Hello. How are you? I'm just sitting in front of my computer and thought I'd write. It's around 1:00am. It's difficult for me to go to bed early, because I work late, and it takes a little time to unwind when I come home at night. How is your day going? Has it finally stopped snowing yet? We're having quite a lot of snow tonight. I'll have a lot to shovel in the morning!  I can't wait until spring. Today is Ash Wednesday. It's a day that Christians go to church. My sister asked me to go with her, so I did. I'm not of that faith, but I went because of her. To make her happy. It was a nice service though. I just didn't understand the meanings of some of the rituals that they practice. I was attending a Jewish synagogue for a while then stopped going. I guess I just got out of the habit. My sister wants me to join her church, but I don't feel comfortable there. I feel that I'm somewhere between Judaism and Christianity. It's hard to explain. I still feel comfortable in both houses of worship. I've never attended a mosque, however. As I said before, my father instilled in us a love and appreciation for all peoples. He would often tell us that we were all Gods children. I still believe that to this very day. I love and respect everyone. My faith commands me to "love my nirghbor as myself."  It's not always easy, but I try to live those words. I guess I feel somewhat fortunate to have been exposed to many different peoples and religions while growing up. It gave me a sense of "sameness" that we all share as human beings. Are there other faiths in Iran other than Islam? Are they permitted to practice their faith openly? It's so diverse in my country that I can't imagine having just one religion, or people for that matter. What's that like? What do you do with your friends for fun? Do you have any female friends besides your fiancee? Now I'm the one asking you all these questions. sorry I'm just trying to learn more about you and your country. Here males and females can have each other as just friends. It doesn't have to be a sexual  thing between them. I have a number of women who are just friends of mine, nothing more. Actually, I think I have more women friends than male friends. I think a man needs more male friends, however. Did you ever find out if it were possible for Americans to visit your country? Is it against the law or something there? I'm just curious.  Well, I think that I took too much of your time up already so far. I better say good-bye for now my friend. Take care.

                                                  Your good friend

David Letter To Honest(13)

How are you my friend? I'm sorry you weren't able to open the poem, I'll try to send it to you again. It's been snowing a lot here these past few days. We expect ten more inches of snow tonight! I hate this weather! It's a hassle driving in it.  Our schools here, tend to close down when the weather gets too bad for the children to attend classes. The children are happy when they hear that their school is closing It sounds like you get a lot of vacation time yearly. You're lucky. Americans work too much. Regarding the educational system in my country..... Teachers are usually highly paid, and have excellent benefits as well. There are two different educational systems offered in my country to children. The first one is public school. Public school is free to all students. Secondly, there are religious schools. There are Muslim schools, Christian schools, and Jewish schools. These schools are not free to attend. There is a tuition that the parents must pay for their child to be educated there. Many parents want their children to be taught in a religious school setting. These schools tend to be better than the public schools, and have a higher rate of student achievement. One of the reasons for this, is that they tend to be more strict with the students, and demand a higher standard for the students to perform at. They are more academically focused than the others. My niece went to a Christian school and received an excellent education. The problem with some of the public schools, is that the children don't have much discipline in the classroom. They are allowed to wear anything they choose to wear to school. Boys and girls attend classes together, and there is distraction because of it. The religious schools are usually same sex schools. Regarding teacher and student relationships... They tend to be very good. We have a lot of excellent caring teachers within the educational system. For the most part, the students respect them, but there are schools in poorer areas  where that is not the case. We have a problem in this country with single mothers. It never use to be like that, but now it's very common. Often children only have one parent at home, which is usually the mother. When she works there is no one to take care of them and make sure that they behave themselves, so many grow up having no discipline or manners or respect for authority. So when these children attend classes, they bring this attitude into the class with them. Again, this is not a large population that I'm talking about, but it exists. When I was young attending school, teachers had permission to discipline their students, and they often did! I have to admit however, we respected and behaved our teachers! As for relationships in general.... American women have changed a lot over the years. The women now are much more forward to the man. They will not hesitate to ask a man out on a date if they like him. Sexual morals are different as well. Women now are much more aggressive in that area than they used to be. It's common to meet a woman out at a club or some place, and end up sleeping together the same night. Women are as sex crazed as men are now! There was a statistic that I read that said that most teenagers by the age of 16 have already had sex one or more times. This applies to both girls and boys. Many couples choose to live together without getting married. It's pretty common practice. Again this isn't the entire population, but it exists. Well, I hope I answered all your questions. Feel free to ask me anything. I'm your friend. Take care.

