Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I’d like to thank my dear cousins Mansoureh and Ferdows Manuchehrian in Iran without whose support and guidance I would not have been able to make this journey. I’d also like to thank: Mojdeh Khalili; Naz, Raz, Marjaneh, and Bahram Ebrahimi, who were always there for me during my visits. Many thanks to Marjan Khalili, who accompanied me on my trips and assisted me with everything; as well as her sister, Mojan Khalili, who helped me understand Hamadan and took the photographs there.