tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-124353242011-12-27T19:31:42.231+03:30Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.comBlogger541100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1149199769147189462006-06-01T22:58:00.000+03:302006-06-03T20:25:46.326+03:30

Meet Arash Hamidi, a university graduate holding a bachelor's degree in Persian rug handicrafts, who works in international business for a Tehran firm specializing in trade and commerce. In his free time, Arash attends to his hobby of producing photographic masterpieces, such as this picture of Damavand Mountain's peak:(click on image to enlarge)Most would agree that being able to capture this

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1148942395758642902006-05-29T22:23:00.000+03:302006-05-31T20:46:14.256+03:30

There’s a plane carrying a Turk, Fars, American, Baluchi, and Kurd. The plane’s about to crash, so the Turk tells everyone to jump. Everybody dies, except for the Kurd. Why? Because the wind caught inside his billowing pants, allowing him to float to safety.This is a Kurdish joke, told to me by a resident of Bonneh, a town located in Kordistan, one of Iran’s many provinces. Iranian Kurds

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1148488759562766692006-05-25T01:43:00.000+03:302006-05-29T02:02:15.616+03:30

It's a lengthy journey from the town of Bonneh, located in the Kordistan province, to the bustling streets of metropolitan Tehran. A 12-hour drive, to be exact. So, my Iranian-Kurdish friend and I booked our return on the "red-eye" bus, so that we could sleep the whole trip, and wake up fully charged the next morning. These cross-country buses are a comfortable alternative to full flights

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1147594722039225652006-05-14T10:28:00.000+03:302006-06-03T18:11:15.616+03:30

Bush's response: "Mahmoud, dear, I read your letter; don't forget to wake me up for morning prayers tomorrow." (Mahmoud jon, nomat ro khoondam. Yodet boshe mano baraye namoze sobh beedar koneed.)Ever since President Bush announced that the U.S. would not issue an official written response to President Ahmadinejad's letter, young Iranians have been text-messaging each other Bush's various

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1147309342303220742006-05-11T03:36:00.000+03:302006-05-11T04:32:22.873+03:30

Here’s what many of you have been waiting for—the Iranian perspective on the nuclear issue. Although schoolwork consumes a significant chunk of my time, I managed to scrape up a bunch of comments from about 20 people ranging in age, economic status, religious beliefs, political stance, and life experience. I apologize, in advance, for awkward translations.Does Iran have the right to produce

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1145200849431931682006-04-16T15:46:00.000+03:302006-04-16T18:54:48.566+03:30

Today, Muslims all over the world engage in spirited festivity to commemorate the birth of their prophet, Hazrat-e Mohammad. It's also the birth anniversary of Emam Jafar Al-Sadeq, an added bonus for Shi'a Muslims. So, in observance of this joyous occasion, most Iranians are afforded a holiday, on this second day of the work week.It's also National "Vahdat" (Unity) Week, in which the sameness

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1144778510963424242006-04-11T20:47:00.000+03:302006-04-11T21:48:30.596+03:30

In a grand ceremony televised live, President Ahmadinejad announced that Iran has joined the world's nuclear club. He went on to laud the achievement of enriching uranium to the degree necessary for the production of nuclear energy. The head of the country's atomic energy program, Mr. Aghazadeh, described Iran as the 8th country in the world to possess nuclear technology. In addition, its

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1144700518100039122006-04-10T21:28:00.000+03:302006-04-10T23:51:58.330+03:30

I'd like to sum up the events of the past 25 days because they have provided me with a wealth of experience and insight. Incidentally, I had no clue 25 days had gone by since my last post; I thought two weeks, tops. I must be losing it. Anyway, we'll call this entry Part 1.Happy New Year! (Farvardin 1-13, a.k.a. March 21-April 2)The year 1385 officially began on March 20th, 9:55 p.m., Iran

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1142530606735070202006-03-16T21:06:00.000+03:302006-03-17T20:29:25.050+03:30

