Iran

[bihari]

Originally Posted by shadha

AsSalamu' Alaykum,

InshaAllah over the next few months, I'll finally embark on the process of attaining a passport. My hopes are to InshaAllah take a vacation to Iran within the next two years. Preferably next year but that's unlikely so I won't keep my hopes up. [Then in a few years Morocco, , but I'll focus on one country at a time.]

Anyway, I was wondering if any members currently live in Iran or frequently visit Iran and if so, if they can share their knowledge of the culture and more importantly, most importantly, how I will be treated. I am obviously black and I am obviously American- how good is it looking for me? What are the must sees? I am not into going to a city that will remind me of modern America, I'm interested in historical sites. InshaAllah I'll get to go with my Iranian born father in law, so I won't be dependent on others I don't know.

I am already aware of the warning issued by my government, find it to be bias but whatever. I realize the protection I will lose etc. by traveling to Iran.

So, yeah.


shadha-

Isfahan is a historical city, check it out

[Swiper6]

ive never in my life been to my homeland Iran. ishallah in a few years ill go there. i have relatives who live there thats why im eager to go. My uncle visits there every year. My Farsi kind of sucks though.

[shadha]

I am so excited. I was talking to the Mr the other night and it seems like we might be going either over the summer or in a few years. That gives me ample time to plan, learn some Farsi & Gileki, get to know the country & culture more, and save up mad money because shopping is top on my list of priorities.

I found out that the family is from Tehran and Rasht. For the first time, I would only like to go for two weeks, so the best bet is probably Tehran. How's the shopping there?

This is a pretty cool site: Tehran - 24 hours a day - 7 days a week


shadha-

[Haramoobobi]

Steps

1. Try these common words to make your visit easier. Remeber that phonetic sounds makes a language easier to learn. Pronounce these words phonetically.:
   • hello: Salam (sa-lam) or Salamalecom (sa-law-mal-eh-com)
   • I: man.
   • you: tou(informal)- shoma(formal).
   • we: maa.
   • please: lotfan (lout-fan).
   • thank you: tashenkurr or merci.
   • good bye: Khoda-hafez.
   • where: Koja.
   • when: key.
   • tourist: tourist(tour-ist).
   • friend: doost.
   • money: pool.
   • beautiful: ziba(zee-ba).
   • smart: zerang(ze-rang).
   • car: machine (ma-sheen)
   • color: rang
   • girl: dokhtar (dokh-tar)
   • boy: Pesar
   • dad: baba
   • mom: maamaan
   • want: meekham (mee-kham)
   • I don't know: Nemeedoonam (nem-mee-doo-nam)
   • grandma: maman bozorg
   • good: khoob
   • lady: khanoom (kha-noom)
   • guy: agha
   • toilet: dastshoo'e (dast-shooi)
   • tree: derakht (de-rakht)
   • hospital: beemarestan (beemar-es-taan)
   • coccacola : nooshab'eh
   • fanta: nooshab'eh zard
   • pizza: piza
   • sandwich : saandwheech
   • water: aab
   • help: komak
   • hand: dast

Tips

• Persian (Farsi) speakers use a lot of English terms for modern devices, like TV, radio, computer, modem, cable. The pronunciation is a bit different though.
• Persian speakers love to hear a different accent, so go ahead and don't be shy. No one is going to laugh at you.
• A variation of Farsi called Dari which is also spoken by Afghans, but there are major differences between the two.

Warnings

• Just like in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," watch out for people translating wrong on purpose. If suspicious, double check with another person before embarrassing yourself somewhere else.

http://www.wikihow.com/Say-Most-Common-Words-in-Farsi

i have some persians in the familia...

Some other words I think I know, inshAllah will help thee

Farsi magi?--Speak farsi?
Baleh--yes
Nah--no
lotfah--please
Be bakh shid--Excuse es mio
Shab be khayr--good night
moshAllah--mashAllah
khuda hafiz--bye
Inglissi me dandi?--speak english?
kojast--where
chandiiha-day
haftee--week
mahee--month

numbros (correct me if i am wrong)

yek
do
seh
chan
pang
shesh
haf
has
err.. that's all i know

HAVE FUN AZIZEM!! <3 InshAllah!

[GOTFIVEONIT]

pretty interesting boobi, half of urdu is itself farsi, so i can understand some of the farsi language.

as for where to visit, being a student of history, might i suggest persopolis? i believe its outside of tehran and the ancient capital of the ancient persian empire.

