My Trip to Iran

January, 2010

When I received the invitation I let myself be tempted!   I readily admit that with all the dire warnings I received from every direction, I thought and hesitated for a long time before I signed the contract. These fears were legitimate given the political turmoil the country has seen since last July, which was exactly when I had to sign the contract.

I reflected on all the reassuring my hosts offered me, impressed that they met the many conditions I had asked for in order to calm my fears. I wanted the presence of a translator and a chaperone at my side at all times. But they exceeded my demands and even surprised me with a driver and a bodyguard   which was very reassuring and welcome!

A challenge?

They invited me to Iran because of my expertise in real estate training and as a motivational sales speaker. I was the first Western professional woman speaker to set foot there. I was fortunate to be invited to this event which was organized in collaboration with a university without having a postgraduate degree or the title of professor, which is generally a prerequisite for this type of event. In fact all of my colleagues, needless to say, all male, were professors or renowned authorities in their respective areas of expertise.

I wore the veil …

Programme PRED 2010 Several colleagues were surprised to see that I was obliged to cover my hair for the duration of the trip. In fact, the Shari’ah, or Islamic law, requires women to humbly cover their head, arms and legs while in public. By covering themselves they show respect and satisfy the demands of Hijab.

The first difficulty for me was dealing with how hot I was, wearing the veil and coat that cover women’s silhouette – even though it was during their winter, and in spite of having deliberately selected light fabrics. As a North American, I would have removed the additional clothing at the first opportunity!  However, this was only one example of the physical limitations that I experienced …

Personal and….female perceptions

Differences in the law, culture and traditions affect women much more in a Middle East country than anywhere else. Even my male colleagues, who were barely touched by any of this, grew to sympathize with me and were even moved by my plight.

Being unable to look a man in the eye is a minor limitation when compared to being unable to shake his hand, speak to him first, accidentally brush up against him in an elevator and/or be in the same room alone with him. These were major considerations every time I was out in public. Women are always second to men in this society where these rules are deeply entrenched in the religion they practice. For example, the media interviewed me along with my male colleagues to be polite, but as expected, I was never seen on TV!

With my veil…

Are Iranian women suffering from these limitations? No. Not really. They know that women enjoy more rights and freedoms in other cultures. They have access to enough information from the outside world to be aware of the differences, but in the short term,  they are resigned to the situation in the present context and they know the limitations their country imposes on contact with the outside world will maintain this situation for a while“.

Personally, I focused on the work I was there to do, as the rest was not of my concern. I was only observing the situation. I can only talk about what I experienced.

This trip broadened my horizons and it was especially educational. With this experience, I feel better able to understand the Middle East, and can speak out against the personal and external prejudice that sometimes limits our vision of countries with traditions or cultures different from our own. It is therefore with delight and awe that I discovered incredibly resilient people there with a unique sense of humor in the face of extreme and constant political and social pressures.

Some interesting facts

Did you know that 65% of the Iranian population is less than 25 years old? This has enormous consequences! These young people leave rural regions in large numbers to settle in city centers searching for jobs and a better quality of life for themselves and their children. They also have the opportunity to receive free post-secondary and university education.

The city of Tehran has around twelve million people and we can be sure that this figure will grow given the large number of new construction projects on the go. This growth is beneficial for the country on several levels. There is a huge demand for housing, yes, but also a growing demand for trades people and professions of all kinds. Even though they are highly educated, Iranians seem to lack a certain practicality with regards to rapid development and growth. They are quickly discovering that they lack an entire generation of people with experience and know-how.

Sylvia a Tehran, Iran 2010Would I recommend going to the Middle East to all women speakers who have the chance, despite the severe limitations and rules? Yes, of course. However, I would recommend ensuring that the country is in a period of political stability at the time.

As a motivational speaker I found that it was a grand adventure that awaited me: I discovered a friendly country, rich in history and populated by young professionals who have a thirst for knowledge and a great respect for the experience of others. What better environment for a speaker!

I’m back in Canada, but looking to the future – because I will leave soon … hopefully for Ukraine this time! I’ll be sure to tell you all about my next adventure when I get back!

Here are the links to see more pictures from this amazing trip!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=383931&id=607200153&l=14a03f0026

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=388232&id=607200153&l=269019bf04

Face à plus de 1200 participants en Iran, Sylvia qui porte le voile pour l’événement, vous demande: Êtes-vous votre pire client?! (Anglais)