Issue closed

Any possible trip to New York was officially a closed issue today as I received an e-mail rejecting the proposed trip. One of my fellow correspondents working in Tehran for another organization is going and of course I feel let down, but being employed by a media corps, I have no choice but to back down.
There's one thing I can do and that is to believe this outcome was a preface to a much better route for success that I would be glad I didn't go. I might find out a year later when I decide to go for the next one where there could be a historical event which seems very unlikely this year!

PS
This year all the spotlight will be on this person... at least in Japan...

he's on the headlines of Iranian media too!

The first time limit...

Today it was announced that the nuclear talks will be held on the first day of October. As it's almost certain that I won't be able to go to New York to cover the United Nations General Assembly, I was quickly able to shift my short time goal to this new time limit. I was hoping they have the talks somewhere near, hopefully Turkey, as the Turkish FM had said yesterday that they were happy to mediate the talks. Finally there's something to work for!

Nothing was announced at the foreign ministry in the morning... hmm...

at the foreign ministry's press conference room...

About me... after eight years...

It's already eight years from the day that changed the world. On that day, I was covering the typhoon that hit Japan at the press club of the Meteorological Agency in Tokyo and was shocked to see live on our news channel, the pictures of the twin towers being hit by passenger planes. The world changed drastically, and though I was able to cover the news going to New York shortly after the breaking news, but I was rather satisfied with the course of my career I had chosen to continue on domestically. There were so many things to learn to be a pertinent reporter, looking for news that I wanted to report on.
After eight years, I'm not satisfied at all with my position and writing about dark and sad news about things that have no vision of happiness is so discouraging. After the news that changed the world eight years ago, I think many pieces of news are discouraging, and only a firm sense of mission or ambitions of being on the center of attention could make the correspondents continue their tasks of covering such discouraging news. I lack both characteristics and my mission still is to cover pieces of news which would not get any attention if I had not bothered to do so. That's what I think we should try to put our efforts into and being a correspondent here, I feel I'm going further away from my mission...

Wanting to finish...

It was a Thursday, and I wanted to finish as soon as possible... I just didn't want to work! There's no way I can do sabotage and I didn't want any wicked phone calls from Tokyo, so I decided to stay in my office till at least 7PM... much later than my staff who all left by 3PM. It's still paradise for me to finish by 7PM and return home. With things getting tighter with the international issues and still having dark clouds covering the domestic issues, it's so stressful to be watching the news channel and reading articles written by agencies. Staying away from them is the best way to soothe my withered body after a week at work. From next week, it's going to get worse. I'm already looking forward to leave this city as soon as possible, but I don't know when that would be... not soon I guess...

Birthday of the 1st Imam

It was a holiday and there were plans for a small demonstration, so I had to be on the alert from the evening. But it was the first time in months I was able to sleep until noon... well after noon! It was 1PM already when I finally woke up and went slowly and hesitantly to my office.
The demonstration did not develop into a masive one and I was able to finish early. Things are starting to be back to normal, but I know there's so many people who can't return to normal lives. I'm sorry to admit I'm very selfish... I really want things to be back to normal!

PS
There were reports that China is now in turmoil! Since the reports say it's the Uighurs in protests, it's more of a racial issue, but it's also notable that they are Muslims. The news has completely shifted to the east! I think...

PPS
Internet under control...

it's still very hard to see the sites...

forbidden...

Getting the permission...

Though the swine flu outrage is spreading, it seems that I would be able to get the permission to leave the country and have a short but a very anticipated trip to the west.
For that I had to really quicken my work and finish many things by tomorrow. The time was made shorter as I received a sudden invitation to have dinner with my Japanese media colleagues.
To have fun, I have to take a big risk... but I'm going to take it!

The tensions are mounting...

uh-oh... the WHO is also serious!

PS
Meal of the day...

sandwich and fries!

Hero or Demon?

Another tough day without progress and I feel the pressure from Tokyo... sooner or later they will attack me with full force... like Israel could sooner or later do against its archrival...
The leader of their enemy made another controversial speech in Geneva, well to make it straight, a controversial one to the West, but even a heroic one to many against the so called Zionist regime.
Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, attacke d the "regime" once again at a UN Conference, shouting the same remarks I've heard for... hmm... about 50 times already? Still, it was a great chance for the West to show their disgust and walk out of the conference hall, but many had stayed and applauded... He's a demon to the people who are on one side and a hero to those on the other side...
Well, one thing is clear... there wouldn't be any reconciliation for a while!

Pics of the day...


Going north!


snacks... Isfahani and Japanese!

On the alert...

Everybody in my native country is surely waiting carefully whether DPRK will shoot its "star". I'm sure everybody's outside under the cherry blossoms enjoying their time, but surely they wouldn't want a missle fall on them.