 

                    Your friend

                     David

Honest Letter To David(13)

Dear John:

……I am really proud of our friendship too. Thanks for the poem.unfourtunatly, after downloading the poem, the file didn’t open completely, I mean I opened the file with notepad and managed to read some part of it. If possible , send the poem in the next email…… here in Iran its against the law for its citizens  to carry and have gun though, the crime rate is increasing due to the economical factors….this week was I had a hell of a weekend. Because of the heavy snow in Tehran and other cities Schools were closed for two days and because tomorrow is 26^th anniversary of Iranians victory over previous regime, so it would be a holiday and the coming day is Friday (IRANIAN WEEKEND). No school for 4 days J .is it common to close schools when it snows a lot? …here as far as I know employees often get one month of paid vacation each year, but for teachers, as I told you before its Iranians New Year holiday (2 weeks), while others have 4 days of paid vacation, and summer vacation (90 days). I work in the summer too. I teach English in private institutes. Here, you can find a lot of people who have a second job in order to make their ends meet. Is it the same in the U.S.? I guess it isn’t……in Iran its Haram (against religious law) to drink alcohol’s no bars and casinos, and if you are caught drinking alcohol, you should face the music. Thanks for those beautiful photos. I enjoyed them .your niece seems to be a noughty, lovely, cute girl.  I really like children of that age. And the brides dress model is almost the same as the models worn here….do you know about educational system in the U.S.? How do the kids and teachers get along? Are there any conflicts between teachers and students? Do the teachers have the same problems we have here? I am sorry, I know you aren’t a teacher but if possible ask you Spanish teachers…….would you tell me about girlfriend, boyfriend relationship? How is it viewed? Just a temporary relationship that ends to sex and finished or something more permanent? Here is another poem by the same poet. I hope you enjoy it:

Ahmad Shamlou
 

Fairies
A poem by Ahmad Shamlou

Once upon a time,

Three Fairies sat
Naked at sunset
Under the blue dome of sky

"Boo-hoo," cried the Fairies
and their tears were like rain from Spring clouds

Their hair was as long as rope
and as dark as night
It may have been even longer than rope
and it may have been even darker than night

Before them, upon the horizon
Was a city of enslaved boys
Behind them, black and cold
sat the old fabled Castle (where they used to live)

They listened; and from the city they heard
the sounds of chains clinking
While from behind them in the castle
came the nightly moans

Hey, aren't you Fairies hungry?
Aren't you Fairies thirsty? or tired?
Why is it that you Fairies are crying?

The Fairies said nothing
and "Boo-hoo," they continued to cry
and their tears were like rain from Spring clouds

Dear Fairies, why are you crying?
You fairies must be afraid of something.
Are you worried that it may snow?
Are you scared that it may rain?
Do you fear that the wolf may come and eat you?
Or do you think that the Devil himself
is coming to eat you?

You Fairies must be afraid of something.
Why don't you come to our City?
Listen! Can't you hear the sound
of our City's chains clinking

Hey, look you Fairies!
Look how tall I am
Watch my white horse
with its honey-colored mane and it's honey-colored tail
which runs as swift as the wind
See the veins and muscles ripple hard as iron
in his legs and in his neck
Watch our horse's nose as he puts it in the air!

