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November 24, 2003
"Persianically Baptized"
Ah, a DSL line and free flowing hair....what more could one want? Actually, just some sleep. I've just completed a 24-hour journey back to the States, which means I've been up for, well, I won't think about it. Other than a $133 charge for a teeny bag of books and papers, I'm no worse for the wear. I didn't even have time to get teary, so busy was I trying to figure out the airport departure situation in Tehran. A 3 AM flight, 7 hours in Frankfurt and another 8 hour flight will knock a lot of sentimentality out of you.
Still, as I talked with my seatmates on my two flights, I was drawn back again to the memories of my adventure. On the first leg, my companion was an Armenian-Iranian American visiting his parents in Tehran for probably the last time. We talked about the fact that his wife will no longer come with him, as she hates wearing the scarf and manteau, but how much has changed for the better since his last visit. As he is an architect, we also discussed the deplorable state of building construction in Iran, and our fears of what will happen in the inevitable earthquakes.
My second seatmate was a minister from Minneapolis returning from three months living in a Palestinian village. We shared our thoughts about being in a Muslim country, about the anti-American hatred that is growing, and the situation in Israel. But we also talked about our mutual feelings that for both of us, we had been drawn to our journeys for inexplicable reasons, and hoped that we could adequately describe them to others.
I was greeted at the airport by my parents, who have been so supportive of my fellowship and trip from the beginning. How many other American women would have parents whose first reaction upon telling them I wanted to go to Iran was "great!"?
I returned home to an email from a lovely environmentalist I met in Masshad asking me why I hadn't contacted him to visit the "jungles" of the north. Just so much left to do!
I now have to sort through all my tapes and figure out the best approach for my reporting. Some things may make better print stories, and there may been some radio stories in there, too. After Thanksgiving I will give a presentation to my fellow fellows, and then all of us will also present to anyone at the School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins who would like to hear from us. I hope I can either show some videotape or still photos by then.
It was a fantastic trip, a chance of a lifetime. Sure, there were times that weren't easy--suspicious pieces of glass in my shower, for instance, and a couple interchanges with police. But really, for the most part the people were exceptionally welcoming. And I tried to make the most of it, drinking in whatever I could, even if it had nothing to do with my specific reporting project. I hope that I will be back in Iran soon. For some reason, I am drawn to the country. As one of my new Iranian friends wrote me:
"Now you probably understand the meaning of "Land of 1001 nights" and have sensed a bit of the same feeling millions of others, throughout centuries, had, when put feet on this magic soil....In other words, I can congratulate you for being born in our world and Persianically baptized. You were touched by waters of the Caspian and Persian Gulf and now have us with you. Be with us."
Just a taste of Iranian hospitality and poetry.
Thanks to those of you who wrote to me on this web site or personally. It was much appreciated, as it often got lonely. I hope to see all of you soon, and also hope your autumn has been productive and healthy.
![PB080028[1].JPG](http://www.clipfile.org/marcia/archives/PB080028[1].JPG)
Posted by MJF at November 24, 2003 03:17 AM
Comments
hi . where are you from ' friend ?
Posted by: hossein at July 3, 2005 05:08 PM