Sue,
Bahman says that dogs are unclean in Islam. I really don't know where this verdict has sprung from. I remember, however, a story from one of the most famous books in our mystical literature. One day Junaid who is one of our greatest mystics was passing by when he saw a shaggy, hungry dog whose teeth had been broken. Junaid stopped by the poor dog and began to give him his own food. All the while, he shed tears, caressed the dog and said, "who knows which of us is really better? A dog's name may be ugly, but no dog is destined to go to hell after death. I however am walking on a tight rope tied and stretched over hell and heaven. If I do not slip I will put the crown of God's forgiveness on my head one day, but if I slip and fall into the hell I am many times worse than this dog."
You once said that you did not know Saadi very well. This is one of the stories I read in Saadi's Boostan. Golistan is in prose. Boostan is in verse.
T
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Thank you, yes, Iranians have ability to speak poetically. I think it is for our culture. We have many poets. When Iranians are child his family read poem and it is for our rich culture. I love all kind of Iranians poems. I usually read classic poem. Classic literature is so beautiful. I love classic literature more than modern literature. For example Hafez, Sa’adi, Molavi and Ferdosi are classic poems. Modern poet (that it called free verse) is beautiful. I read usually Forogh’s poet in modern poet. It is very interesting that classic literature’s books are until now. We have many wars and captures. Now, we have many books that they wrote about 800 years ago.
God tell:
‘I keep from all things that are godly’.Those books are godly.
I was sleeping when a wise man said:
Why do you choose to imitate the dead?
Since happiness for none unfolds in sleep
Drink now, the dust is your eternal bed.
Khayam…….From T’s book.
Yes, dogs are very much in Iran. I don’t like to keep animals in my home, because they are free. We should not take them. Dogs in Islam are unclean and we shouldn’t take them in our home. If a Muslim touches a dog he became unlike. We use dogs in a flock of goats or sheep for example a sheep dog. Now, people have dogs and keep them in their homes. Peoples play with them. Much kind of dogs live in Iran. Bulldogs are very popular and expensive.
Thank you, yes, Iranians have ability to speak poetically. I think it is for our culture. We have many poets. When Iranians are child his family read poem and it is for our rich culture. I love all kind of Iranians poems. I usually read classic poem. Classic literature is so beautiful. I love classic literature more than modern literature. For example Hafez, Sa’adi, Molavi and Ferdosi are classic poems. Modern poet (that it called free verse) is beautiful. I read usually Forogh’s poet in modern poet. It is very interesting that classic literature’s books are until now. We have many wars and captures. Now, we have many books that they wrote about 800 years ago.
God tell:
‘I keep from all things that are godly’.Those books are godly.
I was sleeping when a wise man said:
Why do you choose to imitate the dead?
Since happiness for none unfolds in sleep
Drink now, the dust is your eternal bed.
Khayam…….From T’s book.
Yes, dogs are very much in Iran. I don’t like to keep animals in my home, because they are free. We should not take them. Dogs in Islam are unclean and we shouldn’t take them in our home. If a Muslim touches a dog he became unlike. We use dogs in a flock of goats or sheep for example a sheep dog. Now, people have dogs and keep them in their homes. Peoples play with them. Much kind of dogs live in Iran. Bulldogs are very popular and expensive.
A Hopi Elder Speaks
The Hopi are a tribe of American Indians living in Arizona, which is considered part of the American West. They live on high mesas and,like so many other Indian tribes, great wisdom is theirs. Here is a piece sent to me by my friend, and Ali's friend, Carmen.
Sue
A Hopi Elder Speaks
"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"
"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.
"Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
"We are the ones we've been waiting for."
-- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder
Hopi Nation
Oraibi, Arizona
Sue
A Hopi Elder Speaks
"You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour, now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour. And there are things to be considered . . .
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader."
Then he clasped his hands together, smiled, and said, "This could be a good time!"
"There is a river flowing now very fast. It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid. They will try to hold on to the shore. They will feel they are torn apart and will suffer greatly.
"Know the river has its destination. The elders say we must let go of the shore, push off into the middle of the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above water. And I say, see who is in there with you and celebrate. At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally, Least of all ourselves. For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth and journey comes to a halt.
"The time for the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves! Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration.
"We are the ones we've been waiting for."
-- attributed to an unnamed Hopi elder
Hopi Nation
Oraibi, Arizona
Friday, October 29, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Yes, Esfahan is a beautiful city in Iran. Remembered Esfahan, Shiraz, Turk (they are a ethnic group in Iran), and Kord (they are another ethnic group in Iran) are some of Iran’s Keys. Each of them have special mood.
Tehran’s climate is rainy in these days. Semnan’s climate is rainy too. My library is near a beautiful park, leaves dance in the park. We have snow in the higher mountains too. I think in Tehran we have not snow until winter. I think we will have a cold winter.
We have a project about Friction Stir Welding. We are translating a book about our project. It is so hard because we haven’t any Persian article about our project. All of the articles are in English and it is a big problem for us.
Take care,
Bahman
Yes, Esfahan is a beautiful city in Iran. Remembered Esfahan, Shiraz, Turk (they are a ethnic group in Iran), and Kord (they are another ethnic group in Iran) are some of Iran’s Keys. Each of them have special mood.
Tehran’s climate is rainy in these days. Semnan’s climate is rainy too. My library is near a beautiful park, leaves dance in the park. We have snow in the higher mountains too. I think in Tehran we have not snow until winter. I think we will have a cold winter.
We have a project about Friction Stir Welding. We are translating a book about our project. It is so hard because we haven’t any Persian article about our project. All of the articles are in English and it is a big problem for us.
Take care,
Bahman
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Prelude, something for my very dear friend, Sue
Hi Sue,
I was totally but quite heartfully busy with the first story in Masnavi trying desperately to gather some thoughts that could reveal some of my deeper views regarding Rumi, his Masnavi and the Persian mysticism to you, my very dear friend. I seemed to be silent, but in every moment of all these past days I have been thinking and talking to you in my heart. I am very grateful to you to be reading this important mystical book with us. I am sure you will make countless discoveries in the Persian culture and mysticism through Masnavi for it has a huge, profound influence on my people and culture. Let me copy and paste my short essay here:
On our journey in Masnavi we have reached line 50 with Sabber and Maryam.
In the beginning of this huge reading, it is necessary to have at least a general outline of the book we have before us. Masnavi, which some scholars call the greatest book in the world of mysticism, is a mystical Odyssey in the Persian literature – the story of the restless soul seeking to return to his origin. But unlike Homer’s Odyssey, here the Penelope is God and the unruly suitors are the jealous angels and the Satan who did not agree to man’s creation in the first place and will definitely do anything to prevent him from his return.
In the context of Persian mysticism love is at the core of the creation. Persian mystics rely for their philosophy on a sentence God told Solomon in answer to his question about why He brought the creation into being. God’s answer was that “I was a hidden treasure. I loved to be revealed.” Therefore, God created everything out of love and in the eyes of our mystics, every being is a revelation of God’s enthusiasm and his love for revealing his hidden beauty. A beautiful poem says, “You revealed yourself in a hundred thousand beautiful displays so that I watch you with a hundred thousand eyes. (Ba sad hezar jelve boroon amadi ke man / Ba sad hezar dide tamasha konam tora.)” The problem with all the other beings before the creation of man was that they were only dutiful and glorified The King in awe and not in love. They were not aware of God’s beauty and only appreciated his innocence and power. Like earthly kings, God was obeyed dutifully by every part of his creation, but this same God had a daughter ( = his beauty ) whom He wanted to have her marry someone who knew love. That was why a fistful of dust was chosen for the creation of man and then raised to a rank that demanded the angels to bow before him. Satan openly refused, but even those who did, hid their hostility and jealousy inside them.
Like Homer’s Odysseus, man / Adam had their own Troy war to be defeated in. Satan finally managed to tempt Adam to eat the forbidden fruit and be banished from paradise to earth. Mowlana’s Masnavi is the story of this return journey.
In this new reading of Masnavi, I have noticed something very beautiful which in my view is a unique interpretation of Masnavi’s first story. We all know that Eve and hence women in general are blamed for man’s banishment to earth. But here, right in Masnavi’s first story, we immediately notice two things: first, we must fall in love in order to take the first step in our long Odyssey, and second, it is the love for a woman that helps us take our first step on the return journey. Has Rumi forgiven Eve? Possibly. And perhaps in his own way, Rumi is telling us that women were worth being banished from the Paradise. Once someone asked a mystic, “Where was man’s situation better? In Paradise or on earth?” And the mystic answered, “On earth because in Paradise he was in the prison of his own desires and on earth he was in the prison of love.”
See how interesting Masnavi is because unlike all the stories of kings and their glories in other stories, the kingdom of our king in Masnavi lasts only two lines before he immediately falls in love with a slave woman. And then all that exists is a king who is a slave and a handmaiden who holds the king’s life in her hand.
Let’s love to continue this extremely lovable book then!
Ali, at almost 2 am
I was totally but quite heartfully busy with the first story in Masnavi trying desperately to gather some thoughts that could reveal some of my deeper views regarding Rumi, his Masnavi and the Persian mysticism to you, my very dear friend. I seemed to be silent, but in every moment of all these past days I have been thinking and talking to you in my heart. I am very grateful to you to be reading this important mystical book with us. I am sure you will make countless discoveries in the Persian culture and mysticism through Masnavi for it has a huge, profound influence on my people and culture. Let me copy and paste my short essay here:
On our journey in Masnavi we have reached line 50 with Sabber and Maryam.
