DR.LEO PARVIS
DIVERSITY AUTHOR, PROFESSOR, PRESENTER, & TRAINER
My Global Experience
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I have traveled to many countries around the world and extensively in the United States. My global experiences began in my childhood. Here I am writing them down for the first time. This journey through my mind will reveal where in the world my eyes and my imagination were wandering and how much I learned from these fascinating experiences.
Iran: 1952-1968
Since I was born in Abadan, Iran, I extensively traveled all around the country from the Persian Gulf to the Caspian Sea. I lived in Abadan, Esfahan, and Tehran. My favorite cities are Shiraz with such friendly and sociable people, Esfahan with its magnificent collection of architecture, and Abyaneh, a world-famous, historic village in the central province of Kashan, full of exotic textures and distinctive architecture that is unique to the world. I remember every summer when my father had to use his annual vacation we would get so excited to get on the train for the long, fun travel from Khoramshahr in the south and the journey north to the capital Tehran, stay for a few days, and continue the journey to one of the coastal towns by the Caspian Sea. We repeated this summer fling almost every year until I was 18, when I started my own travel experience. The shore of the Caspian Sea lodges many small towns from west to east, each with its own unique character and cultural norms. The Caspian Sea region is famous for caviar, all kinds of fish, olives, and tea to name a few. There’s much to say about my homeland experiences. I save this for another occasion and carry on with my global experience. |
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Iraq: 1955
Early in the morning, about 6 am I found myself in a boat battling with the waves of the Arvand Rud (Shat-Al-Arab) crossing Abadan (a beautiful city in southern Iran) to the Iraqi border, approximately a mile away. My parents were going to a customary visit of the prophets’ shrines which were mostly located on Iraqi soil. It was 1955 (as I figure it out now) and King Faisal was ruling Iraq at that time. My family (my parents, my older brother, and my older sister) was heading to Basra to catch a train for Najaf (the holy place for Shia where Imam Ali is buried). My family, like the majority of Persians (Iranians) was originally Zoroastrian who converted to Islam and over the years as a part of the religious tradition began visiting shrines. It was an adventure for most well to do Iranians to pilgrim to the neighboring country of Iraq and visit the pure golden domes and shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hossein (son of Imam Ali). I had no clue what my parents were doing and what was the purpose of the visit. As a nine-year-old boy I was following my folks and enjoying the trip. I remember that one day I paid a handful of money to a guy sitting at the edge of a ditch selling small bags of soil declaring that the twelfth Imam had disappeared at that point. Baghdad, the capital of Iraq seemed very attractive to me especially at night sitting by the river drinking tea and listening to the loud but enjoyable Arabic music.
The United Kingdom: 1968
A couple of hundred people were gathering to say goodbye to their loved ones as they were leaving Mehrabad International Airport for London. I was one of them. After finishing high school I passed the arduous entrance exam and got accepted by the Imperial Iranian Navy to be a naval officer. Since there was no naval academy in Iran at that time, selective students had to go abroad to receive proper training. Italy, England, Germany, France, and Turkey were the counties where young Iranian naval cadets could attend naval academies. Twelve of us were selected to attend Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. When we arrived in England on a muggy evening in August a representative of the Naval attaché welcomed us and in no time we were in a bus heading towards London.
After a few days of staying in London we were taken to the Army School of Education in Beaconsfield, a suburb of London. In this school, we learned the basics of military education and more than anything else, English as a second language—almost 6 hours a day. I have many memories to tell, among all, it is interesting to say that in this school we had 7 cadets from 7 United Arab Emirates with us, most of them sons of Sultans who were getting ready to attend one of the British military academies similar to that of the United States’ WestPoint. It was a lot of fun every Friday to go to London and spend the weekend exploring British pop culture.
After three months we were transferred to the Britannia Royal Naval College to receive our actual naval training. One of the most remarkable moments was a morning when the entire college was awaiting the Queen Mother to visit. When the motorcade approached the ramps we stood to attention and saluted the Queen Mother. She shook our hands and asked questions of each individual. The Royal Navy was very proud of this prestigious Naval Academy and with the same token, the Royal family paid close attention to the progress and activities of the college.
Among other ceremonies, D-Day was quite a glorious festivity to see the U.S. and other ally battleships surrounding Dartmouth and the Dart River to commemorate the unification of the Allied Forces who participated in the WWII invasion of France, June 6, 1944.
