Cultural difference

Usually, similarities are the things you can't explain, something like values. Both nations are extremely friendly. Sometimes we go way outside of our comfort zone to make someone else comfortable. Hospitality is another similarity. When you are considered someone's guest you are done - you can not pay or do anything. Both countries share a more traditional perspective on how you should treat women, for example. Many westerners can't understand that but I didn't have that problem coming here. The way of thinking is more or less the same.



Differences are starting from the fact that Iran is a bigger country. Maybe that is also the reason why I feel safer in Armenia. Let's say one out of 20 people is a bad person. Just following the basic mathematics the bigger the population the more bad people there are. I'm not sure if that talks about Armenians being kinder, it's more about the quantity.



The only thing in Armenia that I can't get comfortable with is other people commenting on things that for me are completely none of their business. I had so many comments about how I look, what I should wear, how long or short my hair should be, if I should have a beard or not. You do have a right to tell your opinion. Comments like "these black shorts suit you" are ok. But approaching with something like "do not wear these black shorts ever again, you look stupid" is way out of the norm.



I understand that people say that because they are friendly. They truly believe I should shave more often or never wear these shorts again. They tell that because they worry about me and they like me. So I can't be angry.



Sometimes I think that something is probably wrong with me. I have zero Iranian friends in Armenia. It's not like I couldn't find Iranians here. Maybe I was a little bit scared. Iranians usually come to Armenia just to have fun, especially the tourists. Because Armenia is so close and cheap usually the people that come to Armenian to rest are not the most well-behaved or the one you want to be around. Because of that, Armenians usually don't like Iranians and I can understand that. I saw those tourists, sadly but they represent our country.



Maybe I'm just too Armenianized now. When I started speaking Armenian it was so easy to get along with locals, I started hanging out with them and that's it. Armenian is one of the kindest nations. Probably the best adjective I can use to describe them is that they are honest.