In Tehran, it was the first day at work for many people, but my staff told me that some of the working forces might still be off today as there were no traffic in the morning. I really wished it was a day off for me too with all the reality hitting me harder and harder as the day goes by... getting anxious each day about the coming election, and about the negotiations with my staff about their salary... I know I'm not a strong person and I'm always worried about something, but I can't help it. That's the kind of guy I am!

In the afternoon, I went shopping with my wife...

not much people on the streets!

buying meat!

Back in my office...

these newspapers make me feel dizzy...

About Afghan, but not about Afghan...

The conference was about the reconstruction and stabilization of Afghanistan, but I wasn't really interested in the topic... Oh, as a person, I am interested. I really hope that the international community collaborate their strength, without any indecent political tactics...

I used so much money to see whether we could witness a historical engagement between the two archrivals...

It didn't happen... at least in a way that would make it historical...

Sending just one report, my job was finished... it's of course impossible to get any more broadcasting time... it really was just a vacation, but sadly I couldn't really have a nice time!

Pics...

at the venue... it was the right place to see "something"... but...

conference about the war torn country... but...

glass of the most famous beer here! some relief... finally...

Reactions...

As everybody is emphasizing it's a historical day, I really feel the power of the media boosting everybody's expectation from this great man that has taken the throne of the superpower. Let's not forget it's what he achieves that should be historical and not just the fact that someone with a different racial background has become the leader for the first time in their history.
It is of course true that one man can change the world, but it's also evident that one man cannot change the world alone as there's more than 6.7 billion people living together in this small world. But of those 6.7 billion, I'm sure at least a billion is watching him praying he would be the savior. There's so many people that want to be happier including me and at this moment, and now from the slogan of "change", it's time to shift to the slogan of "believe".


mainly the Reformists' paper had the new leader's pictures on the top page...
I'm sure everyone here is interested whether they like the man or not!

History in the rival country...

The hegemony of this heavyweight country has always been the topic of the politics and even social talks of this Islamic nation I stay in.
The event of a century was not broadcasted live in this country's channels but we were watching it with curiosity and in one way with awe as covering reactions to this great man will be the topic for us not just for a day or two, but for months, even years!

When the inauguration was taking place in Washington...

the state channel of this country was broadcasting their Imam's glory...

In the daytime, it was again a day of demonstration...

in front of the former US Embassy...
Marg Bar Esraeel, Marg Bar Amrika... Death to Israel, Death to America... over and over...

Oh! And another rivalry in the backyard...

hey, it's my meal! Can't back off!

Snowy season is back!

I just received a pathetic message from a teacher of Japanese school here in Tehran that the kids were postponing their ski class because of limited snowfall this winter, but look what happened today!


snow, snow!


gettin alll white in the city again!?

Not really... in the evening, all the snow had disappeared as it was more liquid than solid this time compared to the snowfall in December...


the cat was walking on the wet ground... without much snow left!


need some sweets in this kind of day!


oh yeah... he's going to leave... I almost forgot!

Religious day... Ashura!

Today was the 10th day of Moharram in the Arabic Lunar Calendar which is one of the holiest day for Shia followers. From the morning I went to out to cover the climax of the day, where many marched in the streets hitting themselves with chains. I've seen this on TV, but it was the first time to see it live. As the people have been doing the same for 10 days, they finally reached the day to show their sorrow in front of my viewers.
They were mourning for the late Imam Hussein that fell in the hands of the "Imperialists" in the 7th Century at Karbala (now in Iraq), hitting themselves with chains so they can feel a bit of the hardship that their Imam has gone through.


thousands of men in black hitting themselves with chains...


the red man resembles the evil enemy that has killed the Imam...


the pageant looks really heavy... the man holding it was spinning it around from time to time and then bowing to the side...


some resemblance with the Japanese portable shrines! this resembles the household of the Prophet...


free food is handed out on this day at mosques...


mainly they hand polo, mainly keshmesh polo (rice with raisins and ground beef)...

In the nighttime, not only was the late Imam was the subject of mourning, but the people killed in Gaza were being mourned by the Iranians...


mourning with candles...

It's easy to amplify the hatred towards enemies through attacks, but I'm sure the Iranians have learned ways to take in the sadness by holding religious ceremonies for more than 13 centuries... but the Palestinian crisis is too controversial to leave it just to religious sentiments/.. when will the turning point come... I have no idea...

A reserved but steadfast step...

Not much progress today... but I had some "good" talks with my staff and I'm a little relieved. There's still a long way to success, but I'm sure today's conversations were some great steps forward.

The warmth is once again fading and I'm starting to shiver again in the morning and night... Oh, I hate it when it's cold...