The night before last, Iranians everywhere gathered around bonfires with family and friends to celebrate the eve of Chahar Shanbeh Soori, or Fiery Wednesday. Traditionally, this ancient holiday is practiced by jumping over flames, and chanting phrases like, "Sorkhiye toh az man, zardiye man az toh." Meaning, your (the fire's) glow/ruddiness in exchange for my (the jumper's) fatigue/pallor. This

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1141916479781141402006-03-09T18:30:00.000+03:302006-03-09T18:44:45.633+03:30

Last night, I watched director Ghotbedin Sadeghi’s interpretation of Albert Camus’s play, “Les Justes,” at Tehran’s grand City Theater. We got in free, through the efforts of another director belonging to the International Theater for College Students. Although we arrived a bit late, the story had just begun to crystallize.Les Justes (The Just) is set in Moscow, early 1900s, at a time when Russia

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1141158310032164932006-02-28T22:32:00.000+03:302006-03-01T00:18:58.576+03:30

Today, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad offered Iran's national football (soccer) team some expertise, as it gears up for the 2006 World Cup. After kicking around the ball a bit, in a friendly match, Ahmadinejad sat down with the players, who huddled cross-legged around him, listening intently. He told them that they had extraordinary football skills, individually, yet they must each try

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140482462104360682006-02-21T03:44:00.000+03:302006-02-21T04:28:04.620+03:30

Hello, everybody!Lately, I've been moving from place-to-place, whether between cities or family members' homes, making it somewhat difficult for me to haul around my laptop. So, I had this bright idea to record my posts by hand in this lightweight, easy to carry contraption that's full of this white stuff called paper, then put them all up on the Internet later. After this backbreaking

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140479777065477872006-02-17T23:35:00.000+03:302006-02-21T03:26:18.113+03:30

I am currently watching the documentary "Super Size Me" on Iranian T.V. It's about a young, athletic man of ideal health who goes on a month-long suicide mission/research project in which he consumes breakfast, lunch, and dinner from McDonald’s for a period of 30 days. I had a friend back in USC who carried out a similar experiment with a local Mexican food stand called Chanos. But I

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140477686594810332006-02-14T13:09:00.000+03:302006-02-21T02:55:01.876+03:30

Well, Happy Sappy V-Day. College kids in Tehran are probably giving their friends or significant others lame-o gifts, just to be cool. I heard it’s become trendy to buy your girlfriend or boyfriend Valentine’s Day cards with English written on them; it’s even more fashionable to compose your own personal message in English. And even though both the purchased card and the scrawled greetings may

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140476872895691032006-02-11T14:02:00.000+03:302006-02-21T02:37:53.023+03:30

Today is the 27th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution of Iran. From my vantage point in Esfahan, there seems to be far less hoopla than I imagined. There was a massive protest nationwide against the hassling of Iran’s nuclear rights by western countries, which turned out millions of Iranians all over the country. Strangely, BBC reported the rallies as attracting thousands of citizens—this

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140476735215558142006-02-10T16:15:00.000+03:302006-02-21T02:35:35.633+03:30

I just woke up, nobody’s home, and everybody ate the kaleh-pache. Last night, I was up until 6:30a.m. taking turns to help stir a cauldron of samanou. Samanou is a naturally sweet, chestnut-colored, pasty substance that’s full of energy, and takes 24-48 hours to prepare. You start by grinding up fresh wheat sprouts into a pulpy consistency. Then, you take the pulpy mass and squeeze it in the

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140475648527657362006-02-09T22:46:00.000+03:302006-02-21T02:55:59.390+03:30

Ashura, the 10th day of Mahe Moharram, marks the Battle of Karbala, when Emam Hossein, along with the male children, adolescents, and adults of his entourage became martyrs at the hands of Yazid’s evil and irreverent army. (Get the Skinny Right Here). About 72 lives, including that of Emam Hossein’s 6-month-old son, facing an elite force of thousands, were eliminated. Today represents the most

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140473327718534362006-02-08T23:39:00.000+03:302006-02-21T01:38:48.306+03:30