Our city is celebrating tonight
For the Devil's house has been overthrown
The country people are our guests tonight
Venturing from their homes

They are coming, "Dom" "Dom" "Dom"
They are drumming "Pom" "Pom" "Pom"
They are laughing, "Ha" "Ha" "Ha"
They are singing:
      "The City is ours!"
      "We are happy!" --- the Devil complains
      "The world is ours" --- the Devil howls
      "Whiteness is king! --- the Devil moans
      "Darkness is ashamed" --- the Devil groans

Listen Fairies, the long night is ending
and the heavy doors of the castle are fastened.

If you can wake earlier and mount my horse
Together we can arrive in the City
If you can wake earlier and listen
you will hear the wonderful chains rattle and clink
Yes, the expensive chains
chain to chain and link by link
loosening and dropping from the people's wrists
The chains are worn out! They shatter!
If you are a Devil you will be miserable this night.

There is no place for Devils to run now
For them, the forests will be barren
For them, the jungles will be desert
It is different here in our City
Oh Fairies! You have no idea
how things have changed!

The Castle doors are open
the slave-holders and the Devils are ashamed
the slaves are being freed
The dungeons are being transformed
And now he who has been imprisoned and tortured
is given balm
The sharp straws have become soft rugs

Yes, the slaves are becoming free
So many, Free!
Free to consider revenge
With sickles and hoes
They become a flood,
a flood of slaves
a flood of anger, Whoosh!
The slaves are becoming free
So many, Free!
Free to consider revenge
With sickles and hoes
They become a roaring fire
And how beautiful are fireworks
in the heart of the night!
How wonderful the firelightis!

Finally the night-fires dwindle and sunrise comes
Not much remains of the night
Now the slaves are ready to pick up torches
and beat the soul of the night with them
and finish off the Devil's darkness

They are ready; ready to bring him into courtyard,
ready to redicule and taunt him.
It is time to take each other's hands
and dance around the loser

So, what are you crying about Fairies?
Stop your whining!

But the Fairies didn't answer
They only continued to weep
and their tears were like rain from Spring clouds

At the longest night of Winter
When we all used to sit around the Korsi (1)
eating sunflower seeds
While listening to the rain
and its sound in the gutter

Our Nanny used to tell us stories
About striped fairies
The story of a yellow Fairy and a green Fairy
The story of the patient stone
The story of a goat on the roof and
the story of the daughter of the King of the Fairies!

You are those same Fairies!!
You have come to our world!!

But here in our world
You only sad and depressed
You act like our world is empty
You act like our world is absured
You act like our world is nothing but pain

It is true
Our world is no Fairy-tale
with secret messages and happy endings
Our world is open-ended
And like it or not
Our world has thorns
Its deserts have snakes
Whoever is a real part of our world
knows these things deeply in their heart

Now what was wrong with your world, Fairies?
Who told you to leave your tall sweet castle?
Why did you come to our unique but difficult world?

The Fairies said nothing
And still they wept
And their tears were like rains from Spring clouds

I patted the Fairies on their backs
I wanted to send them back to their world
But then they started to scream

They were magical and they began to fly about.
They became old, they became tears,
They became young, they became laughter,
They became master and slave,
They became fruit, they became seed,
They became both hope and despair,
They became a bad omen

These magic tricks did not affect me
I watched their games
But I was not influenced by them
Their jinxed star did not sway me
And when they saw I did not turn into a stone
by any of their sorcery, they changed
One of them became a bottle of wine
One of them became a sea of water
And one of them became a mountain
rising up into the sky

I drank the wine
I swam the sea
I climbed the mountain

There was singing and dancing
in the City beyond the mountain

"Ha-Ha-Ha" we are happy!
No more slavery! We are free!
We destroyed injustice
We held freedom as our Mecca.
Since the City stood firm,
Since the living became ours,
We'll be happy forever!
We'll be free forever!
We have achieved our goal!
We have reached our home!

This is the end of our tale!
This is the end of our jail!

Translated by Mahvash Shahegh &
Dan Newsome