One of the things that strike me most from Honeymoon in Purdah is the overwhelming sense of generosity and selflessness that we feel the Iranians have. As I was finishing the book, it so happened that my wife’s grandmother wanted to visit us. She is peruvian, as we are but she was visiting a relative in the U.S.A. and wanted to visit. We immediately made arrangements for her stay at our house and we both refused categorically that she stay at any other place in the whole entire country. This being despite the little space we have living in an appartment, we still insisted that she stay with us to be close to her and, for me anyhow, get to know her better. When she arrived, I found that me and my wife behaved in a very similar way than the Iranians. The most obvious way that we were completely generous to my wife’s grandmother is that she was, upon arriving to montreal, expressely forbiden to pay for anything at all. We even outsmarted the Iranians, we actually did not let her go to a bank or money exchange office so that she would not even, would she secretely sneek out at night to buy things for us, be able to pay.
Anyhow, many are probably wondering why this relates to Travel Litterature. What I realized after reflecting on this is really how what we experience during travel trascends the mere moment. Travelling and seeing other customs helps any individual have some perspective on his or her way of life. I wouldn’t think of myself as a selfless person, but during my wife’s grandmother stay, despite that my wife and I aren’t materially wealthy, we went to huge extents to make her as comfortable and happy as possible using any ressource we have. Spending is no longer a concern when it’s used to make someone else happy, and that is really what the visit of Ms. Libertad has made me realize.
Hey, for once, I was very surprised to see how Iranians are so hospitable; they are really nice people. It is fascinating how they treat perfect strangers just like family. With a simple greeting, you are invited to have dinner at an Iranians home and you are treated like a royalty. Like if it were me visiting Iran, I really would know how to refuse their offerings especially food because they serve you plate after plate. However, they are very polite and warm; they make sure their visitors are always comfortable and well served. Here, in Montreal, it is totally the opposite; visitors may only visit their family or friends. It is unlikely that a foreigner will come to Montreal and get invited to a strangers house for dinner. However, it is through family and friends that a foreigner will get to meet new people. It also depends on people. some would welcome you to the country and be very friendly and some not.
By: jessir on October 19, 2009
at 3:04 am
Your description of your wife’s grandmother’s visit does indeed remind me of the descriptions of Iranians in H in P. It also reminds me that in Newfoundland, where I’m from, people often behave this way as well. I never really noticed it while I was growing up, but when I brought my first husband back there to visit, he couldn’t believe how friendly and hospitable everyone was, and how strangers would invite us into our homes. I hadn’t thought of this similarity until now, reading your post – maybe that’s why H in P didn’t seem completely unrealistic to me!
By: danabath on November 1, 2009
at 4:15 pm