These are the days of our life...

In memory of Freddie Mercury as he put it the Show must go on...!!
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Sometimes I get to feelin'
I was back in the old days - long ago
When we were kids, when we were young
Things seemed so perfect - you know?
The days were endless, we were crazy - we were young
The sun was always shinin' - we just lived for fun
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know
The rest of life's been - just a show
Those were the days of our lives
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but one thing is true
When I look and I find I still love you.
You can't turn back the clock, you can't turn back the time
Ain't that a shame ?
I'd like to go back one time on a roller coaster ride
When life was just a game
No use in sitting and in thinkin' on what you did
When y 1000 ou can lay back and enjoy it through your kids
Sometimes it seems like lately - I just don't know
Better sit back and go - with the flow
Cos these are the days of our lives
They've flown in the swiftness of time
These days are all gone now but some things remain
When I look and I find - no change
Those were the days of our lives yeah
The bad things in life were so few
Those days are all gone now but on thing's still true
When I look and I find, I still love you,
I still love you.

Partner to be or not to be?!

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine who has recently broke up with a boyfriend. She was quite sad and telling me that she still has feeling for his ex-boyfriend. She wondered if this feeling grows, she would have a difficult time to brake away from past and go on with her life.

I give her the following advice.

It is quite difficult to forget someone you loved. In my humble opinion, the only way that someone may be able to say a complete good bye to his/her past is to close that chapter of her life. I don’t mean killing yourself or anything close to it! Not at all. I mean you have to come to peace of mind with yourself in regard of your past relationship. On the other hand, you must take away the pain before you start your life again.
You have to see why you broke up with your partner. Was it for a good reason? Did s/he break one of the factors that you praised? Does s/he care for you as much as you care for her/him? Did you both draw the same conclusion not being able to stay together? Were you able to compromise and you didn’t? Have you been fighting for a long? Does your original reason worth fighting for?

If you could answer all the questions stated above, we may come to a peace with ourselves. Consequently, we close this chapter of our life. No, need to further thinking of it. We meet people all along our life, we may fall in love, however, our soul mates may be somewhere else standing waiting by an open arm for us!!;-)

The sound of words

last week, Roya Hakakiann was chosen as a DeWitt/Wallace Reader's Digest Fellow. Last January, when she was a fellow at the MacDowell Colony for artists, she made this presentation at the Peterborough Historical Society... link from Iranian.com

Being an Iranian lawyer in U.S.!

Niki Tehranchi writes in Iranian.com about her first hand experinces as a lawyer in U.S....
Working in a law office catering to an exclusively Iranian clientele makes the above look like an idyllic gondola ride on a sunny day in Venice, guided by a Michelangelo's David look-alike singing O Sole Mio in a voice that would make Andrea Bocelli cry of envy... !

Baby-Boomer Managers Struggle With Mentoring

At age 47, William Slater is nearly bald with a salt-and-pepper beard and a face gently lined with experience. A computer engineer in Chicago, he knows that he can change younger people's lives by serving as a mentor -- he has done so repeatedly. But he had bad experiences with three proteges, one of whom tried to take his job. "I have an ax to grind with Generation X," he says. "They're stabbing aging baby boomers in the back." explaines...
Jeffrey Zaslow

Mingling boys and girls in Iran!

Last night, I visited Zahra-hb weblog. I came across this story of her: She tells us that her brain feels like hanging! The story goes: she was sitting in a waiting area of a bus stop In Amir Abaad area. There was a girl who was sitting beside her with stylish or trendy clothing. A car with two guys in it stopped in front of them and asked them to get on the car in a case they wish to do so! To her surprise the girl in trendy cloths got on the car and went along with them! Then she started asking whether girls have to become in such a low level that they take such a risk and do such actions?

I would like to make a statement in regard of the above story line. In Iran we have almost no means of mingling boys and girls in a appropriate environment. No place such as clubs, coed sporting complex exist in Iran (as far as I know and if there is any they are private and quite expensive). No girl is allowed to play any type of game with an outside guy in adolescence age! In such environment that opposite sexes cannot interact in any poosible way by any existing means, couple of solutions comes to mind!
First to meet in hiding in a closed environment like one’s home and do whatever as they wish! I am personally against this. Because lots of things can happen in spaces that no one are in it except two newly meet individuals. I would rather see dating is being done on the surface in places known as public area.
The other solution would be to take any opportunity to meet the opposite sex. That is getting a phone number from a complete stranger on the street. Getting on a car of an opposite sex without a prior knowledge of his/her background, and as I put it any opportunity that may arise. Therefore, I would like to know what part of above really would make our brain to hang? Are we trying to deny what is happening in our body? Are we rejecting what scientists are referring to as hormones? Are we trying to reject our affection for opposite sex as early as we are 6 months old? I suppose not!
Society in general has its norm to balance itself and these are the ways that we observe and society in Iran is adapting to gain its lost balance!
However, Please be advised that what I write here does not completely represent my opinion and belief. I consider the circumstances and then propose the solution!

Friendship in childhood vs adulthood!