In the beginning of this huge reading, it is necessary to have at least a general outline of the book we have before us. Masnavi, which some scholars call the greatest book in the world of mysticism, is a mystical Odyssey in the Persian literature – the story of the restless soul seeking to return to his origin. But unlike Homer’s Odyssey, here the Penelope is God and the unruly suitors are the jealous angels and the Satan who did not agree to man’s creation in the first place and will definitely do anything to prevent him from his return.
In the context of Persian mysticism love is at the core of the creation. Persian mystics rely for their philosophy on a sentence God told Solomon in answer to his question about why He brought the creation into being. God’s answer was that “I was a hidden treasure. I loved to be revealed.” Therefore, God created everything out of love and in the eyes of our mystics, every being is a revelation of God’s enthusiasm and his love for revealing his hidden beauty. A beautiful poem says, “You revealed yourself in a hundred thousand beautiful displays so that I watch you with a hundred thousand eyes. (Ba sad hezar jelve boroon amadi ke man / Ba sad hezar dide tamasha konam tora.)” The problem with all the other beings before the creation of man was that they were only dutiful and glorified The King in awe and not in love. They were not aware of God’s beauty and only appreciated his innocence and power. Like earthly kings, God was obeyed dutifully by every part of his creation, but this same God had a daughter ( = his beauty ) whom He wanted to have her marry someone who knew love. That was why a fistful of dust was chosen for the creation of man and then raised to a rank that demanded the angels to bow before him. Satan openly refused, but even those who did, hid their hostility and jealousy inside them.
Like Homer’s Odysseus, man / Adam had their own Troy war to be defeated in. Satan finally managed to tempt Adam to eat the forbidden fruit and be banished from paradise to earth. Mowlana’s Masnavi is the story of this return journey.
In this new reading of Masnavi, I have noticed something very beautiful which in my view is a unique interpretation of Masnavi’s first story. We all know that Eve and hence women in general are blamed for man’s banishment to earth. But here, right in Masnavi’s first story, we immediately notice two things: first, we must fall in love in order to take the first step in our long Odyssey, and second, it is the love for a woman that helps us take our first step on the return journey. Has Rumi forgiven Eve? Possibly. And perhaps in his own way, Rumi is telling us that women were worth being banished from the Paradise. Once someone asked a mystic, “Where was man’s situation better? In Paradise or on earth?” And the mystic answered, “On earth because in Paradise he was in the prison of his own desires and on earth he was in the prison of love.”
See how interesting Masnavi is because unlike all the stories of kings and their glories in other stories, the kingdom of our king in Masnavi lasts only two lines before he immediately falls in love with a slave woman. And then all that exists is a king who is a slave and a handmaiden who holds the king’s life in her hand.
Let’s love to continue this extremely lovable book then!
Ali, at almost 2 am
Friday, October 22, 2010
Bahman's Writing
Dear Sue,
Sorry to take a while to answer your letter. Ardavan’s pieces are in major key. Much of them are in Homayons and Bayate Esfahan key. Esfahan is a subclass of Homayon’s key. Homayon is like western keys. I have not any piece in the internet. I think who is another Bahman.
Oh, you have a dreamy home. You can see Rocky Mountains in mornings.
We read Masnavi in the last Wednesday. It was a busy day. I was in Semnan on morning and I came to Tehran until noon and I went to T’s class. After it I went to Santour class.
I think Masnavi is a treasure. One love to take treasures.
More letters,
Bahman
Sorry to take a while to answer your letter. Ardavan’s pieces are in major key. Much of them are in Homayons and Bayate Esfahan key. Esfahan is a subclass of Homayon’s key. Homayon is like western keys. I have not any piece in the internet. I think who is another Bahman.
Oh, you have a dreamy home. You can see Rocky Mountains in mornings.
We read Masnavi in the last Wednesday. It was a busy day. I was in Semnan on morning and I came to Tehran until noon and I went to T’s class. After it I went to Santour class.
I think Masnavi is a treasure. One love to take treasures.
More letters,
Bahman
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Ehsan's letter to dear Sue
Hello dear Sue. Sorry that I send my letter late. You know I don't have free time enough because I'm in grade 3 and next year I'm going to gymnasium. Because it I have test classes daily except on Saturdays,Wednesdays and Fridays. For my test classes I have to stay at school to 4 o'clock in the evening. Because it I be tired and I don't like it. This year my lessons are very hard and I have to practice them too much. my physic and chemistry teacher is very sever and I like it.
Thank you.EN
Dear Sue I wrote my letter again because I didn't know that my last letter posted. Sorry about it.
Thank you.EN
Dear Sue I wrote my letter again because I didn't know that my last letter posted. Sorry about it.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Masnavi reading on Thursday
Day and time: Thursday 7 oclock Tehran time.
Participants: Sahar, Saeedeh and Elahe
We will start the book of Nei and continue the reading to the beginning of Masnavi's first story.
Leave a comment or call me if you want to participate.
T
Participants: Sahar, Saeedeh and Elahe
We will start the book of Nei and continue the reading to the beginning of Masnavi's first story.
Leave a comment or call me if you want to participate.
T
Masnavi reading on Wednesday
Friends,
We will study the Masnavi on Wednesday 4 o'clock Tehran time. Participants are Faranak, Sabber, Maryam and Bahman. We will start the reading from line 20. We will also review the first twenty lines vocabulary.
Anyone interested is welcome to arrive.
We will study the Masnavi on Wednesday 4 o'clock Tehran time. Participants are Faranak, Sabber, Maryam and Bahman. We will start the reading from line 20. We will also review the first twenty lines vocabulary.
Anyone interested is welcome to arrive.
Hamed's letter to dear sue
I wrote this letter in free time in university between circut 2 class and Eloctronic 1.
For me english language is very nice and when I write to english, I have nice feel but I have a peroblem. This problem is vocabolury. I do not know many vocabolury.
I have a other problem that it is important for me.I do not like to write simple object, of course I know it is mistake.I like to write objects such as God, love, nutare hormony, creation, world nice and without war and things like these.
Of course I say sgain I know that these are hard. I like that my teachers,you and mr.T help me and I learn early.
I know that you are busy these days and you have many student.
thank you for your answers.
In end, I like you say my mistake and If this mistake be many, I do not sad and I continiu again. In life this is my style.
BY HAMED
For me english language is very nice and when I write to english, I have nice feel but I have a peroblem. This problem is vocabolury. I do not know many vocabolury.
I have a other problem that it is important for me.I do not like to write simple object, of course I know it is mistake.I like to write objects such as God, love, nutare hormony, creation, world nice and without war and things like these.
Of course I say sgain I know that these are hard. I like that my teachers,you and mr.T help me and I learn early.
I know that you are busy these days and you have many student.
thank you for your answers.
In end, I like you say my mistake and If this mistake be many, I do not sad and I continiu again. In life this is my style.
BY HAMED
Ehsan's letter to dear Sue
Hi dear Sue.I'm in grade 3 and my lessons are very hard and I don't have free time a lot because it I can't write letter to you a lot.next year I have to go to gymnasium and I have test classes every day except Saturdays and Wednesdays. I'm going to a high school now and they are very stickler.
So sorry me about it that I can't write letter to you a lot.
Your friend EN.
So sorry me about it that I can't write letter to you a lot.
Your friend EN.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Niloofar's letter
Dear sue
We could read your comment last night.
Thank you very much.
Please forgive me if I answer you late.
If you remember me I am a engineer in a factory and I am very busy during the day every day and I am very tired at night but I like to write letters to you and read your letters.
Take cure of your self
Niloofar
We could read your comment last night.
Thank you very much.
Please forgive me if I answer you late.
If you remember me I am a engineer in a factory and I am very busy during the day every day and I am very tired at night but I like to write letters to you and read your letters.
Take cure of your self
Niloofar
My letter's to sue
Dear sue,
In my country Iran, people like music very very much special youth and perhaps I can say they are love it and they listen it in free time in bus stop, in cars and other places,because of this there are many singers in Iran with many style like pop, classical, jazz, rap ans else.Of course they listen more pop and classical music but recently that rap came in my country, youth listen more to it but I never listen to it because I do not like it because it is only speech and I do not know it a music type. In between Iranian singers I love Reza sadeghi and him voice becuse him voice is very very great and attractive. In Iran he is populare man and super star and people say to him ((King of black)) because he always wear black, only and only black, for this he is a special man.In his concerts, many peoples go but I ever have not gone but I like to go. I like to know that do you listen music and what type and who singer.Do you ever listen Iranian singers ?In end I say excuse me because of many question and thank you for your answers.
BY HAMED
In my country Iran, people like music very very much special youth and perhaps I can say they are love it and they listen it in free time in bus stop, in cars and other places,because of this there are many singers in Iran with many style like pop, classical, jazz, rap ans else.Of course they listen more pop and classical music but recently that rap came in my country, youth listen more to it but I never listen to it because I do not like it because it is only speech and I do not know it a music type. In between Iranian singers I love Reza sadeghi and him voice becuse him voice is very very great and attractive. In Iran he is populare man and super star and people say to him ((King of black)) because he always wear black, only and only black, for this he is a special man.In his concerts, many peoples go but I ever have not gone but I like to go. I like to know that do you listen music and what type and who singer.Do you ever listen Iranian singers ?In end I say excuse me because of many question and thank you for your answers.
