The Persian Courtship
Marie Saludares
December 2009, Philippines

It's nice to know that there is a page like this where I can freely involve my experiences with foreigners. We can also call this article as Iranian Courtship because in history, Persia is now called Iran, that's what my friend said.

I've been very active in sports and during weekdays, normally in the evening, I join self-defense class. It is healthy to have a daily exercise. I became so active with this sport and my Sensei (teacher) asked me to teach some of the newcomers sometimes. One unforgettable experience in my sport teaching was when I had two foreign students. Both were Persians. They are always smiling and make everything funny inside the lessons so I could say that "no dull moments" with them. Inside the Dojo (training hall), I am their teacher but outside the Dojo, I am their friend. Some time later, they kept on interviewing me about my personal life. Of course, I am not stupid to know that one of them likes to court me. So I was just as honest as I can because in times of friendship, for me, life must be an open book.

What was interesting is both of them invited me for a lunch in their apartment with two other teachers from the self-defense class and introduced us their culture through home-made cooking. Mohammed is the person who was courting me but he cannot directly speak his minds. Ali, his friend, became his speaker. I must understand this part, no problem. Ali fetched me and two other friends in the school and brought us to Mohammed's apartment. Mohammed is really busy cooking some dishes and I can see in his face that he is a little bit tensed. It was just so funny to look at him so relaxed outside but already panicking inside.

Here is their lunch pattern...

If Filipinos eat dessert after meals, these Persians served dessert before meals. Interesting! The food was artistic. They cooked white rice in a special edible plate which they placed at the bottom of their cooking pot. They told me, this plate would keep the rice from burning just in case you forgot that you are cooking rice. It could also become crunchy when you try to taste its crust. Uhum. Half of the cooked white rice was sauteed in butter, sprinkled with dried green seasonings, which made it really colorfully yellow. I called it yellow rice. In a plate, first they scoop the white rice for you, put the yellow rice on top, and black seeds to top them all. The black seeds taste a little bit sour. They resemble like what we know as raisins, but they are not raisins either. So ok, that is the rice part. As viand, they cooked really big chopped chicken in sauce and spices. It was not spicy, seems like I need some more salt to taste. I was looking for water to drink but they said, drink the soda instead. Mohammed said he really doesn't trust the water in the Philippines. Uhum. I did not say anything but I just poured on my glass some cold soda and continued eating while chatting with them. Deep inside, I agree with Mohammed that I cannot trust the waters, too. After a very good meal, we went to their living room and this time, it's hot tea on the table. It was really hot summer in the Philippines that time that I cannot afford to drink hot drinks in the middle of a very hot day. Of course, without saying anything, I took my cup and drank my tea. At the end of the day, all I can say is "thank you, my friends."

It was an amazing experience and wonderful friendship with Ali and Mohammed.

It was an unusual courtship, too. It was an unusual date. Mohammed never became my boyfriend. He was just a friend. The problem with him was he cannot speak for his own. He always asked Ali to court me in his behalf. I think that would make another story in the making. But Ali and Mohammed became my good friends until I lost my contact with them when I already left my self-defense class. There are many Alis and Mohammeds in the world, literally and figuratively.