Have you ever wondered how easy it was to find a friend when we were young? Some may say, yes, some may say no! but the truth is that it was hell easier to find friends when we were in an early age (I mean from 2 to 14 years old)! Have we ever wondered why?

I think the reason comes from the fact that we get complicated! In early age we are simple, down to earth, enjoy simple things, just get fascinated by hid and go seek game or by the world around us!!
However, later in life as we put it when we become adult, we get involved with ourselves! No more simplicity, now things are not as straight as it they look. Now we deal with people who may be mean at their heart! I never understood why we can see best for our friends, stranger the same! I wish we could enjoy the adulthood as much as our childhood....I'd like to write about love!...

It is quite difficult not being politically opinionated in Iran. Everywhere you look there is injustice which is directly or indirectly resulted from government first hand manipulation or effects on people’s life… moving on, for the past few days I have come across this website, the story goes: Ten years ago, I was a 19 year old girl who had moved to New Zealand and was spending my days surfing. One afternoon, I got a call from my father who told me that my brother-in-law of eight years had just died in an accident...Alex the girl

did you hear there was a long blackout in North America last week? As a salsa lover I came across the following article plus these lovely picture that I found worth sharing. blackout in Toronto. enjoy....

These days I feel sad. Things aren't going well for me!.. I gave my best friend his anniversary present today morning!... I wish we could again go back to my school years. I have missed those days... I will try to write more if I get a chance...

have you ever gone to Iran Khodro Site? I tried to add my resume to their data base. unblievable job to do. first of all you have to write in Persian. It took me 30 mintues to type my name and last name and some other info in!! besides that you have a few options to choose from. For example, there is no sapce for a people who have studied in Canada. all other countries are there except, Canada. I suppose, no one from Canada would like to study in Iran Khordro, though!!

Today, my aunt (Khaleh) and her husband and childern visited us. We decided to go for a walk to Velenjak in the evening. As we arrived I saw a beautiful girl whom I tried to give her my phone number!! no luck, she said she was engaged. This was my first ever try to give a girl my phone number! Over all, this is difficult job in Iran! I have no idea whether the girl like to be approached as a suitor or a simple guy with ambitious who would like to to start a new friendship to see where would it take! You have to step forward but not knowing what to expect!! I am going to write more about this!

Today has not been an active day for me. I feel like listening to the Josh Gorban song. If you wish just go and listen to song number 11. The lyrics is as follow:

Home To Stay

I know you're gone
I watched you leave
I always thought
That it was me
You made it clear
With that last kiss
You couldn't live a life
With maybe's and whatif's

When every boat
Has sailed away
And every path
Is marked and paved
When every road
Has had its say
Then I'll be bringing you back
Home to stay

I have the cards, you sent to me
You wrote of trains and Paris galleries
This spring you'll draw
Canals, and frescoed walls
Look how far your dreaming's gone

When every town looks just the same
When every choice gets hard to make
When every map is put away
Then I'll be bringing you back
Home to stay

And now I know why you had to go alone
Isn't there a place between

When every boat
Has sailed away
And every path
Is marked and paved

When every road
Has had its say
Then I'll be bringing you back
Home to stay

Reach out to me
Call out my name
And I would bring you back again
Today

Ok, this is not related to what I posted earier! I can't express my feeling today!! have you ever felt happiness and sadness, Simultaneously! This is exactely what is going to my mind, today! I finally found a great friend whom I know from kindergarden, knowing that she is happy and has got married made me happy! It was so good to hear that she is doing well and enjoying the new life. I felt regret not asking her sooner...! I guess this is part of life and time will heal, hopfully this pain of mine!
...
by the way I was in Isfahan this past two days and I can't describe the sense of proudness that I received after seeing so many great monuments. I should defenitely write about them.
...
have you ever listen to Buena Vista social club? This is quite an interesting story which I encourage you to read about. If you are in North America, PBS used to broadcast a program on it. Right now I am listening to some of sangs by those singers. Lovely Cuban songs! :-)

This writing was first send to my friends by me about couple of months ago whom were interested to know somemore about current Iran. This was first appeared when I first arrived in Tehran after being away for quite sometimes. I will republish this in this weblog of mine so, people have a little corner of perception of has is going on in Tehran from my view point.

Day One
I finally arrived in Mehraab airport 21 hours after my departure from Toronto. Before arriving in Tehran airport what strike me was the fact to see many Arabs on the plane and after arriving in Tehran in the airport. Moving on, I got out of passport controlling area without any problem since 4 years had past since my last visit to Tehran. I really didn’t sleep as I had jet lag and was quite excited.

Day Two
Did not much just spend at home hosting a few relatives who wished to say hi!

