Qi Ming: Meeting friendly locals in Iran

Qi Ming teaches Chinese at the Confucius Institute at University of Tehran (CIUT) in Iran. She moved to Iran more than a year ago.

On her second day in Tehran, she got up early as she was excited about her first formal class, although she didn't sleep well due to jet lag.

It took about 10 minutes to drive from the hotel to the school, and the fare was 130,000 riyals ($3.09). Qi and her companion didn't have enough loose change, so the driver took just 80,000 riyals and drove away.

Her first taxi ride in Iran ended with the driver's generosity. However, the story of Qi's encounter with warm and friendly Iranians had only just begun.

Over the course of her first six months in Tehran, Qi met the police who welcomed her and her friends to Iran in English; a clerk who gave her snacks and jelly for free in a cake shop; a nut shop owner who allowed her to taste everything for free; and a handicraftsman who refused to take payment from her.

Later on, Qi began carrying some small gifts such as Chinese knots with her wherever she went. Whenever she met friendly locals, she would give them a gift.

Their surprise whenever they received a small Chinese gift pleased Qi very much. Although their language and culture are different, their kind and friendly hearts are the same.