Hello,
I've read your blog a few times and have enjoyed your posts. I am taking a global cultures class and have been asked to contact a few people from other Areas of the world to see if they would be willing to respond briefly to some simple questions. Obviously, some of these questions could be answered by looking around online, but I ask them here because the answers I receive from interviewees are more authentic and interesting. I've listed the questions here if you'd like to respond (and of course, if you'd rather not, I understand). Thanks, and keep up the great writing!
Joe
1. N/A
:)
2. How do people greet each other – (shake hands, bow, embrace, other)?
Depends on the people :) Iran is a multicultural country (Fars, Turks, Kurds, Lors, Arabs, ...) and each group has it's own culture. In the most places shaking hands are normal but as you might know, a Muslim person is not allowed to touch the opposite sex so when a man meets a woman shaking hands depends on the situation and their personality. In the more friendly cases, embracing is normal too; even between two men. They might also kiss each others faces 3 times.
3. As a visitor to the country, would you exchange gifts at the first meeting? What gifts are considered appropriate? If flowers, what kind? (Some have special meanings.)
It is not a must but it is good to have a gift for your host or new friend. Flowers are not normal. This gift is a souvenir most of the times. A chocolate, a not expensive handicraft from your country or something like this.
4. How are children educated? At what age do they begin school? Do boys and girls generally go to separate schools, or are they separated by sex in the same school? Do they usually wear uniforms?
Every child have to hattend to the school at the age of 7. All the schools are separated until the university. I think in the cities and in the primary schools it is normal to have a school uniform (a dark blue shirt for example) but in the high schools or the universities nobody wears a uniform.
5. N/A
6. How is garbage collection dealt with?
Garbage collection ? each night at the 9'o clock (pm) you can put your garbage bag out of your house and a big truck will come and collect them. It is free. In some places there are bigger garbage buckets(?) which you can put your garbage bags in it instead of putting them in front of your house. Seperating garbage (paper, glass, metal, ...) is new and people are not used to it yet. One other point: nobody trows away any bread ! Everybody seperates breads in a diffrent bag and put them just near the garbage. It is cultural: break is the main source of food.
7. What is the normal dress for men and women?
Difficult ! have a look at Iranian People Photos. I wear jeans and a T-shirt most of the times. All the women HAVE TO wear Hijab (scarf or chador) have a look at Islamic Fashion Show and Wear Chador and be Free.
8. What foods, if any, are generally not eaten or possibly considered taboo?
Islam says eating Alcohol, Dogs and Pigs are forbidden. You can not find Dog / Pig meat in Iran easily.
9. Are there gestures or movements that would not be acceptable in polite society?
You are asking "is there any un-polite gestures in Iran ?" yes there are :) The one I have to mention is "thumbs-up" gesture. Here it means something like "showing the middle finger" in western culture (not that bad but bad :) ). The good point is many many people know the "thumbs-up" meaning in western cultures so they accept and even response possitively to it from a tourist :)
10. Is it acceptable to bargain for goods at department stores or at markets?
You mean changing accomodity with accomodity ? I have never heard of it in the cities.
There are ten more questions. I will answer tomorrow.
