Wednesday
March 7, 2001
What if god forbid...
I think your idea is a wonderful one ["Let's
go"]. However I wanted to know a couple things. Will there be
any older chaperones? If not who is your contact there if god forbid you
get into any problems with the Komite? Or if not the Komiteh, the Basij?
I am writing this email out of concern. I am a 26-year-old female who
was raised in Iran. I think it is an excellent idea what you have put
together and I would like to send my niece and nephew, but although they
are 18 and 19, who will be responsible for them? They where raised in
the U.S.
Is there someone there who will be a host and actually know about the
country? And have you thought about gender restrictions?What will you
do if one party is taken into custody.
I would like some more information about this tour. I think the idea
is excellent and has great potential because a lot of the younger Iranians
in the U.S. were raised here and some have not seen Iran. But I must also
act as a devil's advocate and say your title "Let's go", is
not that simple.
I left Iran when I was 22 and came to the U.S. I go back every six
months. I love that country, but I know well that it is not stable. If
you are a seasoned traveler to Iran and know your way around and understand
the culture and norms, then it is not a problem. But, Iran is a country,
not just cultural things that families teach their kids.
I suggest you see the film "A girl in sneakers". It is about
a girl in Tehran and what she runs into. Again I am not trying to sound
like the voice of the all knowing. Maybe you have all this planned and
then I can honestly say I would love to send members of my own family
if this is the case.
S. Nasehi
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