pecos

I guess the similarity is George Bush' grouping of the old 'Axis of Evil'. I will have to go to North Korea because I only have two of the set - Syria and Iran.
And early next year I am going to Iraq. Cannot wait! There is something very appealing to me about the Middle East - maybe the coffee?

TheDreamer

Pecos, it all depends what you're looking for in life? I know a lot about Iran because I used to have an Iranian girlfriend in London.

Iran is a beautiful country to visit but to live there permanently with the present setup I cannot advise to anyone. Not speaking Farsi will be your number one problem, although a great number of people speak English to a good standard.

As regards renewing your visa, I would think if you get help from a local, he or she can help you get your visa renewed regularly. The government would be lenient towards people who show interest in the country.

Having said that if you are one of those people who loves the nature and does not like clubbing or going to bars and casinos and instead you enjoy travelling around to ancient sites and love the sea and beautiful mountains and skiing during the winter then Iran is the place for you!

Noorah101

Hi Pecos,

I'm the Mod that meauxna referred to. Are you American? If so, it's almost impossible to even get a tourist visa to Iran, much less find a way to live there.

If you are some other nationality, I'm not really sure how Iran will view your visits or how you'd manage to get to live there.

I'm American, my husband is Iranian, and by virtue of marriage I became an Iranian citizen. I can apply for an Iranian passport at the US Interest section of the Pakistani embassy in Washington DC. That's about the only way I'll ever get to go visit Iran, is to go as an Iranian citizen. That would also entitle me to live there permanently.

I take it you're male. Perhaps if you end up falling in love with a Persian woman, you might think of the marrigae route also. Be aware that you'd have to convert to Islam. An Iranian man can marry a Muslim, Jewish, or Christian woman. But a Muslim woman can only marry a Muslim man.

I have been around the Persian culture here in the USA for 30 years, but have yet to visit Iran, because of the problems between Iran and the USA. But I love Iranians and their culture. I speak fluent Farsi, and teach it part time whenever I have willing students. It is my dream and hope to one day visit Iran, the country I've felt part of for more than half my life.

I would love to hear about your travels to Iran, you can email me privately if you wish, through BritishExpats. I can provide a lot of insight to the people and culture. They are NOT what is depicted on general TV, as you well know after visiting there.

Best Wishes,
Rene

Barbitana

Well, Noorah is the one who knows...
Agree with everything except a couple of quick points:

1- Many American live in Iran mostly on employment visas. I personally know several basketball players and English teachers

2- You don't have to change your religion in many cases including marriage outside Iran. I however would not be going down this way to live anywhere including Mars

3- Persian language is easy as it's spoken with a "loose mouth" rather than very strict English styles or weird Mandarin pronunciations! but you have to expect more irregular stuff. As far as I remember Farsi is one of the easiest languages for kids to learn. You might wish to look it up on Youtube.

* Again as Noorah says the picture of Iran you see through the media is not what you see in there. Spend a day in Touchal to believe this heheh!

All the best,

Noorah101

Farsi IS one of the easiest languages to learn. Very little grammar to it, and once you learn a grammar rule, there are very few exceptions. The reading/writing is a little more difficult because of the Arabic alphabet, but it's still not VERY difficult...I've been suceessfully teaching the entire alphabet and how to read and write Farsi in just 12 hours, for a long time now.

I will share one view, though, on marriage to an Iranian female. If there is an Iranian female who wants to stay in Iran, she will most likely be from a very religious, conservative family, who will not be keen on her marrying a non-Muslim foreigner. If the OP manages to find an Iranian girl who is interested in marrying a foreigner, chances are that girl does NOT want to stay in Iran, as the OP does. Something to keep in mind.

Rene

Barbitana

Wow 12 hours! this is awesome!

Another good point on learning Farsi is that you can ask for some nice discounted prices if you do live in LA (how about AZ?)

Again I'd look for a good employer rather than a good girl although Persian food is not something to be ignored easily

Cheers,

pecos

I love the language and get on quite well - apart from the kh and gh which are not natural to me. At least it makes Iranis laugh.
Getting married to an Iranian girl is not on for me due to age, preferences and - oh yes - being female myself.
My country is not getting on with Iran at the moment and I really wish they would sort it out between them or I may have to bang heads together.
Did you know btw that Britain invented the visa? Not one of their better ideas.
So - on Monday i am going to ring the consulate and have a polite word with them. Wish me luck.... pecos

alitrist

Iran.... good people, crap government!

Barbitana

How did it go Pecos?

Cheers,

pecos

Nothing to report. Think they are having Christmas off. Will try next week.
happy New Year to everyone!

begmohsin

Dude you should try traveling in other parts of the middle east like saudi arabia, syria. Really friendly and helpful people, cultured and very hospitable. It shame with all those negative media sterotypes though ! which reflects them to be all terrorists !

pecos

I agree with you about Syria - and Lebanon was very enjoyable too. negative stereotypes indeed - all camels and terrorists. Next trip Iraq. love the Middle east but, for me, it has to be Iran. Just love the place.

Ethos83

Lord....

Is this where I throw a splash of cold water into your face?

Iran is beautiful. Not all of it, but parts of it are quite special.

But the government isn't exactly friendly to most Western nations. It is a government that will not hesitate to use you to play political games with your home country. Just because George Bush called Iran evil doesn't mean you should laugh - the regime is not popular, is oppressive and frequently violates human rights. There were several intrepid American backpackers hiking near the Iranian border with Turkey a few years back and were seized by Iranian authorities and are still in prison. Apparently they did cross into Iran on their own account without the necessary visas, so if you do want to go to Iran make sure all your papers are completely legitimate and authorised by the government. Embassies generally won't get involved if you ignored their warnings about travel into Iran and something did happen to you.

If you want to be surrounded by Persians, head for Dubai. Large Iranian expat community and lots of pretty Persian girls and decent Iranian restaurants.

pecos

Generally entering a country without a visa will get you into serious trouble.

Thing is,we all want to live in a democratic, fair, generous, liberty-loving, socialistic, abiding by the rule of law country.
So it's everyone standing squashed shoulder to shoulder in Sweden then?

I think - all emotion and homesickness aside - that politically Iran is the most interesting country at the moment and it will be fascinating to see what happens next.

Ethos83

It's people like you who get killed when a regime goes belly up and there's a revolution. Then we'll have pictures of your mother sobbing on the television screen for the whole world to see.

Do you want to live in Iran because parts of it is beautiful?

Do you want to live in Iran because it is politically 'exciting'?

Be honest here.