Can you feel the pain?

Pain....moving to a place that has a very different environment that you are used to can be painful. Your body has to adapt to the the change....it has to "get acquainted" with new viruses....you lungs have to compensate with less oxygen due to the higher altitudes. But, praise be to Allah....I had endured that. May be I'm one of those people who have a high pain threshold. May be it's one of the gifts that Allah has given to me....and of course, I'm really, really greatful.

I have felt pain all through my life....from falling off my bicycle to falling off trees. I got thrown off my cousin scooter once (I have the scar on my chin to prove it) and post-circumsicion traumas? (heh, heh)....not to mention paper cuts, knife cuts?.....May be, the most pain I felt was when I busted my knee playing soccer in the US....but somehow I felt that that was not a physical pain....it's more of a disappointment....because I knew that I might not play again....

Here in Tehran....I have to endure severe head-aches....stuffy nosed (I usually blow out dried mucus and blood out of my nose....some are the size of our finger nails)....and the skin gets itchy each day as it dries up in the low humidity surrounding. But somehow, I managed to separate the pain/sensation from my concious mind.....I don't know how to do it...may be when you are not focusing on something.....you will not feel it....

Anyhow....I know, it's all in your mind....and I hope I can endure this for another week or two...before coming back to Malaysia.....

A holiday in Tehran

It turns out that today is a public holiday in Iran. It's the 40th day after the anniversary of Sayidina Hussin's death. Most of the shops are closed. I was thinking of staying at home today but suddenly there was a black out (it happened the moment Ben Affleck's character was short-circuiting the Subway control box in "Paycheck". For a moment, I thought that was the cause). So, after Dzuhur, Amin and I went to Estaghlal Hotel to exchange some USD to Rials. Then we had lunch at SFC (Iranian version of KFC). I think many Iranians are oblivious of the event of the day. They just know it's a holiday. The traffic.....still busy with cars, m'cycles etc. The TV in SFC was showing a sermon by an Imam....it's a shame I don't speak Farsi. I could've understand his words. It sounded very important.....he recited some versus from the Holy Quran as well....then, the translation in Farsi.

The walk back to our place was really tiring.....we were huffing and puffing....especially when we already had our bellies full. Luckily, when we arrived home, the electricity had already been restored.

Tomorrow, another off day.....don't know yet what to do....we'll see when tomorrow comes.

At the Sony Gulf office

I will spend the day at the Sony Gulf office, in the Jebel Ali Free Trade Zone. It's about 40Km drive from downtown Dubai. We are supposed to look for a house for each of us, but the HR people say that, as we won't be staying at Dubai now, the house can wait. They say it's difficult to find a house/apartment in Dubai and once we find it we should seal the deal. We will only be coming to Dubai the earliest in the beginning of April. So, the company doesn't want to pay for an un-occupied house.

The next time, when we are already Sony Gulf employee, they will help us find a house......hopefully, we can get the ones that suit our requirements.....

At the office....there's no hint at all that we are in an Arab country......The majority of the workers here are either from India or the Philiphines.....so, other than English, Indian languages and Taglog are the "Lingua Franca" here. The Japanese only occupy managerial posts and there are not many of them.....may be less than 10.

Amin and I already have our own tables....and name cards. Unfortunately, they have my email address wrong and the Arabic version of my name is also wrong....so, I have them correct it.

Somebody will take us around Dubai today.....then, may be straight to the airport to catch our flight to Tehran....

So, tonight....at least....I won't be alone in Tehran......you'll appreciate company when you have spent 2 weeks living alone.....

Dubai

Arrived in Dubai from Tehran at 1:30pm today (25/2/8).....Took a cab to the Sony Gulf office in Jebel Ali. The driver Abdul Jabbar from India....told a lot of things about Dubai....from traffic and driving conditions to living and cost of living....

He said he shared a studio apartment with 10 other friends.....and the pay AED500/person/month for the rent excluding electricity and water.....AED1 almost equals to RM1....so, imagine that...a studio apartment AED5000 = RM5000. I told him, for RM5000/month in Malaysia....we can get a really nice condo.....with all the facilities.....