While in England, I had a chance to visit most of the historical sites and suburbs of London, as well as other cities including Brighton, Bristol, Bath, Weston Super Mare, Cornwall, Troy, Southampton, Exeter, and Reading. The London tour was a blast! Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Kensington High Street, and SoHo were among our evening adventures. We spent most of the day in Hyde Park and St. James’ Park relaxing and enjoying the sunshine that is very rare in England with more than 180 days of cloudy skies and frequent rain.
France: 1969
During my stay in the United Kingdom I was enticed to see Paris. The flight from London to Paris was a little pricey for students during the daytime, so therefore 6 of us planned to take advantage of the cheap night rates and explore Paris for a week. After all, the roundtrip fare of the evening flight at that time could be had for only £10.00, which was an incredible bargain. None of us spoke French, so this little excursion was a bit of a challenge. Paris is a wonderful city full of excitement. Walking along the Seine River browsing the many artists, we saw lovers whispering and kissing, and families enjoying the night air. The Louvre Museum was fascinating. We spent almost 3 days visiting this museum, yet still missed many sections of its grand scale.
The Moulin Rouge could not be missed! Observing the activities in this part of the city was most memorable!
Russia: 1969
I was not satisfied with this unusual visit since I did not see any part of the country. The Russian experience was a culture shock even though it was for a short amount of time. When the plane took off from London en route to Moscow we were told we would have a two-hour stay in Moscow. I had no idea how we are going to experience this historical city in such a short time. When we landed in Moscow it took us at least 40 minutes to get out of the airplane for a reason unbeknownst to us. Soviet-armed soldiers were standing at the door of the plane taking our passports and leading us through a narrow path guarded with soldiers towards the passengers’ terminal. Soon, I forgot this unusual welcome by the sight of a very plain, undecorated terminal hall full of the amazing artworks and precious books of familiar poets. Among them the famous Persian poet Nezami Ganjavi who Russians adopted as a national treasure since he lived his final years there and died in Baku.
Another surprise for me was the giant Samovar sitting on the top of a counter portrayed as a Russian artifact. Samovars are originally from Iran. Almost every household has one. I enjoyed this short stay at the Moscow airport drinking tea and Russian beer although the communist soldiers were watching us like we were war prisoners anxious to escape from the terminal! Who wanted to live in a communist country in 1969? I, certainly, wasn’t interested. Entering Moscow was not impossible but very difficult at that time requiring a very long application procedure and a background check by the soviet authorities. After two hours we were led by gunpoint to the plane and received our passports as we took our seats. Our plane was heading to Tehran. It was early summer and very hot as we arrived in the capital city of Iran in its modern time before the Islamic revolution, nearly 10 years before the collapse of the Shah’s regime.
Switzerland: 1969
While I was going to London in 1969 our plane had to stop in Bern overnight. We were taken to a nice hotel to rest for 18 hours and before catching another plane the next day.
Well, for a first visit in this beautiful country (as I have been told—unfortunately, what can you cram in a few hours in the evening?) I made it quite simple and safe—walked a few miles around my hotel, registered a few places in my mind so I could get back to my hotel without getting lost, and so did not get to really experience this place. I was so adventurous in my teenage years, yet I always had this trepidation! In the course of the evening I met a young lady from Ethiopia—for the first time in my life, very pretty, very articulate, and dignified. We talked about the Vietnam War and other current events in the world. I enjoyed the evening and went to bed early so as not to miss my flight to London in the morning. It was a good, yet short, memoir of Bern—an old, beautiful, neat, charming, calm, sophisticated city full of professionals in the early summer of 1969.
The United States: 1976
While in my undergrad years in Iran, I was applying to get in to a fine U.S. university. My first concern was the quality of education and credibility of the university rather than its location. I applied to 10 major universities. I received positive answers from five of them—University of Georgia at Athens, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Detroit, Wayne State University, and University of Honolulu in Hawaii. I chose Wayne State University because I heard it had a good ESL program. When I finished my 3- month ESL program I started to look around for an institution with a decent program in political science. My cousin was my mentor since he started his graduate program two years before me and knew the nuts and bolts of this business. Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, where I attended for 14 months until I got my masters degree in Geography & Political Science. While in Michigan, despite the tight schedule of a graduate student, I visited Chicago, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia (5 times), visited Baltimore, Maryland, and on the way from Kalamazoo to DC we stopped in Cleveland, Ohio where our relatives resided. In 1978, we visited our relatives in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland. I liked the suburbs, but downtown Cleveland and the surrounding areas did not grab my attention at all. I clearly remember saying to my cousin that if I chose to stay in the United States I will not choose this city—all I saw were industrial sites, smoke, and pollution. I advise you: never express such a negative statement—it will haunt you! It did me! How? 10 years later I was the resident of Cleveland and stayed there for 12 years! Since then, I have learned my lesson about expressing negative thoughts!
