The article is
based on my nearly 20 years of travelling visiting indigenous
people around the world, and my trekking trough the land of the
nomads in Iran July 2004.
Photo: Meeting
persons with another culture background
for the first time it`s always an exciting moment. Doing it in the right
way can be a great enrichment.
It is a privileged to be
understood
Some times it isn't easy at all, even though you may think
that others understand you quite well. But what do you do when you find out that
they don't understand you at all? The absolute greatest experience is to come
from the outside, and experience to be a part of the native's society. When you
approach people, you have to take the initiative yourselves some times. It is
the things you don't say that you regret the most. Look at it this way.
Just imagine
yourself unhappy because for one split second, you hesitate and threw away the
chance to start something. Your whole life is down the drain. For your whole
life, you will be asking yourself "And what if..." "If only I had the guts
to..." .You will be so disappointed and feel miserable, as you will keep
questioning yourself, thinking of things that might have been. I can still
clearly see myself in these situations, and now I try to be more conscious about this, and don't do the
same mistakes.
|
Photo. People from the Quashqai nomads in
Iran.
As other nomad tribes I have met, they are all nice people,
and their hospitality is something for itself. |
 |
Meeting and contact for the
first time
Bear in mind that people you
visit never are really sure why you go there. Therefore is it important to talk
to them, get to know them and what they are
doing. When you get to know them better activities will start happening in a natural
way. For the locals you can be both a potential friend, but also a potential
enemy. Your success in the communications depends on your ability to meet people
and relate to them on their own terms. It can take a time before you get
accepted as their guest.
Make your
intention clear to eliminate any suspicion. Many people have good reasons for
being sceptical to outsider, for example people who appear to be missionaries,
lumberjacks, gold diggers, oil drillers, thieves (who want to steel their cattle
or other things) and other people with intentions no
t in the interests of the locals.
|
Tell them that you like to know them better.
Involving people in where you come from and what you are doing is a good
idea.
Locals may be interested in photos from your home
place.
Both children and adults will appreciate small gifts,
but wait until the right moment for the delivery.
Photo. Children from
the Bactrians nomad tribe.
Children in general are of course always keen go get gifts, and they
appreciate so much. |
 |
Since many often understand the value of
money it is a better idea to take presents such as tobacco, cigarette papers,
salt, sweets and simple toys for the children. Often I take a football with me
(my favourite sport), and soon all the locals want to play with it. It is so
great fun. The focus will change. Instead of looking at you as a stranger they
will be busy with how they are going to play together with you. And then you can
really experience that you are a part of them!But the most
important: by showing them that you are genuinely interested in them; your
friendliness, sincerity and goodwill are the most precious gifts you can offer.
The
White Man's burden - bad behaviour reduce your opportunities
In
some places I have been to, the natives are sceptical because visitors have
created bad feelings. They have been clumsy and sometimes downright rude,
especially people from the western part of the world. If you go to certain areas
you can not expect that everything is just the same as it is in your
own country, like air condition, electricity, beer, Coca Cola, McDonalds
Hamburgers, and so on. It is really what the famous explorer and author call the
White Man's burden in his well-written poem. Then is probably better to stay at
home.
I like to go to other places exactly because they
are different, and I appreciate what I see and hear. I tell the local people
that I am glad to be there. And so they will do the best they can for you, show
you around to their "secret" beautiful places and involve you in their own daily
activities.
Some general
tips about how you can be liked by others:
- Be
genuinely interested in other people's customs and life.
- Use their names.
It wills sound well in their ears.
- Be a good listener. Remember you have
two ears. It is because you shall listen twice as much as you talk yourselves.
- Encourage others to talk about themselves
- Talk to others based on
their premises.
- Get others to feel important, and do it honestly.
- Be friendly in any situation. Smile to the world and the
world will smile to you!
| Photo. Women from the Bactrians nomad tribe
in traditional costumes. They are from of Iran`s over
hundred nomad tribes. |
 |
Especially
guidance for meeting nomad tribes in
Iran:
1.
Find the chieftain or other central persons in
the tribe first (clan, group) and talk to them. They will give you the necessary
commitment for being their guest, looking around and permission to take photos
and film. Don't take photos before you have become familiar with the people. Ask
for permission.
2.
Take your time and let them invite you in to
their privacy. Don't be impatient and push. You will just harm them and make it
difficult for other visitors later.
3.
Don't start with giving gifts. The tribe
people don't expect that you give them something because they like to
honour you as their guest. If you give them something in the beginning
they will probably feel that they owe you something, and that they have to give
you something back. Let it all happen in a natural way. Take it easy and see
what's happening. The best timing for giving gifts is after you have been
talking to them for a long time, or when you say goodbye.
4.
Take off your sun glasses when you meet
them for the first time. Let them see your eyes clearly. As other places around
the world the eyes can be considered as the "mirror of your soul" and tribe
people like to see your eyes for making an opinion about you.
5.