Various parts of Iran may often attract tourists because of the unique way in which the locals celebrate nationwide events. For Tahsu’a, the ninth day of Mahe Moharram, we traveled from Esfahan to Abianeh, a district situated about an hour out of Natanz. The mourning festivities there revealed many of the symbols I had seen elsewhere, such as massive, ornately decorated standards settled

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1140472337095906552006-02-07T21:13:00.000+03:302006-02-21T01:22:18.273+03:30

Mahe Moharram, the first month of the Muslim/Hijra calendar, is one of four months in the lunar cycle where bloodshed, belligerence, or any kind of act that inflicts physical injury or harm to another, without consent, is religiously prohibited. Those who violate this tenet in the Koran must pay double the penalty for their disregard.During this period, Sunni Muslims celebrate with jovial feasts

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1138395004248742712006-01-27T23:47:00.000+03:302006-01-28T01:02:45.210+03:30

Iranians say saffron makes you laugh...that's probably because it acts as a potent drug, from which one can overdose and die, if too much is consumed. Saffron is one of Iran's top non-oil exports, next to pistachios, rugs, and caviar. The spice is considered the most precious in the world, rich not only in color and flavor, but also in price. Each saffron flower contains three stigmas that are

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1138047849331348642006-01-23T22:37:00.000+03:302006-01-23T23:54:12.513+03:30

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Public Affairs declared that Iran would not recognize any degrees obtained from the American University of Hawaii. This self-purported "global university" has been granting fake academic credentials to Iranians wishing to enter the private and public sectors, without having to actually go to school and earn the necessary qualifications.The scandal has been

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1137599842936066302006-01-18T19:19:00.000+03:302006-01-23T22:33:29.753+03:30

Born and raised in southern California, I've never had to face snow. In fact, before Iran, I hadn't ever witnessed real snowflakes falling from the sky. Likewise, my wardrobe never included overly chunky winter coats, impenetrable gloves, and sheepskin boots with deeply grooved soles. And now, I'm paying for this lack of preparedness.Anyway, Tehran looks so clean and cheerful in the wintertime.

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1137450575029590182006-01-16T12:19:00.000+03:302006-01-23T22:30:22.446+03:30

The Cable News Network has been banned from Iran after being accused of violating the 'professional ethics' of journalism. A CNN journalist mistranslated President Ahmadinejad's words in his recent public address; rather than quoting the leader as saying, "Every country has the right to peaceful nuclear technology," the translator conveyed the message as, "Every country has the right to nuclear

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1137273926653241162006-01-14T23:30:00.000+03:302006-01-17T02:11:47.686+03:30

This evening, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad addressed the public via a press conference covering a range of topics, from the price of fruit to Iran's nuclear developments. Both foreign and domestic reporters were given the opportunity to ask him questions on anything that tickled their fancies. The President answered each inquiry directly, patiently, and completely--truthfully, it was much

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1136658661357046442006-01-07T21:23:00.000+03:302006-01-07T22:01:02.120+03:30

A couple of nights ago, my friends and I visited a sofre khaneh (the name for a traditional Iranian cafe) on Tajreesh. It was an old mansion that had been converted into a dimly lit, rustic-styled lounge that served as a hangout for a mainly young, hip crowd. The interior gave the impression of a mudbrick dwelling, with pregnant lanterns vividly splashed with teal, cherry, goldenrod and

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1136318942944753642006-01-03T23:37:00.000+03:302006-01-03T23:39:03.376+03:30

Here's what President Ahmadinejad is worth:A 40-year-old house of 127 sq.m. situated on a 175 sq.m. lot in Tehran's Narmak areaA current bank account containing his salary as a university professorAn empty bank account for the time he served as governor general of ArdebilA 1977 Peugeot-504 automobileTwo fixed telephone linesAccording to Iran's constitution, all members of the executive cabinet

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1136050143635852642005-12-31T18:55:00.000+03:302005-12-31T20:59:04.626+03:30

