Michelle May

Just came across a few great images of Iran from my 1st trip there in 2007.  That visit was pre-website/blog…  spent a month hitch-hiking & taking public buses around the country- often staying with people I met in the street or on public transport.  May be one of the last places on earth where you can do that?  I want to do a reality show where I hitch across Iran with no $ yet live like a queen with the loveliest of people- it is the reality, in fact- I already did it- you can do it too, you know… well wait for it to quiet down, InSh’Allah. 

Tags: 2007, hospitality, Iran, summer.

Something they will never show you on the news is how unbelievably hospitable and nice people in this region are.  There is so much to learn from people here & in other countries.  Especially in how we treat “foreigners” (AKA guests).  Can you imagine how a foreigner would be treated in Europe, the US or Australia if they did the following (all of which happened to me yesterday)?:

* I accidentally shoplifted.  I thought my friend was buying something at a store, since her & the cashier were speaking about this product which looked like a jar of pickled seaweed.  Trying to be helpful, i put the jar in my bag.  As we were pulling away with her driver, one of the young shop guys came running out, asking for it. I had no idea what he was talking about since my Farsi is shissa, & my friend also missed the fact that i slipped this jar into my bag.  Based on a misunderstanding, so everyone was laughing & enjoying. 

* Trying various fruits & “vegetable” at a veggie stand.  I inquire what this gigantic jar full of water & floating mini-brain looking things are.  The shopkeepers insist that i try everything i look at.  So of course I try this tiny brain looking thing.  I still have no idea what it was but it was not a floating walnut as i 1st suspected.  Hmmmm….  The entire fruit stand gets into my trying  & facial expressions revealing delight - or disgust… insiting “welcome… welcome.”

* The 2 Persian guys I am biking with & i got together to finalize our route yesterday.  they kept insisting that what was #1 important was that i feel comfortable & enjoy myself.  In fact i think they are actually riding with me just to be sure that i am okay and have a positive experience.  Ontop of that everytime we meet up they buy me food & drink & will not let me pay.  we stand much to learn from this custom, people…

* Two times i hopped in a taxi who would not let me pay in the end.  One time in a share taxi with 3 unrelated people who all happen to speak English (which is a rarity).  The one man asked where i was from, and then rattled off all his positive experienced with Irish people (including Chris De Burgh who was just here playing a concert- 1st westerner in a long time- afterwards CDB deemed Iran the safest country in the world).  Anyways, when i tried to pay the driver insisted that getting to see me was “payment enough.”  Would that ever happen back home???  Especially with a “foreigner”??!

If you are reading this, I know i am likely preaching to the choir, but really, let’s think twice about how we treat people as fellow humans, and especialy people who are not “from” a place, and who do not speak English.  It’s not easy.  Travelling is one thing. living in another counry is another level altogether- it’s incredibly trying- why add insult to injury by being so cranky to people?  Especially in America, we are all immigrants- it is ridiculously obnoxious when people get so bitchy about “immigants.”

Tags: hospitality, Iran.