BY HAMED
Khoda Kone Ke Khabam Nabare , an obituary - sort of
I apologize to Sue and Herman for using a title in Persian for this post, but it is to share a profound, sad feeling that I am experiencing these days for the death of someone I dearly loved. The title belongs to a beautiful Persian song and speaks of someone who is waiting for her beloved to arrive at night praying to God for helping her not fall asleep when he finally arrives after long expectations in dark nights. The sad fact is that a few days ago, the singer of this beautiful song fell into her eternal asleep and died.
Marziye left us in a bitter, eternal yearning for her beautiful voice. Our hearts are oceans of memories from her unforgettable songs. One of my friends called Davood Mohajer once received a flower from Marziye in a live concert before the revolution in Iran. Davood stuck that flower onto the wall of their house and never removed it even many years after it was completely rotten. That flower is still blooming and growing new petals in our hearts although she and all the other female singers in Iran were forbidden from singing and were drowned in silence. I will water that flower with my own tears so that it keeps blooming and growing new petals as long as I am alive.
Marziyeh committed a very huge mistake in the later parts of her life when she joined a very infamous political group outside Iran. But even this mistake, ugly as it is, is understandable. She suffered huge pains when she and other women were barred from singing in our country. Her voice echos beyond politics in our hearts.
Sweet dreams, Marziyeh and thank you for so many beautiful songs that you bestowed us all. I heard your songs on my mother's lips as a child and today my children are hearing them from me.
T
Marziye left us in a bitter, eternal yearning for her beautiful voice. Our hearts are oceans of memories from her unforgettable songs. One of my friends called Davood Mohajer once received a flower from Marziye in a live concert before the revolution in Iran. Davood stuck that flower onto the wall of their house and never removed it even many years after it was completely rotten. That flower is still blooming and growing new petals in our hearts although she and all the other female singers in Iran were forbidden from singing and were drowned in silence. I will water that flower with my own tears so that it keeps blooming and growing new petals as long as I am alive.
Marziyeh committed a very huge mistake in the later parts of her life when she joined a very infamous political group outside Iran. But even this mistake, ugly as it is, is understandable. She suffered huge pains when she and other women were barred from singing in our country. Her voice echos beyond politics in our hearts.
Sweet dreams, Marziyeh and thank you for so many beautiful songs that you bestowed us all. I heard your songs on my mother's lips as a child and today my children are hearing them from me.
T
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Distance in "sounds" from Walden
Hello friends,
"The echo is, to some extent, an original sound, and therein is the magic and charm of it. It is not merely a repetition of what was worth repeating in the bell, but partly the voice of the wood; the same trivial words and notes sung by a wood-nymph. "
Is there anything new to say in the field of literature? Some people believe that whatever we try to say has been somehow said by someone in the past. Hafez says, “Love is but a single story and yet it is so strange that in every tongue it sounds new.”
What Thoreau says in the above piece is in fact true about his own words and the way they reach my heart in this distant land. That is how Thoreau’s voice sounds so sweet to me in the middle of literally hundreds of thousands of lines of poetry from Rumi, Saadi, Hafez and so many other Persian giants.
What is the significance of “distance” in Thoreau’s thinking? In the following piece Thoreau is again using the word distance.
“. Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men's lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me.”
What a precious lesson has Thoreau learned from what the leaves and needles do to the sound of the bell. I am very much interested to know what Thoreau thought about the way we must interpret his voice in other cultures and introduce him to their people.
Rumi too says, “Do not be merely a pitcher to transfer the water which others pour in you. Be the skies, be the clouds and pour down your own rains and snows.”
Like the atmosphere that poured the beautiful azure tints on Thoreau’s ridges, the intervening cultural distance between him and me has made Thoreau’s words much more beautiful to me. Such pieces take the American literature to the highest skies inside my heart.
Ali in
"The echo is, to some extent, an original sound, and therein is the magic and charm of it. It is not merely a repetition of what was worth repeating in the bell, but partly the voice of the wood; the same trivial words and notes sung by a wood-nymph. "
Is there anything new to say in the field of literature? Some people believe that whatever we try to say has been somehow said by someone in the past. Hafez says, “Love is but a single story and yet it is so strange that in every tongue it sounds new.”
What Thoreau says in the above piece is in fact true about his own words and the way they reach my heart in this distant land. That is how Thoreau’s voice sounds so sweet to me in the middle of literally hundreds of thousands of lines of poetry from Rumi, Saadi, Hafez and so many other Persian giants.
What is the significance of “distance” in Thoreau’s thinking? In the following piece Thoreau is again using the word distance.
“. Moreover, I, on my side, require of every writer, first or last, a simple and sincere account of his own life, and not merely what he has heard of other men's lives; some such account as he would send to his kindred from a distant land; for if he has lived sincerely, it must have been in a distant land to me.”
What a precious lesson has Thoreau learned from what the leaves and needles do to the sound of the bell. I am very much interested to know what Thoreau thought about the way we must interpret his voice in other cultures and introduce him to their people.
Rumi too says, “Do not be merely a pitcher to transfer the water which others pour in you. Be the skies, be the clouds and pour down your own rains and snows.”
Like the atmosphere that poured the beautiful azure tints on Thoreau’s ridges, the intervening cultural distance between him and me has made Thoreau’s words much more beautiful to me. Such pieces take the American literature to the highest skies inside my heart.
Ali in
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
I write this letter in the bus. I have 2 hours until Tehran, now. In Iran we have 18 months for an army service. All boys must go to army service when they have 18 years old.
You must go to army service after university if you have gone to university.
Yes, I have some books for reading, but they are not very good.
Thank you, but T helped me and corrected my last letter. I had some mistakes.
We watched a film about our planet on last Friday. I had watched it about 12 times, because I have much time for watching on the way. The film is about mountains. For example: Rocky Mountains, And Mountains, Patagonia Mountains and Himalaya Mountains. We watched some mountaineers.
Maybe few men can see them. We watched some volcanoes, a pool of sulfuric acid. We saw a Puma that hunted very difficult. Her cubs were as large as their mother, but they cannot hunt for themselves.
Swimming is an enjoyable act. I really love swimming. When I swim in a pool I forget all problems. Really water is enjoyable.
Did you watch a piece from Ardavan Kamkar?
I write this letter in the bus. I have 2 hours until Tehran, now. In Iran we have 18 months for an army service. All boys must go to army service when they have 18 years old.
You must go to army service after university if you have gone to university.
Yes, I have some books for reading, but they are not very good.
Thank you, but T helped me and corrected my last letter. I had some mistakes.
We watched a film about our planet on last Friday. I had watched it about 12 times, because I have much time for watching on the way. The film is about mountains. For example: Rocky Mountains, And Mountains, Patagonia Mountains and Himalaya Mountains. We watched some mountaineers.
Maybe few men can see them. We watched some volcanoes, a pool of sulfuric acid. We saw a Puma that hunted very difficult. Her cubs were as large as their mother, but they cannot hunt for themselves.
Swimming is an enjoyable act. I really love swimming. When I swim in a pool I forget all problems. Really water is enjoyable.
Did you watch a piece from Ardavan Kamkar?
Big but small !!!
Yes, you see right this title,perhaps you say it is amazing and a thing is not that it be big and small but I say why ,there is, ''world''. world is very very big but as small. It is in his nature and we can not change it but we can change ourself and we must do this.
World is big because many people life only for mony and mony and mony and after die but it is small for big mans and they can not live in it for long time because they are far from himself God. Now, I have a question, do world is small for our or it is very very big ?
BY HAMED
World is big because many people life only for mony and mony and mony and after die but it is small for big mans and they can not live in it for long time because they are far from himself God. Now, I have a question, do world is small for our or it is very very big ?
BY HAMED
Friday, October 15, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
I listened to all Beethoven’s symphonies. I love all of them. They are so beautiful and fantastic. Parvize Meshkatian is Iran’s Beethoven, because his songs are so beautiful. I go to Semnan by Taxi and bus in this semester. I usually watch the English films on the way. Sometimes I sleep on the way, but sleeping in cars isn’t enjoyable.
Thank you, I will send a song from Ardavan Kamkar to you. He plays Santour like piano. Ali doesn’t like Ardavan’s songs, because he doesn’t play traditional.
My goal is the PhD degree. If I cannot go to university for Master’s Education, I must go to army service. I love to go to university, but Master’s Entry Exam is so hard and difficult.
Nice to talking to you,
Your friend Bahman
I listened to all Beethoven’s symphonies. I love all of them. They are so beautiful and fantastic. Parvize Meshkatian is Iran’s Beethoven, because his songs are so beautiful. I go to Semnan by Taxi and bus in this semester. I usually watch the English films on the way. Sometimes I sleep on the way, but sleeping in cars isn’t enjoyable.
Thank you, I will send a song from Ardavan Kamkar to you. He plays Santour like piano. Ali doesn’t like Ardavan’s songs, because he doesn’t play traditional.
