Iran

Filling my application to AD and looking into all the global strategies and structures was how I spent most of my time in Iran. I was very nervous with the application; questions like am I the right person? Is there someone who can do a better job than me? What the hell will I do there alone? ; kept running in my mind. All of these questions were answered when Jorein sent me my recommendation letter. The letter was so strong that I knew I was the right person for the job.

After a couple days after my first interview I headed off to Tehran to meet up the AIESECers there. It was one hell of a trip. The AIESECers were so motivated and thirsty to learn more. I was only there for a few days but every time I would meet up with them, they kept asking me how we did things in Bahrain and what I thought the best way would be. The thirst to learn more could be seen in their eyes and I was so happy and proud of them. AIESEC Iran will be facing a lot of difficulties for sure; they will have many challenges that maybe other countries haven’t faced due to their country reality but I am sure that with the members that are running the show it will all be possible. One the best things I like about the AIESECers there was that when they ask for your advise they actually listen to it and use some of it; which is something very rare.

Ramadan in Tehran was a bit different for me. The first we were having meetings in a park and for iftar two international students one from the Philippines and the other from Ireland joined us. We had ‘ash’ (kind of a soup) and tea to break our fast and then moved on to a restaurant for rice and kebabs. It was a wonderful evening filled with meaningful talk and a lot to learn. Although the two guys were not from AIESEC, the beauty of AIESEC was proved to me again. We were a group of 3 Germans, an Iranian, a Philippine, an Irish and a Bahraini having iftar together in Iran. Beautiful.

I returned back to Shiraz with Jonas, Jane and Gert and spent two wonderful days with them sightseeing and experiencing Shiraz. For me one of the best places we went was ‘Shah Cheraq’ which is a mosque where a very religious person is buried. While entering one of the guards asked if they were Muslim and my Aunt confidently answered ‘yes, yes they are Muslims’ (apparently non-Muslims were not allowed in which I think is a stupid thing to do). It was beautiful inside and best of all it was very peaceful; I wanted to cry for no reason.

After the guys left, I had a couple of days left for my family and I tried to make the most out of it. We went together for picnics after iftar, went Karting with the cousins who were very funny since some of them couldn’t drive, ate junk off the street (which by the way I love to do) and much more. They day I was leaving was very gloomy; I didn’t want to leave because I really enjoyed it there. It was the first time in my life that I have stayed so long in Iran and didn’t want to run back home. I loved it.