4 ms·
I spend around half my life in Iran (for the last eight years). My favourite example, to show just how pervasive tarof is, was the occassion I was at the super
by EB-Barrington 6y ago
I spend around half my life in Iran (for the last eight years).
My favourite example, to show just how pervasive tarof is, was the occassion I was at the supermarket checkout of a large supermarket chain. The young cashier refused, several times, to accept my money. This, at a very western-style large supermarket chain. Of course, I paid. However, a similar thing happened to a Canadian guest I was once travelling with. At a mini-mart, he tried to purchase a bottle of water but the guy at the counter refused his money. The Canadian took the offer at face value, and left.
A few minutes later, a very sheepish guy come down the street asking the Canadian if he wouldn't mind paying. Iranians will understand just how only-in-Iran this situation is.
One thing basically every foreigner who has visited Iran will agree on - tarof or not, Iranians are the warmest, most welcoming people on the planet. The truth is that an Iranian will never understand just how much fun it is being a foreigner in Iran, we really are treated well (tarof or not).
- phonon 6y ago> The truth is that an Iranian will never understand just how much fun it is being a foreigner in Iran, we really are treated well (tarof or not). https://www.npr.org/2020/11/27/939437147/australian-professor-returns-home-following-2-year-imprisonment-in-iran https://www.npr.org/2020/11/27/939437147/australian-professo...
- EB-Barrington 6y agoThis is the typical kind of response I have been receiving for eight years running now, whenever I say anything positive is said about Iran. Many people can't handle the obvious reality that every country has good and bad aspects - even Iran. The fact that you decided to post it, says much more about you, than Iran.
- phonon 6y agoI think you have to be willfully blind to make your parent statement, and ignore the very real risks of being a foreigner in Iran. I'm pretty confident say, Jason Rezaian, would agree...feel free to chat with Behdad Esfahbod too.
- EB-Barrington 6y agoIt's riskier for a westerner to visit NYC than Iran. More western tourists die in Disneyland than in Iran. I can also pick outlier events, to make as weak a case as you just did, about any country. There have been millions (yes, millions) of tourists come and go through Iran during the last few years. In reality, travel has some risk, everywhere, but it's laughable to call Iran a "very real risk". Again, this all says much more about you, than Iran.
- phonon 6y agoConsidering it's a criminal offense for me to go https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/05/iran-new-law-israel-break-up-families-connections.html#ixzz6NWxOBqrd https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2020/05/iran-new-... why don't you get off your high-horse?
- EB-Barrington 6y agoWe don't need to keep going with this. Enjoy your life.