My goal is the PhD degree. If I cannot go to university for Master’s Education, I must go to army service. I love to go to university, but Master’s Entry Exam is so hard and difficult.
Nice to talking to you,
Your friend Bahman
Day or night ?
many people say that day is nicer than night because it has light and it is attractive and we see things and night is dark and it has not nice and some people say that night is nicer than day because it has cilent and night black is attractive but God has oter idea becuse it says in Quran that night and day and generally earth creation is nice and hormonice and has reglure and in continiu it says we should see in our nature with carful becuse it is good for ourself.
BY HAMED
BY HAMED
My letter to dear sue
Hi dear sue. I did not write letter for about 2 weeks to english in this blog becuse of reasons that they are not important vey much.any way I decided that I start again becuase it is neccesery for english learning.Do you think this type?
BY HAMED
BY HAMED
An attractive operation..
Hi Sue.
I answer late for I was very busy in the last weeks. You asked me to tell you what books I like. I like history books forexample Victoria,Queen of Great Britain by Elizabeth Langford and Sinuhe the Egyptian by Waltari,Mika Toimi. I like mystical books forexample the books by Shams Tabrizi, Mansor Halaj and Molana that were from the great men in my country. Also I like the book called the Prospering Power of Love by Catherine Pander, Follow your heart by Matthews Andrew and Converting with God by Neale Donald Walsch.
Something interesting I went to the operation room last week, and I saw laparotomy. Laparotomy is the opening of the abdominal cavity for purpose of the inspection or operation upon the organs within. The Surgeon skillfully took out the Gallbladder. It was very hard and exciting for me. I hope that I will be a good nurse, and I will do my duties well.
BY SAEEDE.
I answer late for I was very busy in the last weeks. You asked me to tell you what books I like. I like history books forexample Victoria,Queen of Great Britain by Elizabeth Langford and Sinuhe the Egyptian by Waltari,Mika Toimi. I like mystical books forexample the books by Shams Tabrizi, Mansor Halaj and Molana that were from the great men in my country. Also I like the book called the Prospering Power of Love by Catherine Pander, Follow your heart by Matthews Andrew and Converting with God by Neale Donald Walsch.
Something interesting I went to the operation room last week, and I saw laparotomy. Laparotomy is the opening of the abdominal cavity for purpose of the inspection or operation upon the organs within. The Surgeon skillfully took out the Gallbladder. It was very hard and exciting for me. I hope that I will be a good nurse, and I will do my duties well.
BY SAEEDE.
PERSPOLIS VS ESTEGHLAL
Today is important for me and people of Iran special youth beacuase tow big teames will play in tehran that we say to it DERBY.these teames are PERSPOLIS and ESTEGHLAL. In iran people are more fun of these tow teams. of course fun of perspolis are more than esteghlal about 20%.
I am a perspolis fun.Perspolis will wear red in this game and esteghlal blue.In my idea red is nicer than blue because it is vey attractive and live and hot but blue is cold and unattractive. Any way I believe perspolis will win but if did not it, for me it has not diffrence I will like perspolis again and in any condition .
BY HAMED
I am a perspolis fun.Perspolis will wear red in this game and esteghlal blue.In my idea red is nicer than blue because it is vey attractive and live and hot but blue is cold and unattractive. Any way I believe perspolis will win but if did not it, for me it has not diffrence I will like perspolis again and in any condition .
BY HAMED
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Faranak's Writing
Hi Sue,
You introduced the "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" song to me. I listened to it. It is very beautiful. This group pronounces words slowly and more clear than De Burgh and I can understand their songs earlier. I listened to other songs of this group like "Wedding", "The fox", "Leaving on a Jet plane" and others. "Leaving on a Jet plane" is beautiful too.
I don't know foreign singers well, so I must thank you for your good guidance.
Dear fiend, you know we have started to read Masnavi and read the first 28 lines in Nicholson version.
I have a lot of questions about the life, myself, my religious and other things like them. I had said to you we can't ask questions abut our religious and discuss about it directly and easily.
I hope that can find some of my answers in Masnavi.
T teaches this book very beautiful and very good. He explains meaning of some sentences and answers my questions patiently while he teaches.
I'm sure these classes can be better with your helps and guidance and I can improve my English, my spirit and my information with these classes.
Have a nice day.
Faranak.
You introduced the "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" song to me. I listened to it. It is very beautiful. This group pronounces words slowly and more clear than De Burgh and I can understand their songs earlier. I listened to other songs of this group like "Wedding", "The fox", "Leaving on a Jet plane" and others. "Leaving on a Jet plane" is beautiful too.
I don't know foreign singers well, so I must thank you for your good guidance.
Dear fiend, you know we have started to read Masnavi and read the first 28 lines in Nicholson version.
I have a lot of questions about the life, myself, my religious and other things like them. I had said to you we can't ask questions abut our religious and discuss about it directly and easily.
I hope that can find some of my answers in Masnavi.
T teaches this book very beautiful and very good. He explains meaning of some sentences and answers my questions patiently while he teaches.
I'm sure these classes can be better with your helps and guidance and I can improve my English, my spirit and my information with these classes.
Have a nice day.
Faranak.
Moving on in Masnavi
Hi Sue,
I have studied the first 20 lines with a number of our friends several times. They are Fattemeh, Faranak, Sabber who was the first behind the idea of reading the whole Masnavi in classes, Maryam and Bahman who will certainly participate. It is quite likely that others join in too.
I am delighted that you are traveling hand in hand with us. To tell you the truth, this is exactly your presence in this lovely endeavor that has poured so much passion in us and encouraged us to read the book like this.
I am gathering a number of short thoughts on these first lines and will put them on the site in a day or two. These few first lines are known as the book of the Nei and it is unanimously believed that Rumi has poured the whole Masnavi into them. We may call it Masnavi's plot or an outline of everything ahead in the book.
I was exhausted at 12 midnight. I missed you so much that I thought I'd come and talk to you a bit before I just collpase.
Take care,
Ali
I have studied the first 20 lines with a number of our friends several times. They are Fattemeh, Faranak, Sabber who was the first behind the idea of reading the whole Masnavi in classes, Maryam and Bahman who will certainly participate. It is quite likely that others join in too.
I am delighted that you are traveling hand in hand with us. To tell you the truth, this is exactly your presence in this lovely endeavor that has poured so much passion in us and encouraged us to read the book like this.
I am gathering a number of short thoughts on these first lines and will put them on the site in a day or two. These few first lines are known as the book of the Nei and it is unanimously believed that Rumi has poured the whole Masnavi into them. We may call it Masnavi's plot or an outline of everything ahead in the book.
I was exhausted at 12 midnight. I missed you so much that I thought I'd come and talk to you a bit before I just collpase.
Take care,
Ali
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Sabber's letter to Sue
Hi Sue
How are you these days?
When I put my letter to T on the website you put a comment for T and me in which you said that you wanted to read the Masnavi with us.
What do you think about this book?
Is it a good idea for my language and my spirit?
I have not read the Masnavi before but, I know it. I heard from T that you study it.
I think reading the Masnavi in Persian is better than reading it in English but, because I want to learn English I should read it in English.
T is a very good teacher and I think our class is one of the best classes in Iran!
He is a good man and I like him more than a teacher
I wish you the best.
Sabber
How are you these days?
When I put my letter to T on the website you put a comment for T and me in which you said that you wanted to read the Masnavi with us.
What do you think about this book?
Is it a good idea for my language and my spirit?
I have not read the Masnavi before but, I know it. I heard from T that you study it.
I think reading the Masnavi in Persian is better than reading it in English but, because I want to learn English I should read it in English.
T is a very good teacher and I think our class is one of the best classes in Iran!
He is a good man and I like him more than a teacher
I wish you the best.
Sabber
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sahar's letter to Sue
I'm Sahar.I think you forgot me because I didn't write any letter for you.
I went to the concert yesterday. That was very pretty and I enjoyed it. That was "Camerata Quintet". "Camerata" is name of the group. "Quintet" mean a group made of five musician. And it was a classical concert.
I go to the university all days except Thursday and Friday so, I'm very busy. I have a concert in the university two next month.
your friend's Sahar
I'm Sahar.I think you forgot me because I didn't write any letter for you.
I went to the concert yesterday. That was very pretty and I enjoyed it. That was "Camerata Quintet". "Camerata" is name of the group. "Quintet" mean a group made of five musician. And it was a classical concert.
I go to the university all days except Thursday and Friday so, I'm very busy. I have a concert in the university two next month.
your friend's Sahar
Being
My very dear friends Sue and Herman,
I always enjoy poetry especially when it is a gift from a friend. I saw the interesting poem that Herman sent us in his own introduction and saw a similarity between it with the mystical thoughts I am familiar with in my own culture. Here too all the particles of the universe are singing loudly. But the Persian mystics hear this sound in a different way.
Perhaps the first lines of Masnavi can give us a clue to hear sounds in the way these mystics hear. In Rumi's opinion the reason we hear such beautiful songs in the Nei is that the Nei is emptied of its own existence. That is why the Nei player can make the flow of his own chest, his own "bosom" into the reed flute.
