Its been a very busy day. Not only looking after our students but taking care of a colleague injured in an accident on the training ground. This turned out to be more serious in injury terms than at first diagnosed and he is tonight recovering in a hospital having had a broken thumb and severed tendon rejoined.
His being hors d'combat for the next few days at least will put a strain on the rest of us as we cover his classes and exercisesuntil he can pick up his part again. Thanks to our principals here, he has had first class care, quite possibly better than he would have got in the UK. And this being a fire service environment, he's already getting a lot of ribbing about the lengths he had to go too to get a bit of TLC and a few days off.
At least tomorrow is the weekend and I, for one, am looking forward to not having to rise at dawn and spend an hour in the daily gridlock.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Keeping up with ourselves
With Mausi in Thuringia attending her Druid Convocation at Bad Liebenstein and me in Tehran trying to cope with visa extensions, traffic jams (perpetual) and eager students, Blogging is a luxury. I hope Getafix has plenty of magic potion to dispense, I think we both need a dose of it at present.
Tehran today was hot and almost windless. That means the smog build up over the city is almost as good as Terry Pratchett's description of the miasma that hovers over the River Ankh in Ankh-Morpork in his discworld novels. It is a thick brown haze that perpetually hangs over the city unless its raining or the wind stors it around and rearranges it to suit the whim of the moment. The traffic here is utterly crazy, not helped by a road netwrok planned, I think, in a computer, probably in an ivory tower somewhere and bearing no relationship at all to where the people need to go, or where the heaviest traffic is likely to accumulate. "Expressways" are long parking garages, two days ago, we took 45 minutes to travel just 500 metres (Roughly 550 yards to those still using Imperial) and any journey in this city is done on a "stop/go" basis.
As for lane discipline, I seriously think that the traffic here would move more smoothly if there were no road signs and no road markings. Missed a turn-off on the Expressway? No problem. Stop, slam it into reverese and back up at speed! Everyone behind simply takes evasive action, horns sound, thumbs are waved (Thumbs up here have a very rude meaning!) and accidents are narrowly avoided. There seems to be a pathological mindset here which insists that if you wish to turn right you must do so from the extreme left lane and vice versa. Yes, I know the denizens of Melbourne have the same system, but they don't do so across moving traffic as far as I am aware. Here you put your indicator on and go for it, juggernauts' brakes scream, buses swerve violently and everyone does it - even the buses and juggernauts.
Ah well, I think Mausi will have fun at her Convention. Wish I was in Thuringia too, I could always offer to stir cauldrons I suppose for any future gatherings.
Tehran today was hot and almost windless. That means the smog build up over the city is almost as good as Terry Pratchett's description of the miasma that hovers over the River Ankh in Ankh-Morpork in his discworld novels. It is a thick brown haze that perpetually hangs over the city unless its raining or the wind stors it around and rearranges it to suit the whim of the moment. The traffic here is utterly crazy, not helped by a road netwrok planned, I think, in a computer, probably in an ivory tower somewhere and bearing no relationship at all to where the people need to go, or where the heaviest traffic is likely to accumulate. "Expressways" are long parking garages, two days ago, we took 45 minutes to travel just 500 metres (Roughly 550 yards to those still using Imperial) and any journey in this city is done on a "stop/go" basis.
As for lane discipline, I seriously think that the traffic here would move more smoothly if there were no road signs and no road markings. Missed a turn-off on the Expressway? No problem. Stop, slam it into reverese and back up at speed! Everyone behind simply takes evasive action, horns sound, thumbs are waved (Thumbs up here have a very rude meaning!) and accidents are narrowly avoided. There seems to be a pathological mindset here which insists that if you wish to turn right you must do so from the extreme left lane and vice versa. Yes, I know the denizens of Melbourne have the same system, but they don't do so across moving traffic as far as I am aware. Here you put your indicator on and go for it, juggernauts' brakes scream, buses swerve violently and everyone does it - even the buses and juggernauts.
