While in the IRI, Islamic Republic of Iran, I found it quite easy to engage people in dialogue about their daily life, hopes for the future and family history. As with anywhere in the world, people really enjoy talking about themselves and snippets of conversation can be transformed into full disclosure of some very personal information. Roaming about the magnificent Tomb of Hafez garden in Shiraz, I noticed a twenty something in a mostly off and barely on hijab. She had on a cool looking hand painted t-shirt, and a variety of fascial piercings including some weird fang- like caps on her two front teeth. When she saw me checking out her t-shirt she shot me a big smile and came my way.
We were standing next to an outdoor area where ladies come every afternoon and drop in to read in unison from the Koran. After reading out loud a few pages, they move on and other women come and take their places on the raised podium. While there I spotted another twenty something dressed in head to toe chador and marveled at the contrasting styles of these two girls. This girl was going around serving tea to the readers who had had just completed chanting. With the help of my translator/guide/friend, Farzaneh, I was able to bring these two girls, who seemed to come from different stratospheres, together for a bit of dialogue.
I really couldn't properly pronounce the name of the red haired girl so called her Punky which made her laugh. The conservatively dressed girl, Zahra, seemed amused by it all and eagerly joined the conversation. Punky said her dress, lip piercing and red hair caused havoc in her home and her father refused to be seen in public with her. Zahra said she, too, never goes out with her father as it isn't something that someone her age does. They nodded at one another and had a private laugh when I said it wasn't cool to be seen with your parents. Their English was minimal, but Farzaneh translated and said they fully understood what I meant. When I asked them if they would like to change places with one another for a few days they both burst out laughing, and in unison replied that they could only dream about those things. They both said that they loved the garden, poetry and felt comfortable with the life they have created for themselves.
We were standing next to an outdoor area where ladies come every afternoon and drop in to read in unison from the Koran. After reading out loud a few pages, they move on and other women come and take their places on the raised podium. While there I spotted another twenty something dressed in head to toe chador and marveled at the contrasting styles of these two girls. This girl was going around serving tea to the readers who had had just completed chanting. With the help of my translator/guide/friend, Farzaneh, I was able to bring these two girls, who seemed to come from different stratospheres, together for a bit of dialogue.
I really couldn't properly pronounce the name of the red haired girl so called her Punky which made her laugh. The conservatively dressed girl, Zahra, seemed amused by it all and eagerly joined the conversation. Punky said her dress, lip piercing and red hair caused havoc in her home and her father refused to be seen in public with her. Zahra said she, too, never goes out with her father as it isn't something that someone her age does. They nodded at one another and had a private laugh when I said it wasn't cool to be seen with your parents. Their English was minimal, but Farzaneh translated and said they fully understood what I meant. When I asked them if they would like to change places with one another for a few days they both burst out laughing, and in unison replied that they could only dream about those things. They both said that they loved the garden, poetry and felt comfortable with the life they have created for themselves.
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