In Rumi's universe / ideology, if Beings empty themselves of themselves they will turn into a musical instrument that can then sing in harmony with the rest of the universe. Does this make any sense in the West? All I hear from the west is the sound of many great philosophers who try to prove that they are. Rumi would have said, "I am not. Therefore, I am." Or the way Mansoor Hallaj put it: "I am the Truth."
Ali
I always enjoy poetry especially when it is a gift from a friend. I saw the interesting poem that Herman sent us in his own introduction and saw a similarity between it with the mystical thoughts I am familiar with in my own culture. Here too all the particles of the universe are singing loudly. But the Persian mystics hear this sound in a different way.
Perhaps the first lines of Masnavi can give us a clue to hear sounds in the way these mystics hear. In Rumi's opinion the reason we hear such beautiful songs in the Nei is that the Nei is emptied of its own existence. That is why the Nei player can make the flow of his own chest, his own "bosom" into the reed flute.
In Rumi's universe / ideology, if Beings empty themselves of themselves they will turn into a musical instrument that can then sing in harmony with the rest of the universe. Does this make any sense in the West? All I hear from the west is the sound of many great philosophers who try to prove that they are. Rumi would have said, "I am not. Therefore, I am." Or the way Mansoor Hallaj put it: "I am the Truth."
Ali
Monday, October 11, 2010
Masnavi reading sessions, Tuesday with Faranak
Sue: It would be helpful to me, since I will be present in spirit only, if you would give me some idea of which pages you will be studying at each session.
Ali: Such a pleasure and such a great honor, Sue. In the first session we read the first 12 lines of the first volume of Masnavi in Nicholson's translation. Sabber is determined to read the whole Masnavi. I think this dream will come true this time. There are a lot of friends who are as determined as Sabber.
We are concentrating on the first 20 lines of Masnavi's first volume, Sue. In a moment I have a session with Faranak to read the book of Nei, the first 20 which I just mentioned.
Any suggestions, Sue?
Ali
Ali: Such a pleasure and such a great honor, Sue. In the first session we read the first 12 lines of the first volume of Masnavi in Nicholson's translation. Sabber is determined to read the whole Masnavi. I think this dream will come true this time. There are a lot of friends who are as determined as Sabber.
We are concentrating on the first 20 lines of Masnavi's first volume, Sue. In a moment I have a session with Faranak to read the book of Nei, the first 20 which I just mentioned.
Any suggestions, Sue?
Ali
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear friend,
Oh, piano is a beautiful musical instrument. Do you know that Santour is pattern for Piano? They are like each other, but a piano is larger than Santour It has 7 octaves, but Santour has 3 octaves.
We saw a film in class last Friday. It is very interesting. I copied it in my I pod and I see it in the university way. I have quickened the time in way. University is very difficult in this semester. My units are welding, founding and etc. I try to write to you and send musical pieces for you.
Thank you, I am not a good santour player, but I enjoy playing. It is enough for me.
My friends want to read Masnavi. I love to read it book, but I can go only on Fridays, because I must come long way for class. I am 2 or 3 hours in traffic. I will go to Semnan tomorrow morning.
Oh, I’m so tired.
Wish you the best,
Bahman
Oh, piano is a beautiful musical instrument. Do you know that Santour is pattern for Piano? They are like each other, but a piano is larger than Santour It has 7 octaves, but Santour has 3 octaves.
We saw a film in class last Friday. It is very interesting. I copied it in my I pod and I see it in the university way. I have quickened the time in way. University is very difficult in this semester. My units are welding, founding and etc. I try to write to you and send musical pieces for you.
Thank you, I am not a good santour player, but I enjoy playing. It is enough for me.
My friends want to read Masnavi. I love to read it book, but I can go only on Fridays, because I must come long way for class. I am 2 or 3 hours in traffic. I will go to Semnan tomorrow morning.
Oh, I’m so tired.
Wish you the best,
Bahman
Fattemeh, the new member for our Masnavi reading sessions
Hello Fattemeh,
What a pity. Yes, we studied the first page of Masnavi at 8 o'clock with Sabber today. It would have been great if you could have been with us. I am so delighted to see you are interested to participate in these sessions. The journey would certainly be more enjoyable with you and any other friends from any the other classes. It would be a great pity for us to learn English and read the literary masterpieces from the Western literature and then forget about our own literature and mysticism.
We study these books in English: Nicholson's and Javid Mojaddedi's English translations of Masnavi and Coleman Bark's translation of Masnavi and the Ghazaliyat of the Shams of Tabriz. We will certainly read the Persian original poems too. No translation in the world can ever replace the scent of Rumi's original words. The same words whose delight sent Rumi dancing in the marketplace.
Once again I am very delighted to see your interest in Masnavi. Are you free in the morning of any other days during this week? If so let lus meet. Only you and me to catch up with Faranak and the Masnavi. Let me know please.
T
What a pity. Yes, we studied the first page of Masnavi at 8 o'clock with Sabber today. It would have been great if you could have been with us. I am so delighted to see you are interested to participate in these sessions. The journey would certainly be more enjoyable with you and any other friends from any the other classes. It would be a great pity for us to learn English and read the literary masterpieces from the Western literature and then forget about our own literature and mysticism.
We study these books in English: Nicholson's and Javid Mojaddedi's English translations of Masnavi and Coleman Bark's translation of Masnavi and the Ghazaliyat of the Shams of Tabriz. We will certainly read the Persian original poems too. No translation in the world can ever replace the scent of Rumi's original words. The same words whose delight sent Rumi dancing in the marketplace.
Once again I am very delighted to see your interest in Masnavi. Are you free in the morning of any other days during this week? If so let lus meet. Only you and me to catch up with Faranak and the Masnavi. Let me know please.
T
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Masnavi reading invitaion
Friends all,
At 8 o'clock, Monday morning Tehran time, Sabber and I are going to start our Masnavi reading sessions. We will be delighted to have anyone who is interested in our company not just on Monday, but on all the many days which will follow this first sessions.. Sue, it was such a great honor for us to see you want to study the book with us. Reading the Masnavi will stictch your heart to the heart of every single Iranian. What a precious opportunity. Thank you very much for sharing this lovely endeavor with us. Your help is very much needed as we try to cope with the English translations. Yes, of course we plan to read the English translations very carefully too. We plan to read both translations we have available here: One by Nicholson and the other by Javid Mojadadi. We will also read The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks. In addition to these we plan to read the original Persian poems very carefully. Today it is only Nicholson's translation.
We want to adorn our classes with great literary works from the east and west. You and Herman are the ones who can help us on our way.
This is an invitation to all the friends who come to my English classes to join the Masnavi reading sessions which will be followed by other great works of literature. Just let me know if you are interested.
T
At 8 o'clock, Monday morning Tehran time, Sabber and I are going to start our Masnavi reading sessions. We will be delighted to have anyone who is interested in our company not just on Monday, but on all the many days which will follow this first sessions.. Sue, it was such a great honor for us to see you want to study the book with us. Reading the Masnavi will stictch your heart to the heart of every single Iranian. What a precious opportunity. Thank you very much for sharing this lovely endeavor with us. Your help is very much needed as we try to cope with the English translations. Yes, of course we plan to read the English translations very carefully too. We plan to read both translations we have available here: One by Nicholson and the other by Javid Mojadadi. We will also read The Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks. In addition to these we plan to read the original Persian poems very carefully. Today it is only Nicholson's translation.
We want to adorn our classes with great literary works from the east and west. You and Herman are the ones who can help us on our way.
This is an invitation to all the friends who come to my English classes to join the Masnavi reading sessions which will be followed by other great works of literature. Just let me know if you are interested.
T
Yes, noisy Beings
Hi Herman, Thank you for writing to us. I always value your thoughts and friendship. I am very glad to find you beside us here. Friendship is the essence of life to me. How fortunate I am to have Sue and you here with me.
You have sent us a beautiful poem. In our mystical culture, the whole being was boiling in a single ocean when the sun shined and took part of it away separating it from the rest of the ocean. Then the vapor was forced to pour down in the form of rain drops in far away lands and the convoluted maze of an alien world. As a Persian poem says, "The drop of water is an ocean if it is in the ocean. Otherwise it is merely a drop and the ocean an ocean."
Whatever you hear in the universe, either the soft whisper of the fountains and the deafening noise of the roaring rivers, all tell the same story: The story of the love to return to our origin and the ocean that calls us back with every kiss that it puts on its vast shores.. From a single drop of water to the ocean and from the ocean to join another ocean and oceans and so on and so forth.
What journey are the philosophers in The West talking about? Do they speak of any journey at all? The way Rumi complained of a red flute which was separated from the reed bed?
Your brother, Ali
You have sent us a beautiful poem. In our mystical culture, the whole being was boiling in a single ocean when the sun shined and took part of it away separating it from the rest of the ocean. Then the vapor was forced to pour down in the form of rain drops in far away lands and the convoluted maze of an alien world. As a Persian poem says, "The drop of water is an ocean if it is in the ocean. Otherwise it is merely a drop and the ocean an ocean."
Whatever you hear in the universe, either the soft whisper of the fountains and the deafening noise of the roaring rivers, all tell the same story: The story of the love to return to our origin and the ocean that calls us back with every kiss that it puts on its vast shores.. From a single drop of water to the ocean and from the ocean to join another ocean and oceans and so on and so forth.
