January 24-2014
Bamdad Ghaffari, an Iranian who returned home in 2012 after eight years living in Canada, has satirized the lifestyle of the capital in a new Persian book, “A Guide to Survive in Tehran.”
The book, recently published by the Bamdad-e No publishing house, contains 12 chapters detailing the problems of living in the capital, the Mehr news agency reported.
Driving, housing, shopping, marriage and divorce, guests, jobs, soccer, and happiness are among the topics covered.
“Tehran creates love and hatred within you simultaneously,” Ghaffari writes in the introduction. “I am sure I am not alone in this feeling and many immigrants and residents of Tehran have the same feelings toward this big city. Tehran fascinates everybody with its magic.”
He said, “It took eight years [in Canada] before the magic of Tehran had its effect on me. I, who had an ideal life in Canada, left everything and returned to Tehran, despite opposition from all family members and friends….
“But after less than a month, the magic of Tehran faded away and I found out that Tehran apparently has not changed much. To be honest, it had become even worse.”
But the writer remarks that Tehran is a great metropolis that has “outpaced other cities.” Citing specific achievements, Ghaffari says Tehran “has the highest number of divorces and the lowest number of marriages.”
He cautions, “As a Tehrani, you will get involved in this issue whether you like it or not. In Tehran, marriage and divorce have their own special customs. The main characteristic of youth in choosing their spouses is that they are not seeking love. To love and to be loved is a childish habit, which disappeared from Tehran years ago. Instead, logical and measurable standards have replaced this,” the book instructs.