Success, at Last!

Yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I have been going to my "Ostad" for the last two days. I learned early on yesterday not to take out the camera and take pictures of the students (all girls, 18-22) at work. People are a bit shy with the camera. I observed all day yesterday and took notes. Soon, all the students were asking me questions about the USA, life there, what I do, etc. I was starting to wonder who was the researcher and who was being researched! To top things off, they all asked me to go out to the courtyard and have a photo session with them. Out came THEIR cameras and we had a great time posing, with me in the middle, surrounded by all these lovely young students! The ice was broken. We had to go inside the museum and pose with the wax sculptures also. Notes, notes, and more notes later, I said goodbye and promised to come again.

Today was soooo much easier! I started videoing. I told the girls I would video their back, so that they would not be identifiable. "Oh, no" they said, "take our video, take our picture." I have been able to get a lot of good footage of the Ostad working and teaching the students.










Last night, we finally met with Zari and Yousef (my friends from Connecticut). We had dinner at Zari's aunt's house. Zari is originally from Zanjan. I have been practicing my Turkish and since she is fluent, we decided to talk in Turkish when we get back to the USA!! Roamed the bazaar with Mom, Zari, her uncle, her cousin, and Yousef after I was done with my work in the morning. I go from 8 AM till 11 AM. Then Mom meets me and we head off for lunch. The teahouse we had lunch at with the gang was very nice. It used to be an old bathhouse. I'll try to upload a picture. Will be here in Zanjan two more days, the most. Have gotten stuff at the bazzar. Nice stuff. Keep your comments coming. I love reading them.
Photo on Left: A Waiter at Haj Dadashi Eatery in Traditional Clothing. Below Left: Haj Dadashi Eatery in the Bazaar.