What journey are the philosophers in The West talking about? Do they speak of any journey at all? The way Rumi complained of a red flute which was separated from the reed bed?
Your brother, Ali
Friday, October 08, 2010
Conversation with Sue
Sue: When you tell me of the customs of your country, like the offering of fruits to passersby etc. is this done every Thursday?
Ali: People consider it a value to do it every Thursday, but nobody follows the custom that rigidly now. I can say that it is very common. When they go to the cemetery, almost all people distribute “Kheirat” which is the date, fruits, sweets or even the food that you distribute among the people you find around yourself wherever you are. They say that the “Kheirat” is for their dead and demand some prayers for their dead from whoever receives it.
Sue: Do you go to the cemetery every week?
T: No, Sue. The reason may be that it is a little too far from our house. People go to the cemetery more than your countrymen here though.
Sue: I love the customs you share with me, and I wonder, does every Iranian act as you do? Are they as thoughtful and demonstrative in remembering their dead and in enacting the rituals?
Ali: Yes, people pay a lot of attention to their dead. When someone dies they hold several funerals for him. One after three days, another after seven days, another after forty days and yet another after one year. Even after that an anniversary funeral is held every year. In a beautiful Iranian film called “The Snowman” someone who is living in a foreign country tells his friend: “I want to return to Iran. In Iran you may be lonely in your life, but at least when you die people do not leave you alone.”
Sue: Khastergari is very strange to me. Almost never does money change hands in a marriage agreement in the United States. And that is a LOT of money by my standards. Does the father of the girl want it all at once, or can your brother pay it little by little?
Ali: The correct spelling is Khastegari, Sue. It is not necessary for you to learn Persian, but it would be wonderful and I am sure very interesting for you to learn some of the words which are culturally very important. I will pronounce them in an audio file and send them to you soon. There are only two or three sounds in Persian that are difficult for you to pronounce. Other than that, Persian is a very easy language to speak. The money does not change hands here either. People usually get along well. Neither the girl nor her family demand the money at once or even little by little. Most of the times it is not paid at all until the man is dead. The money I told you is a lot by our standard too. In Iran women can not divorce their husbands unless they can prove to the court that he is a drug addict, a thief or someone who can not support the wife financially in a decent way. Other than that, if there is not a serious flaw in the marriage the court will not accept the divorce request from a woman. Men, however, have the right to divorce if, of course, they can pay them their “Mehriye”. I must add quickly that even men have to express an acceptable pretext for their decision. But all in all it is easier for men to divorce the spouse. That is why girls sometimes demand astronomical Mehriye for themselves before saying the yes. All in all, marriages flow smoothly in Iran without many divorces. Divorce rate is very low in our country or rather has been very low until very recently. I know it is a bit too high in the US.
Sue: In America, the wedding is paid for by the bride's family usually, and the groom's family plays for the rehearsal dinner. Each family gives as nice a gift as they can to the new couple - but it goes to the bride and groom, not the parents.
Ali: In Iran there is an engagement celebration which is rather small. It is held in the girl’s house and of course paid for by the bride’s father. He receives the groom’s family and relatives as his guests. They make a Sofreh, gather around it and a clergy man who is almost always a Mullah reads a “Khotbeh”. After that the bride and the groom sign several documents. Fathers sign the documents too along with several other people as witnesses. The wedding celebration is held and paid for by the groom’s father.
Sue: How has your brother gotten to know this girl? Can they date? If not, how do they know if they will be compatible?
Ali: The girl worked for one of my brother’s friends. My brother saw her there at first, observed her closely for several months and when he realized that she was decent and lovable he stepped forward. Now before anything is made official they talk to each other on the phone for many hours every day. The phone bills for the two families are disastrously high. They may even see each other -- sometimes secretly, sometimes openly.
Thanks for your attention to us. Hope these help.
T
Ali: People consider it a value to do it every Thursday, but nobody follows the custom that rigidly now. I can say that it is very common. When they go to the cemetery, almost all people distribute “Kheirat” which is the date, fruits, sweets or even the food that you distribute among the people you find around yourself wherever you are. They say that the “Kheirat” is for their dead and demand some prayers for their dead from whoever receives it.
Sue: Do you go to the cemetery every week?
T: No, Sue. The reason may be that it is a little too far from our house. People go to the cemetery more than your countrymen here though.
Sue: I love the customs you share with me, and I wonder, does every Iranian act as you do? Are they as thoughtful and demonstrative in remembering their dead and in enacting the rituals?
Ali: Yes, people pay a lot of attention to their dead. When someone dies they hold several funerals for him. One after three days, another after seven days, another after forty days and yet another after one year. Even after that an anniversary funeral is held every year. In a beautiful Iranian film called “The Snowman” someone who is living in a foreign country tells his friend: “I want to return to Iran. In Iran you may be lonely in your life, but at least when you die people do not leave you alone.”
Sue: Khastergari is very strange to me. Almost never does money change hands in a marriage agreement in the United States. And that is a LOT of money by my standards. Does the father of the girl want it all at once, or can your brother pay it little by little?
Ali: The correct spelling is Khastegari, Sue. It is not necessary for you to learn Persian, but it would be wonderful and I am sure very interesting for you to learn some of the words which are culturally very important. I will pronounce them in an audio file and send them to you soon. There are only two or three sounds in Persian that are difficult for you to pronounce. Other than that, Persian is a very easy language to speak. The money does not change hands here either. People usually get along well. Neither the girl nor her family demand the money at once or even little by little. Most of the times it is not paid at all until the man is dead. The money I told you is a lot by our standard too. In Iran women can not divorce their husbands unless they can prove to the court that he is a drug addict, a thief or someone who can not support the wife financially in a decent way. Other than that, if there is not a serious flaw in the marriage the court will not accept the divorce request from a woman. Men, however, have the right to divorce if, of course, they can pay them their “Mehriye”. I must add quickly that even men have to express an acceptable pretext for their decision. But all in all it is easier for men to divorce the spouse. That is why girls sometimes demand astronomical Mehriye for themselves before saying the yes. All in all, marriages flow smoothly in Iran without many divorces. Divorce rate is very low in our country or rather has been very low until very recently. I know it is a bit too high in the US.
Sue: In America, the wedding is paid for by the bride's family usually, and the groom's family plays for the rehearsal dinner. Each family gives as nice a gift as they can to the new couple - but it goes to the bride and groom, not the parents.
Ali: In Iran there is an engagement celebration which is rather small. It is held in the girl’s house and of course paid for by the bride’s father. He receives the groom’s family and relatives as his guests. They make a Sofreh, gather around it and a clergy man who is almost always a Mullah reads a “Khotbeh”. After that the bride and the groom sign several documents. Fathers sign the documents too along with several other people as witnesses. The wedding celebration is held and paid for by the groom’s father.
Sue: How has your brother gotten to know this girl? Can they date? If not, how do they know if they will be compatible?
Ali: The girl worked for one of my brother’s friends. My brother saw her there at first, observed her closely for several months and when he realized that she was decent and lovable he stepped forward. Now before anything is made official they talk to each other on the phone for many hours every day. The phone bills for the two families are disastrously high. They may even see each other -- sometimes secretly, sometimes openly.
Thanks for your attention to us. Hope these help.
T
Ginsberg Quote
I thank my dear friend Ali for a heartfelt introduction.
I thought I would share this quote by way of an introduction. It is by a poet who apparently happened to also be a philosopher. That seems to happen quite a bit, you know.
It pretty much says the one thing that really needs to be said about what the philosopher does.
So here it is. Enjoy!
hb3g
"Art recalls the memory
of his true existence
to whoever has forgotten
that Being is the one thing
all the universe shouts."
Allen Ginsberg
I thought I would share this quote by way of an introduction. It is by a poet who apparently happened to also be a philosopher. That seems to happen quite a bit, you know.
It pretty much says the one thing that really needs to be said about what the philosopher does.
So here it is. Enjoy!
hb3g
"Art recalls the memory
of his true existence
to whoever has forgotten
that Being is the one thing
all the universe shouts."
Allen Ginsberg
Our Incomplete Existence
Galway Kinnell is an American poet who has won numerous awards and just recently won an award worth $100,000 US. For me, poetry is a music to my soul, and very often Kinnell can write in such a way that one knows there is no better way to explain what he has described. My soul is complete when I read his words. Here is a quote from him:
"Everyone knows that human existence is incomplete. Among those who are especially troubled by this are those who turn to writing. Writing is a way of trying to understand the incompleteness and, if not to heal it, at least to get beyond whatever is merely baffling and oppressive about it."
I encourage you all to write. Keep a journal, or at least try to write down one thought in Farsi and English every day. One does not get wise except by tiny steps. I hope this will encourage each of you, before you go to bed, to look at your world and universe and to write a bit about it.
Sue
"Everyone knows that human existence is incomplete. Among those who are especially troubled by this are those who turn to writing. Writing is a way of trying to understand the incompleteness and, if not to heal it, at least to get beyond whatever is merely baffling and oppressive about it."
I encourage you all to write. Keep a journal, or at least try to write down one thought in Farsi and English every day. One does not get wise except by tiny steps. I hope this will encourage each of you, before you go to bed, to look at your world and universe and to write a bit about it.
