i noticed that i've lost all of my jaywalking skills. i can not cross the street like a tehranian! new yorkers think they know how to jaywalk, but they really don't. the most they do is crossing the road when the light is red and there's no car. in tehran though, people cross the street when the cars are coming at them. i mean they are coming at you full speed, like they are actually trying to take you out.

the thing is, pedestrians are vulnerable and that makes them bold. you know the driver is not going to risk it; he is going to slam on the breaks at the last minute. they are not going to hit you because they are scared of the consequences, so you just cross the street being faithful in their fear. and as irrational as it is, it is rational. fear is powerful; it is the reason people do a lot of things. on the other hand, there is always human error, and exceptions. it's improbable but it is still there. and it's not very wise to risk your life when human error is so huge of a factor. but there is really no other way to cross the streets in tehran: you will be waiting forever. there is also that adrenaline rush.