Thursday, December 06, 2012

Old School Tourist

Last night I met a man in his 70. He was retired from 30 years of tunneling under GTA.  We sat on a table together and he told me about his trip to Iran in 1974.  Good years back then I was thinking to myself while he was trying to remember where he went from Tehran to Isfehan to Mashad. He told me things where simpler back then.

 "I got a tent and my wife and we went to Mexico, we arrived at the gas station and I asked the owner if I could set my tent there and he let us. See every nation are proud of their country if you show them your respect they will treat you right." He said. "When I was a kid my mom used to give me 5 cent to take the bus downtown , no one was worried that I was going miles away from home. Nowadays they put these whole safety things in your head" he continued.

He had an interesting vision of life, kind of a tough old school overview. He said "when you go on a trip it must be spontaneous. No plan nothing, you go and see what happened. That is more fun, when you don't plan then you will meet people which makes it interesting."

I like to meet with people who thinks different way and took totally different approach in their lives. It gives a better perspective. This man was very straight forward and to the point. I gave him my card but he didn't. Then my boss came to our table and teased him "Hiva did Mike gave you his card?"
"Nope" I smiled.  "There's no money for me here to give my card to her. I am the contractor you should know better. Ok ok here I give you one." And then he gave me one of his card. :):) Yes!!!




1 comment:

Deep Blue Sea said...

Hi Hiva,

I have a question not related to the post.

I was curious and wanted to ask -
Why do some Iranians have two names? I have observed this during college and on Facebook - They have a name, but they go by a different name as well. Some times both first and last are changed, sometimes Shortened Last names are used - for example some one by name Shirazi uses a name 'Sh'. Someone I know with a surname 'Reza' - changes name to 'Irani' - and then changes again to just 'Ir'..

Any idea about this?

Thank you
Deep Blue Sea