There are many differences between this country and your home country. But, in your time so far in America, what kind of similarities or affinities have you noticed?
Kindness would be the most noticeable similarity; indeed, people of both countries are very kind. Sometimes, Iranians look like they are not willing to help others. But it’s mostly because they have so many problems to deal with on a daily basis that
they don’t give the impression of being compassionate.
As a mother of an 11-year-old, I also noticed that Iranian and American mothers have exactly the same worries and concerns about their children’s education, in general.
Unfortunately, the images that the two countries have of each other are totally wrong. President Ahmadinejad is certainly not representative of Iranians, and Americans should distinguish between the government of Iran and its people.
My country had a long history and a rich culture. My people speak in the language of our great poet, Rumi. So you can understand how disappointing it was for me to see that in Middle Eastern departments of universities, Persian is not taught as a language, whereas Arabic is.
Has there been any sense of culture shock since you came to America?
Sure it has. My eyes aren’t used to seeing this much freedom! The simple fact that people can walk in the streets without being questioned by the police, for no apparent reason, surprises me!
Unlike in Iran, it seems that the main role of police force here is not to frighten people but to provide for their security.
What thus far has been your impression of women in Las Vegas?
The women that I have been introduced to are all related to the university in one way or the other. Clearly, like all women in academic environments, they are very responsible and disciplined, and, most importantly, hard workers. It seems to me that they even work more than men! Carol Harter [director of the Black Mountain Institute] is an excellent example. Amber Withycombe [TITLE GOES HERE] is, too; she has helped me and my family adjust to life in Las Vegas while also working to support her own family.
I have also become familiar with many women [the BMI Founders Circle] who are supporting cultural and educational activities in Las Vegas. They are wonderful.
What do you hope to have extracted from our city by the time you depart us?
What a special welcome: We just moved to Nevada, and you are already talking about departure?! On a serious note, I really hope I can finish all of my incomplete work during my stay. I wish to find again a sense of peace that I was deprived of in my home country so that I can work more efficiently on my research. And I want people to know that Iranians today speak the same language as that of Rumi. I want them not to ignore our culture and history simply because Iran’s fundamentalist regime obscures other discussion. As you know, the UC Berkeley library has translations of 22,000 Sumerian tablets, but when the American media talks about Iran, they only talk about oil and our government, as if Iran has no other attraction to the rest of the world. This behavior mimics that of Iran’s regime towards our own culture and history—one of forced amnesia.
What has been your experience writing away from home? In what ways, if any, is it different from writing in your homeland?
Since I moved to the States, I’ve been hearing horrible news from Iran. As a result, my thoughts fly over there, and my mind is preoccupied by this news. Now I think more than ever about what I can do for my people over there.
At this point, I think that the best I can do is to inform people, all over the world, of what is really going on in Iran. Again, I hope that Americans will be able to separate the people of Iran from its ruling regime.