Blog #1 - The Beginning

Well at long last ... My Name Is NEDA ... the blog!

As I type this, I am hearing Diana Ross' song, "I'm Coming Out" playing inside my head preparing me for my next great adventure as I follow my intuitions towards life's next chapter.

My name is NEDA. And it has taken me a long time to get to you here today. As time passes, you will get to know a lot more about me and my world -- who I am , what I do and why I do it.

I was born in Iran and raised mostly here in the US. The name of this blog, MY NAME IS NEDA represents the first four words I learned in the English language when I first moved here to the US at the age of nine. That was a lifetime ago. More on this coming up in future blogs ...

But first, the reason for my blog and your visit here today:

I am launching a new project. An exclusive cross cultural social networking site called CULTURE TALK Network. It a place for people to gather and discuss all there is to know about themselves and their culture. A place where people can make new friends, discuss what's been on their mind lately, share their stories, write a blog, promote themselves and learn something new about their heritage. It's a cultural view of who you are while discussing what you know about your own community. Each cultural network has a strong focus on the Arts and Entertainment because I believe that it is one of the most powerful and influential topics that not only unites all of us but also sets a safe tone for mutual respect and understanding as we engage in more serious and sensitive subject matters relevant to today's current atmosphere.

I have always had a vision ... that maybe I can be someone that can bring people together and help them understand each other a little bit more, a little bit better -- on a deeper level than before. I was raised in two different cultures and had the opportunity to travel to many countries around the world. It was wonderful to see how people from different cultures exist in this planet we all share. What moved and inspired me most has always been the beauty of someone embracing their own unique culture and heritage while curious of others and showing how in the end we are all the same. It has been humbling for me to see that regardless of our background and our upbringing, in the end, our similarities often outweighs our differences. I feel everyone can reach the same conclusion if we had the chance to meet and connect and see how others live, think and play.

In an effort to dismantle some of the negative stereotypes while providing a glimpse into Iran and its youth culture, In 2005 I went to Iran and filmed a documentary called, NOBODY'S ENEMY. After several visits to Iran and many re-edits later, in 2008 I began to get out there and talk about my film, Iran, the Middle East and the need for getting out of our monologue and into a dialogue, hoping to bring forth a better understanding of a culture that is so often in the news for its political and religious stand but little understood when it came to its average people and their culture.

I feel lucky to have a deep understanding of more than just one culture. I have lived among both Persians and Americans. I am proud of what I have learned living in both cultures and respectably stand by both of them while I take a step as an average citizen to build a bridge that divides us in hopes of better relations between the two countries. I have no doubt that this is an outcome wished by the majority.

One day after speaking on a conference panel at a university, I had the pleasure of meeting several students of various backgrounds. They were eager to learn more about my travels and share their own culture with me. I told them how important it was to share their culture and background with their community. I referred to them as a cultural ambassador. This non-official but prestigious title lit them up -- they got excited at the thought of representing their various cultures to other people and promised to play an active role in introducing their community to others. That day, was to mark of a new beginning for me as well. It was in that moment that I felt I knew what my next step would be in bridging the cultural divides. I started with IRAN and the USA because that is where it all started for me -- but it won't end there because there are many more cultures to explore. In my passion of wanting to meet more people and opening conversations about various topics I created a cultural social networking site ... I welcome you to join me at CULTURE TALK Network.

From time to time, I will post a new blog to keep you updated on my progress -- The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.  It could be news related to the network or maybe a topic that is important to me and I would like to share and discuss with you.

At times I may seem conservative.  Other times I communicate as casual as an excited girl with jokes and wise cracks coming at you through my alter ego, "Neda from the block". In truth, they are both a glimpse of who I really am. My friend Ophira will be quick to mention that I am a typical Aquarius. Hey Ophira, if you are reading this, I still haven't met a typical Aquarius!

The bottom line is I promise to stay true to character, authentic and as transparent as my etiquette will allow me while I travel this long and windy road that has now brought me to you. And for that I say thank you!

Your friend,

-NEDA