THE CULTURE OF IRAN AND ITS PEOPLE A story that resulted from my fathers immigration process from Iran to the United States By: Auva Dariani The country of Iran is located in the
continent of Asia and shares borders with Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan,
Turkmenistan, and Pakistan.Tehran is
the capital city, full of people, businesses, parks and gardens, and sights to
see.In fact, Tehran is the most
populated city in Iran and the third largest metropolitan area in the Middle
East.Overall though, the country of
Iran is full of rich history and beautiful sights to see.Fortunately for me, I have had the
opportunity to visit the country twice.During my first trip to Iran, I was only three years old so I was too
young to create any vivid memories.However, almost seven years ago though, I had the opportunity to visit
Iran again with my mother and sister.During this trip, I had the opportunity to visit family members who I
hadn’t seen in years, go sightseeing, eat authentic Iranian food, and learn
more about Iranian culture.
Taken in Darband Iran. My family enjoying lunch on the Alborz Mountains.
While visiting Iran, it was a must to
visit a bazaar. Bazaars in Iran are outdoor markets that are extremely crowded
but represent the culture of Iran so perfectly. In a bazaar you can find food,
clothes, toys, and perfect touristy gifts. I found it extremely interesting
that many store owners were able to instantly recognize that I was an
Iranian-American. I was at first unaware as to why many people in the bazaar
kept looking at my sister and I as if we were celebrities. My cousin informed
me that it was very easy to tell Iranian-American apart from the crowd just by
the accent we had while speaking Farsi and also by the way we dressed. Dress
code in Iran was one of the biggest challenges that my sister and I endured
while we were visiting Iran. My family visited Iran during the months of July
and August and similarly to the United States, it is extremely hot during those
months. In Iran the weather can tend to be extremely humid and dry accompanied
by extremely high temperatures. Iranian woman must obey the set dress code,
which involves covering your hair and body. Being covered up in 100-degree
weather is extremely tough especially for my sister and I who have not adjusted
to the dress code and weather. To make the experience more challenging, there
were many restaurants, malls, and building that we visited that had no air
conditioning. It was sometimes a challenge for my mom to get my sister and I
out of the house because of how dramatically hot the weather was.
My sister and I in Tehran Iran on a hot afternoon.
One of the best moments I have from
visiting Iran included getting to eat authentic Iranian food. After a 14-hour
flight to Iran, the first meal that my sister and I wanted to eat was Chelloh
Kebab, also commonly known as Shish kebab in the United States. The kebab in
Iran is one of the reasons I would recommend any of my American friends to visit. My
family and I visited a restaurant in a town known as Darband. Darband is located
in the Alborz Mountains and had many beautiful restaurants that were built upon the mountains. One specific
restaurant that my family visited was built on the side of the mountain and had
some of the best Iranian food that I have ever had. While visiting Iran I also
had the chance to visit the Shah’s palace. It was such a beautiful and
historical site that expressed and had a lot of culture. The visit to the
shah’s palace reminded me of that beauty that lies within the old architecture
in Iran. Iran is also known for it detailed and stunning Persian rugs. The art
that these rugs portray shows a glimpse at how Iranian culture can be portrayed
in many ways.
This picture was taken one week before my father came to the United States. He is standing with his mom (right) and his aunt (left)
My father was born and raised in Tehran
Iran and came to the United States at the age of 20. My father traveled to Iran
a couple years before the Iranian revolution unfolded. My father came to the
United States in order to pursue his education at Columbia University. He had
plans on returning to Iran after completing his studies but did not do so
because he did not want to risk being enlisted in the army because at the time
Iran was at war with Iraq. While staying in the United States he was able to
meet his wife and create a family. My dad has been in the United States for
almost 40 years now. He is a proud to be an Iranian-American and has passed on
his family traditions and culture to my sister and I. Ever year are family
celebrates Norooz, the Iranian New Year. During Norooz we set up a table called
a haftseen. The haftseen is a table that includes the seven symbols of life
that all begin with the letter ‘S’. One of the seven items includes putting
change or cash on the table. The money is put on the table in order to resemble
a wish to have good wealth within the upcoming year.
My father Behrooz Dariani after arriving in New York City in 1978
Every Norooz we set up a haftseen as shown in this picture.
My father has experienced
some challenges while being in the United States including not being able to
see his brothers and mother as frequently as he would like. In order to visit
Iran from the United States you must take two different flights because there
are no direct flights. The travel is also extremely long and for my
grandparents it can be a struggle because it is extremely tiring. In order for
my family to visit the United States they are required to have an American
Visa, however, it is extremely hard to get. The process can take up to several
years and it isn’t even guaranteed because it is a lottery process. If travel
to the United States we easier for my family in Iran I think there would be less
challenges for my family here.
My father holding a picture of him and his parents taken when he was one years old in Tehran, Iran.
Iran is a beautiful country and has
developed greatly in every aspect. There have been major improvements in
technology and education throughout the years. There has also been an increase
in tourists who have been visiting Iran. There is sometimes a negative
portrayal of the country over media and it may scare people away who are eager
to travel. Iran has shown its beauty through its people and its culture and with
time I hope travel and relations between the United States and Iran improve.
Consent for Pictures and Videos was given by Behrooz Dariani:
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