After I finished my Masters degree, although I liked Kalamazoo, I decided to stay in Washington DC and northern Virginia for a while and relax before getting into further education. The experience of working in Georgetown, and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport Friendship Hotel was very delightful. I enjoyed working with many good people there. I did not mind driving 60 miles to Baltimore from northern Virginia everyday since I knew my workdays were full of excitement and friendship. Unfortunately, this pleasure was short-lived. I decided to quit and go back to Iran. I have no idea why I did this. And to this day, I regret having made this decision.
India: 1984
A colleague of mine and I decided to have a quick adventure visiting India in July 1984—a retreat we needed to relax and compensate for a nine month long non-stop teaching stint. That was maybe not the best idea! Yet, getting out of the country (Iran) after having been practically imprisoned for 5 years was worth suffering the excruciating hot weather of India in the summer time. After the change of government in Iran in 1979 and the takeover of the Islamic militant regime, Iranian citizens lost the privilege of having passports. No one could go out of the country except for government officials and their staff and relatives. Therefore, those who were about to leave before this frustrating time and those who made decision to leave the country later, had to wait for five years. Passports had to be revised according to the Islamic codes. The professor who I shared office space with and I got a long pretty well and so we decided to travel and see some of India in a weeklong vacation. We were both married with kids and longer than a week away from the family would not seem wise.
This short journey was planned specifically to explore the possibility of pursuing our doctoral degree in India. We arrived in Bombay on a very hot afternoon in July. Immediately, I was looking for a place to drink water. We were advised not to drink the public water—bottled water, coke, beer, and any other beverage were our healthier choices. We stayed in a hotel for that night and the day after found a better hotel—nicer and cleaner with a TV and a refrigerator.
Bombay with its historical harbor is the major industrial and economical center of India. It is also the most congested city in India. In 1984 the population of greater Bombay was about 10 million. Today, it must be close to 15 million. There are so many scenes in this great city, sad and joyful, ample culture shocks, and millions of smiles. Children look at you and their looks are full of meaning. Poverty and wealth are demonstrated in many faces of the region.
One morning I was looking from my hotel room and witnessed several scenes that have been the subjects of much discussion in my sociology classes. Among them, a construction worker taking a shower by using rain water dripping from an unfinished ceiling and rubbing mud all over his body as a substitute for soap was the most incredible to me.
Taking a transit train to commute from one side to the other side of the city was a huge challenge and an adventure for us. Overpopulation in this crowded city impacts every means of transportation and the quality of the environment. In one train compartment that is normally designed for 8 to 16 people, one would see 80 people, let alone hundreds of passengers loitered all over the corridors and at the entrance of each compartment as if they were about to be thrown out from the doors and windows.
Turkey: 1986
Sometimes you are driven by a life force to a destiny that is not intended to be. Yet, you explore dazzling moments you never dreamed you would experience. This reality became a part of my life forever—living in Turkey for three years. Within this long period of time I had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Turkish culture, learn the language, make lifetime friends, and experience numerous social engagements. Teaching was my main job, which gave me the opportunity to know a lot of students and their families. Working in a famous private school in Istanbul was a great experience for me. I enjoyed teaching Turkish students and socializing with my Turkish and American colleaguesI traveled to many parts of Turkey. I lived in Istanbul for three years and visited Ankara (the capital), Izmir, a beautiful Mediterranean city, Antalya, a resort area on the sea, Efesus, a historic place, and a few other small towns. Swimming in four seas was an unprecedented experience for me: the Marmora Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Visiting small islands not far away from Istanbul created unforgettable moments for me, enticing with music, food, and interaction with the local people.
While attending Bogazici (Bosphorus) University for a doctoral program, I met many people (mainly teachers and visiting professors) from different countries. The university is located on the hillside of the strait of Bosphorus, with beautiful scenery one cannot experience any where else in the world—watching ships and boats passing by, and seeing the Asian side of Istanbul. The giant bridge that connects the Asian side to the European side of Turkey is located within a mile from Bogazici University. Traveling from the European to the Asian side is the daily routine of many citizens living in greater Istanbul. Today, fast boats have made the peoples’ commute much easier. Yet, older boats are still operating and commuters have their choices.
