Another hectic day...

We headed to the central area of the city to cover the fervor of the people participating in a anti-Israeli protest supported by perhaps hundreds of thousands all over the world. As it was announced, it was not just being attended by conservatives and fundamentalists, but the opposition and I saw thousands of people against the Government marching. As they chanted anti-regime slogans, the supporters of the regime were swearing against them and everything was getting hectic in the streets. Once again I was able to witness the deep and grievous rift among the people and it seemed hopeless that this country will see the bright sun coming out sooner or perhaps never.


familiar slogans...

An empty day...

There was an announcement that the proposal about solving the long debated issue would be handed in tomorrow and today I just went through the past documents and prepared my radio report that I will record tomorrow morning.
Not having a rough day, especially in the middle of Ramadan, is not bad, but nothing really makes me smile these days and I rather see it as an empty day where many would try to attack me, I've wasted another day. I'm getting really pessimistic... probably coming from depression...

PS
At least my wife made me smile...

getting me a nice melon for dessert!

It's been a while...

The press conference that was postponed was held today and I went to the President's office complex for the first time in months. I was only thinking of filing a story, but I was told that I should send a report. I was snapped at by my unreadiness and just as yesterday, I was falling into the negative mindset and tried my best just to get it over with!
I really want to cover some story that would make the viewers smile naturally but that's one of the hardest task to accomplish here...


here we go!

Receiving orders...

Once again, after receiving orders, I decided to write about something I really don't care about. I can't blame anyone, because it was coming from my weakness that I asked for advice and since I did ask... there was no way but to follow the advice...
I'm not a confident correspondent, as many decisions I made were not correct and I really hope someone who would be confident enough to take over my position would stand up and raise his or her voice. I'd happily recommend to take the post!
Though my motivation is at the lowest level, I have to commit myself to accomplish the required work. It's my fault I didn't say I don't want to be here, but who would have known it's one of the worst spots to work as a correspondent!?

The real inauguration?

The voting finally took place... finally! After 5 days, the vote of confidence for the cabinet was carried out at the Parliament and 18 out of 21 ministers were approved. So can this country concentrate on the major issues on deck?

It's so interesting the MPs count the votes right at the floor of the Parliament...

there's no way to rig these votes! (pic from ISNA website)

Back to the most important issue...

I was caught up so much with the domestic issues of this country obviously because the main topics of this year was the 30th Anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in February and the Presidential Election of June and its irreversible aftermaths. I was working on the most important issue for several days and then today there was a small development here in Iran just before a meeting that will be held in Germany tomorrow.
The most important issue is of course the future of nuclear talks between Iran and the West and this will be the main theme for the coming months. If I would be able to spend the rest of my mission here smiling or grumpy will all depend what will happen from now on.

Summer's wrapping up!?

It seems like summer is wrapping up as it's getting cooler each day and I even feel a little chill in the morning looking for my blanket to warm myself up. It's September from tomorrow and many areas around the Middle East will start waking up. The days of going easy is numbered and I have to gear up for the coming crazy month. I already sense September will become another battlefield that I have to fight through. I better be ready!

PS
All the papers only had small articles about our historical election...

hey, we're importing a lot of oil from your country!

Out in the cold

Clouds were surrounding the city... predicting a rough day coming up!


It was an important day for politics in this country as the deliberations of the President's choice for his cabinet started in the Parliament. But for the international community, the more influential issue is the historical event taking place in my native country. The opposition is calling it a "revolution" and surely with the reports coming in, the expression fits perfectly.
Sadly, I'm left out in the cold this time from this decisive election for the future of my country. I remember I voted for the opposition last time though the government side had won it in a landslide. This time I wasn't even able to vote as I didn't hand in the necessary papers to be registered. Looking at the news that the opposition has won more 300 seats in the lower house completing its "revolution", I should have been dancing around, but it's makes me more sad that I couldn't participate in the coverage of such an exciting event.


it was news for the Iranian media too!
(from Press TV)

(7PM news on IRIB Channel 1)


watching internet sights along with JSTV broadcasting the special coverage from Tokyo...

Anyways, the true battle has not ended today, it's actually going to be a rough ride for the new government, as there are so many inexperienced people on the roster and incompetence will not be an excuse to handle grave issues in the middle of an economic turmoil and major decisions in foreign policy coming up. I'm sure they're not treading in air at this early stage, but they must realize they're walking on a very rough minefield. The laid mines are the same element that has taken them to power... the people... they will be watching very carefully... if the expectations are not fulfilled, the people... with the help of the media... will crush this victory, just like they have done with LDP's last landslide victory only four years ago!

