The Wander Island

The Wander Island or Jazire-ye Sargardani is a fiction by Dr. Simin Daneshvar. Yes, the book is in Farsi/Persian, I know. I don’t know who reads this blog.

I finished this book very rapidly because I just liked the story very much. Granted it did not end the way I wanted it to, rather the ending was in such opposition to my ideals that it left a really bitter taste in my mouth. However, up until the last 20 pages I was very much drawn into this story. The storyline used a lot of real events with a lot of real influences and names in it, which made the story all the more believable and relatable. Granted not everyone my age, even Iranians born in Iran, knows about these names and events. Thanks to a previous paper and research I was familiar with them and things made sense.

The writing was fluid and easy to read as well. There were some old words and phrases and slangs that I did not get, but aside from that, it was quite a modern script. This book was written not so long ago, however, I as shocked by the editing. The way lines and paragraphs were edited, confused me at times.

Overall I liked this book very much. This was the first book of the infamous Daneshvar that I read, and not I am going to read more of her works. I recommend it to whoever understands Farsi

Mountains Beyond Mountains

Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder is the life story of Dr. Paul Farmer. This book was the “common book” of UW my freshman year. I picked it up, read the first chapter–as it was not very intriguing–I never picked it up again until 3 weeks ago.

Now that I have read it, I can see that it means more to me now than it would have two years ago. I have to admit life of Paul Farmer is quite…something…something so unbelievable that I would not have believed it, if it was not for the search I did on him. Still I have to say that I did not like the writing very much. I understand that this work is a non-fiction, but Farmer’s life has more events than any ordinary fiction can offer. Thus, the displacement of climaxes and the boring manner in which chapters were devised ruined a good story in my opinion! Furthermore, Kidder insists on the continual use of the Creole terms–even those that have English equivalent–which he only translates once 100 pages before the next use! (and he does not provide a glossary!) At least that is my beef with the writing!

On a personal level, I do not know if I can ever be like Farmer. There are many goals that I have that I “think” I need to achieve, and helping the poor is only one of them. I do not know if I am ready to devote my life completely, and I mean completely to that cause! Then again Farmer went through a similar phase, and also he does not, ever, advise anyone to do things the way he has (he knows how insane he is!). So we will see. First, I need to actually be a doctor, or do I?!

At the end, what do I recommend? Read it, maybe with another book on the side.

Monsoon!

This part of Arizona does not get much rain throughout the year (under an inch for the most part) and the weather is scorchingly dry! However, from about mid June to late July the monsoon season starts and it lasts through August, causing flash floods.

The rain drops are so very big around here, that when they hit your bare skin, they almost hurt!!! Rain has another unique feature around here: Often when you look ahead, say when you are driving, you can see a cylinder or a giant hour glass, which is the only area that rain is pouring, and it is pouring really hard! It is crazy. It is as if cut open a hole in the clouds and gallons of water are being dumped.

Last but not least, the thunderstorms at nights during this season are just magnificent. They are the best kind of fireworks anyone can ask for.

Mt. Lemmon

Yesterday I went to Mt. Lemmon for the first time. I was completely awestruck by the beauty of this place. A popular natural site for the people in Tucson, it is also a very tough biking route for the triathletes and the avid riders around here–L. Armstrong used to do hill-training here. Mt. Lemmon is in the Santa Catalina mountains located in the Coronado National Forest. It is 9,157 feet above sea-level, and receives approximately 180 inches of snow annually. It was named in honor of botanist Sarah Lemmon, who trekked to the top of the mountain with Native American guides by mule and foot in 1881.

Up at elevation 2000 you can get the best panoramic of Tucson. But do not stop, because it just gets better! You can see the vegetation change every feet you go higher. You start with saguaros at the base of the mountain and at 8000 you end up with pine and fir! At about this elevation you get to a small town called Summerhaven, which includes many cabins, some occupied only part of the year. There are also quite bit of bed and breakfast places up there. This place is near Ski Valley which is the southernmost ski destination in the continental United States.

At the base the temperature was 100-105. At 8000, the temperature was around 70 with a very nice and cool breeze. On the way back down, it started pouring, and then hailing so very hard. The temperature instantly dropped to 59! It was frightful how hard it was raining and hailing.

The trip was quite amazing. The scenery was gorgeous. And the clouds, the clouds just fantastic–nothing like the gray depressing clouds of Seattle! The combination of cumulus clouds, great lighting by the sun, and a gorgeous sky blue background made for an invigorating scenery.

P.S. Pink Floyd is THE appropriate music for these kind of trips!

Unbelievable!

