Settling in Qom
David and I arrived in Tehran with Wally Shellenberger (one of our MCC predecessors here in Qom) in the wee hours of Monday, 11 February. Our five hour flight from Amsterdam was flawless and friendly. Iranians on the KLM flight were so open and friendly-- plying us with their emails, phone numbers and invitations to visit.
Our flight full of people emptied into the Tehran terminal. Hundreds of people were queued up to pass through customs-- perhaps eight lines of forty people. Wally looked up at those waiting for passengers, smiled and waved. There was Mr. Hoghani, our mentor at the Imam Khomeini Center -- heading in our direction. We were taken out of the very long lines and taken to a very short (think 4 people in front of us instead of 40) line for diplomats and flight crew and ushered through with dispatch.
Following Mr.Haghani, a cleric with white turban and flowing cape, we felt very warmly welcomed and cared for. His ready smile and warm eyes (while handing our passports through each line) made our entry to Tehran easy.
Outside the terminal, our poor driver began the challenge of cramming large duffels of books into his taxi. I looked toward the terminal-- a short distance away.
A woman in full chador stood in front, awaiting a ride. Dirctly behind her, on the inside wall of the terminal, a huge tv projected a UNC basketball game.
By 5am we were settling into our lovely, two bedroom apartment in Qom. The neighborhood knows that the new "masihis" (Christians) have arrived, and have greeted us warmly. Little corner stores are bursting with lovely vegetables, fruits and nuts. An old man pushes a large cart down the street, calling out as he comes.
He is collecting old bread from homes, which he will sell for goat feed. Little "charity boxes" (looking like mail boxes) line the streets and people regularly drop money inside for the poor. Eyes are welcoming as we walk the streets
and get to know people.
Last night we dined on beautiful Persian carpets, pillows behind us, with friends working with the Imam Khomeini Institue for Research and Education (who are our supporting group here in Iran). Sumptuous fruit was our beginning, followed by rice with saffron, chicken cooked in walnut saunce with pomegranites, okra in tomato sauce, lamb, tea. Conversation betwen we Christians and Muslims was rich -- we discussed Quakers, Mennonites, mentoring, theology. Our Muslim host affirmed that we "owe each other love, because we all worship the same God."
Tomorrow David, Wally, and I will go to Tehran for two nights-- to meet people within the Red Crescent Society there, Armenian Christians, and to worship with the English speaking Christian church that meets on Thursday night. On Saturday, we will begin Farsi lessons with our tutor, in our apartment.
Our emails (via yahoo) seem to be "bouncing back." Be patient with us and we'll hope to get things straightened out. Andrew, Josh, Abi and Alex -- we will plan to call you on Friday or Saturday.
Our flight full of people emptied into the Tehran terminal. Hundreds of people were queued up to pass through customs-- perhaps eight lines of forty people. Wally looked up at those waiting for passengers, smiled and waved. There was Mr. Hoghani, our mentor at the Imam Khomeini Center -- heading in our direction. We were taken out of the very long lines and taken to a very short (think 4 people in front of us instead of 40) line for diplomats and flight crew and ushered through with dispatch.
Following Mr.Haghani, a cleric with white turban and flowing cape, we felt very warmly welcomed and cared for. His ready smile and warm eyes (while handing our passports through each line) made our entry to Tehran easy.
Outside the terminal, our poor driver began the challenge of cramming large duffels of books into his taxi. I looked toward the terminal-- a short distance away.
A woman in full chador stood in front, awaiting a ride. Dirctly behind her, on the inside wall of the terminal, a huge tv projected a UNC basketball game.
By 5am we were settling into our lovely, two bedroom apartment in Qom. The neighborhood knows that the new "masihis" (Christians) have arrived, and have greeted us warmly. Little corner stores are bursting with lovely vegetables, fruits and nuts. An old man pushes a large cart down the street, calling out as he comes.
He is collecting old bread from homes, which he will sell for goat feed. Little "charity boxes" (looking like mail boxes) line the streets and people regularly drop money inside for the poor. Eyes are welcoming as we walk the streets
and get to know people.
Last night we dined on beautiful Persian carpets, pillows behind us, with friends working with the Imam Khomeini Institue for Research and Education (who are our supporting group here in Iran). Sumptuous fruit was our beginning, followed by rice with saffron, chicken cooked in walnut saunce with pomegranites, okra in tomato sauce, lamb, tea. Conversation betwen we Christians and Muslims was rich -- we discussed Quakers, Mennonites, mentoring, theology. Our Muslim host affirmed that we "owe each other love, because we all worship the same God."
Tomorrow David, Wally, and I will go to Tehran for two nights-- to meet people within the Red Crescent Society there, Armenian Christians, and to worship with the English speaking Christian church that meets on Thursday night. On Saturday, we will begin Farsi lessons with our tutor, in our apartment.
Our emails (via yahoo) seem to be "bouncing back." Be patient with us and we'll hope to get things straightened out. Andrew, Josh, Abi and Alex -- we will plan to call you on Friday or Saturday.
posted by Quakers in Qom at 3:10 AM
2 Comments:
So glad you arrived safely! It's wonderful to have this blog to keep caught up with you. Hope you're slowly getting over jetlag and that your trip to Tehran goes well.
--Matt and Laurie
David and Linda - it is so wonderful to have this blog to keep track of your progress and know you are enveloped in the warm arms of colleagues in Iran!
Kathy and Kenton
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