The Iranian Features
April 19-April 23, 1999 / Farrvardin 30-3 Ordibehesht,
1378
Today
* Immigration:
Cucumbers & tomatoes
Recent
* Tehran:
Darband|
* Fiction: I ran from
Eye-ran
* Cover
story: Aftershock
* Fiction: Midget
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Thursday
April 22, 1999
Immigration

Cucumbers & tomatoes
Becoming a part of the societal salad bowl
By Guive Mirfendereski
April 22, 1999
The Iranian
Because of the psycho-chemistry of transplantation, no immigrant ever
melts in the pot. Many take the dive and try, for whatever reason, but
only manage to dissolve partially before they become unconsciously defensive
just like that nasty stubborn lump which refuses to become a part of the
gravy for fear of losing it all. Even if one wished and willed to lose
one's earlier identity, there may not be acceptance by the pot itself ...
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Wednesday
April 21, 1999
Tehran

Darband
Tehran's junk food heaven
Written and photographed by Siamak Namazi
April 21, 1999
The Iranian
Darband is definitely among my favorite places in Tehran. I love the
fact that there is an abundance of junk food as far as the eye can see,
and that it is Iranian junk food! Lavashak, aloo jangali, chaqaleh badum,
gerdoo, zalzalk, you name it. There is little room for imported candies.
In fact, the only packaged junk food found in abundance is pofak namaki,
which is a national treasure (ask any Iranian kid). ... GO
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Tuesday
April 20, 1999
Fiction

I ran from Eye-ran
By Pejman Mosleh
April 20, 1999
The Iranian
The Lester B. Pearson International Airport immigration officer looked
deeply into my eyes. His lips did not move but his eyes were telling. "I've
seen your type." He picked up the phone and rang out a request. The
word "translator" echoed in his pronouncement. A minute or so
later, a slouching man with a lifeless expression appeared. He cast a dead
glance at me and waited.
"Country of origin?" This time, I understood the foreign tongue
and did not wait for the defunct newcomer.
"E-run." I said gingerly.
"Where did he say?" I felt slighted ... GO
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Monday
April 19, 1999

Aftershock
A book captures the Iranian-American experience
April 19, 1999
The Iranian
The following are the foreword and selected poems from "A World
Between: Poems Stories and Essays by Iranian-Americans" - a collection
of writings by 30 authors and poets edited by Persis M. Karim and Mohammad
Mehdi Khorrami (1999, George Braziller Inc., New York; 352 pages).
The voices [in this book], as such, are distinctive for their transitional
or "transnational" duality. All here are identifiably Iranian
in having Persian as their language of heritage (although some are more
comfortable with Persian than others), yet also Western in expressing themselves
in English. Beyond language, however, is the deeper pull of their transitional
experience and memory, which are entirely Iranian. hence, the reader is
presented with a split, not a fusion ... GO
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Friday,
April 16, 1999
Fiction

Midget
By Massud Alemi
April 16, 1999
The Iranian
In the early days, I used to blame myself for my failures with women:
I must have been wearing a stained shirt; I was too eager; too transparent;
didn't make eye contact. No sense of humor whatsoever. No character. Did
my best to overcome my shortcomings: careless dressing, self-indulgence,
over-eagerness. But the outcome still was the same. Then I tried to be
a little more aggressive: went to a bar and walked straight up to the hottest
looking babe and announced to her that I knew what she wanted, and that
I had it. Said I'd do to her what no man had ever done to her. She was
a busty blond and, as they come, a couple of tiles short of a full minaret.
She said: "Oh, really? Like what?" ... GO
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