Today, as I strolled up Vali-e-Asr Street towards Tajreesh Square to catch a taxi home, I passed by the usual gas station, banks, fastfood hangouts, and boutiques...and then I saw him, Santi Claus, a bright bundle of Christmas spirit hunched over in his chair behind the display window of an upscale Iranian men's clothing shop. His jolly fire-engine red, authentic velvet coat and pants, oversized

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1135270288460814792005-12-22T20:20:00.000+03:302005-12-23T01:01:53.423+03:30

Last night was Shab e Yalda, the longest and darkest night of the year, also known as Winter Solstice. Iranians spent the last two days preparing for festivities--yesterday, the streets were packed with people either leaving early from work, shopping for the night's traditional foods, or on their way to a party. This ancient holiday dates back to Zoroastrian times, and is celebrated through

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1135112461060175952005-12-20T23:30:00.000+03:302005-12-21T02:53:12.866+03:30

Yesterday, my friends and I took a couple of taxis down to Villa Street, the one-stop shop for souvenirs. We were on the prowl for a special gift, one that was distinctly Iranian as well as fashionable. One of our friends, a 100% Italian girl with a Bachelor's degree in Farsi, was leaving Iran for good. We had a day to find the perfect memento, before attending her goodbye dinner that

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1134861831006956062005-12-18T01:08:00.000+03:302005-12-18T02:53:51.700+03:30

Currently, I'm reading Iran Erupts: Independence, News and Analysis of the Iranian National Movement [Iran-America Documentation Group: Dec. 1978], a compilation of various articles written by famous Iranian experts as well as exclusive interviews with Ayatollah Khomeini, all produced during the period leading up to the revolution. I found this jewel, while rummaging through my mom's old college

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1134641271594171402005-12-15T12:44:00.000+03:302005-12-15T19:17:29.593+03:30

My friend and I think our school is brimming with spies. After all, don't spies usually pose as students, journalists, employees of an international NGO or business? Of course, we are making this assumption based on information we've gathered from various students. It's all speculative, but the whole premise is quite entertaining for us.First off, we've got people ranging from their

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1134089866724974212005-12-09T03:10:00.000+03:302005-12-09T05:27:26.860+03:30

A few days ago, 108 people died in a plane crash near Tehran's Mehrabad Airport. 68 of the 97 passengers aboard were journalists and news crew members from various newspapers and broadcasting services. The news team was en route to Bandar Abbas to cover a series of military exercises, according to reports. As their colleagues reported the deaths on the nightly news, they could barely choke back

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1133820315868645142005-12-06T01:26:00.000+03:302005-12-06T01:35:16.886+03:30

I’ve heard of schools shutting down due to blizzards, hurricanes, and other natural phenomena, but before today, I hadn’t considered air pollution as a reason to take the day off. On those fateful days when the pollution is considered particularly hazardous to Iranians’ wellbeing, the health advisory sends out notice to children, the elderly, and people with heart or respiratory problems to stay

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1133205135556370692005-11-28T22:29:00.000+03:302005-11-28T22:42:15.880+03:30

Iran Daily, yesterday's front page:Salutations to Imam Jafar Al-Sadeq (AS)“No eyes have ever seen, no ears have ever heard and no heart has ever found anybody greater than Jafar ibn Muhammad Al-Sadeq (AS) in knowledge, piety and worship," Malik ibn Anas, the leader of a Sunni school of thought, said.In fact, Muslim scholars of various schools never agreed unanimously on a matter as much as they

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1133124094968270892005-11-27T23:01:00.000+03:302005-11-28T00:15:21.806+03:30

Well, Iran’s in the clear with the nuclear issue, for now. After Thursday’s board of governors meeting, the IAEA has decided to refrain from sending Iran’s case to the UN Security Council, much to the chagrin of the U.S. and Britain. Apparently, Russia has been thrust in the middle of the situation, as a possible mediator (ahem—supervisor) to Iran’s pursuance of peaceful nuclear energy.