Getting out of Turkey every three months to renew my visa added another country to my list of global experience that is worth talking about next.
Bulgaria: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
While living and working in Turkey I had the opportunity to have a short visit to Sophia, the capital of Bulgaria, to renew my visa for Turkey every three months. These multiple short visits were mixed with pleasure, anxiety, and learning another culture. As my short stay in the Moscow airport for a few hours was not a great experience for seeing a communist country, going to Bulgaria should be considered as my first time in my life for visiting a communist country. This satellite of the Soviet Union (today’s Russia), like other controlled Soviet blocks had a certain way of social life for its citizens very different from western civilizations with their open and competitive market economy. It was very obvious that people in Sophia were frustrated with their communist regime monitoring every move of its citizens. A housekeeper in a hotel once told me that she hides money and jewelry for her children’s future since there are no private banks and trusts to rely on.
I enjoyed walking around in Sophia, shopping at superstores, riding subways, and drinking cappuccino. I met many people from different countries during these visits. Some had come for business, some for educational seminars, and some citizens of the Soviet Unions for pleasure but had to endure being watched by KGB agents throughout their entire journey!
Going to Sophia in the middle of winter was not fun at all. It was bitter cold and there was snow all over the city. There were a few times I had to travel to Sophia in the winter for renewing my visa to Turkey. On one occasion I had the opportunity to visit the University of Sophia and meet with some scholars. A graduate student was my guide and he showed me some parts of the campus. I enjoyed talking with students although they had difficulty communicating in English.
Germany: 1989
After living and working in Turkey for three years, the time came for me to go back to the United States. I had always wanted to see Germany. The summer of 1989 gave me the opportunity to visit Germany for almost six weeks. First, I arrived in Frankfurt. I stayed there for a week, then a friend who lived in Hamburg invited me to stay with him for awhile. Hamburg is a beautiful city with so many attractions. Along the Lake Hamburg, we enjoyed October fest for almost a week. This celebration is similar to the state fairs found in the U.S. such as the Minnesota State Fair in August. Every year October fest in Germany is held in many cities around the country. It was a blast for me to see October fest in Hamburg. During my long visit, I had the opportunity to see other places such as Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, Heidelberg and a very small town along the Rhine River. Traveling by train in Germany was the most exciting experience for me. It’s fast, comfortable, clean, and you can see much scenery.
Austria: 1989
My long visit to Germany gave me a chance to go to Austria for a short visit. My stay in Munich tempted me to go to Austria, since it was only a two-hour drive. One Saturday morning during August my friend and I decided to go to Salzburg and spend a day in this romantic, artistic, and relaxing town. Salzburg is located on the Austrian-German border, about two hours from Munich and three hours from Vienna by train. Salzburg, Austria has been described as "both architecturally and scenically one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.” During the high season, many tourists visit Salzburg. The streets were so crowded and tourists were so anxious not to miss any shops. A music shop grabbed my attention where I spent an hour long browsing and testing instruments. I really enjoyed Salzburg and spent most of my time in the Altstadt on the left bank of the Salzach River. I will definitely go to Austria again and spend more time exploring this beautiful city. Vienna, of course, would be my next place to visit since this city of music has a world-class reputation and has much to offer.
The United States: 1989
I came back to the United States in 1989 after spending five years in Iran and three years in Turkey. I wanted to reside in the Maryland-Virginia area, but life forces took me to Cleveland, Ohio where I spent 12 years. In 1997 I left Cleveland for the DC area and became a resident of Maryland for two years. Since 1999 I have been living in Minnesota and have traveled extensively around the country. In the spring of 2004 we visited our friends in Gulf Port-Biloxi, MS. They took us to New Orleans for a day. We saw many great places that no longer exist due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I had wanted to see New Orleans since I was a child. I am glad I saw it when I did because it just won’t be quite the same anymore. It turned out that trip was pretty momentous and full of fore-shadowing, not only because of the ravages of Katrina, but because not long after, one of our friends we had gone to visit, died unexpectedly. I will always be grateful we took that trip when we did. We miss you greatly Tammy!
