Family

Another week passed under the bridge.

This weekend was strange, but a lot of fun all the same. I spent Thursday morning trying (unsuccessfully) to get myself organised with work and washing. In the end, I threw it in, jumped into a taxi and headed to Sepehrs.

We ended up going to Halle (Auntie) Zhila's place for a girls night. Sepehr came too, he seems to have a free pass to these sorts of things. So of course I was surrounded by women, doing what women all over the world do best - talk.

All night long, gab gab gab, it was a lot of fun. I met more Aunties, Beji was there, cousins - it was all happening! I can follow the conversation sometimes, but for the most part it turns into white noise, so I sit staring at the telly or mindlessly eating the fruit :P

The cousins took me under their wing eventually, and with Sepehr's help, we ended up having a good old chinwag. We stayed the night there.

Next day we headed to Beji's for breakfast. We had that glorious tribute to Iranian cooking, Kalle Pache (boiled sheeps head). After my attempt at eating that in Shiraz, I baulked at doing it again. I was begged to 'just try' the intestine, but I decided not to! I even got a 'but you're an AIESECer, you should be open to new things' guilttrip, but I stood firm. The smell was soooo bad! I stuck to a more traditional breakkie of bread eggs cheese etc.

Another day spent doing not much. We chilled out for a while, smoking shisha in the backyard. Finaly heading home, we did officially not much until I grabbed a taxi back to Tehran this morning.

Now I'm home, even though it's 1.30pm, because the Faculty internet is being disagreeable, and most of my work needs email today.

I'm missing home a lot lately. I keep closing my eyes and wishing as hard as I can that when I open them, I'll be sitting at Cibo Rundle St with a Grande skinny Latte and Lauryn.

My adventure to Karaj on Sunday was quite eventful, by the way. Once I made it to Engelab Sq, I jumped on the rapid transport bus, then promptly missed my stop. It's so strange lining up at the women's gate to catch the bus, but it's nice to be seperated, as will become evident shortly.

I got to the metro station, found out my card had run out of charge, had a helpful old man assist me to recharge it, had a helpful young man direct me to the right platform, then jumped in the (optional) women's carriage to Sadigieh station.

Once I was there, I had to change to another train, which was fine. I jumped through the nearest doors at sat down. The man opposite me kept looking, looking, looking at me. Finally, he worked up the courage to talk to me. In very stilted english, he kept asking about where I come from, (it's easier to say Sydney in these cases), why was I going to Karaj, what did I do, do we use bicyles in Australia, do I like soccer etc etc. I think any sentence that he knew, he just threw it out there.

I answered in short sentences, careful not to make too much eye contact (if you do, it means, yes, I want you, you big hunk). The other guys in the carriage were rolling their eyes and feeling a bit sorry for me I think.

Finally I arrived at the station, and my new friend followed me. i got on the escalator, only to find his arm around my waist! I took a step up, but he followed. Another step up, but the arm didn't move! Finally I got up to the top and did the bolt. He followed me out to the carpark, where thankfully Sepehr was waiting for me! As soon as the guy saw Sepehr, he did the bolt himself!

Lesson: ride in the women's carriage!!

Rad o Bargh

Thunder and lightening!

Autumn has arrived a week early. I wish you could be here with me right now - I've never heard thunder so loud in my life! It rattles windows and teeth, it makes you feel like you're 5 years old, making a 'nest' out of every doona and blanket from the linen cupboard.

My totally unscientific theory is that the sound echoes off the MASSIVE Alborz mountains, making it doubly loud, but I'm probably wrong.

Two weeks since my last post. I'd say life is going on as usual, but that's not quite right. I spent a great deal of time thinking about how my work is going, how I'm going here in Iran. After some harsh words to myself, I'm doubling my efforts in every area. Near enough isn't good enough here, no Sir.

So work is a lot more intense now, I'm spending a lot more time in the office, and I'm pleased to notice that my output has skyrocketed. Something about elbow grease...?

My personal life is still great fun. I'm (BOOM!!) (Oh gosh it's pouring now!!) I spent the weekend just gone with Maryam and Bahar on Wednesday night, and Mojdeh and Mohammad on Thursday night/Friday. I went to two different parties, chilled out, watched two awesome movies (Go rent 'Before Sunrise' then get 'Before Sunset' - amazing.) All too soon it's Saturday again and I'm back in the office. Tomorrow is Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan. Well, actually today is the end of Ramadan, but you get what I mean. It's a public holiday, so I'm off to Sepehr's tonight. His whole family is getting together at Beji's place (Beji is the coolest, most young-at-heart grandma I know). So much Iranian food and fun to be had, I'm sure.

(hehe, I can hear all the Professor's kids downstairs screaming and laughing at all this noise).

My Farsi is coming along, it seems to go in fits and spurts. Some days I trip over how to say 'good thanks' when someone says 'Khoobi?' (Should I say 'khoobam' or 'chetori'?). Other days (and more now than ever) I can sit in someone's kitchen and almost follow the conversation, even if I can't contribute past 'bale' (yes) or 'kheili khoshmarzast' (it's delicious).

hmmm.

Well I just got off the phone to Sepehr-jan, and because it is far too dangerous to be driving in this weather, I am going on a public transport adventure after work. I have to drop in on a girl who lives in the dorm to help with some english stuff, then away I go.

Taxi to Engelab Sq, then BRT bus west toward Azadi. Then Metro to Sadigieh (?) until the last stop, where Sepehr will be there waiting.

(sorry for all the detail - that is mostly there for Bastian and David ;) )

Well, the day's got away from me now, it's 4pm. Just an hour of work left then high-ho Silver...Away!