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1132948324808602172005-11-25T22:45:00.000+03:302005-11-25T23:22:04.846+03:30

Even though the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), also called "10-Years War", ended nearly two decades ago, bodies of soldiers who died in combat are still being found and returned to their families for proper burial. More than 1 million Iranians sacrificed their lives defending Iran from Saddam Hussein's brutal invasion. These fallen patriots will forever be known as martyrs.Even children, elderly,

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1132682346217965712005-11-22T20:56:00.000+03:302005-11-22T21:37:33.650+03:30

Coincidentally, I read this in the Christian Science Monitor news briefs (via e-mail) for Monday:CIA Director Porter Goss said the agency does not "do torture" in an interview published Monday by USA Today. To counter what he called much misinformation about the handling of detainees, Goss said the CIA uses "lawful capabilities to collect vital information, and we do it in a variety of unique and

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1132424341025109862005-11-19T20:58:00.000+03:302005-11-19T21:57:08.430+03:30

Traffic in Tehran is kind of like Dodgeball, except far more fatal. Pedestrians (players) must be as swift and cunning as a fox, strategizing their next move, twisting and turning their bodies as they cross the street, in a bid to stay in the game (i.e., among the living). How does one stay in the game? By dodging the herd of ruthless, speed-hungry cars (balls). Forget about the neatly

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1131916851290031092005-11-13T21:24:00.000+03:302005-11-14T00:57:56.416+03:30

(Note: This post is lengthy and full of pictures. I apologize to those who have a slow Internet connection -like me, at a whopping 33.6 Kbps- and must sit through the painstakingly sluggish download of the images. Thank you for your patience.)Masjed Jame (Friday Mosque)The history of Isfahan Jame Mosque could be regarded as the history of the city of Isfahan. The mosque was founded

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1131313336243044132005-11-06T22:50:00.000+03:302005-11-25T23:31:31.616+03:30

Last week, I traveled to Esfahan to visit family members. Anyone who knows Iran, knows that this city is one massive museum. Countless remnants of history can be seen with every blink of the eye--from the mysteriously brilliant architecture, ethnically diverse citizenry, and bustling bazaars, to the finest quality Persian rugs and renowned miniatures. At some point, one finds themselves

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1130265750264386132005-10-25T19:57:00.000+03:302005-10-25T22:12:30.343+03:30

Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, Dun-Chtz, ...Imagine rapidly thumping, bass-heavy techno beats permeating the afternoon air like volts of electricity, with the rhythmic consistency of beatboxing at volume levels fit for a

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1130257566935158852005-10-25T18:35:00.000+03:302005-10-25T20:03:55.770+03:30

This has got to be a knock-off... American companies were kicked out of Iran, long ago, in accordance with the Islamic Revolution of 1979. While foreign investment flourishes in the country, with names such as LG, Daewoo, Mercedes Benz, Sony, Nokia, and other recognizable brands enticing Iranian consumers, American businesses have remained out of the loop (except for a handful, such as

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1129504775793635552005-10-16T23:57:00.000+03:302005-10-17T13:16:20.466+03:30

Everyday, I take two different taxis to school, and two more back. This longer, and more labor-intensive route (lots of walking) costs me 400% less than ordering a private taxi to drive me from point A to point B. More importantly, the "public" route allows me to interact with everyday people, which provides me with lots of interesting learning experiences.Today, for instance, I learned about

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1129404847999705962005-10-15T22:02:00.000+03:302005-10-15T23:04:08.046+03:30

So, at exactly 9 0'clock this evening, I routinely plopped myself in front of the T.V., and waited in excitement for my favorite Iranian sitcom to begin. That's what I love about Iranian shows--they air every night of the week, at the same time (one hour later on weekends), spanning 150+ new episodes total. No more waiting a whole week for the saga to unfold!Well, tonight my expectations came

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1129401110302850722005-10-15T21:16:00.000+03:302005-10-15T23:08:33.520+03:30

Earlier today two bombs exploded in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz, killing two four civilians and wounding 40 70 104 (as of the most recent TV reports). Although the country battles its own terrorists (the most prominent being the group Mujahideen al-Khalq), Iranian authorities suspect the British are behind this attack because of recent tensions associated with the nuclear energy talks,