A recent visit to California became one of the highlights of my travel experience. Staying in the Pacific Palisades with our dear friends, looking at the Pacific Ocean everyday from their balcony, enjoying the ocean breezes, walking along Sunset Boulevard, tasting the many ethnic foods of southern California, and many more attractions were all crammed into a week of vacation no one should miss!
Now that I have survived life in cold Minnesota, I must confess that Minnesota is a great place to live and work. There are many outdoor activities, pleasant people, great education and healthcare, and more than 10,000 lakes are only a few of the wonderful attributes of this mid-western state. After enduring a long winter and a late spring, you know you’ll get a chance to enjoy quiet and peaceful moments in the summer time and a beautiful fall around the lakes and wooded areas.
My wish list for future adventures includes: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Spain, and Honduras.
Early in the morning, about 6 am I found myself in a boat battling with the waves of the Arvand Rud (Shat-Al-Arab) crossing Abadan (a beautiful city in southern Iran) to the Iraqi border, approximately a mile away. My parents were going to a customary visit of the prophets’ shrines which were mostly located on Iraqi soil. It was 1955 (as I figure it out now) and King Faisal was ruling Iraq at that time. My family (my parents, my older brother, and my older sister) was heading to Basra to catch a train for Najaf (the holy place for Shia where Imam Ali is buried). My family, like the majority of Persians (Iranians) was originally Zoroastrian who converted to Islam and over the years as a part of the religious tradition began visiting shrines. It was an adventure for most well to do Iranians to pilgrim to the neighboring country of Iraq and visit the pure golden domes and shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hossein (son of Imam Ali). I had no clue what my parents were doing and what was the purpose of the visit. As a nine-year-old boy I was following my folks and enjoying the trip. I remember that one day I paid a handful of money to a guy sitting at the edge of a ditch selling small bags of soil declaring that the twelfth Imam had disappeared at that point. Baghdad, the capital of Iraq seemed very attractive to me especially at night sitting by the river drinking tea and listening to the loud but enjoyable Arabic music.
The United Kingdom: 1968
A couple of hundred people were gathering to say goodbye to their loved ones as they were leaving Mehrabad International Airport for London. I was one of them. After finishing high school I passed the arduous entrance exam and got accepted by the Imperial Iranian Navy to be a naval officer. Since there was no naval academy in Iran at that time, selective students had to go abroad to receive proper training. Italy, England, Germany, France, and Turkey were the counties where young Iranian naval cadets could attend naval academies. Twelve of us were selected to attend Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth. When we arrived in England on a muggy evening in August a representative of the Naval attaché welcomed us and in no time we were in a bus heading towards London.
After a few days of staying in London we were taken to the Army School of Education in Beaconsfield, a suburb of London. In this school, we learned the basics of military education and more than anything else, English as a second language—almost 6 hours a day. I have many memories to tell, among all, it is interesting to say that in this school we had 7 cadets from 7 United Arab Emirates with us, most of them sons of Sultans who were getting ready to attend one of the British military academies similar to that of the United States’ WestPoint. It was a lot of fun every Friday to go to London and spend the weekend exploring British pop culture.
After three months we were transferred to the Britannia Royal Naval College to receive our actual naval training. One of the most remarkable moments was a morning when the entire college was awaiting the Queen Mother to visit. When the motorcade approached the ramps we stood to attention and saluted the Queen Mother. She shook our hands and asked questions of each individual. The Royal Navy was very proud of this prestigious Naval Academy and with the same token, the Royal family paid close attention to the progress and activities of the college.
Among other ceremonies, D-Day was quite a glorious festivity to see the U.S. and other ally battleships surrounding Dartmouth and the Dart River to commemorate the unification of the Allied Forces who participated in the WWII invasion of France, June 6, 1944.
While in England, I had a chance to visit most of the historical sites and suburbs of London, as well as other cities including Brighton, Bristol, Bath, Weston Super Mare, Cornwall, Troy, Southampton, Exeter, and Reading. The London tour was a blast! Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, Kensington High Street, and SoHo were among our evening adventures. We spent most of the day in Hyde Park and St. James’ Park relaxing and enjoying the sunshine that is very rare in England with more than 180 days of cloudy skies and frequent rain.
France: 1969
During my stay in the United Kingdom I was enticed to see Paris. The flight from London to Paris was a little pricey for students during the daytime, so therefore 6 of us planned to take advantage of the cheap night rates and explore Paris for a week. After all, the roundtrip fare of the evening flight at that time could be had for only £10.00, which was an incredible bargain. None of us spoke French, so this little excursion was a bit of a challenge. Paris is a wonderful city full of excitement. Walking along the Seine River browsing the many artists, we saw lovers whispering and kissing, and families enjoying the night air. The Louvre Museum was fascinating. We spent almost 3 days visiting this museum, yet still missed many sections of its grand scale.