Of natural reasons people are curious
of you as a person. When getting questions speak in generally (diplomatic)
terms, but be sincere about what you are saying. Make it easy for them to
understand. If your guide have to translate for you is even more important that
you make you comments short and clear, so you can reduce the risk for
misunderstandings. Here are some questions you should be prepared for: Do you believe in God? What is your
religion? What do you think about Islam as a religion? What would you do if you
come in trouble, and no one could help you
(not even your family and friends)? What do you think about our children's` skills compared with the children
in your country? Are the children happier in your country than here?
Which nomad tribe do like best?
6.
Your main responsibility as a visitor is
that you should listen to advises from your guide(s). If you don't do it you can
cause trouble both for yourself and your guide, and make it difficult for other
visitors later. Remember your guide is your adviser. He or she
knows the area, language, people, lifestyle and culture, and will make
the best out of it for your exploration and adventure.
7.
When talking to the tribe people you
should find something in common interest to talk about. It will be useful for
"breaking the ice" and building trust. For example saying that you have a friend
that has his own farm with cattle, or that you have been grown up in similar
place with beautiful mountain landscape as tribe people live in.
8.
It's not accepted to say hello to
a woman you don't know. It can cause you a lot
of trouble. You can do it if you are invited to her clan or family's home. In
general as it easy in Iran, is
inappropriate to shake hands with a woman, or to be even more clear: it's
illegal in Iran!
Trust is the keyword
The tribe people make up their minds
in few seconds if they will trust you or not. They will find out if you are a good or bad person. Bear in mind
that you never get a second chance to do a first impression. Within few minutes
their hospitality will be shown in a great way. You can sometimes get very
close. They will look at you as you were a member of the family. The way they
talk to you will sometimes give you the feel that you have
known them forever. They will be your "relative": their father will be
your father, their mother will be your mother, their brothers will be their
brothers, their sisters will be your sisters etc.
| Photo. Women shepard from the Lor nomads
taking care of their cattle. |
 |
Quote from
the holy Quaran 16:125:
"Call unto the
way of your Lord with wisdom and good exhortation, and reason with them in the
best way. Lo! Your Lord best knows those who go astray
from His path, and He knows best those who are
rightly guided".
Don't worry too much about misunderstandings and mistakes.
Hospitality is deeply rooted in the Islamic religion. People believe that every
foreigner is a friend to God (Lord). By showing others hospitality they will be
rewarding. Something good will happen in their life. Just try to do your best
and behave natural! The tribe people will invite you for tea in their resting
tent and they will take good care of you.
Nomad tribes as
the Bakhtiaris, Qashqais and Lor as I visited in July 2004, will be eager to
show you their best hospitality if you approach them in the right way. These
people are really great. I hope they will stay strong in the future so they
manage to retain their unique lifestyle and culture. Visiting nomad
tribes (as rest of the people in Iran) is
like feeling how to be a real guest! The more effort you make to
know the people, the richer your experience will be.
It is said that nice
and friendly people can walk everywhere. Will you be a friend of the world who
can walk straight in almost everywhere? I hope my reflections and advice can
give you something to think about, and that can make your contact with other
people rewarding. Good luck! Now it`s up to you!!!
Stein Morten Lund, 22 July 2004
Additional
information
I would like to
thank my excellent guide Ali Hussein Manoochehri (from Pars Tourist
Agency (P.T.A), Shiraz,
Iran) for
his contribution with advices and information to this article.
For additional information about Iran`s
culture:
·
Lonely Planet guide book about
Iran (see
also their website www.LonelyPlanet.com)
·
Culture Shock -
Iran (Guide to Customs and Etiquette), Maria O`Shea.
****************************************************************************************************************
Presentation of our associated partner in Iran:
Pars Tourist Agency (P.T.A.),
Iran.
Presentation:
It`s a private Persian incoming agency. It's located
in Shiraz under the license number 1/47026 issued by Iran Travel &
Tourism Organization (ITTO) (www.farstourism.org). They organise a wide
variety of tours for individuals as well as groups such as inbound historical,
cultural, anthropology, mountaineering, trekking, adventure and natural
excursion tours.
Speciality - exploring nomad tribes:
For real
adventurers P.T.A. arranges expeditions in to rural areas to search for nomad
tribes in Iran's high mountains. Some of the tribes are Bakhtiari, Lor, Qashqai.
They live in a beautiful landscape that will take your breath away. You will be
able to explore the tribe's daily life and unique culture in a natural way.
Sometimes you will experience a wedding, birth, fighting game, dancing, festival
or other things. Take your time and see what happens. Then it will be an
experience of a lifetime.
Contact info:
Phone: 0098-711-2223163 and 0098-711-2240645. Mobile
Phone (around the clock) 0098-9171118514.
Fax: 0098-711-2229693
Letters:
Pars Tourist Agency (P.T.A), Zand Street 71358, Next to Iran Cinema, Shiraz,
Iran.
Website www.key2persia.com
E-mail: info@key2persia.com
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