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| Iran….Hijab….Hotdog
& Caviar….eventually Falling in Love |
(by
Jiab)
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It has been a while since my last article. “Side experience of the
coverage” is still the theme. Again, as I mentioned before, this
is purely personal and individual. Whoever disagrees, I will try to put
comment box at the end and recommend not to read my column ever again.
Iran is one of the countries I have been
yearning for. With ideas of gorgeous Persian
women and men with WOW history and culture
plus great-quality carpets, I know definitely
this country would not disappoint me!!!
Surrounded by mountains, Tehran at my first glance is such a classic town
where I still see old dirty buildings (as lack of renovation) with a trace
of modernity in Shah time. Lovely as it is!!! Tehran is considered as
one of my love at first sight!!!
As a non-muslim wishing to myself every year
I could go to Hajj and telling everyone “Allah
Akhbar”, I get really excited for the
MUST of wearing “hijab” (though
it is not my first time). I am so looking
forward to wearing a head scarf during my
stay.
Working and walking around town, strangely
I feel so good covering my hair. I feel I
am part of Iranian culture. Only one thing
hijab actually makes me feel frustrated of
having on my head is when it comes to translating
and editing time.
Women and men are not supposed to be alone
if they are not married or if they are not
family members. I guess this is well applied
to what I have with Mr. Iraniha for work
too. Since I am a woman and he is a man and
we are not related; he is not allowed to
go up to my room for editing stories as well
as we get bad looks from hotel staffs of using
their lobby as our temporary office.
After balancing the fact I have to tell religious police to bugger off
or have to deal with unpleasant looks, I choose the latter. Here we go....a
corner in front of elevators of Esteghal Hotel is my little empire!!!
Tight schedule and finishing work very late does not worry me much; but
having no time to go hanging out and hanging around with the locals bothers
me a lot. For me, the best way to learn more on people’s culture
and mentality is getting to spend time with them. Therefore, I try my
best to interact with the Iranians as much as I can – before, during
and after coverage.
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Talking to them, I am also asking myself if it
is fair for the Iranians to put up with sanctions years after years. The
elite of the society, of course, are not affected; but the middle and lower
class definitely and massively are.
Once the question of how we can change the world to be a better place to
live pops up, I get stuck. Then my brain would shift to happy but yet universal
subject matter instead – food!!!
Iranian cuisine especially rice is cooked with love and care. Meat and spices
play big roles of the national food. As much as I have respect for anyone
who cooks the food but with flexible working schedule, all the crews prefer
having Iranian HOTDOG since it is big, delicious, cheap and convenient.
We can eat in the van, we can eat on the street or we can just buy first
eat later but it is still tasty.
Talking about food, it would not be fair if I am not going to talk about
Caviar!!! Iranian Beluga caviar is considered as nation’s pride!!!
Considered quite cheap compared to the rest of the world, it is available
in the market and restaurants. Melted in your mouth, caviar does give cholesterol
in your blood; also watch out your salt intake!!! The more we eat, the further
risk of extinction sturgeon fish takes!!
People who have never been to Iran always ask
these stereotype questions: how do you feel
to be in that kind of country???, what are the
Iranians like???, do you feel oppression in
the society???, is it hard to be a woman and
work there???, or what is Iranian food???
With the biggest smile of my face, I would tell them “I am FALLING
IN LOVE with the country, people and food!!!”
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 In
November, I went to Tokyo to visit Fuji Television Headquarters for the
fourth time. This time I had chances to observe 3 sections to see how they
work. First day I spent time with Technical Department seeing new HD Studio
and new satellite dish. My second day with Foreign News Division,
I helped them checking news and I was with International Satellite Operations
on the third day learning about satellite booking and transmission. It’s
always nice to see people from different section and learn new thing.
 As
this is my fourth time to be there and I had never been traveling around
Tokyo much before, I decided to go on a journey by myself for the first
time (In Japan, I went by myself somewhere else). With one handy map, a
Tokyo cruise map and an English/Japanese book in hand (as I can’t speak
Japanese). I decided to go to Asakusa. I was a bit excited as I bought cruise
tickets from Odaiba Seaside Park near Fuji Television and change to another
ship at Hinode Pier. After one hour cruising around, I finally arrived Asakusa
safe and sound. I walked around and taking lots of picture.
 My
main target was to see Sensoji Temple; the oldest temple in Tokyo said to
have built in 628. The Grand Kaminarimon Gate with a large lantern is a
landmark with hundreds of tourist taking picture in front of it. Next to
Sensoji Temple, I went out to see Asakusajinja Shrine. It was a lucky day
for me as there was a wedding there that day. To see a traditional Japanese
wedding was a real good experience for me. The bride and the groom look
gorgeous in their traditional costume.
After a few hours of walking around and taking hundreds of pictures, it’s
time to get some souvenirs and catching the ships back to my hotel as it
started getting dark and cold and that’s the end of my happy day in
Japan.
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