Summer is finally here! So is exam period, but that's another blog entry!
The school swimming pool has finally opened... I have to say that it has been well worth the wait! And just in time for the boiling weather too! The pool complex is complete with a jacuzzi, children's pool, sauna, steam room and a cold plunge pool. (You're supposed to have a dip in the cold pool after using the jacuzzi to firm up your skin!?)
I was sitting in the jacuzzi today with my back in front of one of the jet streams. One of the ladies told me off (didn't really understand why) and told me to sit with my abdomen against the jet stream instead! My friend and I tried to do this, but found it ergonomically impossible! If anyone knows any sensible reason why its good to have your abdomen blasted with a stream of water, leave a comment!
The entry procedure is a bit like swimming in Mashad (see entry from August 2008). You have to check in your mobile phone and swap your outdoor shoes for a locker key! Before you give your shoes in though, you have to wear a pair of their flip flops. What puzzles me is that there are only 3 available colours - white, red and pink - but it is IMPOSSIBLE to find a pair in the same colour. I think there must be a place where all the left red flips and right pink flops go to hide, because I can NEVER find a pair in the same colour!
We can bring our mothers and daughters with us to swim, so if you're in Qum and old enough to be my mother or young enough to be my daughter, you're welcome to join me!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Juice cartons
What really frustrates me about this country, more than the crazy driving, the nosy people and the teacher's expectations that you will memorise every word in the book.... all these things do not annoy me as much as juice cartons.
Juice cartons are designed to not pour out the last 30ml of their contents. Its sooooo annoying! I think I will have to resort to cutting the tops off the cartons.
Juice cartons are designed to not pour out the last 30ml of their contents. Its sooooo annoying! I think I will have to resort to cutting the tops off the cartons.
On year on...
Its exactly a year since we got to Iran. I've been thinking a lot over the last few days and at how much has happened in a year!
The first and most important thing is that I've actually finished the Farsi and most of the basic Islamic studies course! Major achievement :-)
Well, assuming of course that I pass my final exams!!
I'm also thankful for all the people that helped me settle in:
* The Husband - for putting up with all my strops when I first moved here!
*All those people who helped us set up our home, take us out shopping and told us where to buy things from and what brands (very important to know what brands to buy here, some cleaning products will actually burn your skin off!)
*All those people who went out of their way to make me feel welcome here
*And I have to thank those people who were mean and unhelpful too, as it taught me very quickly who my friends were.
*All my friends that I left behind, for equipping me with heart-shaped ice trays (essential for the boiling weather!) and suggesting I take a panini grill with me (my most-used appliance!)
*All my family, who telepathically know when I am feeling homesick and call me at those moments!
*And,most importantly, all those people that keep me supplied with English chocolate! I love you guys the most!
The first and most important thing is that I've actually finished the Farsi and most of the basic Islamic studies course! Major achievement :-)
Well, assuming of course that I pass my final exams!!
I'm also thankful for all the people that helped me settle in:
* The Husband - for putting up with all my strops when I first moved here!
*All those people who helped us set up our home, take us out shopping and told us where to buy things from and what brands (very important to know what brands to buy here, some cleaning products will actually burn your skin off!)
*All those people who went out of their way to make me feel welcome here
*And I have to thank those people who were mean and unhelpful too, as it taught me very quickly who my friends were.
*All my friends that I left behind, for equipping me with heart-shaped ice trays (essential for the boiling weather!) and suggesting I take a panini grill with me (my most-used appliance!)
*All my family, who telepathically know when I am feeling homesick and call me at those moments!
*And,most importantly, all those people that keep me supplied with English chocolate! I love you guys the most!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Finally, we have some order!
The concept of queuing is one well known to us Brits – we love them. Very little annoys us more than somebody who jumps to the front of a queue after we’ve been standing patiently in line for our turn, except maybe being called away just as we make it to the front.
Those of you that have been to Iran will know that Iranians do not know how to queue for anything. Paying bills, shopping, entering/leaving the mosque - its the survival of the fittest, or rather the person with the strongest elbows (to elbow everyone else out of the way!)
