Kathy to Hilary, August 17, 1971 cont. Tehran, Iran Later
August 19, 1971
On Tuesday I went with the Genmish wives to Ab-e-Gaerm (hot water) and bathed in the hot springs. The little town smelt of ancient eggs. The people there tried to sell us some honey made from ancient bees, which the wives all thought was hilarious. Especially after a cup or two of wine. Damavand looked very climbable, the slopes of it and neighboring mountains are scalloped into little terraced villages. They are on plateaus and look as if only a donkey is surefooted enough to reach them. I took off by myself and poked around an old palace that belonged to Reza Shah and imagined that there were genies there.
I visited F. in the hospital today--he had his appendix out--seems to be in some pain, slightly miserable, but he was glad I came. It’s not my fault. Really! I was an angel of mercy.. He says I act too much like a child, especially when I throw my hard hat in the air at the pony club, but poo on him.
It’s Ramazan. F. has nothing but contempt for the ruzees--the people who follow the fast. I tried it for a day, but a day can be pretty long in the summer!
Phillip Jones surprized us with a visit. He was in Steve’s class in seminar, I think. It makes me feel so out of date. It seems above all in the USA you must be relevant. A world Mr. Sargent taught us, remember? I feel so irrelevant and being an American over all things it hurts my heart.
In a way my relationship with Farzad is a case of “East is East and West is West / and never the twain shall meet.” Sometimes the gaps between our two cultures is so great that we have problems understanding each other. He may be part English, but he’s been bred in Iran. I may not always like my American heritage, but I can’t help it, that’s what I am. What absolutely foul things customs are!
Pardon this most incomprehensible of letters, I’ve tried to show things aren’t too bad, I’m not as neurotic as all that, and I know what I’m doing. Do you believe it? I just wanted to tell you all this bullshit.
So. Please forgive, or don’t hate me for my many sins.
Love,
Kathy
4:54:34 AM 
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