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1129297022250123462005-10-14T16:36:00.000+03:302005-10-14T17:07:02.276+03:30

I read in the paper (Iran News) that it's the first of its kind, to be held in December 2005.Festival organizer Mohammad-Reza Taghvaie: "The aim of this festival is to encourage and promote marriage and family. We anticipate 100,000 Iranian married couples to attend this festival."Foreign guests have also been invited to this festival in order to see the warm Iranian culture on marriage-related

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1129057973076647362005-10-11T21:15:00.000+03:302005-10-11T22:47:36.566+03:30

One of the major issues floating around concerns fuel prices in Iran. The government currently purchases gas from other countries at 400 tomans/liter and sells it to the public at only 80 tomans/liter. The heavy subsidization makes up for the country's limited refining capabilities, which has cost the government billions of dollars, annually.According to local papers, economists believe a gas

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1128866754229025742005-10-09T15:35:00.000+03:302005-10-13T00:31:02.796+03:30

"Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came..." The theme song from that old show "Cheers" kept playing over and over in my head as my family and I commemorated the one year anniversary of my Pedar Bozorg's (Grand Father's) passing this weekend (i.e. Thursday & Friday). Everybody in his village of Ourreh, nestled in the town of Natanz, seemed to know

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1128516510073606142005-10-05T16:08:00.000+03:302005-10-05T16:22:52.176+03:30

That was the main heading from today's Iran Daily, followed with:"Oh you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those who came before you that you may keep your duty to your Lord." (Holy Qur'an, 2:185)Ramadan is the ninth month of the lunar calendar during which Muslims fast. Lasting for the entire month, Muslims abstain from a number of things, particularly eating,

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1128515789860294452005-10-05T14:46:00.000+03:302005-10-13T00:32:28.456+03:30

Also happening this week is the exhibition of Iranian Revolutionary Guards, a highly trained police force that provides general security for the country. N.A.J.A. deals with drug trafficking, assault, murder, counterfeit, and other criminal offenses.The first room features the shahids (martyrs) of the Iran-Iraq war that served in the force. Folded up blood-splattered uniforms, I.D. tags, and

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1128510352148266892005-10-05T14:04:00.000+03:302005-10-12T20:35:58.700+03:30

Yesterday I went to the International Industrial Trade Fair where about 500 Iranian and Foreign companies set up exhibits to show off and sell their products. Industrial equipment makers from Germany, Romania, Turkey, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Spain, England, Italy, Sweden, China, and many more countries set up booths with both foreign and Iranian sales representatives.India was also one of the

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1128025027967861612005-09-29T22:48:00.000+03:302005-10-13T00:41:43.676+03:30

My friend, cousin and I went to the Korean Bazaar today, the first day of the weekend. The event was held at the Korean Church on Si-e-Tir Street in south Tehran. Within its towering brick walls we found a church, a Sunday school building, a banquet hall, a vast play area for children, and plenty of greenery. Crowds of people had shown up for the bazaar--Koreans, Iranians, and even a handful of

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1127932789842994402005-09-28T20:45:00.000+03:302005-09-28T22:31:07.853+03:30

My cousin, a civil engineering major who attends the University of Science and Technology (3rd most prominent school in Iran), recently divulged an interesting tidbit of information. It seems that right up to the two weeks before Iran's recent June presidential election, one of his professors was Mr. Ahmadinejad. At the time, he was mayor. And apparently, he was the teacher everybody likes--

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12435324.post-1127748395358245652005-09-26T18:55:00.000+03:302005-09-26T19:17:38.366+03:30

Hello, my special friends in America, I miss you already. As you know, I've come to Iran for a year to study Farsi. I decided this website would be the best and most efficient way to keep in touch with y'all, especially those of you who've lambasted me for my pathetic attempts to stay connected in the past. This site will document the everyday observations of yours truly, in a land you've

Shivahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05515283293666987674noreply@blogger.com2