Thoughts of Iran...

I have to write this before I start my 1st day of work tomorrow! Before the busy and tiring days wash away all beautiful memories and the evocative feelings I have after I returned from Iran.

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I returned to Qazvin for my last night in Iran. I would love to stay one more night in Esfahan which is my favourite city of all, and there's many more things I want to see too. However, I chose to return to Qazvin so that I can see the friends I have made there, namely Giti, Dr Azizi, Ely and Maryam and their families. I have called up Giti twice when I was in the other cities. She has given me her relative’s number in Kerman, but I only stayed one night in Kerman, so did not want to bother her relative. Dr Azizi’s son is actually a doctor living in Shiraz and they wanted me to go look him up. After I called up the drugstore when I was in Shiraz, Maryam called me back at my hotel. The next day, her brother actually called too but I was out. Maryam then invited me to go over to her place(which is actually Dr Azizi’s house, cuz they stayed together) for my last night. I obliged cuz they are such sweet people.

I miss them.

Sigh. The feelings get stronger at night. When I’m all alone in my room reading or filling up my past diary entries or simply listening to song, it gets so unbearable at times. Do u know that Giti actually called me on Thursday night? Oh dear… How sweet of her…

I made my way to the drugstore on the last day of my holidays(29th May) after arriving at the railway station in the morning. I was whisked off to Dr Azizi’s house for a shower after a while and to leave my bag there. Then Giti came to pick me up for lunch. After lunch, we went back to her apartment and I took a nap. It was already 5+ when I woke up. We then sojourned to her mother’s place where her sister and her daughters were. I have met them earlier in the morning when they came over to the drugstore especially after they heard that I was there! Had tea and some beans.

(For those who wants the low-down on the drugstore, please re-read the email/blog: “Back in Tehran after 2 weeks. 10th May�)

Off to the drugstore again where Maryam and her hubby, Amir, were waiting for me. Giti then drove us out to the outskirts of Qazvin to a hilly area with lotsa greenery and strong winds. Fadak. Beautiful. The teahouse we went to overlooks the town of Qazvin. What a great way to remember Iran on the last night.

We had tea and some cakes there, after which it was already 930pm when we got back to the drugstore. Mustafa, Giti’s hubby, was preparing to close the shop. Went back to Dr Azizi’s house and bade a final farewell to Giti there. I did not cry then. She teared. But after I’m back, I miss her so much I actually teared a few times. This friendship is simply amazing. I have no words for it. Something so pure and simple. So beautiful. The beautiful things in life are free. I cannot agree more.

The journey from Qazvin to Tehran takes 2 hours by car and then from another 1 hours is needed to get to the new airport outside Tehran. The ride from Tehran to the airport would cost me a whooping USD10. I actually planned to take a shared taxi the next morning at 6am and then hire another cab or the one that I’m on to go to the airport. All in all, the journey would take 3 hours. Ahhh!!! My plans were totally ruined cuz Dr Azizi insisted on driving me there!!! Oh my goodness! My flight’s at 1135am, so they were actually calculating the time and planning the route in the drugstore in the morning when I just arrived. Oh dear… Giti laughed it off and told me, “Yeah, it’s set. Dr Azizi invited u here, so he will be responsible for making sure u don’t miss your flight!� Maryam also shrugged it off, “My father is a retiree who has nothing to do… So just let him drive you to the airport!� I was soooo lost for words. If I had known they would do this, I would not have visited them!

Sigh. Can u understand how I feel? I have never met people like this before. People who become your friends overnight, no, not even overnight, just the moment they met u! I’m truly touched and grateful what they have done. I did not write about this, but I encountered problems earlier when I was extending my visa in Tehran. I arrived at the office too late which closes at 1pm! I already got a train ticket for my onward journey to Kerman for that night. I also had a misunderstanding with the stupid taxi driver. I called up Giti who acted as the translator. After she found out about my predicament, she offered to drive down to Tehran the next day to help me get my visa while I continue my trip! All over the phone, with no hesitations at all! Of course, I did not want to trouble her! Besides, it’s my own problem! Sigh. Where do u find such dear people on Earth? I don’t have a religion, but oh dear God, please bless them. They place their faith in You so much…

I miss them… Aww…

30th May: Woke at 4.38am! Showered and packed to go at 520am to pick up Mustafa who would accompany us on the whole way to the airport. Dr Azizi may have nothing to do after that, but Mustafa still gotta work in the drugstore after that! Sighz.

I dozed off every now and then on the car. We took photos and bade farewell at the airport. I wonder when I will see them again. They did not leave after I went to check in. (The check in section is barred from outsiders). Mustafa reminded me to change my money out into USD again. Only after I have changed my money and cleared customs which was like an hour after we arrived at the airport, only did they leave! Sigh.

I cannot describe how grateful I am to them. For making my trip such a beautiful one. And for allowing me to experience ‘Ta’arof’, the system of formalized politeness in Iran. It is a mode of social interaction in which everyone knows their place. It is all about sensitivity to another’s position. Whatever it is, I have fully experienced the hospitality of Iranians, the way they would go out of their way to accommodate you and very often, spring surprises on you. I may have miss out certain sights I wanna see in Qazvin and Esfahan, but nothing can beats the experiences I have had with the people at the drugstore. I would never exchange anything for that matter!

They were like my 2nd family in Iran. I can safely say that they are almost as close to me as my parents are. My relatives sucks, so don’t even mention them! At mealtimes, it’s so different from the Chinese way of eating cuz I could feel no restrictions at all. I was not used to it at 1st definitely, but they are not like Chinese who would always push food to you and they would chat among themselves in Persian, allowing u the ‘freedom’ to pick your own food without feeling being watched. I love Iranian mealtimes. I eat slow and I eat whatever I want, however much I want. It feels so good. Chinese are just too ostentatious at times… Argh. And I love Iranian food… Miss it…

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I am starting work tomorrow at SGH. Yeah, no longer a young kid where there’s an institution to shelter me… anxious? Nervous? Not really, just looking forward to see how my work schedule goes so that I can plan my time around it. Not thinking too much too… Cuz my mind’s very much on Iran too! :p

It’s close to 12! Better turn in soon! Till the next blog!

Hope I will dream of Iran…