Day Three
I finally went to the city. Destination was airport custom in 2 Km of Karaj highway as I had send my belonging via fret to Tehran rather than transporting them with me. There it was Tehran city of smog and pollution. Drivers a little respect for the driving rules and by laws not to mention roads are at poor conditions. The process of taking in my luggage took about 2 hours but I learn a lot in this encounter.
I saw how people bribe government employees by just simply slipping a bill on his desk or in his packet! Bribery is fact of the life and it is something employees directly require you to compensate them for!!
There is huge bureaucracy where it only requires just a few data entry in the computer. There are many employees who are there almost for no particular reason however, you as a customer should collect their signatures!! Actually, I am quite serious: because only at two levels I saw somebody enter something to the computer the rest was just, have this gentleman sign your paper for sake of signing it!!!
Another interesting observation is to my surprise people seems to enjoy this mix bureaucracy and they usually extend it. While I was working to obtain a license to collect my luggage, I had to go to the area where the license or “Pate” has they put it to be issued. While standing by the counter, a guy just asked me did you make a copy of this and that. I replied: No! he said then you should go and make three otherwise you are in big doo doo!! To my and him surprise I didn’t copy any paper and I finished everything in 2 hours (Trust me this is quite fast)!!

Day Four
I started the day by walking to Mehdane Tajrish around 7:30 am. First I realized it is too early for shops to be open! I walked all around the Meydane tajrish and Maghsoud Bayk area where meyti jan once said. Around Astara Cinema! From Coal (Zoghali) Street to Baghe Feredos and Sada Abbad! Finally stores opened and I learned that in Tajrish we know have many many many computer stores. I can probably claim half of the stores are now computer and CD related! I forgot to mention that while I was walking towards Baghe Fredos area I saw a placards on the wall advertising for “MELI Iran Philharmonics Orchestra (Orcest-e melli Iran) in Bashghah-e Enghelab for tonight. So, I wasted no time to collect tickets.
The night was tremendously extra ordinary despite some mismanagement. To mention were lack of garbage bin in entire open area (we were sitting in the open area) for about 2500 people!! Or some lack of coordination to start the program on time! All and all about 12 pieces were played by Mr. Farhad Fakhredini as a conductor of the orchestra. They were so beautiful that I wish every one of you were there and could experience it with me.
In the end, people stand up and applauded him for his effort. He came back and played two songs. The first one was Ey Iran, the work of Mr. Hossein Gole golab. In the end of the song he turned his back to audience and started to conduct the audience to encourage them to sing along and people did while all standing!

Indeed, I went to an interview which was quite interesting. I came across an advertisement in HAMshahry newspaper in which they were indicating that looking for a mechanical engineer. before I get to the details of my interview, I should mention about some ads in Hamshahry. There are quite a few ads that to my surprise they say: looking for a FEMALE mechanical engineer! or FEMALE architecture. it made me wonder becasue the ads seemed quite sexist to my point of view!!
moving on, I called the mechanical firm and I was told I should directly go and see them! instead of sending my resume!
I finally arrived. I was given an application to fill out. I had hard time to answer many questions. so, I was told I should wait to be interviewed!
first I learned I lack many technical words in Persian. A few to name:
Milling machine: FEREZ
Leath machine: Machine Trash
Granding machine : Machine Sangi
milling machine no backlash: Frez-e morghak, ya known az Morghak!!!
In any case, after about 1.5 hours of interview, I was told becasue I am not so much familiar with Persian expressions I should learn about them and then look for a job, later!
I asked them about the type of the work they do! Interesting enough, I was told they buy a part do reverse engineering and then sell it to local or neighbors market! they go as far as even violating patent laws. for instance, they had bought a German pump, previously. They had it disassembled and had all the parts re-produced. then according to the guy, they re-sell the pump in Iran under their own company's name. However, a sole reprehensive of that German company in Iran had encouraged this company to use Geramn label and resell the pumps to Azarbayjan and other new neighbours of Iran as a German Pump!!!!!!!!!!!! As easy as I am telling you!!!
I found it quite interesting and they do that without hiding it or even feeling there is any problem with it!!!!!


Couple of observations:

The ambient of the Tehran seems quite all right. One interesting thing I have seen is that lots of girls walk hand in hand! Overall, I think there are lots of problems in today’s Iran but people are avoiding any revolutionary thing. They try to culturally make any changes rather than utilizing any kind of force. I haven’t really noticed many prostitutes. I have seen lots of girls with colorful veil. Of course, this doesn’t mean they are not around, however, I suspect that they operate from their cars!!
I noticed if you respect people and even drive with respect, many fellow Iranians would respect you as well.
Pollution in my opinion is the worst element of all in Tehran. Another sad thing is that many Shemiran Baghs are or have already been turned to high rises. These high-rises are erected anywhere in Shemroon where there is no real services. Or streets are so small that a car hardly can pass by. Imagine if there are 20 or more cars around that street with 5-meter width.

Many people but not all tend to ignore the signs and news that are flowing from every corner. For instance, Dr. Mohammad Reza Khatami has recently written a letter to Mr. Asgaroladi. I doubt it if many Tehranis have even seen it. Or there is almost every night a concert or theater around the town. But many say have never heard of it. I feel people are waiting for a new force to appear or they really don’t intend to pay any price.
The most common activity for young Tehrani is window-shopping. And watching the opposite sex walk!! (Makes me wonder, too).