The Moulin Rouge could not be missed! Observing the activities in this part of the city was most memorable!
Russia: 1969
I was not satisfied with this unusual visit since I did not see any part of the country. The Russian experience was a culture shock even though it was for a short amount of time. When the plane took off from London en route to Moscow we were told we would have a two-hour stay in Moscow. I had no idea how we are going to experience this historical city in such a short time. When we landed in Moscow it took us at least 40 minutes to get out of the airplane for a reason unbeknownst to us. Soviet-armed soldiers were standing at the door of the plane taking our passports and leading us through a narrow path guarded with soldiers towards the passengers’ terminal. Soon, I forgot this unusual welcome by the sight of a very plain, undecorated terminal hall full of the amazing artworks and precious books of familiar poets. Among them the famous Persian poet Nezami Ganjavi who Russians adopted as a national treasure since he lived his final years there and died in Baku.
Another surprise for me was the giant Samovar sitting on the top of a counter portrayed as a Russian artifact. Samovars are originally from Iran. Almost every household has one. I enjoyed this short stay at the Moscow airport drinking tea and Russian beer although the communist soldiers were watching us like we were war prisoners anxious to escape from the terminal! Who wanted to live in a communist country in 1969? I, certainly, wasn’t interested. Entering Moscow was not impossible but very difficult at that time requiring a very long application procedure and a background check by the soviet authorities. After two hours we were led by gunpoint to the plane and received our passports as we took our seats. Our plane was heading to Tehran. It was early summer and very hot as we arrived in the capital city of Iran in its modern time before the Islamic revolution, nearly 10 years before the collapse of the Shah’s regime.
Switzerland: 1969
While I was going to London in 1969 our plane had to stop in Bern overnight. We were taken to a nice hotel to rest for 18 hours and before catching another plane the next day.
Well, for a first visit in this beautiful country (as I have been told—unfortunately, what can you cram in a few hours in the evening?) I made it quite simple and safe—walked a few miles around my hotel, registered a few places in my mind so I could get back to my hotel without getting lost, and so did not get to really experience this place. I was so adventurous in my teenage years, yet I always had this trepidation! In the course of the evening I met a young lady from Ethiopia—for the first time in my life, very pretty, very articulate, and dignified. We talked about the Vietnam War and other current events in the world. I enjoyed the evening and went to bed early so as not to miss my flight to London in the morning. It was a good, yet short, memoir of Bern—an old, beautiful, neat, charming, calm, sophisticated city full of professionals in the early summer of 1969.
The United States: 1976
While in my undergrad years in Iran, I was applying to get in to a fine U.S. university. My first concern was the quality of education and credibility of the university rather than its location. I applied to 10 major universities. I received positive answers from five of them—University of Georgia at Athens, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Detroit, Wayne State University, and University of Honolulu in Hawaii. I chose Wayne State University because I heard it had a good ESL program. When I finished my 3- month ESL program I started to look around for an institution with a decent program in political science. My cousin was my mentor since he started his graduate program two years before me and knew the nuts and bolts of this business. Anyway, to make a long story short, I ended up at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, where I attended for 14 months until I got my masters degree in Geography & Political Science. While in Michigan, despite the tight schedule of a graduate student, I visited Chicago, Washington, DC and Northern Virginia (5 times), visited Baltimore, Maryland, and on the way from Kalamazoo to DC we stopped in Cleveland, Ohio where our relatives resided. In 1978, we visited our relatives in Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland. I liked the suburbs, but downtown Cleveland and the surrounding areas did not grab my attention at all. I clearly remember saying to my cousin that if I chose to stay in the United States I will not choose this city—all I saw were industrial sites, smoke, and pollution. I advise you: never express such a negative statement—it will haunt you! It did me! How? 10 years later I was the resident of Cleveland and stayed there for 12 years! Since then, I have learned my lesson about expressing negative thoughts!
After I finished my Masters degree, although I liked Kalamazoo, I decided to stay in Washington DC and northern Virginia for a while and relax before getting into further education. The experience of working in Georgetown, and the Baltimore-Washington International Airport Friendship Hotel was very delightful. I enjoyed working with many good people there. I did not mind driving 60 miles to Baltimore from northern Virginia everyday since I knew my workdays were full of excitement and friendship. Unfortunately, this pleasure was short-lived. I decided to quit and go back to Iran. I have no idea why I did this. And to this day, I regret having made this decision.
