I was in Iran for two months

I thought I should offer information based on the unique opportunity I had to spend two months on the other side of the world in a country of controversy. If anyone has any questions about Iran or my visit there I'd be glad to answer them as best as I can

what's your nationality? If US, then you're pretty badass. I've always wanted to go to Iran (had a trip planned years ago, then Gulf War 1 hit).

And of course talk about all the places you saw, and share photos.

Unfortunately, two weeks ago, the SD card with all my photographs went through some sort of corruption and the files have all been lost. I uploaded some pictures, mostly of my family and myself, to Facebook.

I spent the majority of my time traveling between Tehran and Taleghan. Taleghan is a unique rural cluster of villages consisting of 88 different towns. It's surrounded by the mountains and celebrated for its beauty and the calm it brings to people. That's where my dad grew up. He has 6 siblings who still live there, and we actually own some land that I might like to build a house on in my next decade of life. Sour cherries, a variety of berries, pears, apples, plums, and nuts grow in abundance there. It's like paradise. My family and I would go there for 3-5 day visits to meditate, unwind, drink home-made liquor and wine, make fires, hike, cook, and enjoy nature.

Tehran is an amazing city. I don't think there is anything in the U.S. that compares to how lively and beautiful it is. The architecture is gorgeous and simple, and the blending of infrastructure - apartments, houses, stores, streets, highways, and nature all happens very organically. Very different from our criss cross perpendicular streets. It felt like home (and is) because I am Iranian. It was my first time visiting however.

The city doesn't sleep. I arrived there at 4AM on a weekday. On my way home there were dozens of cars parked on the side of the highways. People were selling things, socializing, eating. The weather was warm as can be without being irritating in the least. Pollution is a serious issue there, but I loved the smell of the air there. So many cars.

Are they ready for imperialists war of conquer?

hash?

women?

pardon my base oriented inquiries

i recently dated an iranian scholar/phd who was indeed iranian.

her take on modern iranian society was that most of the population is sick of the mullahs and their antiquated ways.

the revolutionary guard is a well paid and placated violent force that insures the barbarous medieval doctrines of said asshole mullahs are enforced.

Any info that disproves propaganda, stereotypes, or misconceptions perpetuated by corporate media is a plus.

A friend/former coworker of mine who's active duty in the air force is half-Iranian. He brought in a bag of pistachios one day from his aunt in Iran. He is very outgoing and an avid snowboarder.

So I have three simple questions: How do people normally dress? What kind of music do they listen to? And what kind of food is popular there?

  On 1/7/2013 at 4:35 AM, yikes said:

hash?

women?

pardon my base oriented inquiries

There's very little use of hashish. The consequences, both socially and legally, are severe. It's looked down upon by most of the population. Although the liberals and artists wouldn't condemn it, I don't think there's really a culture built up around it either. There is an incredible absence of escapism into drugs, alcohol, and technology in Iran. Very refreshing to experience.

The dating game is very interesting there. As you may know, Iran is an "Islamic Republic" so alcohol is forbidden. This means there are no nightclubs or bars to go meet women at, and there is a general disgruntlement among the males in particular about that being the case. I have assured them that they're not missing out on anything. So, on any given night, there are certain streets that girls and guys will drive around on trying to pick up mates and trade cell phone numbers. My cousin took me on a couple joyrides through Tehran where we'd chase dolls around and he'd spit game at them in Farsi trying to get their numbers. The idea is to play cat and mouse and if you're a good enough cat, the mouse submits by pulling over and giving you her number. Then, on some night of the week, you get together in secret, behind your parents' backs, and hit up a restaurant or something. By the way, 95% of people live with their parents until age 35+ when they start getting married. There just isn't enough space or money to live the way we do here, and it's a culture based on family and community rather than independence.

The girls are very very very pretty. I think the headscarfs just make them sexier. You can tell who the "bad girls" are and who the "good girls" are by how they wear their headscarf. I don't think I've ever seen so many pretty women. They're confident, bold, argumentative, but ultimately amazing partners. Women take pride in their role as the house cook (a ridiculously important role) and they are very maternal and mature. Audacious is the word that comes to mind. They have a way of maintaining equal footing with men, on a social level.

No guns allowed anywhere. The rare idiot who mugs people does so with a knife. Very safe country.

  On 1/7/2013 at 4:45 AM, ambermonk said:

Any info that disproves propaganda, stereotypes, or misconceptions perpetuated by corporate media is a plus.

 

A friend/former coworker of mine who's active duty in the air force is half-Iranian. He brought in a bag of pistachios one day from his aunt in Iran. He is very outgoing and an avid snowboarder.

 

So I have three simple questions: How do people normally dress? What kind of music do they listen to? And what kind of food is popular there?