Ah well, I think Mausi will have fun at her Convention. Wish I was in Thuringia too, I could always offer to stir cauldrons I suppose for any future gatherings.
Monday, 5 October 2009
Preparations....
Mausi's been running around today in small circles trying to get herself organised for a conference she will attend during the next three days. Two presentations needed a finishing touch and some supplementary information had to be collected and packed.
Tomorrow Mausi will drive to Bad Liebenstein in Thuringia where the conference takes place. It's a biennial event and always reminds Mausi of the well-known meeting of the Druids in the Woods of Carnute. It's always a pleasure to meet colleagues from all over Germany, exchange views and experiences and talks shop all day and during the evenings over a glass of wine or two.
Bad Liebenstein is close to Eisenach and the famous Warburg, where Luther spent several years translating the Bible into German. This time the Druids will go on an excursion and visit the Burg themselves, which reminds Mausi she must not forget to take her camera...
As Mausi will not have access to the internet during the next three days - she's been to that hotel deep in the Uberwaldish Woods before - she hopes the Monk will not be too busy to take over the blog. Anyways, there'll be pictures from Thuringia at the end of the week.
Tomorrow Mausi will drive to Bad Liebenstein in Thuringia where the conference takes place. It's a biennial event and always reminds Mausi of the well-known meeting of the Druids in the Woods of Carnute. It's always a pleasure to meet colleagues from all over Germany, exchange views and experiences and talks shop all day and during the evenings over a glass of wine or two.
Bad Liebenstein is close to Eisenach and the famous Warburg, where Luther spent several years translating the Bible into German. This time the Druids will go on an excursion and visit the Burg themselves, which reminds Mausi she must not forget to take her camera...
As Mausi will not have access to the internet during the next three days - she's been to that hotel deep in the Uberwaldish Woods before - she hopes the Monk will not be too busy to take over the blog. Anyways, there'll be pictures from Thuringia at the end of the week.
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Iranian culture
The country of Iran or Persia is an ancient one. This is the home of the Persian Empire, the land of the Parthians, whose culture has outlived Alexander the Great and Rome's armies. The language of the people is Farsi, but it has regional variations as distinct as those encountered in England, but in a much larger country. This is a melting pot of races and peoples who are as diverse as they can be. The pictures shows some of the regional costumes one may encounter in travelling. They range from something similar to the Pakistani mode of dress from that border region to the distinctive dress of the North in Bactria, Kurdistan and the borders of Azerbijan. If you want to see multi-cultural, this is it.
Islam dominates the nation's thinking and is the majority faith, yet roughly 40% of the populace are Christian, Zoraostrian or something else. But all are proud to be Persian and proud of the long and distinguished history of their people and nation. The Persian Empire lasted longer than any other bar the Chinese. It certainly lasted longer than Rome, the Empire of Alexander or of the British and even the invading Arab and Mongol peoples have been absorbed to create the new Persia.
The colourful costumes are now produced only for special occassions, but they are a reminder of the diversity and pride of this ancient people whatever we may think of the present political arrangements.
Islam dominates the nation's thinking and is the majority faith, yet roughly 40% of the populace are Christian, Zoraostrian or something else. But all are proud to be Persian and proud of the long and distinguished history of their people and nation. The Persian Empire lasted longer than any other bar the Chinese. It certainly lasted longer than Rome, the Empire of Alexander or of the British and even the invading Arab and Mongol peoples have been absorbed to create the new Persia.
The colourful costumes are now produced only for special occassions, but they are a reminder of the diversity and pride of this ancient people whatever we may think of the present political arrangements.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Reunification
Today is a National Holiday in Germany - we celebrate the reunification between East and West Germany which took place about 20 years ago. In the last week of September 1989 East Germans who had fled to the West German Embassy in Prague were allowed to travel onwards to West Germany. German diplomats, namely the German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher had worked very hard behind the scenes to obtain the consent and support of the USA, Russia for this move. From then on the whole process was unstoppable. The Berlin wall finally came down on November 9, 1989, and the formal treaty between the two former German states was signed on October 3, 1990.
