djavad!

I wanted to dedicate an entire post to my roommate Djavad Rahimi because I could write pages and pages about this guy. He is a 23-year old 100 pound Iranian studying Math and German at the Wirtschaftuniversitat, and he is a character to say the least. I don’t even know where to begin. I will start by easing your fears that he loves America. This is because he loves me, ergo he loves America. This is his rationale. I’m ok with that. I just hope that an international conflict doesn’t break out in the next 4 months or so. Things could get awkward in room 606. We occasionally do get into political discussions, but I try to avoid them if at all possible. When I do come home drunk I have once or twice asked him if his country is making nukes. I feel that I at least have to ask. He is learning English so I am helping him with that. Sometimes I feel that I do him more harm than good because I teach him things that aren’t exactly a part of the English language. For example, instead of saying “What’s up?” I have taught him to say “WASSSUP” (think Budweiser commercials). He thinks it is hilarious. He is teaching me German too, and a little Persian on the side. We have already come across some culture clashes. For example, when you are offered food in Iran, it is rude to decline it. I declined Djavad’s food 5 or 6 times before he finally told me, and then I had to explain to him that it was equally polite to accept or deny food offered to you in America. Also, the other day he finally told me that a thumb’s up was the exact same thing as the finger in Iran. I had inadvertently given him the bird at least 15 times in the last month or so. oops. There is so much I am not telling you about him. Everyone here thinks they can turn us into a reality show. I will only do it if I can do a spin-off “The Bachelor” or “Shot at love” reality show afterwards, except I wouldn’t be deciding if I was gay or not. There will be many more stories and anecdotes about this guy that I am sure will come for the entire semester, but that’s all for now.