<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://draft.blogger.com/navbar.g?targetBlogID\x3d12961368\x26blogName\x3dBreeze\x26publishMode\x3dPUBLISH_MODE_BLOGSPOT\x26navbarType\x3dBLUE\x26layoutType\x3dCLASSIC\x26searchRoot\x3dhttps://cyruszamani.blogspot.com/search\x26blogLocale\x3den_US\x26v\x3d2\x26homepageUrl\x3dhttp://cyruszamani.blogspot.com/\x26vt\x3d-9156023507105675949', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Information

In Japan, everything comes with information and catalogues either in Japanese or any other language depending on the importance of the case.
Safety notes are provided in many languages even if the number of natives/speakers of the language is few.
I was surprised when I received safety instructions in my residency there in persian coz I was the only newcomer from Iran. The exam for menkio shomeisho (drivers´ licence) was also in persian.

Any kind of information about the things you deal with, brings you the basic knowledge so that you are not unfamiliar with the case. And on the other hand, you may help the other people if you are asked for the same info. I mean, you´ll have some experience to transfer.

The difference is obvious even here in Spain. And you feel it when you got something to do in any office here. Even the authorities sometimes do not have enough information about the case, which docs are needed, where to go, what to do,...

And in Iran, the system is getting better thanks to the computers and electronic devices. The bureaucratic works are reduced and works are done in a shorter time (compared to say, 5 years ago). However, people are still in need of information or better to say literature of the things they encounter during their daily life. Here is a scene in a taxi where the passenger asks about the fuel system of the car:

- Does it use gasoline or natural gas?
- Both
- Ok. How can I do that for my own car?
- You just go to ... and ask for the system. There are two systems one is based on meter (as consumption unit!) and the other one is based on cubic kilometer!!!

Friday, May 26, 2006

Happiness

Juan Julio Ortega, and they shouted...
Juilan Jesus Ochoa, and they laughed...

I was curious to see what´s going on in the kitchen. They were talking, shouting, laughing continuously.

"What´s happening here", I asked.
And they were just pointing at the guy from Chili (Simon) laughing and laughing again.
"No. It can be Jorje Jemines Oliviera", Simon said.
"Or June July October", replied Marion, the french lady.
...

Then I understood what it was all about. Yes. "J.J.O", the tag on Simon´s shirt.

And I was thinking to the fact that sometimes a simple idea can bring happiness. Even a single tag...

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

The taste of freedom

Humankind is really weird.

Today, walking to the tram station, I saw an old man with his dog in a field. He,interestingly, had five cages with himself with poor birds stuck inside. And he was just airing them; trying to introduce something called air to the birds through moving the cages in the fresh atmosphere...

Or maybe he wanted to teach them what does freedom mean? The taste of freedom at least...

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Monsters

I could never imagine that some day monsters could be the best, especially when there are big rivals who (may) look like angels, you know.

Watching EuroVision last week, I was kind of dissapointed. The songs where mostly empty; lacking the meaning (lyrics), the rythm, the culture,...

It was almost like a disco with a group of singers and dancers and a huge crowd of people gathered to watch the show. And if you compare it to those of last year ( and the years before ), then you may join me on this. Going down and down. A friend was saying that is getting worse every year.

The lyrics were (more or less) the same as those you find everyday in any CD-shop. And there were a few countries which had their reperesentatives in their own language and dresses. Most of them, unfortunately, are trying to sing in English perhaps to find an international position.

And, perhaps that´s why a hard rock band (lets say monsters) of Finland wins the competition. At least they had something to say...

Thanks to all of you

This post is a tribute to all of you my friends around the globe.

As a matter of fact and due to the problems I had during my transitional state (last six months), the blog was almost dead and number of posts decreased to about one post/month.

But thanks to all of you, my friends, the blogger could come back again. Many thanks to you for all your patience and support.

I´ll try to write more and more here again. To share my experiences and feelings. And most of all, thanks to Derakula, my dear friend, who was (and is) a good supporter. A friend of all times...

Friday, May 19, 2006

Friends like no others

Morteza is one of those friends who really deserves to be called a good friend. Our friendship about a month ago, when I was looking for someone who can help me to organize my affairs for the new life in Barcelona. I just sent an email and he poped up with a click. Now, he is a good friend of mine helping me in many aspects. Thanks Morteza!!!

And there is another friend from Jordan named Feras; a doctor who has been living in Spain for about 7 years or so. He is always coming to see how the things are going and asks if everything is OK. Invites me to coffee and tries to share his experiences of life in Spain.

And there is a friend who is supporting me all the time(?). Many thanks.

And a God, above us...

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Tres vivas por Barca

Barca won the game: 2-1.

This is perhaps the best news for the people of Barcelona who love their city and culture.
Here, in fact, people of Catalunya are different. Diferent in language, culture, wealth, and ...
The language is Catalan, something different from Spanish though they believe that there are lots of similarities because of the commont root. Talking to my professor, he said that they insist on their language coz they want it alive. That´s why Spanish and Catalan are both accepted as official language here.

I, for sure, need lots of time to get familiar with this culture.Therefore, it is not the time to write much about it. The thing, I´m going to point out, is the language itself which brings many nations together. While watching the match, just a few moments ago, those latin americans who were among the spectators, were shouting for Barca all the time.

Just imagine, a common language joins many people around the globe. It reminds me the song "Imagine" by "John Lennon".

And I wish that there were no borders...

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Wish me luck please...

When I was heading Barcelona, I didn´t know that there is a place in the world where the bureaucratic works are much heavier than Iran. Here in Spain, they say that lots of documents should be prepared and so many things are to be done in order to finalize a job. Compared to Japan, it seems that there is no system through which you can trace your documents and you have to wait and wait. This is what I´m doing at the moment.

The good point, on the other hand, is that the people are relaxed; not stressed like Japanese who were always saying that they are busy with their jobs. Here, in fact, people say: OK. Lets wait and cross our fingers to see what happens. Hope the things work.

And to me, although I hate waiting for the things to happen, the Spanish way of life is better coz here, you work for a better life but there in Japan, we had to live(?) for a better work.

OK. me? Well, after a year of communication with the authorities, there are still some docs to be signed. So, Wish me luck please...

Saturday, May 13, 2006

A new experience

Well, I´m in Barcelona now.

It took almost a year to get here coz there were lots of things to do; from preparation of documents to convincing myself that the new situation will be better than staying in Iran (from a scientific point of view).

Arrived 2days ago, I still doubt if this is the thing I´m looking for. However, there are some positive points which bring hopes. Firstly, the department is quite nice with lots of facilities. The professor and his working group (to which I belong now) are real nice guys. Secondly, the people of Barcelona look very kind and helpful. And the third point is the culture, with many respectful features...

Thursday, May 04, 2006

My trip

I was working on my plans during last few days. The most important one was to pack the belongings to leave here for a short(?) period of time. Things went well and I could manage the entire process to get out.

Where to? Europe...

Yesterday, however, I decided to stop for a while. You know, things happen; and I got to think more to avoid some problems.

And, of course, I can not take everything. Perhaps I need to leave the best of mine here, at least for a month or two.

Mails come and go...

But still the question remains: What if ...