As one who has worked over there, the deepest impression was the respect and courtesy I received from the non-political people I worked with. Most were stunned that I would be right there in the middle of a job helping them in any capacity that I could. This was industrial construction of processing plants I designed. I crawled the steel and operated machinery because I knew it inside and out and figured why not make sure it gets right the first time instead of having to do it over.
Also, being a veteran, it got me misty because I pray I can one day go back to Teheran knowing I can safely walk the streets in safety and hopefully find those I used to work with. Not to mention to go snow skiing again at Dizin!
Ditto Russia, when I visited back in '97, most Russians were amazed that I would pitch right in and help in absolutely any way I could. One remarked, "No matter what a bigshot an American is, they all are willing to take up any hammer or any cleaning cloth and help! I think that's why your country got so great."