Culture crash
Door: Monique
Blijf op de hoogte en volg monique
18 Juli 2006 | Iran, Teheran
Hello!
This morning we arrived in Dubai by a very slow boat...on our way home.
This time, I wasn't sad to leave the country, although I wonder if I ever will be back in Iran... And if I will be back, how will it look? What kind of state will it be in 20 years? Will women still wear there flesh-hiding clothes?
This last week, we stayed with Iranian families and learned more about how they see their country, their government, their rules and habits. Most of all, they are not very positive about it.
In this last week, we as well got our first real culture crash, which was not easy to deal with! We stayed at a families house, of which the father has lived in Holland. For him, it was to difficult to deal with the differences now he knew our manners and habbits ( and this is where I realize even more how harsh our refugee-policy is!!!). Sarah and I felt very comfortable in this house, although we refused to take our scarves of. In the afternoon I talked a lot with him, in a way his wife could not understand. In Iran, woman and man cannot be friends, like normal friends; if you are not married or family of a man, you have nothing to do with him. Since the father had been drinking some alcohol (which is rare in Iran, forbidden), he persisted on showing his wife what was ok in our culture between male and female friends, which made her soo confused, we became part of a little house drama, where we did not want to be in. Not sure how to deal with it, Sarah eventually confinced him he went too fast and he should stop showing her and getting angry with her because she did not seem to understand. I think this was very brave of Sarah! Saying such a thing to a man while his family is there could have been very embarressing for him....But thanx Saar, you were very brave!
I liked staying with the different families and am still amazed by their hospitality! Before we went visiting them, we were afraid to get bored in Iran. I felt a bit dusty, was not so interested in another mosque to see, or sitting again for 10 hours in a bus alongside the dusty desert roads... Traveling after a while, is a bit like this; sometimes, you'd have enough of waiting again, or being forced to sleep since it is to hot. Dutch people are just very active people I guess.
This Friday, we will fly bac; at the moment we are in Abu Dhabi by coincedence. The UAE (United Arabic Emirates) is really not made for me, that is for sure! I am a little shocked being here after Iran. Everything looks like richness, glittering and entertainment. In Iran, entertainment does NOT exist AT ALL. Also, I look very strange to woman who show their arms or other flesh?!It looks very naked to me...so I still keep hiding my skin until I am back in Holland.
Tomorow we will go to Oman, and then, soon be home!
Looking ffwd to see you all!!!
Take care,
Love,
Monique
This morning we arrived in Dubai by a very slow boat...on our way home.
This time, I wasn't sad to leave the country, although I wonder if I ever will be back in Iran... And if I will be back, how will it look? What kind of state will it be in 20 years? Will women still wear there flesh-hiding clothes?
This last week, we stayed with Iranian families and learned more about how they see their country, their government, their rules and habits. Most of all, they are not very positive about it.
In this last week, we as well got our first real culture crash, which was not easy to deal with! We stayed at a families house, of which the father has lived in Holland. For him, it was to difficult to deal with the differences now he knew our manners and habbits ( and this is where I realize even more how harsh our refugee-policy is!!!). Sarah and I felt very comfortable in this house, although we refused to take our scarves of. In the afternoon I talked a lot with him, in a way his wife could not understand. In Iran, woman and man cannot be friends, like normal friends; if you are not married or family of a man, you have nothing to do with him. Since the father had been drinking some alcohol (which is rare in Iran, forbidden), he persisted on showing his wife what was ok in our culture between male and female friends, which made her soo confused, we became part of a little house drama, where we did not want to be in. Not sure how to deal with it, Sarah eventually confinced him he went too fast and he should stop showing her and getting angry with her because she did not seem to understand. I think this was very brave of Sarah! Saying such a thing to a man while his family is there could have been very embarressing for him....But thanx Saar, you were very brave!
I liked staying with the different families and am still amazed by their hospitality! Before we went visiting them, we were afraid to get bored in Iran. I felt a bit dusty, was not so interested in another mosque to see, or sitting again for 10 hours in a bus alongside the dusty desert roads... Traveling after a while, is a bit like this; sometimes, you'd have enough of waiting again, or being forced to sleep since it is to hot. Dutch people are just very active people I guess.