PS
The protests against Israel's attack continued. It seems that the Gaza issue is also dominating the GCC Summit I missed to go for coverage... Will talks... condemnation and warnings stop such a deep controversy!? I doubt it... What can the world do!?

reading an article about the GCC Summit while having a "pumpkin" soup, another special dish made by my staff

Escalating...

The attack in Gaza was expanding and the demonstration around the world was also escalating. Young ones in Tehran were also participating in demonstration and the heads and chiefs of organization were all announcing some sort of condemnation to the "Zionist Regime".
Before coming to Iran, I rarely had heard of the "Zionists". I hear the word so much that I'm also becoming tired of hearing all the sad happenings in the rivalled two states. It's too complex that there seems to be no way that the conflict will be resolved and all of the states around are making it more complex. I only hope peace will prevail, and maybe the return of Christ or the Advent of the Mahdi that the Twelvers believe can only solve it...


news channel was covering live the demonstrations in Tehran...

PS
We celebrated my staff's birthday!

with a cake!

very nice!

hey do you need some!?

Lingering heat of the drama...

The political drama that was covered in every news channel of the world was giving me some chances to continue on sending some stories about the reactions from its old enemy in the Middle East. I'm sure you always need an "Antithese" when all you hear is the words of praise from mostly allied countries. Well we have Russia who is strongly going head to head because of the recent developments in the Caucusus and the return of the rivalry. I'm sure the nation I'm staying in will remain a strong contender too, but I'm sure it would also be interesting to go to New York around next September!


almost all the papers had the MAN on the front page... even the most conservative paper! all under the nation's leader's story though!

Not surprising, but historical!

When I woke up and hit the TV power button, it was exactly the face I wanted to see on the screen!

yap... he's the man!

It surely wasn't live as it should have been a few hours ago had he been announced the winner on schedule. With the predicted finish coming true, I had to pray I could get some reactions here too so I can become a part of the coverage...

I really had a hard time to get what I needed, but I finally did at 5PM, just in time for the morning news for tomorrow... Okay, I was able to contribute just a little to the large scale coverage mostly ran by the journalists of the world walking through the paths of the rule of the right. Guys like me are just the spices of the main dish, but I'm sure without some of the spice it wouldn't be an exotic meal!

PS
My meal wasn't that exotic, but since I didn't get to go outside to get a nice dinner, I ordered some sandwiches with my staff...

a chicken fillet sandwiches with... spices!

Last day at the UNHQ...

Although it was a Saturday, the delegates had agreed to continue their general dabates today, as it would save a Tuesday when it would be the end of Ramadan, and a very important religious date for Muslim countries. The Iranian executive team was long gone and though my main purpose staying in New York was that I had to give out a report on Monday morning (Japan time), I decided to watch the general debates and see how it is on a special Saturday at the UN Headquarters.
Sadly the bookstore inside was closed so I decided to go outside for a while to look for some books about Iran.

the last day to see the UN building... but it was wrapped around with thick fog...


some guys were parading with loud music at 2nd Ave.


having some of my favorites!
glazed donuts and a Mountain Dew!
a bad combination, but who cares!!

In the afternoon, I listened to a speech made by the Russian FM, and most importantly the DPRK speech which was at the end. I was able to see how the "right of reply" was being used and the Japanese and DPRK delegates exchanged hostile remarks for a total of about half and hour. It was funny that the Iranian and UAE delegates spoke severally about a completely different topic. I kind of felt I was there at the right time, and it was my last minutes hanging around the UN Headquarters!

After the festival was over, I walked more than half an hour to one of the places I've always went when I was a child living in Long Island. Since my memories were totally blurred, it didn't really feel nostalgic, but I found some parts of the street familiar. Maybe it was because it was nighttime and it was never a good idea to hang around when it was dark at that time!


my last view of the UN building... see ya... and maybe see ya next year!

front of the Japanese American Union Church...

and the familiar Madison Garden Square...

under the bright lights... it's always like daytime here!

After returning to our office in Midtown and working till around 11PM, I went out to get a late dinner...

a Triple Whopper with Cheese meal! $7.90 with tax!

The General Debate...

The series of speeches by the heads of states started. Unfortunately many of the speeches were not exciting nor refreshing. My reporting was in jeopardy but since I can't write their speeches for them, all I could do was at least try to find anything that could be broadcasted on the news!

It was really a hectic day as I had to run around and manage to get something on the news and a short report for the satellite channel. I would not have completed any of my work without the help of our correspondent in the United Nations and my fellow colleagues working in our New York bureau and another correspondent who was here for the coverage of the Japanese Prime Minister...

Teamwork is the sole power that makes things happen!

first time ever to see the General Assembly...

trying to say hello to the delegates... oh... too far away!

PS

a turkey for lunch at the UN cafeteria... not bad...

nice view from the cafeteria!