Have you ever used the mass transit system, in any city? Well, I do so in Seattle and I started doing so while I am here in Tucson. One would think that just like every other place in the whole wide world, a specific bus number has a specific route, right?! One would be very wrong! I found out the hard way that there are at least three routes numbered 8 that start from the same hub, but have different destinations far from each other! Hence one cannot just pay attention to the number, but has to quickly read the tiny destination on the bus as well! Here is my question: What idiot got paid to design this system?

WALL-E

What can I say! Walking into the theater I knew the Pixar movie was not going to disappoint; but I was pleased and entertained beyond belief. Aside from the good animation work and cinematography–apologies for the incorrect terminology, I am not a critic!–the plot was very clever. Indeed the plot made this movie the joy it is! Dialogue was barely necessary. The poignant jokes at the fate of human beings made for a great laugh. Combine that with the love story between EVE and WALL-E, and you have a brilliant, cute and funny film! I highly recommend this movie

Tucson

Through the miserably small window of the airplane, I could see a stretch of land with small houses, here and there. I wasn’t sure whether or not that was Tucson, until the plane started flying low. Then it felt like it was getting farther and farther away from the town, because I could only see the desert and some sparse vegetation. For about 5 minutes I kept wondering where this plane is planning on landing. Out of nowhere a runway appeared and the plane touched down! I was in Tucson, Arizona.

“Nice, little airport,” I thought, walking to pick up my baggage. I walked out of the air conditioned airport, and the “HOT HEAT” hit my face! On the ride to my uncle’s house, I tried to be as observant as possible. The houses are so short, that they can be well hidden by shrubs! Most houses have an adobe color on the outside, just to once more remind you that you are in the desert, in case you have forgotten about the heat! Stretches of open and arid land can be found between buildings at any part of the city, which strikes me as strange. Why wouldn’t they do anything to increase the aesthetic value of it, if they are not building anything useful on it! Regardless, the downtown has some taller buildings to resemble a legitimate downtown:

Tucson (the Old Pueblo) is the largest city in southern Arizona and the second largest in the state, with a metropolitan population of 946,362. Tucson is also home to the University of Arizona Wildcats, which is the second largest employer in the city! Davis-Monthan Air Force Base also provides many jobs for Tucson residents. Its presence, as well as the presence of a US Army Intelligence Center (Fort Huachuca, the largest employer in the region in nearby Sierra Vista), has led to the development of a significant number of high-tech industries. Advanced technology companies like Raytheon Missile Systems, Texas Insutruments, IBM, Intuit Inc., Universal Avionics, Misys Healthcare Systems, Sanofi-Avents, Ventana Medical Systems, and Bombardier all have a significant presence in Tucson. Roughly 150 Tucson companies are in the optics industry, earning Tucson the nickname “Optics Valley”.

Driving through the town on a Saturday evening, I felt like I was in a ghost town. Then my uncle reminded me that more than half of the population of town is comprised of students and Snowbirds, who spend fall and winter in Tucson. In winter the temperature ranges between 44-75 during a day! Those numbers are 70-over 100 for the summer!

I have not have enough time and interaction with the people of Tucson, yet, to write about them. That shall have its own post! For now, I am off to enjoy a nice swim in the year around out-doors pool!

Eastern Promises

I am not much of a critic about anything. Regardless I’d like to jot down my simple considerations about movies that are different enough to make me go “HUH.”

My preconceptions led me to think of this movie as another mobster action movie. I was wrong. I am not going to spoil the movie, but the plot was unpredictable. The pace of the movie was quite slow. During the movie I kept thinking when things are going to happen, but when the movie ended everything seemed appropriate for this movie. I realize the movie is not shown in the theaters anymore, but if it were, I’d still suggest watching it on DVD. Not because the movie is not worth it, but because I feel it is the kind of movie that needs to connect with the viewer in a more personal setting! That is just what I think. I recommend watching it.

Arizona!

I bought my ticket to Tucson, Arizona just about two weeks into my spring quarter. If I remember correctly, at the time I was fed up, frustrated and disappointed by the result of-my somewhat hard work during-the winter quarter, and being rejected after asking out the girl that I liked for a second time! Add that to a horribly boring and irrelevant professor in my beloved orgo class, and a bullshit composition class, with a physics class that is not the most tasteful science I know; and you might begin to understand why I bought my ticket! I don’t believe I have ever considered becoming depressed, or that depression could happen to me. I think I just had a taste of it, needless to say, I did not like it!

I bought my tickets and started a 60 day countdown and had the most horrible academic quarter of my whole life. I have never performed so miserably in school. I had absolutely no drive to even finish the quarter! I am glad I passed my classes! I flew out of a gloomy Seattle on 14th of Junuary!

Rethinking!

I remember when I wrote my first blog, I declared that I would like to post well constructed essays about topics that somewhat mattered. Well It has been some eight months, I think, and I have only had one blog

Therefore I am planning on writing even if it is only a couple of sentences, the instance I feel a spark. Maybe that way, I write more!