A rare occasion at the prayers venue

It was Friday, but many of my colleagues were working from the morning. We met many of our friends at the University of Tehran, the venue for the Friday Prayers, as we had heard that the President was going to make a speech. Right after we arrived, the speech started and many participants were excited, chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". Since it was a rare occasion to get his speech on film, I did my best to file a story about his comments.


many of our colleagues were here for the man!

It was already around 5PM when the job was finished and the only day off was about to be over. Together with my wife, we went out to shop at the usual supermarket and finished the day watching TV together.

Right when I was about to go to sleep, the IAEA report on Iran came in and though I was desperate to sleep, I glanced through it and saw the complexity of the paper, that I decided to analyze it tomorrow. This report will be on the table of the coming talks and negotiations, but it seems that either side can use it to defend their stances and also attack the other side as well. Let's see how the media will use this report to emphasize their stances!

Running out of time...

The "West" is heightening its pressure as the summer passes by as the deadline for talks is set for September. I also am running out of time as I have to make a decision whether I should go to New York like last year to cover the executive leader of this nation to make his fifth visit. The round trip to New York is quite costly and the hotel prices in Manhattan is incredibly high, with prices like $250 a night! I was very lucky last year I was able to file some reports thought there weren't so much attention for the defiant, but I was lucky that not much correspondents cared to attend. But this year the picture is completely different as the G20 Summit will be held in Pittsburgh at the same time frame and many other countries are catching attention these few months. The flu uprise is another issue that would catch attention especially when it is said the second wave would start any time. Would I be able to make any stories that would make my costs redeemable? Just like the nuclear issue, I'm running out of time to make the decision!

PS
Something that is supporting me recently...

some manga books my wife rented from her friend! Time flies by when I'm reading these... uh-oh! it's already 7:30!

All night long...

I had to wait all day for the special program which was slated to be broadcasted after the 9PM news. Usually, you can finish earlier than usual on Thursdays, but today I had to watch this program, which the leader of the executive branch talked for about an hour and a half and it was nearly midnight when I finally finished my story for the morning news in Japan.
Well, I think I can take a day off tomorrow after the hard work... (just to write one short story in one week!)


he finally appears... but after he appears, he goes on forever!

Annoucement!?

I was waiting all night for the final list of the proposed cabinet to be announced. The last news piece was in fact the list was not turned in though the working hours of the Parliament was over. I had to make a decision whether to write the story now or wait until tomorrow. As the day was about to end, I decided to wait a bit longer but for sure, I don't have to report about it urgently. Anyways, I've waited for more than 7 hours for the news, but no progress... Oh, what a waste of time!

According to today's paper...

eeyup! he's supposed to unveil it today folks!

The controversial inauguration

After working till 2AM last night, I woke up just after 6AM and after fixing up just some of the scripts for today, we headed to the Parliament, "Majlis" of the Islamic Republic of Iran. On our way, I saw tons of security forces getting ready to crush down any opposition that would be defiant enough to go on to protest that was being called on by the green supporters. The ceremony process went on smoothly as I thought, starting around 9:15AM and the only problem I had was getting the simultaneous translation service, but luckily go the earphones right after the Majlis speaker started to give his speech. The speech of the inaugurated President was not fancy, but it was enough to have a story. When we headed out from the Majlis after I took my standing report, it was only 10:30AM. We got back to our office an hour after and I was scrambling to work on the bunch of stories and reports I had to give out. With the help of brilliant colleagues in Tokyo, everything went smoothly. The other concern was how the protests were going to turn out, but it seems that nothing crazy had happened and I felt relived that no one had been killed... according to reports at least... I was getting more and more confident that perhaps I would be able to take my wife out to a trip though it would have been impossible if a major development took place today. After recording my radio report, I also had a request to do my report in English, but feeling much better, I had no problem taking the offer.


in the Majlis...

The next mission...

It was supposed to be a crucial day today and I had to concentrate on getting ready for tomorrow. I would have to write a story right away after the inauguration ceremony and get ready for the live coverage in the evening, and then work on my report for the morning news in Japan. I also had a radio report!
But somehow, I couldn't get my mind moving and time just went by... very fast!

PS
We bought our tickets for our possible trip from Friday... It's a load of money I've paid and I pray everything will be all right tomorrow...

PPS
Yesterday's news...

tomorrow these two will not appear together, so it will be a very valuable pic for newsmakers!

Endorsement

It was an important day and we were all set before the TV sets to watch and cover the crucial event for the regime. As we were not invited, we had no choice but to wait for the live coverage. But though we had been alerted from our friends that the event had started, we could not see anything happening on the state broadcast and I was quite disappointed to find out we just had to wait for the 2 o'clock to hear any of the soundbites the President and the Leader have made for the Endorsement ceremony of the executive branch. I was given the opportunity to participate in the broadcast late at night in Japan, but I really didn't like how they hadn't broadcasted the event on TV. Well, the most important will come up in two days and I hope they would not change their minds and not let us in!


the recorded version on TV... why was it not broadcasted live!?