Undoubtedly East and West have grown together over the years but not as much as one might have expected over a period of almost 20 years. There is quite a number of people who'd rather have the wall back. Obviously they still feel unsure and unsettled in today's world. One reason might be that both German states were so very different with regard to political systems and personal lifestyle. In East Germany more than 90% of the wifes had a job whereas in West Germany until 1958 husbands could forbid their wifes to take on a job if the wifes neglected their household chores.
All people were supposed to be equal in East Germany. But as always in political system like that some people are more equal than others. The government people lived in villas in Berlin, had access to western goods and cars. The ordinary people didn't. Erich Honecker, head of the East German state for many years, used to spend his summer vacation on an island in the Baltic Sea. Each morning a driver had to bring him fresh rolls (!) from Berlin - a drive of 300 km. And he insisted on West German honey on his rolls, something his people could only get if a relative from West Germany sent them some.
Looks like it might take at least another generation to overcome this trauma of German history.
Undoubtedly East and West have grown together over the years but not as much as one might have expected over a period of almost 20 years. There is quite a number of people who'd rather have the wall back. Obviously they still feel unsure and unsettled in today's world. One reason might be that both German states were so very different with regard to political systems and personal lifestyle. In East Germany more than 90% of the wifes had a job whereas in West Germany until 1958 husbands could forbid their wifes to take on a job if the wifes neglected their household chores.
All people were supposed to be equal in East Germany. But as always in political system like that some people are more equal than others. The government people lived in villas in Berlin, had access to western goods and cars. The ordinary people didn't. Erich Honecker, head of the East German state for many years, used to spend his summer vacation on an island in the Baltic Sea. Each morning a driver had to bring him fresh rolls (!) from Berlin - a drive of 300 km. And he insisted on West German honey on his rolls, something his people could only get if a relative from West Germany sent them some.
Looks like it might take at least another generation to overcome this trauma of German history.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Happy Birthday!
Yes, it's the Monk's birthday today and Mausi hopes you will all join her in sending the Monk all the best wishes for this special day! At least, the Monk will have a quiet day to himself which he can spend as he likes as Friday is the Iranian equivalent of our Sunday.
Have fun, Monk, and very many happy returns of this day!
Have fun, Monk, and very many happy returns of this day!
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Saturday on Thursday
My colleague and I are resting today, it being the equivalent of Saturday. This evening we went to the supermarket and bought in some essentials as at the weekends we are virtually housebound. The current advice is that we should only go out in company and under the escort of our hosts. Makes sense I guess, feeling here is best described as "touchy" in regard to the West's vilification of Iran and Iranians.
Checking the blog today I have discovered to my amusement that Da Goddess is one of the blogs that is "banned" and blocked by the Iranian internet provider and so is Practical Penumbra and On the Third Hand. Its a pity really as I can't respond to awhole range of things.
Still, tomorrow is Friday, a day of rest here, so we will b able to relax, get ourselves set up for Saturday (Monday equivalent!) and week 2 of our stay.
This is a fascinating country, a people as diverse as they possibly can be and not all are Muslim, though Islam (Shia) is the dominant faith. I have met and am working with Muslims, Christians and Zoroastrians - and they are fantastic. Hard working, determined and generous to a fault. I hope to be able to post something on the whole culture here while I am here.
Checking the blog today I have discovered to my amusement that Da Goddess is one of the blogs that is "banned" and blocked by the Iranian internet provider and so is Practical Penumbra and On the Third Hand. Its a pity really as I can't respond to awhole range of things.
Still, tomorrow is Friday, a day of rest here, so we will b able to relax, get ourselves set up for Saturday (Monday equivalent!) and week 2 of our stay.
This is a fascinating country, a people as diverse as they possibly can be and not all are Muslim, though Islam (Shia) is the dominant faith. I have met and am working with Muslims, Christians and Zoroastrians - and they are fantastic. Hard working, determined and generous to a fault. I hope to be able to post something on the whole culture here while I am here.
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