Sue
Introducing Herman, our new American friend
One day, several years ago, Sue introduced Herman to me. He is now a very dear friend to us both. Herman has a passionate love for philosophy. Something that I believe is more valuable than being a mere philosopher. All these years, I have always loved him as a highly respectable man and admired his insatiable thirst for something beyond the low, ordinary life or rather something that gives meaning to it.
I am honored that he has accepted my invitation to join the site I can't wait to see him among us.
T
I am honored that he has accepted my invitation to join the site I can't wait to see him among us.
T
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Santour’s surface is like a desert and Mezrabs are like a man who goes until dusk until find water in desert. When they find water stay in a part and dance there. After, they go again for searching water in desert. I played some piece and recorded them. I will send them for you. Please tell me your idea about them. I am not a good player because I only play for two years.
I am so sorry. I couldn’t find a word for my sentence. My correct sentence is this ‘I think wars and captures are a reason for the sad quality in our music. In our music a key is divided into 24 parts.
If you go to Tehran you should go to my Santour’s class. I am sure you enjoy it. You should go to our home because my family loves to see you. I love to see you in Tehran.
Do you play Violin now?
Take care,
Bahman
Santour’s surface is like a desert and Mezrabs are like a man who goes until dusk until find water in desert. When they find water stay in a part and dance there. After, they go again for searching water in desert. I played some piece and recorded them. I will send them for you. Please tell me your idea about them. I am not a good player because I only play for two years.
I am so sorry. I couldn’t find a word for my sentence. My correct sentence is this ‘I think wars and captures are a reason for the sad quality in our music. In our music a key is divided into 24 parts.
If you go to Tehran you should go to my Santour’s class. I am sure you enjoy it. You should go to our home because my family loves to see you. I love to see you in Tehran.
Do you play Violin now?
Take care,
Bahman
Sabber's letter to T
Hello Mr. T
How are you today? These days I am looking for every film or
every thing that help my and all other students' English.
Actually now I have understood what English is and now I can say that I love it
and I think without you and Sue and other kind students never Couldn't talk or
write as well as now.
With your help, we can finish all episodes of the BBC planet earth series
and many good documentary.
Now I want to say that I am ready to start reading the Masnavi and every time that you were free we start it.
If I have many mistakes in my letter to you, I'm so sorry.
Take care .
Sabber
How are you today? These days I am looking for every film or
every thing that help my and all other students' English.
Actually now I have understood what English is and now I can say that I love it
and I think without you and Sue and other kind students never Couldn't talk or
write as well as now.
With your help, we can finish all episodes of the BBC planet earth series
and many good documentary.
Now I want to say that I am ready to start reading the Masnavi and every time that you were free we start it.
If I have many mistakes in my letter to you, I'm so sorry.
Take care .
Sabber
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Bahman's letter to Sue,
Dear Sue,
Tonbak is an instrument like a Daf, but they have different sounds. A Daf is larger than a Tonbak. I sent a picture from Tonbak for you. I have 3 friends that played Tonbak very well. I wanted that my younger brother play Tonbak, but he don’t like playing Tonbak.
He is little and he has time for playing an instrument.
We have 7 keys in Iranian music. In your music a note divide into 12 parts. In our music a note divide into 24 parts. In Indian music a note divide into 48 parts. Sometimes finding a sound is by feeling. Divides aren’t very precise.
I think wars and captures are a reason for ruing in our music.
We usually dance in marriages, birthdays and galas.
In Qhajar period (Qhajar is a king’s family that they were about 200 years ago) our music was a tool for dance and luxury. Now, people don’t dance with Santour and Tar and etc. I think usually Keyboard and Jazz are better for dancing, now. We have a dance with Daf that called soar usually with Molavi’s poems. It is very interesting and beautiful.
I think to dance is a beautiful work. In nature trees dance with wind and water dances in the river.
“God is beautiful and he loves beauty”
Holy Koran
Take care,
Bahman
Tonbak is an instrument like a Daf, but they have different sounds. A Daf is larger than a Tonbak. I sent a picture from Tonbak for you. I have 3 friends that played Tonbak very well. I wanted that my younger brother play Tonbak, but he don’t like playing Tonbak.
He is little and he has time for playing an instrument.
We have 7 keys in Iranian music. In your music a note divide into 12 parts. In our music a note divide into 24 parts. In Indian music a note divide into 48 parts. Sometimes finding a sound is by feeling. Divides aren’t very precise.
I think wars and captures are a reason for ruing in our music.
We usually dance in marriages, birthdays and galas.
In Qhajar period (Qhajar is a king’s family that they were about 200 years ago) our music was a tool for dance and luxury. Now, people don’t dance with Santour and Tar and etc. I think usually Keyboard and Jazz are better for dancing, now. We have a dance with Daf that called soar usually with Molavi’s poems. It is very interesting and beautiful.
I think to dance is a beautiful work. In nature trees dance with wind and water dances in the river.
“God is beautiful and he loves beauty”
Holy Koran
Take care,
Bahman
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
I am surprised at you, Sue
Sue, Faranak is right. Do you really think that after all these years of this beautiful friendship between you and all of us, you will be left all alone and need to take a taxi and a translator and a dictionary and all the other things that an ordinary traveler needs when traveling in Iran? Then you haven't heard anything about the Iranian hospitality. Guests to us are the God. Even if we hadn't known you through this site so well it wouldn't have made any difference. Iranians are the most hospitable people in the whole world. We are legendary hosts. We may be poor we may be simple, but we sacrifice our souls for our guests and as a cmpliment ask our guests to step on the balls of our eyes. Yes, asking guests to step on the balls of our eyes is a compliment that has deep roots in reality . After ten years when I called an an old friend and asked him when I could see him again, the first thing he said was that I could step on the balls of his eyes whenever I wanted so myself.
We never wait at the door of our poor houses for the guests to arrive. Traditionally we go forward to some distance and in many cases to the station to welcome our guests. And when they are leaving we never say goodbye at the door. We always accompany him or her to some distance. An Iranian may sleep on the floor, but he or she always keeps some clean, beautiful matresses ready for potential guests even if it is for ages without any guests arriving. At the table we are taught to eat as long as our guests seem hungry and willing to eat out of fear that the they may feel shy of eating more when the host moves away from the Sofreh. Religion and nationality, race, color and abosolutely nothing else is important for us. When somebody is a guest he is only a guest which is of course the highest status given to anyone: As a favorite saying goes he is "a friend of God."
What a dream, Sue! What a dream! Yazd will leave an unforgettable impression on you. It is a Venice on sands -- as I always call it because this city has retained its ancient structure in a way that UNESCO has annouced it a world treasure.
Did I brag too much? Hope not. Considering yourself alone here trying to use an English to Persian dictionary, looking for a taxi was a direct insult to all Iranians who know English including I and each and every other member on this site.
Ali
We never wait at the door of our poor houses for the guests to arrive. Traditionally we go forward to some distance and in many cases to the station to welcome our guests. And when they are leaving we never say goodbye at the door. We always accompany him or her to some distance. An Iranian may sleep on the floor, but he or she always keeps some clean, beautiful matresses ready for potential guests even if it is for ages without any guests arriving. At the table we are taught to eat as long as our guests seem hungry and willing to eat out of fear that the they may feel shy of eating more when the host moves away from the Sofreh. Religion and nationality, race, color and abosolutely nothing else is important for us. When somebody is a guest he is only a guest which is of course the highest status given to anyone: As a favorite saying goes he is "a friend of God."
What a dream, Sue! What a dream! Yazd will leave an unforgettable impression on you. It is a Venice on sands -- as I always call it because this city has retained its ancient structure in a way that UNESCO has annouced it a world treasure.
Did I brag too much? Hope not. Considering yourself alone here trying to use an English to Persian dictionary, looking for a taxi was a direct insult to all Iranians who know English including I and each and every other member on this site.
Ali
Sabber's letter to Sue
Hello Sue
How are you these days?
You asked many questions and now I want to answer them.
You asked:
What airline should I fly with?
Actually there is only one way for American to come to Iran; You must come with Iranian Travel agencies and there is not another way.
You asked:
Would there be taxis at the airport if I needed transportation?
Yes, there are many taxis at the airport but really I promise you that when you come, I and T will come to bring you from the airport to our houses.
You asked:
Would drivers speak English or should I bring an English/Farsi dictionary?
Dear Sue, I think a dictionary is necessary for every one who comes to Iran from another country because most people in Iran can not speak English.
You asked:
How are off days in Iran?
When it comes to the number of off days I think Iran is the first in the world because of many reasons, for example we have many celebrations like 'Fetr 'or 'Mabbas'
Now I am very happy that I answered all of your questions.
Take care.
SABBER
How are you these days?
You asked many questions and now I want to answer them.
You asked:
What airline should I fly with?
Actually there is only one way for American to come to Iran; You must come with Iranian Travel agencies and there is not another way.
You asked:
Would there be taxis at the airport if I needed transportation?
Yes, there are many taxis at the airport but really I promise you that when you come, I and T will come to bring you from the airport to our houses.
You asked:
Would drivers speak English or should I bring an English/Farsi dictionary?
Dear Sue, I think a dictionary is necessary for every one who comes to Iran from another country because most people in Iran can not speak English.
You asked:
How are off days in Iran?
When it comes to the number of off days I think Iran is the first in the world because of many reasons, for example we have many celebrations like 'Fetr 'or 'Mabbas'
Now I am very happy that I answered all of your questions.