Oh...I forgot to mention.....the cab was a Camry.....CAMRY...... in Malaysia, only GM's drive Camry..... no a cabby......

The weather is not as cold as Tehran....almost as warm as Malaysia......maybe around 25-27 degrees.......but with low humidity......

Met Tanikawa-san just now.....he is a nice person.....still maybe in the late 30s or early 40s.....But I usually don't judge a person on the 1st meeting....My assessment about people will come after I work with them....I am not prejudice......

We will meet the big man tiday....Mr Hirai....the Sony Gulf boss.....Don't know what he'll going to say, but I think....it will all about my assignments.....and also Amin's assignments.......

OK....600pm....Hirai-san's waiting......

Signing off from Dubai....

Wintery Tehran

It's nearly the end of winter in Tehran when I arrived in the morning of th 12th of February. It's still too darn cold...maybe close to freezing.

My first impression of Iran was that the drivers are really competetive.....I don't now to describe it literally but try this..... I am surprised that there's no Iranian drivers in the F1 and the WRC circuits....they could've given Alonso and the WRC guys a run for their money.....maybe that's why I have a driver. Foreigners can't drive in Iran.....they have none of that Iranian driving skills and feathery touches. I mean...they can easily turn a 3-lane highway to a 4- or 5-lane.

Also...the 1st thing I noticed was that they all looked alike....but not until I get aqcuinted with the people from work. Actually, Iranians come from many ethnic groups....that's why we can find people in Iran who look like Bollywood actors....Turkish, Arabs etc. They also have many languages and dialects (but the official one is of course Farsi).

One good thing I discover is that they always greet each with "Salam" or "Assalamualaikum" and saying good morning, asking how one is doing...and others.

But don't be surprised....not all of them are Muslims....or at least practising ones. The Surau doesn't always full of people praying like in ours.

Iranians are mostly Shiite Muslims....and of course they are really "fanatics" about the Prophet's grandson Sayidina Husin (r.a.) and Sayidina Hasan (r.a.). They are also proud of their Revolutionary fighters and all the wars that involved Iran....We can see everywhere the pictures or murals of a man with the word "Shahid" written before his name. And not to forget the pictures of the Almarhum Ayatollah Khomeiny and the other Imams.

The women mostly wear headscarves....but mostly with the front part showing their hair (colored and natural)....a friend of mine said that this is the symbol of protest against the govt policies for woman.....but...to tell the truth....most of them are really beautiful.....with white and clear complexion and very pointed nose. Maybe because Iran is situated some where between Europe and Asia.....so we can call them Eurasians....I guess.

Let me tell about the friends I have made here in Tehran:

My driver...Mr Imani....a quite man who speaks excellent Japanese....and I can see that his English is improving....he's a good guy.

My apartment care taker....a boy named Ahmed....speaks excellent English. He has tatoos....not a typical Iranian muslim I guess.

Well, in one week plus, I already met a lot of interesting and friendly people......And I think....I can make it here in Tehran.....

But nevertheless....I still miss Malaysia....especially my family and the food.

Talking about the food.....Iranian food is for me considere taboo to people who want to lose weight.....not many vege or fruits in the menu.....the rice is dry and cooked with a little oil and salt.....plain yogurt is the normal serving.....meat products (beef, lamb and chicken kebab) are the everyday menu for us at work. I think that I have gained a few kilos since arriving here....hehehehehe.

Can wait to come home to Malaysia tho'. To my family and friends.....

Till then...

Signing off from Tehran

One giant step for a man

Somebody pinch me!!! I could be dreaming....my kid brother is getting engaged today....But it turned out that I didn't after all. He is getting engaged today, all right!!....and I'm really proud of him.....He has grown up now.....and I know he's ready for that big responsibilty that's waiting for him in a year's time. I know he's more matured now from the way he took care of our mother when she was hospitalized...... One Iraqi that we met at the engagement reception told us that he (my brother) is about to join a really nice family.....and I'm sure that he's spot on. He's fiancee's family (her parents in particular) is a very friendly bunch....with that east coast hospitality of course.....I should know as I have so many friends from the East Coast...... Now...we wait.....until next year when the really BIG day comes.....can wait to add another member to our family.....