In the beginning, when Ali and I would have disagreements, it was easy to blame any problems on his Iranian versus my American background. We finally realized that our disagreements were the same ones as other American or Persian couples. One difference I've seen between Persian men and American men was at my first Noruz party and most recently at a friend's wedding. Persian men are not scared to get up and dance together. They revel in the music, the movement and just being with their friends.
Persian men are different from each other.
I've met some Persian men who are proud of their heritage, respect their families and enjoy spending time with other Persian friends. Like American women, these Persian women have jobs or are in school while some stay home with their children. With the exception of occasional homesickness, these women appear to have lives similar to their American counterparts. In some situations, politics has made it impossible for some Persians to see their families in Iran. That's hard for me to understand and accept.