funny that a few weeks ago.. I had 4 guests from Pakistan in Iran... I know the older guy from uni days...They are from respected and of course rich layer of Islamabad citizens.. I gave them a tour to Mashhad (not the first city of Iran).. and just because a young fella among them asked me to show him ups and downs of Iran I took them to the parts of city no body recommends... He said, he wants to know the truth about Iran as there is little info out there as he has an offer from a big Iranian company to work for them (programming for a industrial refrigeration systems producer)... I recall expressions like: wow... I,m shocked... It,s like Europe.. It is so clean.. The cars sucks (later when he found out my car is Made in Iran he gave me the biggest wow although its not the best car in the world (IKCO DENA)... Is this the average Iranians neibhourhood? No, I replied.. It is the worst part or as we call it "Payin Shahr"... Then I took the youngest guy to a good neibhourhood... The moment he saw BMWs, Benz, Porches cars he said.. we are told by media in Pakistan that these stuff is only found in West and Arab countries... Then I explained to him that we have at least %20 poor people too... and that after exchange rate rose due to sanctions our salaries means shhit these days... although still high to his eyes... (my salary for my job as economist is between 2900000 to 3200000 depending on the benefits and it was something like 1800 to $2000 three years ago but now only worth $840 to $915... Younger employee are even worse.. They get some thing between 1700000 to 2000000....)
So based on my impression my **** friends loved it and got shocked also... I know Iran is not in the same level as Europe but still much closer to them than you... for reference google HDI ranking of nations
n
No, habibi... I was teaching in Beirut back in 1990s..