So over the last few days, I was amazed to see a queue forming outside the school tuck shop.
Today, as I got to the front of the queue, a girl tried to push in front of me. The kiosk lady refused to serve her and made her join the queue!
Finally :-)
Those of you that have been to Iran will know that Iranians do not know how to queue for anything. Paying bills, shopping, entering/leaving the mosque - its the survival of the fittest, or rather the person with the strongest elbows (to elbow everyone else out of the way!)
So over the last few days, I was amazed to see a queue forming outside the school tuck shop.
Today, as I got to the front of the queue, a girl tried to push in front of me. The kiosk lady refused to serve her and made her join the queue!
Finally :-)
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Teacher's Day Part 2
Teacher's Day is turning into Teacher's week! Today we had a little celebration at school. Our teachers were all made to sit at the front and given flowers. One of the teachers did a little speech to explain the significance of the day.
Teacher's day is the 12th of Ordebehest (2nd month of the Iranian Calender). It's also the death anniversary of Murtaza Mutahiri. You can read more about him on wikipeadia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morteza_Motahari
In her speech, the teacher narrated some funny stories from her years as a Farsi teacher. Not sure how they'll translate into English, but here goes:
A student whose Farsi wasn't very good was trying to book a vehicle to transport a large number of people. The man told her that all the autobuses were booked, but he could send her a minibus. So the student replied: "Don't worry, send whatever bus you have" (bus in Farsi means kiss!)
The other story was from a class. The teacher was giving her students Jumle Saazis (a random word that you have to make a sentence from). The first student was given the word 'gul' (flower), so she said: "Shoma gul hasti" which means you are a flower. The teacher was really chuffed by this! The next student was given the word 'meegh', so the Student number 2 said "Shoma meegh hasti" which means you are a nail!! (the type you hammer into the wall, not finger nail!)
Teacher's day is the 12th of Ordebehest (2nd month of the Iranian Calender). It's also the death anniversary of Murtaza Mutahiri. You can read more about him on wikipeadia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morteza_Motahari
In her speech, the teacher narrated some funny stories from her years as a Farsi teacher. Not sure how they'll translate into English, but here goes:
A student whose Farsi wasn't very good was trying to book a vehicle to transport a large number of people. The man told her that all the autobuses were booked, but he could send her a minibus. So the student replied: "Don't worry, send whatever bus you have" (bus in Farsi means kiss!)
The other story was from a class. The teacher was giving her students Jumle Saazis (a random word that you have to make a sentence from). The first student was given the word 'gul' (flower), so she said: "Shoma gul hasti" which means you are a flower. The teacher was really chuffed by this! The next student was given the word 'meegh', so the Student number 2 said "Shoma meegh hasti" which means you are a nail!! (the type you hammer into the wall, not finger nail!)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Layla and Majnoon
My Naurooz fish sadly died shortly after they were bought :-( I didn't even get a chance to photograph Majnoon! Contrary to the actual story of Layla and Majnoon (see a previous post), my fish Majnoon died before Layla, but just like in the story, Layla was very sad after his death and shortly after joined her companion in Fish Heaven.
Here is a picture of Layla:
Here is a picture of Layla:
Teacher's Day
They have lots of 'days' in Iran. Thursday was the birth anniversary of Sayyidda Zainab (Granddaughter of the HolyProphet of Islam) and also 'nurse's day' (I wonder if that includes radiographers??!)
Today was teacher's day. This day had been drilled into us during our Farsi days, so I had marked it on my calender and remembered to bring in little gifts for all my teachers! My English students surprised me with the HUGEST gift I have ever seen! Nicely wrapped, with flowers and a box of shireeni! (Sweet cream cakes)
Didn't get a chance to photograph the cakes - we dusted them at school!!
Today was teacher's day. This day had been drilled into us during our Farsi days, so I had marked it on my calender and remembered to bring in little gifts for all my teachers! My English students surprised me with the HUGEST gift I have ever seen! Nicely wrapped, with flowers and a box of shireeni! (Sweet cream cakes)
Didn't get a chance to photograph the cakes - we dusted them at school!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)