Today we had a group of pharmacy students visiting our facility. I was involved in the touring process. Their reactions, questions were interesting to me. You could see which ones are actually listening to the experts in each department and which ones are out of it!

When touring the warehouse area, the tour guide for that area mentioned to the students that sometimes a pharmacist work in the cages for narcotics! Once she said it, a white girl instantly raised her hand and said: " I don't think any pharmacist would like to work there!!"

What she said reminded me of my last year of school, when we toured several plants. I remember in one of the tours, the environment of the plant was so noisy and harsh that I told my classmate, "what did the workers do in their life to deserve to work in such a horrible place."

I was young and naive. Life put me through situations that I learnt that I should be careful of what I say. Despite our attempt to move toward what we want, most of the times, life throws curve balls at us. I learnt to keep my dreams alive while staying focus in the process. Most importantly keep being humble. It took me a while to learn this lessen but I am glad I had the opportunity to see world differently meet people of different financial and cultural background and appreciate every situation in life instead of whining about it.

Santoori


http://santoori.blogspot.com

We finally got the chance to watch the popular Iranian movie, Santoori, last night. This movie was not allowed to be screened in Iran in the cinemas in 2007.

In my opinion, this movie was made brilliantly. It shows the story of a music talent that his life was ruined due to his addiction to drugs. He lost his job opportunities, due to music restriction in Iran after Islamic Revolution and consequently his marriage ended in divorce due to his drug abuse and his incapability to provide for his wife.

I think this may be the story of many music talents of Iran, whose life were put force fully on hold for a few years. Some fled the country to continue with their career after the revolution and the ones who stayed behind faced many financial and emotional problems.

The music played in the movie was extraordinary. I enjoyed it a lot. But what made this movie great was the leading actor and actress. They played their role incredibly bold.
Their interesting marital relationship was unconventional. They were happy and flirtatious something that I have seldom seem in Iranian movies.

Unfortunately stories like this, drug abuse, are many in Iran and mostly is due to lack of motivation in youth. I truly believe that we strive in our lives for goals that we set for ourselves. Once ones life is empty of challenges and hope, depression creeps in.