A 25-year-old Russian immigrant who came to Austin via Iran to get a good education says he does not believe he has " gained enough culture" in the United States. The Soviet, who prefers to be indentified only by his first name, Karm of, was reared in the small Russian state of Tadzhikistan, approximately 200 m iles from Iran. When he was 14. his fam ily moved to Iran. Three and one-half years ago, K a r mof moved to Texas and enrolled at the U n iversity; he since has graduated from the U

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... sity but continues to attend classes. K A R M O F S A ID the system of education is more difficult in Iran than in the United States but is most difficu lt in the Soviet Union. " At that tim e they hit the students. If you did not do your homework, they would put you in school ja il for one or two days. I have bad memories of my childhood," he said. Karm of graduated from secondary school in Iran, and upon graduation he tore up his diploma. " I worked so hard for something that didn't mean anything to m e." Though Karm of participated and placed in the 1974 Asian Olympics, he did not actively participate in sports at the U n iver sity. " At Texas nobody would pay attention to me. (Cleburne) Price , the (tra c k ) coach, told me I would have to buy a javelin and pole," he said. Consequently, Karm of left for the U n iversity of C alifornia at Los Angeles. " I wanted to go to a better school, with better sports." ■ After a year, however, Karm of returned to Texas because he said California " is too big. " As a boy I read about Texas and I wanted to come and meet Indians I had such a romantic picture of the U.S. I didn't know the technology was so advanced," he said. " In the Soviet Union they told us they were the most ad vanced, but I see it 's not true," K arm of said. " B U T IN T H E Soviet Union no prejudices exist. People are not allowed to own guns. Women are more protected by law, " he added. " I really don't feel that U.S. people know the difference between Russian government and Russian people. In the U.S. they are prejudiced, especially if you are Russian I can't un derstand if I am welcome or not," Karm of said. Karm of views the boycott of the Olympics as an advantage for the Russians. " It really is not a good idea. The Soviets w ill just get more medals. The Soviets w ill benefit." Concerning politics in Iran, Karm of said, " The shah had some nationalistic idpas about Persia His government has tortured lots of people. " Khomeini is an honest man. He's not nationalistic, he only thinks of Islam -not the country. I t 's not in the hand of Khomeini to free the hostages, it is more in the hands of the students and other groups. " It is a bad situation," he said. Karm of said people in his hometown in Tadzhikistan " are the most superstitious people in Russia. When I was a baby I had yellow fever. M y mother took me to an old woman who cured me with milk leaves." Near Tadzhikistan is the state of Uzbekistan. Karm of explain ed that in Russian Uzbek means ugly. " Here are the ugliest peo ple in the world. Their faces are very terrible. The Soviet Union chooses them for wrestling. L e t's say an Am erican sees that thing, (a w restler) forget it -it 's o ver." MOST O F the people of Tadzhikistan are Moslem, as was Karm of's fam ily, which includes six daughters and two sons. His father was " the wise man of the town, like a clergyman. M y father wanted people to be able to practice religion." So when Karm of was approximately 14, his fam ily moved to Iran to avoid religious persecution. Karm of also participated in sports in Iran , winning a silver medal for javelin throwing in the 1974 Asian Olympics. B y serving in the Iranian A ir Force as a pilot, working in an iron fa cto ry and receivin g a U .S . O lym pic Com m ittee scholarship, Karm of was able to save enough money to come to the United States. " I cannot have any specific plans for my future," he said. " I cannot plan for my life -life is planning for me. " I have been suffering through three countries and I feel like I am upside down. I feel I have no home. Maybe one day I could go back. I hope I can," Karm of said.