Someone should know how many Americans served in the Peace Corps in Iran before 1979. My guess is their number is around 200-300? I’m pretty sure the time they spent in the rural areas and their whole experience in Iran was a positive and memorable one. They have photos and slides of people and places that belong to a very different era. It was not a very long time ago, it was just a very different time.
A few have contributed stories and photos of their time in Iran. There’s a need and great interest in more. Stories and photos from that era are often beautiful and nostalgic, with an emphasis on people — not necessarily the political system.
Foreigners visiting Iran have often developed special bonds with people, no matter when/what era they visited the country. There’s something something about Iranian hospitality and incredible cultural, historical and geographical diversity that captures the heart and imagination of these visitors and travelers.
What’s interesting and important about American Peace Corps volunteers is that these people were highly educated, stayed in Iran for longer periods than average tourists and worked/lived in remote corners of the country.
Their experience in Iran is now invaluable. If we want relations between Iran and the U.S. to improve, if we want to rebuild our strong cultural ties, we need to start talking to each other. I’m not talking about governments and politicians, of course. They’re a hopeless bunch of losers — in both countries.
No, we have to take matters into our hands. We must share stories and communicate to rebuild bridges. The love, the bond between Iranians and Americans is real. We should rediscover and explore our shared experiences.
So if you are a former Peace Corps volunteer in Iran or know anyone who was one, please give it a thought and consider the tremendously positive impact these stories can have.
All those memories, all those pictures sitting in albums on your shelves, the hundreds of slides in the box no one has opened in decades… Share them and you’ll see how much joy and goodwill they’ll create.
Of course this invitation is also extended to all Americans who have lived in Iran or traveled there. But I’m banking on the sense of adventure and civic responsibility of the Peace Corps workers and I think their stories will be more special.
Spread the word.
