Social BookmarksRSSVimeoYoutube

March 16th, 2010 - There’s no place like home

First I would like to thank Stephanie Schell for her generous donation. I wish her the best of luck and success in her endeavors.

Although I have been practically homeless for over 8 months, California sure feels like home, and it’s nice to be back. My five week excursion to Iran was bittersweet as I got to see and leave my grandparents for what I know for sure was the last time. Iran was just Iran with everything the same as I left it 10 years ago. The people were the same, the culture was untouched and from what I could tell, the only real difference was the mushroom-like apartments which were built on every corner.

I visited a few orphanages in Shiraz and got to see aspects of the “traditional” poverty in Iran which screams for education. A notable orphanage was the Narjes Home which focuses primarily on underprivileged children with mental and physical disabilities. This facility is an award winning non-profit, non-governmental rehabilitation and care center located in Shiraz, Iran which is home to many children. I was greeted by a blind kid named Zahra at the entrance who almost didn’t let me go until the end of my visit. I spoke to the management team and had a brief meeting with some of their directors to find out their problems and to see if we can do anything food wise for the patients.

Iranian people are semi-religious (they are just as religious as if a cow that was born in a tree is a bird, I wouldn’t call them fanatics) and because of their beliefs, they usually provide food for these kinds of places so generally the orphanages have no shortage of food. In fact the kids at Narjes were very well fed and I envied the fresh squeezed juices they were having after their lunch. What they needed most was diapers and cleaning supplies which are out of our organization’s focus, but I managed to round up some locals, family and friends to attend to their needs for the upcoming New Year (Persian New Year starts on 21st of March, the first day of spring). Overall this place is a very well-run institution which actually spends the money it raises on its patients rather than showing them off as poor to make more money. We cannot fundraise for them, and we will not as our mission is something else, but if anyone is interested in sparing a few dollars for these children, you can help out by visiting their website. I personally vouch for their honesty as I reviewed their financial statements, organizational documents and service records and found them to be exemplary.

Iran with all its peculiarities is still a notable place to visit. The people were hospitable, food was great and the traffic as deadly as it comes. For every car there were two motorcycles on the road and at times, the whole country seemed to run on two wheels. In fact, if you ever get stuck in traffic, all you have to do is to jump on back of any bike and it automatically becomes a two-wheeled taxi. The rest is like being in a 3D movie theater as every object comes to millimeters from your eyes before miraculously disappearing. Motorcycle taxis are plenty in big cities of Iran and you can expect your rider to have no helmet, wearing flip flops and riding like he’s Ted Kennedy and the liquor store is closing in 5 minutes.

I have to get new tires and do some adjustments on the bike and I’ll be on the road heading for Arizona for our World Hunger exhibitions and lectures. The weather is nice, the bike is running like a champ and the roads open. Till next time…

There are 5 Comments

  1. Spanky
    March 17, 2010 at 5:14 am

    Stay strong in your travels & be sure to keep posting updates for us.. I always look forward to your postings.

  2. CaddmannQ
    March 17, 2010 at 6:27 am

    Chris, you’ve done something here that really puts the word International in HCRI. As much as our current administration (and many who have gone before as well) pledged to do otherwise, I do not see them solving any of our real issues with the Middle East. As long as “globalism” means easy profits for international corporations instead of global understanding between the people of different cultures, this will not change.

    What you are doing may be small by comparison. but it is very large in purpose, and I continue to wish you well in your efforts.

  3. werewasi
    March 22, 2010 at 1:44 am

    Keep it up Chris.
    You’re heart is in the right place

  4. Brad BK
    March 24, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    Great to hear your back! Love the pics of the kids!

    Brad bk

  5. Stroller
    March 26, 2010 at 5:49 pm

    Man oh man Chris I envy you and your adventure. When I was younger and still single I went all over the place on an old ’74 Honda CB 750. I often ventured with Harley riders and even though I was chastised for my Jap bike, guess whose bioke didn’t need to have 6 hours of work after a day of miles, with stops in between of course.

    The worst break down I ever suffered was when the chain gave out on an interstate turn pike going through New Jersey. That was scarry as hell and man I am glad I had on the dirt biker high rise boots with shin plates.

    When you get into Mexico make sure you have cash in hand to pay the fines for running the stop signs that used to be there.

Leave a Reply to CaddmannQ