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Dear Eala, who is in the picture eating the faludeh? Is it someone you know? Have you been to Iran? Just curious.

SusanTK, I do not know who is in the picture.

I have not been to Iran. But my wife lived in Tehran in the 70s and so she includes Farsi among her many languages. She came away with a love for the people like you can not imagine, and has taught me much about them. Those I have met here have all been wonderful people.

I would very much love to see Iran for myself, though she warns me that once I see it I won't want to leave. (In her estimation -- she grew up overseas and knows a lot about ex-pat Americans who fall in love with some place and... make it their home. She thinks I would find Iran such a place.)

Thanks so much for your replies and feedback. Your wife is right about Iran being an unforgettable place. But she was there in the seventies and so much has changed since then. My husband left in 1978 and when he finally got to return for a visit nearly twenty-five years later,he said "the mullahs have changed my country into Saudi Arabia"! That is the impression one gets when on the street, but in private the Persian people are as fun-loving and warm as ever. And the bazaars are full of the most beautiful things imaginable. The craftsmen of Iran do incredible work- carpets, decorative household items and the jewelry- oh the jewelry(sigh). Everywhere we went people would ask us if we knew how they could get a visa to the U.S. Even the soldiers that are posted everywhere guarding things came up to us when they figured out where we were from (for some reason they could spot me as an American from a mile away, even though I thought I would be able to pass) and would ask how they could come to America.

On numerous occasions, someone we were talking with would be complaining bitterly about the state of affairs in the country and then they would ask me "so where do you like better- the U.S. or Iran?" I would answer how beautiful I thought Iran is and how lovely the people are- but, America is home and the place I would always love most. They would seem put off by my answer but, I couldn't answer truthfully any other way. As much as they want to escape and look for a better life elsewhere, they still have alot of pride in their country. If Iran was free it would be a wonderful place to visit and live but right now it leaves alot to be desired. There is so much potential there with talented, bright, decent people but until the mullahocracy is brought down, Iran will remain a place where people are more anxious to flee than move to.

I just wanted to add that I thought before I got to Iran that I was psychologically prepared to wear the Hijab(Islamic dress required by the regime). I wore a headscarf and a coat-like garment - not too comfortable in the Summer, but, not as bad as a chador. However, I quickly grew to resent it bitterly. To me the whole concept of having to cover my hair and dress that way was so perverted and dehumanizing. It's as if there is something inherently obscene about being female. That was the hardest part for me during our trip.