This week, I researched the culture of Iran and how it made sense with the linguistic aspects of the Persian language I had determined last week. It made sense to me how intertwined the two were.
For example, I determined that Iranian culture was collectivist and family-oriented, which was reflected in the language's many words for family members. This week, I learned about how important family really is in Iranian culture. For example, grandparents in Iranian society are not sent to nursing homes but are taken care of by their children. Family is the basis of the social structure in Iran and nepotism is widely practiced -- it is seen as being able to hire people who are trusted and not strangers. Family loyalty is very strong in Iran.
Iranian society is quite polychronic. There is always an abundance of time. For example, when people meet on the street in Iran, they will stop to chat for as long as they like -- there is no rush to be anywhere. Trust is necessary in Iranian culture, so taking the time to get to know someone well is vital, and looking hurried or being concerned about wasting time can make one look untrustworthy.
Respect is also very important in Iranian culture, reflected in having the second-person formal pronoun in the language. One must always remove his or her shoes when entering a place of worship (typically a mosque) or someone's home.
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