Take care.
SABBER
Faranak's Writing
Hi Sue,
I haven't written for a while because we repaired and painted our house but every day I checked the site for several times and read your answers.
I became very happy when I saw you asked about traveling to Iran. I hope I can see you in Iran one day.
Dear Sue, if you come to Tehran, you will not need any taxis. We will come to airport to say welcome to you and we will bring you every where you want with our cars.
Dear friend, I do a new thing and don't know how much it can be useful to me.
Yesterday, in the English class, we listened to a song of Chris De Burg, its name was Missing you.
Understanding it was very difficult and I understood just a few words. After the class, I came to home and downloaded some Chris De Burg's songs with its text.
I listened to these songs concurrent with seeing their texts. after this, when I listen to them I almost understand.
Although I understand them with a little cheating but it is very enjoyable to understand a foreign songs(I have listened to them more than 10 times from last night).
Have a nice time.
Your friend, Faranak.
I haven't written for a while because we repaired and painted our house but every day I checked the site for several times and read your answers.
I became very happy when I saw you asked about traveling to Iran. I hope I can see you in Iran one day.
Dear Sue, if you come to Tehran, you will not need any taxis. We will come to airport to say welcome to you and we will bring you every where you want with our cars.
Dear friend, I do a new thing and don't know how much it can be useful to me.
Yesterday, in the English class, we listened to a song of Chris De Burg, its name was Missing you.
Understanding it was very difficult and I understood just a few words. After the class, I came to home and downloaded some Chris De Burg's songs with its text.
I listened to these songs concurrent with seeing their texts. after this, when I listen to them I almost understand.
Although I understand them with a little cheating but it is very enjoyable to understand a foreign songs(I have listened to them more than 10 times from last night).
Have a nice time.
Your friend, Faranak.
Niloofar's letter
Dear sou
Hello
I'm very happy about partake to the class of Mr taghdarre.
I and my sister(her name is nastsran) went to the english class about 3month ago.
In last day we were in vacation and me and nastaran went to the english class.
When we went to the class we could saw franak,sabber,bahman,sahere in the class.
We watched a document film &we speak english together.
Last day was a good day.
I like to learn english, I hope you help me.
your friend Niloofar
Hello
I'm very happy about partake to the class of Mr taghdarre.
I and my sister(her name is nastsran) went to the english class about 3month ago.
In last day we were in vacation and me and nastaran went to the english class.
When we went to the class we could saw franak,sabber,bahman,sahere in the class.
We watched a document film &we speak english together.
Last day was a good day.
I like to learn english, I hope you help me.
your friend Niloofar
Monday, October 04, 2010
Bahman's Writings
Dear Sue,
An Iranian market, it is very interesting. Do they sell Iranian things? For example Iranian foods, drinks and spices.
Thank you for writing about Canada. I enjoy it.
Words, they are my big problem because I don’t know many words. Reading and memorizing words is very difficult for me, but words are necessary.
That piece that I sent to your mail called Khazan (autumn). A piece from an Iranian maestro that his name is Parvize Meshkatian (the man who plays Santour on that clip).
That instrument is Daf.
It is a mystical musical instrument.
The Riq (or Daf)The riq (or Daf) is a very ancient musical instrument that existed in the Mesopotamia region more than 3000 years B.C. It is a small tambourine traditionally covered with a goat or fish skin head, stretched over a wooden frame inlaid with mother of pearl. The riq has five sets of two pairs of brass cymbals spaced evenly around the frame. The cymbals are what produce the beautiful jingle sound.
I saw a zither, but I cannot download that file. It is played with fingers, I think. It is like Ghanon. GHanon is very beautiful musical instrument and it is an Iranian instrument. It is very expensive.
No, they are not hammers. It is like a pick that make from wood. We called them Mezrab. In payvarism, players paste some felt on the Mezrabs. Sometimes Mezrabs are without felt.
Take care,
Bahman
An Iranian market, it is very interesting. Do they sell Iranian things? For example Iranian foods, drinks and spices.
Thank you for writing about Canada. I enjoy it.
Words, they are my big problem because I don’t know many words. Reading and memorizing words is very difficult for me, but words are necessary.
That piece that I sent to your mail called Khazan (autumn). A piece from an Iranian maestro that his name is Parvize Meshkatian (the man who plays Santour on that clip).
That instrument is Daf.
It is a mystical musical instrument.
The Riq (or Daf)The riq (or Daf) is a very ancient musical instrument that existed in the Mesopotamia region more than 3000 years B.C. It is a small tambourine traditionally covered with a goat or fish skin head, stretched over a wooden frame inlaid with mother of pearl. The riq has five sets of two pairs of brass cymbals spaced evenly around the frame. The cymbals are what produce the beautiful jingle sound.
I saw a zither, but I cannot download that file. It is played with fingers, I think. It is like Ghanon. GHanon is very beautiful musical instrument and it is an Iranian instrument. It is very expensive.
No, they are not hammers. It is like a pick that make from wood. We called them Mezrab. In payvarism, players paste some felt on the Mezrabs. Sometimes Mezrabs are without felt.
Take care,
Bahman
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Would you like to watching a film on Monday?
If you would like to watch a film, please left a comment on this post.
Thank you,
Bahman
Thank you,
Bahman
Saturday, October 02, 2010
From the book Walden
Let me share a brief moment from Walden with all the friends who want to know why I love this book so much and read it so many times.
“If we respected only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets.”
And this is how Thoreau himself actually experienced such moments when he was in Walden:
“At a sufficient distance over the woods this sound acquires a certain vibratory hum, as if the pine needles in the horizon were the strings of a harp which it swept.”
Just imagine living in a world where every pine needle is the string of the world’s symphonic orchestra. What a world. What a wonderful man Thoreau was!
In a similar analogy Rumi considers the trees clapping their leaves and dancing with their branches to the music that the winds sing.
I live for beauty and I find the beauty that I live for in these sentences. Really what else do we need for a good life except helping more people to appreciate "what is inevitable and has a right to be?"
Ali
“If we respected only what is inevitable and has a right to be, music and poetry would resound along the streets.”
And this is how Thoreau himself actually experienced such moments when he was in Walden:
“At a sufficient distance over the woods this sound acquires a certain vibratory hum, as if the pine needles in the horizon were the strings of a harp which it swept.”
Just imagine living in a world where every pine needle is the string of the world’s symphonic orchestra. What a world. What a wonderful man Thoreau was!
In a similar analogy Rumi considers the trees clapping their leaves and dancing with their branches to the music that the winds sing.
I live for beauty and I find the beauty that I live for in these sentences. Really what else do we need for a good life except helping more people to appreciate "what is inevitable and has a right to be?"
Ali
Friday, October 01, 2010
Fattemeh's Writing
Hi Sue
Dear friend, I had missed you because during this time I didn't have communicated with you. But I was always reading your answers to other friends because I'm interested in your writings and I learn many things from them.
I read in your post that you want to come to Iran. Is it right? It is the biggest my wish. I love to see you and speak with you face to face.
Dear Sue, my university has been started since 3 weeks ago. Civil engineering has 3 projects in the graduate. Some friends and I decided to take one of them this semester. In this project, we must design an educational building. The building has 7 floors and it occupy 1370 sq m of space. It is difficult but attractive. We must deliver this project after one year and during this time 3 professors help us. We must give our work report to one of them every week.
In Iran, schools have been started for a week. I go to a high school for teaching on Thursday. I can go there only on Thursday because other days I must go to the university. I have taught geometry since 4 years ago. I love math specially geometry very much. After a week heavy studies of university, it is variety for me. I like to continue both teaching and engineering in the future and I love both of them.
Sometimes, I accept private teaching. I can't accept many private teachings because I don't have time.
I had one question from you "what traits must a good teacher have? Do you have memory from favorite your teacher that send it to me?"
During this time when I wasn't writing for you, I want to do other my work and then with open mind I write for you.
Thank you very much for reading my letter.
I wish the best.
Your friend, Fattemeh
Dear friend, I had missed you because during this time I didn't have communicated with you. But I was always reading your answers to other friends because I'm interested in your writings and I learn many things from them.
I read in your post that you want to come to Iran. Is it right? It is the biggest my wish. I love to see you and speak with you face to face.
Dear Sue, my university has been started since 3 weeks ago. Civil engineering has 3 projects in the graduate. Some friends and I decided to take one of them this semester. In this project, we must design an educational building. The building has 7 floors and it occupy 1370 sq m of space. It is difficult but attractive. We must deliver this project after one year and during this time 3 professors help us. We must give our work report to one of them every week.
In Iran, schools have been started for a week. I go to a high school for teaching on Thursday. I can go there only on Thursday because other days I must go to the university. I have taught geometry since 4 years ago. I love math specially geometry very much. After a week heavy studies of university, it is variety for me. I like to continue both teaching and engineering in the future and I love both of them.
Sometimes, I accept private teaching. I can't accept many private teachings because I don't have time.
I had one question from you "what traits must a good teacher have? Do you have memory from favorite your teacher that send it to me?"
During this time when I wasn't writing for you, I want to do other my work and then with open mind I write for you.
Thank you very much for reading my letter.
I wish the best.
Your friend, Fattemeh
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