PS
In Japan, I see the lay judge trials were starting. Citizens chosen to be like the juries in Western nations will be deciding on a verdict in four days. If I had stayed in my previous position at the Judicial Press Club, I surely would have been working on this. I had no idea I'd been working on the inauguration process of a Middle East country I had no connection to!

Truly blue...

It was peaceful today, but a story written by a rival agency dropped me into the bottomless pit... It wasn't a bad day till the report came in, but maybe because I was a loafer today, it was a punishment from Heaven... I had to spend the rest of the day feeling truly blue.

In Japan, I was true blue to my horse betting some money via internet, but sadly he finished 10th... He's already 7 years old and maybe he's in the verge of retiring...

Me too... I want to retire...


Photos of today...
In the afternoon, I went out with my wife to check out...

a handicraft shop...

and into another small shopping center...

with a shop with so many handicraft goods...

It was hot outside so...

we finished off with some cold drinks!


betting on my horsey... but...

Two stories...

I wrote two completely different stories. One was connected to Japan. The news always catches attention when it's related to our nation and I learned today that I should not be hesitant even a second about topics especially connected to business. The other story was about the recent turmoil. Of course, another one I would never be allowed to miss.
It's okay to write more than two stories in a day. But I had to ask myself... is this really what I want to write about!?

PS
Working till late at night, my dinner was...

cheeseburger... two days in a row!

Demand and Supply

At lunchtime, I was asked to give out a live report for a program broadcasted at night in Japan and I had to scramble to write my script. There seems to be a shortage in the news in the world as Europe is completely in its vacation mode and I'm sure many people are enjoying their days off. Here it's just as usual, a bit hot of course, but just over 40 degrees Celsius, much cooler than it is in the Gulf. I don't know where the people in Europe would want to go as I would love to go to Europe, even if is the center of work, to spend time leaving this crazy place. I'm hoping I would really be able to take a day off from next week after the important ceremony due to take place one week from today. Anyways, just like the weather, the news of the turmoil continuing in this country is still hot and it seems like Tokyo is targeting me to import some supplies for satisfying the demands to fill in the international sections of the news programs. I know very well that they would switch to a better story especially from the West which bumps in after I send my stories, but it's more like an obligation to send in anything so they wouldn't be worried about the stocks.

After the job was done, I rushed to a party commemorating the 80th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Japan and Iran. The FM of Iran attended and it seemed to be a very friendly party. I talked to many of my Japanese friends who I hadn't talked for a long time after I was preoccupied with the coverages of the election and its aftermath. Many say they will take their summer vacation and actually many already have left the country to take theirs. I always have to be envious about how people can easily take their vacations, but the responsibility I get for being a correspondent is incomparable. I thought I was used to this, but after getting married, it really hurts to realize the position I'm taking. I hope things go the way I hope it will. I really do this time!


heading north to the party...

Sympathy?

Today, I spontaneously proposed that I would write a story and things were looking good until I found out at nighttime that there were more information coming in after 7PM. It was too ridiculous to write the story over so I decided not to think about it. But I was worried so much that I decided to be on the alert till midnight. Fortunately, I had no calls from Tokyo and though I never feel relieved, it's much better than hearing sarcastic comments via phone calls.
Working under an "absolute" authority, I even feel some sympathy to this person who seems to be defiant to such unconditional entities. I seems like suicide, but maybe like the supporters, you see a hero in adversity which could very well be just a Don Quixote. For me, it would be unimaginable to make such a challenge, but I feel some sympathy in the fact that I would have done the same if I had the guts to fight back the adversities.
Several years back, I think I was accumulating enough expertise to be a bit defiant to my "absolute" organization, but I was thrown out to somewhere completely different twice... and whatever happens twice happens thrice as we say in our country, and here I am. They have ripped off my expertise and even my confidence that all I could do is obey.
Of course if I look at everything positively, I should say these are great opportunities for me to build up more capacity and further develop as a stronger professional.
But was this what I wanted? At least everybody is trying to hypnotize me to believe that this was what I had wanted. But hey, I'm not going to fall into that kind of trap... maybe like... him!

PS
Another one I always feel sympathetic...

he or she always cries for food...


meow, meow
I'm sorry... I don't have anything for you...

Perfect timing?

As the second year starts for me, the permits for the press were ready and it seems like they're going to let me do my work... Perfect timing... But what can I cover!?
There were many reports about domestic politics today and still words of protest out in the streets and roofs of buildings in the nighttime... Do you think these issues would be so exciting to cover!?
Well, however things develop in the short term, the target for the moment would be either this Thursday or Wednesday next week!

PS
In the backyard...

family or friend or rival??


hello there!!