India: 1984
A colleague of mine and I decided to have a quick adventure visiting India in July 1984—a retreat we needed to relax and compensate for a nine month long non-stop teaching stint. That was maybe not the best idea! Yet, getting out of the country (Iran) after having been practically imprisoned for 5 years was worth suffering the excruciating hot weather of India in the summer time. After the change of government in Iran in 1979 and the takeover of the Islamic militant regime, Iranian citizens lost the privilege of having passports. No one could go out of the country except for government officials and their staff and relatives. Therefore, those who were about to leave before this frustrating time and those who made decision to leave the country later, had to wait for five years. Passports had to be revised according to the Islamic codes. The professor who I shared office space with and I got a long pretty well and so we decided to travel and see some of India in a weeklong vacation. We were both married with kids and longer than a week away from the family would not seem wise.
This short journey was planned specifically to explore the possibility of pursuing our doctoral degree in India. We arrived in Bombay on a very hot afternoon in July. Immediately, I was looking for a place to drink water. We were advised not to drink the public water—bottled water, coke, beer, and any other beverage were our healthier choices. We stayed in a hotel for that night and the day after found a better hotel—nicer and cleaner with a TV and a refrigerator.
Bombay with its historical harbor is the major industrial and economical center of India. It is also the most congested city in India. In 1984 the population of greater Bombay was about 10 million. Today, it must be close to 15 million. There are so many scenes in this great city, sad and joyful, ample culture shocks, and millions of smiles. Children look at you and their looks are full of meaning. Poverty and wealth are demonstrated in many faces of the region.
One morning I was looking from my hotel room and witnessed several scenes that have been the subjects of much discussion in my sociology classes. Among them, a construction worker taking a shower by using rain water dripping from an unfinished ceiling and rubbing mud all over his body as a substitute for soap was the most incredible to me.
Taking a transit train to commute from one side to the other side of the city was a huge challenge and an adventure for us. Overpopulation in this crowded city impacts every means of transportation and the quality of the environment. In one train compartment that is normally designed for 8 to 16 people, one would see 80 people, let alone hundreds of passengers loitered all over the corridors and at the entrance of each compartment as if they were about to be thrown out from the doors and windows.
Turkey: 1986
Sometimes you are driven by a life force to a destiny that is not intended to be. Yet, you explore dazzling moments you never dreamed you would experience. This reality became a part of my life forever—living in Turkey for three years. Within this long period of time I had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Turkish culture, learn the language, make lifetime friends, and experience numerous social engagements. Teaching was my main job, which gave me the opportunity to know a lot of students and their families. Working in a famous private school in Istanbul was a great experience for me. I enjoyed teaching Turkish students and socializing with my Turkish and American colleaguesI traveled to many parts of Turkey. I lived in Istanbul for three years and visited Ankara (the capital), Izmir, a beautiful Mediterranean city, Antalya, a resort area on the sea, Efesus, a historic place, and a few other small towns. Swimming in four seas was an unprecedented experience for me: the Marmora Sea, the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Visiting small islands not far away from Istanbul created unforgettable moments for me, enticing with music, food, and interaction with the local people.
While attending Bogazici (Bosphorus) University for a doctoral program, I met many people (mainly teachers and visiting professors) from different countries. The university is located on the hillside of the strait of Bosphorus, with beautiful scenery one cannot experience any where else in the world—watching ships and boats passing by, and seeing the Asian side of Istanbul. The giant bridge that connects the Asian side to the European side of Turkey is located within a mile from Bogazici University. Traveling from the European to the Asian side is the daily routine of many citizens living in greater Istanbul. Today, fast boats have made the peoples’ commute much easier. Yet, older boats are still operating and commuters have their choices.
Getting out of Turkey every three months to renew my visa added another country to my list of global experience that is worth talking about next.
