibitive. The TV channels are almost always geared into some sort of religious talks and related shows. Generally access to YouTube, facebook and mant other social media is locked and people have to have a lock-breaker software to have access. Everything seem to get filtered through the lens of Islamic and religious ideologies. The level of suicide among young generation is alarmingly high. Unforturnately, there are no accurate statistics released, but everyone I met seem to have some exposure or connection or know someone who has committed suicide. The socio-plitical-economics paradigms are so complex in Iran. A young man of a low income practically has little chance of getting married, as the family of the girls demand financial security for their daughters and block anyone from marrying her unless they show strong financial reserves. Mahmood, a friend I met in Kish, told me that he had to have at least 20-30 million Tumaans (about $7000 to $10,000 dollars) and a good job before he can convince any family to marry their daughter. This is substantial for the millions of young people who earn on the average about 20,000 to 30, 000 Tumaans ( $7 to $10) per day. The rents and other cost of living is high. The young generation is forced to remain living with their parents or other family members by the virtue of economics. Mahmood is a skilled drywall and plaster worker who ears $10 a day. He is suicidal--he has cut his own arm's veins a few times. He says: " I get angry and decide to hurt myself." The young people seem to hopelessly whistle in the dark.



The religious restriction and governmental suppression of people has created a tabu out of sex and sexuality among the young. They can's be found together without being married, at the same time they can not afford to get married either---hence, the hidden quick sex, the prostitution and sexual abuse is astronomical. To numb these issue, the street and prescription drugs come to rescue! Opium, crack, and heroin are vastly available. about 95% of men and some 40% of women are smokers. Some street drugs are cheaper than the cigarettes.

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Comments

[Nader]

Jewel of Iran
What a wonderful adventure. It is like being there right along with you. Stay well and be safe. Can't wait to see you at the good old home in California. We think of you often and greatly miss you at our hikes. Lots of love and good feelings to you, my friend.