There are a great deal of men, usually 40+, who seem to all dress the same way. Black slacks, a belt, and a nice shirt tucked into the pants. This indicates that the man's primary identity is "worker." There are religious women, perhaps also 40-50+, who dress in all black, with their hair covered completely, and their primary identity is "religious woman/mother." Then there is the younger age group. Modesty is a must in Iranian culture, so women are not allowed to expose their legs, shoulders, or stomachs in public. All the women wear headscarves, but in quite a sexy way if they want to, with voluptuous hair styles underneath. Men are not allowed to wear shorts or walk around without shirts in public, unless they are doing recreational sports activities in the park. In general, there is a great mix of color, both brights and dulls, that people use to express themselves. People aim to look very classy or respectable. You will never ever see anyone out in public wearing sweatpants, old torn up jeans, shitty shoes, or things like that. There's an atmosphere of self-respect, if not a little bit of vanity.

This reminds me... their parks are the most extravagent and beautiful part of the city. Most young people congregate in parks at night to play badmitton, smoke hookah, skateboard, talk, or eat and drink tea, or even make fires. There's a great freedom in the parks, unlike ours in the US (closed by dusk!?!?). The parks are beautifully lit, neatly groomed, and many of them have snack bars and fresh juice stands and sometimes even a "4-D" movie theater located inside them. Honestly, it's just gorgeous.

You asked about music. It's kind of shitty, but there's some cool club music. It's Iranian music mostly, which is just a totally different genre and vibe than anything we have here.

Food - PIZZA. They have the best pizza I've ever had in my life. No one in Europe, the US, or Canada has served me better pizza. There is a growing "fast food" scene there, but the great thing is that absolutely everything in Iran is organic. No hormones, no pesticides, everything is natural. There is no "organic movement," that's just the way it is. No Monsanto. Corporations are pretty much absent in favor of small business.

Also there's awesome home made meals that I can't describe to you. There is a disappointing absence of Oriental food.

  On 1/7/2013 at 4:51 AM, happycase said:

. They're confident, bold, argumentative, but ultimately amazing partners.

vomits, discreetly

  On 1/7/2013 at 4:45 AM, ambermonk said:

Any info that disproves propaganda, stereotypes, or misconceptions perpetuated by corporate media is a plus.

It's true, the people don't like the government, but we don't like ours either. And when they watch news about the shit going on in the U.S. they are laughing at us. School shootings, massacres, corruption, the nosiest government in the world - they see us as we are, really, power-hungry, frightened, intrusive, bullies. Only they don't mistake "corrupt government" with "bad people." They think our "people" are fucking awesome. Whereas in our media, we don't really aim to distinguish the population of a country from its rulers. There is a sort of underlying religious mythology behind the presence of the Ayatollah. It is actually related to teh second-coming of the final descendant of Mohammad. The Ayatollah is only holding power there until this Muslim fellow re-emerges into the world (along with Jesus - they accept Jesus as an equal to their own "savior" - and in fact, they have a pretty universal respect for all sacred peoples who have made history on earth). The government is not violent with its people. There are rules. If you break them, you get punished. But there is, in general, a solidarity among the echelons of society. Police and military are very friendly and forgiving with citizens. Most punishments can be avoided through bribing. It's just the ethics of the place. Nobody wants trouble. They're incredibly easy-going.

  On 1/7/2013 at 5:08 AM, usagi said:

  On 1/7/2013 at 4:08 AM, lumpenprol said:

what's your nationality? If US, then you're pretty badass.

 

why? it's not super-dangerous

maybe because i'm sure there are people there that would probably want to saw your head off (and yes, I know this doesn't apply to 99% of the pop). Not to mention homeland security not taking too kindly to a visit.

If I had a Canadian visa I'd do it in a jiffy

really cool stuff...ill try to think of good questions

yeah, thanks for the window into another world. sounds really nice.

How is Tehran for tourism? As others have said, I don't know how kindly my govt would take to a visit. But how do you think a white American would get along?

Cheers for the insight Happycase. Sounds like you had a cool experience over there.

Sounds like a fantastic place. I would love to go someday.

True that Iranian women are pretty. Every Iranian woman I met was at least decent, up to gorgeous.

No questions yet.

where do they hide their nukes ?

(i'd prefer an answer in geographical coordinates)

thanks.

  On 1/7/2013 at 4:21 AM, happycase said:

Unfortunately, two weeks ago, the SD card with all my photographs went through some sort of corruption and the files have all been lost. I uploaded some pictures, mostly of my family and myself, to Facebook.

Thats convenient.

I knew it was a lie from the beginning but i thought you were going to answer these question in a funny way but you're not even trying to be funny. Sad

happycase = mahmoud ahmadinejad

  On 1/7/2013 at 2:21 PM, BCM said:

happycase = mahmoud ahmadinejad of trolling

fixt

Surely Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of trolling?

How's the music scene there?

isn't most modern iranian music just trashy mid 90s eurodance with iranian vocals?

edit: like this stuff

*books ticket for Iran*