[shadha]

Thanks for the wordlist but I am already feeling uncomfortable trying to say the words because I don't know how they are suppose to sound. I might get an audio program to help me along.


shadha-

[shadha]

So I might might might be going to Iran summer of 09. YAY!!!!!!

I need to giddy up on my Farsi because I want to know what people are saying about me while in my presence. ....also I think it would earn points with the in-laws.

I am a bit nervous though. It dawned upon me while talking to my mom- I'll be SMACK in the MIDDLE of both Iraq AND Afghanistan.


shadha-

[jinnzaman]

If I went to Iran, I'd visit Qom and try and attend the lectures of some of the Marjas there and see if I could learn anything, especially those who had the honor of studying under Ayatullah Mutahhari.

Additionally, I'd visit the graves of the various companions and ahl ul bayt (radhi allahu anhum) and scholars.

[Timbit]

Originally Posted by GOTFIVEONIT

pretty interesting boobi, half of urdu is itself farsi, so i can understand some of the farsi language.

One of my Farsi-speaking friends always talks to her family in Farsi on the phone and the rest of us sit there and try to figure out what she's saying.


Shadha, that's awesome! Lucky you.

If I were going to Iran, I'd check out Shiraz and Isfahan, for sure (and Qom, of course, like Jinnz said). I'd make a mini-pilgrimage to a lot of the religious sites/shrines. Iran has such a rich history, both Islamic and non.

Then, since I'm in the area anyway, I'd head over to Iraq and make a larger pilgrimage: I'd go to Najf and Kufa and Karbala. All the religious centres.And Baghdad, of course. To think that it was once the centre of Islamic scholarship and now it's a friggin' parking lot... so sad. All the violence and sectarian conflict. May Allah grant the Ummah even a fraction of its former glory.

[shadha]

You two are funny.

I have zero intention on doing anything but shopping. I'm bringing a big ass empty suitcase with me and when I get there I'll wear one of them black head-to-toe gear. Rinse and repeat that every day. So that I can pack my suitcase filled with clothing. Then I'll buy crazy amounts of jewelry and wear all that back [I'll look mad gaudy on the plane lol]. Then whatever I can't fit into my suitcase I'll be mailing it back. I was joking with my mom that weeks after I have already come home, I'll still be receiving boxes in the mail.

Hell, let me know if you guys want anything.


shadha-

[ShotgunMessiah]

I bought Rosetta Stone for Farsi a couple years ago. I didn't stick with it very well, but it really is great. You don't translate, you learn the language, like how you learned American. I would highly recommend it, but it's very expensive so I don't.

[shadha]

Those for Level 1 & 2 are now going for 400+ at my job.


shadha-

[zzze]

assalamu alaykum

I think if i ever have kids i'll send them to the husband's dad to learn farsi

[photon]

farsi has been a much easier language for me to learn than arabic. having said that though, i speak urdu and have studied urdu literature. if you know urdu and have the farsi accent figured out, you'll probably be able to understand the gist of the conversation.

Originally Posted by shadha

I have zero intention on doing anything but shopping.

for shopping, go isfahan and tehran. i should warn you of the crazyass pollution and driving in tehran. things will be less expensive in shiraz i think.

i would also recommend you visit qum and mashhad because they are simply beautiful and the mosques are spiritually uplifting. also if you're going in 2009, i will be in qum!

aaand if you're going with your husband, there should be nothing to worry about.

[Timbit]

Originally Posted by shadha

You two are funny.

I have zero intention on doing anything but shopping. I'm bringing a big ass empty suitcase with me and when I get there I'll wear one of them black head-to-toe gear. Rinse and repeat that every day. So that I can pack my suitcase filled with clothing. Then I'll buy crazy amounts of jewelry and wear all that back [I'll look mad gaudy on the plane lol]. Then whatever I can't fit into my suitcase I'll be mailing it back. I was joking with my mom that weeks after I have already come home, I'll still be receiving boxes in the mail.

Hell, let me know if you guys want anything.

Really? Shopping? Is Tehran the Paris or Milan of the East?

You go for the landscape and the people and to visit your family and to see the religious sites, duh.

How can you go to Iran and not make a pilgrimage to all the shrines and stuff?! You're squandering your opportunity.
That's like going to Jerusalem for the shopping. Or Makkah for the malls! How can you not want to go to Qom?

Seriously, I think you should go visit the shrines and tombs, then head over to Iraq and go see more shrines/tombs.
How can you not wanna go see Najf, Kufa, Karbala and Baghdad? Where is your soul, woman?!