Bulgaria: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
While living and working in Turkey I had the opportunity to have a short visit to Sophia, the capital of Bulgaria, to renew my visa for Turkey every three months. These multiple short visits were mixed with pleasure, anxiety, and learning another culture. As my short stay in the Moscow airport for a few hours was not a great experience for seeing a communist country, going to Bulgaria should be considered as my first time in my life for visiting a communist country. This satellite of the Soviet Union (today’s Russia), like other controlled Soviet blocks had a certain way of social life for its citizens very different from western civilizations with their open and competitive market economy. It was very obvious that people in Sophia were frustrated with their communist regime monitoring every move of its citizens. A housekeeper in a hotel once told me that she hides money and jewelry for her children’s future since there are no private banks and trusts to rely on.
I enjoyed walking around in Sophia, shopping at superstores, riding subways, and drinking cappuccino. I met many people from different countries during these visits. Some had come for business, some for educational seminars, and some citizens of the Soviet Unions for pleasure but had to endure being watched by KGB agents throughout their entire journey!
Going to Sophia in the middle of winter was not fun at all. It was bitter cold and there was snow all over the city. There were a few times I had to travel to Sophia in the winter for renewing my visa to Turkey. On one occasion I had the opportunity to visit the University of Sophia and meet with some scholars. A graduate student was my guide and he showed me some parts of the campus. I enjoyed talking with students although they had difficulty communicating in English.
Germany: 1989
After living and working in Turkey for three years, the time came for me to go back to the United States. I had always wanted to see Germany. The summer of 1989 gave me the opportunity to visit Germany for almost six weeks. First, I arrived in Frankfurt. I stayed there for a week, then a friend who lived in Hamburg invited me to stay with him for awhile. Hamburg is a beautiful city with so many attractions. Along the Lake Hamburg, we enjoyed October fest for almost a week. This celebration is similar to the state fairs found in the U.S. such as the Minnesota State Fair in August. Every year October fest in Germany is held in many cities around the country. It was a blast for me to see October fest in Hamburg. During my long visit, I had the opportunity to see other places such as Wiesbaden, Stuttgart, Heidelberg and a very small town along the Rhine River. Traveling by train in Germany was the most exciting experience for me. It’s fast, comfortable, clean, and you can see much scenery.
Austria: 1989
My long visit to Germany gave me a chance to go to Austria for a short visit. My stay in Munich tempted me to go to Austria, since it was only a two-hour drive. One Saturday morning during August my friend and I decided to go to Salzburg and spend a day in this romantic, artistic, and relaxing town. Salzburg is located on the Austrian-German border, about two hours from Munich and three hours from Vienna by train. Salzburg, Austria has been described as "both architecturally and scenically one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.” During the high season, many tourists visit Salzburg. The streets were so crowded and tourists were so anxious not to miss any shops. A music shop grabbed my attention where I spent an hour long browsing and testing instruments. I really enjoyed Salzburg and spent most of my time in the Altstadt on the left bank of the Salzach River. I will definitely go to Austria again and spend more time exploring this beautiful city. Vienna, of course, would be my next place to visit since this city of music has a world-class reputation and has much to offer.
The United States: 1989
I came back to the United States in 1989 after spending five years in Iran and three years in Turkey. I wanted to reside in the Maryland-Virginia area, but life forces took me to Cleveland, Ohio where I spent 12 years. In 1997 I left Cleveland for the DC area and became a resident of Maryland for two years. Since 1999 I have been living in Minnesota and have traveled extensively around the country. In the spring of 2004 we visited our friends in Gulf Port-Biloxi, MS. They took us to New Orleans for a day. We saw many great places that no longer exist due to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. I had wanted to see New Orleans since I was a child. I am glad I saw it when I did because it just won’t be quite the same anymore. It turned out that trip was pretty momentous and full of fore-shadowing, not only because of the ravages of Katrina, but because not long after, one of our friends we had gone to visit, died unexpectedly. I will always be grateful we took that trip when we did. We miss you greatly Tammy!
A recent visit to California became one of the highlights of my travel experience. Staying in the Pacific Palisades with our dear friends, looking at the Pacific Ocean everyday from their balcony, enjoying the ocean breezes, walking along Sunset Boulevard, tasting the many ethnic foods of southern California, and many more attractions were all crammed into a week of vacation no one should miss!
Now that I have survived life in cold Minnesota, I must confess that Minnesota is a great place to live and work. There are many outdoor activities, pleasant people, great education and healthcare, and more than 10,000 lakes are only a few of the wonderful attributes of this mid-western state. After enduring a long winter and a late spring, you know you’ll get a chance to enjoy quiet and peaceful moments in the summer time and a beautiful fall around the lakes and wooded areas.
My wish list for future adventures includes: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Spain, and Honduras.