Firoozeh
How does Firoozeh feel about her mother attending class with her?
She feels uncomfortable about it and wishes she weren’t there; she is embarrassed by her mother
In Kazem’s opinion, what is the most sacred place on earth?
Disneyland
What was Firoozeh’s first job? Why isn’t she satisfied at first?
Babysitting; most of the families are cheap.
What secular holiday do all Iranians celebrate?
Nowruz (Persian New Year)
Why doesn’t Firoozeh’s family celebrate Christmas?
They're Muslim
What is Firoozeh’s complaint about American names?
She wishes Americans wouldn’t be afraid to step out of the box when it comes to naming their children
What is Kazem’s favorite food?
Ham
In terms of violence, how are Iran and America different?
In Iran, everyday citizens don’t have access to guns, so there is less gun violence
What is the official name for a Persian wedding ceremony?
Aqd
In his pursuit of free items, what does Kazem endure to get free filet mignon?
He goes to time share sales pitches.
How does Firoozeh finally achieve her dream of college?
Through applying for scholarships.
With what groups does Kazem usually side during protests?
He usually follows the lead of firefighters and police men.
What happens at the site of the shah’s speech?
The demonstrators break through the protection and begin injuring shah supporters.
Why is there a goat carcass wearing a party hat and sunglasses at Firoozeh’s reception?
It’s part of Iranian culture to slaughter a goat for a wedding. They couldn’t slaughter the goat themselves, so the caterer made a special arrangement for them.
Does Paris live up to Firoozeh’s expectations? Give one example to back up your answer.
It doesn’t live up to her expectations; most Parisians leave the city in the summer, her teachers aren’t passionate about their jobs, her host family abandons her, Bastille Day was a let-down.
How do Firoozeh’s mother and father feel about Francoise?
They support the union. Kazem wants to make sure that Francoise will take care of Firoozeh, and her mother whole-heartedly loves Francoise.
What mishap almost causes Kazem to lose his chance to study abroad?
His letter comes to him several days late, and because of the paperwork required to go to America, he misses the majority of orientation.
How does Firoozeh cleverly trick the older boys who want to learn curse words?
She tricks them by teaching them, “I’m an idiot!” in Persian.
What happened in Iran to change many Americans’ opinion of Iranians?
The Iranian Hostage Crisis
Whom does Kazem get to meet during his Easter vacation trip?
Albert Einstein
Why is Firoozeh envious of her husband?
Her husband is of French descent; France has many positive connotations for many Americans
What experience does Kazem and Nematollah have that would be impossible in Iran?
They eat a meal on just free samples from the local Price Club.
How does Nazireh (Firoozeh's mom) become assimilated to American culture?
She loves watching game shows
Write down two misconceptions that Americans have about Iran, according to the novel.
They don’t sleep in tents, don’t ride camels or all own Persian cats, they have electricity, and they don’t live in the Sahara.
What is the irony of Kazem's obsession with the Denny's $3.99 buffet?
Yes, they are getting a good price for the buffet, but they are wasting money via gambling, so the casino is not losing any money.