This Friday, we will fly bac; at the moment we are in Abu Dhabi by coincedence. The UAE (United Arabic Emirates) is really not made for me, that is for sure! I am a little shocked being here after Iran. Everything looks like richness, glittering and entertainment. In Iran, entertainment does NOT exist AT ALL. Also, I look very strange to woman who show their arms or other flesh?!It looks very naked to me...so I still keep hiding my skin until I am back in Holland.
Tomorow we will go to Oman, and then, soon be home!
Looking ffwd to see you all!!!
Take care,
Love,
Monique
-
18 Juli 2006 - 15:23
Josien:
Hey mo,
I would like to hear more about your stories...It sounds so interesting! Hopefully see you soon,
Kizz Josien -
19 Juli 2006 - 12:26
Karin:
well darling,
enjoy the last hours (days) and I hope to see you soon!!
love, karin -
19 Juli 2006 - 12:41
Karin:
maarre maken jullie geen foto's??
-
19 Juli 2006 - 20:58
Joelle:
Ola,
Be there saturday on the airport to welcome you back in holland!
Here everything fine. Started with my spanish course, go to work with Paul from Fa-med again and.... big news bought a house in Amsterdam.
So if you are still looking for a room in Adam, you know who to ask! But I think you soon will leave Holland again.
Stories sounding great, curious to your bold head.
Till saterday and enjoy the last few days!
X Jo -
22 Juli 2006 - 21:56
Johan:
Hey Mo, alvast een goede vlucht. Cu over ongeveer 4 weekjes wel weer in NL! -
24 Juli 2006 - 09:40
Djoeke:
En nu...weer thuis en alweer op weg?
Mooi om te zien hoe je je hart volgt en je eigen kansen blijft creeren (met puntjes en hoeveel e's ook alweer?). Kunnen we allemaal een voorbeeld aan nemen! Bedankt! :) -
23 Juni 2007 - 13:29
USA:
hello -
23 Juni 2007 - 13:30
USA:
hello -
23 Juni 2007 - 13:31
USA:
hello -
07 Augustus 2007 - 04:55
Begimotik:
Hello all -
02 September 2007 - 12:39
Alima:
Hello
Mijn naam is Alima ik uw profiel zag en het bewonder, denk ik wij het
kunnen maken samen, daarom zou ik u me terug door mijn e-mailadres
thus:[alinkaje05@yahoo.com ] willen contacteren ik zal vertellen u
meer over mij en ik zal u ook mijn foto verzenden zodra u me terug
contacteert. Het hoppen om van u het spoedigst te horen, begrijpt dat
de liefde één is. Ik geloof in liefde en vertrouwen. Hoop om van u
het spoedigst te horen.
Alima.
Hello
My name is Alima i saw your profile and admire it, i think we can make it
together, therefore i would like you to contact me back through my email address thus:[alinkaje05@yahoo.com] i will tell you more about myself and i will also send you my photo as soon as you contact me back. Hopping to hear from you soonest, Understand that love is one. I do believe in love and trust. Hope to hear from you soonest. Togetherness as well. Insch Alla.
Alima. -
08 Oktober 2007 - 09:35
Ad Breedveld.:
Dag Monique Staps.
Leuk met je aan de praat te raken over je Iranreis! Ik heb net 2 weken over Iran oude en eigentijdse kunst zitten lezen in KIT A'dam. Lees snel Eefje Blankevoort: STIEKUM KAN HIER ALLES.
Maar zij had rugdekking van haar Professor enz. Jullie op de bonnefooi? Ik bewonder jullie moed! Altijd welkom in Veenhuizen voor mijn 2 meter Iran-boeken (geschiedenis, politiek, kunst, enz). Of alleen voor koffie! Bel even of we thuis zijn. VrGr. Ad Breedveld & Marleen van Engelen.
Reageer op dit reisverslag
Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
