Tribe Culture: Understanding Breeds Tolerance
A Fresh View
We came to Australia seeking a better life compared to what we could expect continuing back in our own country Iran. We chose Australia because we knew it has a warm climate and has a peaceful social environment. Since we came here we have realised that the people are even warmer than the climate and have enjoyed a lot of favour and support from our newly found friends.
I like the way people dress here particularly women who are always well dressed and they take good care of their beauty. What I am really impressed with is that women use formal pants and skirts and female dress more than jeans and sports clothing. This makes Australian women much more attractive than many other nations in the world and makes their femininity highly enhanced. Fashion is a lucrative business here and we hardly see any person who is wearing old and ugly clothes and I think this is the result of the lively spirit of Australians and its shiny and beautiful days.
The most interesting thing we have noticed about Australian people is how they respect and tolerate wild life around them. Nature in Australia is in its most beautiful state and the good thing about Australians is that they value their nature and they guard it well. The government is doing a fine job in this regard I think and I believe people are following their advice well. The most difficult thing for me here is living amongst so many strange and large spiders and lizards which are in every corner of every Australian city. We live in a relatively central area of Sydney but I happen to see a large blue tongue lizard roaming around our backyard from time to time. I have always been scared of lizards and spiders but if you want to live in this country you have no choice but to get used to them and this is the most difficult thing that I am facing at the moment.
While in Iran family relations and gatherings is the most common way of spending leisure time, here we go to nature and sightseeing and paddling in astonishing Australian rivers and bays. There are many places in Sydney and surroundings which deserve a visit and we go to these places every now and then and enjoy our weekends and vacations.
I am pregnant and I think being a mother is going to be the biggest change in my life regardless of being in Australia. The government support is unprecedented compared with anywhere else in the world but this doesn’t make the responsibility of raising a child in Australia any easier.
I love this country and I am so happy that we moved here and I think by keeping this positive attitude we will be successful in our lives.
Hope for women in IRAN
Unfortunately the laws are still very one-sided. Women are not allowed to be judges and if they do make it to parliament they are not allowed to talk about women’s concerns. If a woman is killed her blood money is half a mans’ and in a court of law two female witnesses are equal to one man.
Change is happening in Iran for women.
Women with careers are no longer jumping into marriage so quickly any more. Under Iranian law a women needs her husband’s permission to work and so some are waiting to be sure that the man they choose is willing to allow them to continue their careers.
Iranian men have become more interested in leaving school and making money rather than continuing their education. This has left many opportunities for women to become educated. The number of women graduating now outnumber the men. This gives hope for profound social change!
Food
Since the beginning of human civilization, a series of peoples has invaded and conquered Iran. This has brought in many new customs, beliefs, ideas, and foods, as well as taking Iranian customs and foods over to other regions. The ancient Babylonians, Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and Turks are just a few of the groups that have had an influence on Iranian culture and its cuisine.
Iranian culture is often referred to as "Persian." This is because, until 1934, Iran was known as Persia. The Persians are an ancient culture believed to have originated in central Asia as far back as 2000 B.C. At one time, Persian territory stretched as far east as India. Curry was adapted from the people of India and incorporated into the Persian cuisine. Modern spicy curry stews demonstrate India's influence.
Indians also adapted foods from the Persians. When the Moghuls invaded India in 1526, they brought with them ingredients from the Persian cuisine, which they highly admired. A northern Indian cuisine called mughulai is modeled after what the Persians commonly ate: mounds of rice seasoned with saffron, topped with nuts, raisins, and various meats. Dishes such as kofta (KOFtah, meatballs) and pilau (POO-lau) are now common to both Iranians and northern Indians.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice is served from a bucket by street vendors in Iran. There is some preliminary evidence suggesting that drinking concentrated pomegranate juice may reduce cholesterol. Israeli researchers, published a small clinical study in June 2004 in Clinical Nutrition, suggested that drinking a glass of pomegranate juice a day for one year reduced blood pressure (particularly systolic pressure) and slowed down LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) oxidation.
Pomegranate juice contains high levels of antioxidants - higher than most other fruit juices, red wine or green tea.
Hijab - Women's Headdress
The hijab can be difficult for many westerners to understand. Some moslems suggest that the hijab is liberating rather than denigrating. This is because men must now judge them by their morals, character and personality. It also sends a message to people that they are dedicated to Islam and that they should be respected. This is debated among moslems as it is only women who expected to cover up and it takes more than a dress code to gain respect.
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
