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Pop!Tech coverage in Farsi

Pop!Tech is an event that brings together remarkable people from all around the world to discuss science, technology, and the future of ideas.

I will be attending Pop!Tech from October 17-20th in Camden, Maine. I will be be covering this event on my blog.

Hamid Tehrani will collaborate with me to translate these blog posts into Farsi for Global Voices Online (Farsi) . The goal is to get the word out--so that people from all around the world can join the conversation. More here and here!

Rosewater Wash

Watch the video

Here is an edit of the first poem, from my father's grave:
I said "Father, this is not the way for such greatness to end."
He replied, "How should it be? This is destined."
I said, "Yet, it is much too soon for your departure."
He said, "No, Truth's wisdom declares when is best."

**In the last line, the first translation uses the word “God” rather than “Truth”—The word that is actually used is “Hagh”, which means “Truth” or “God,” as the multiple meanings may be used interchangeably.

The second poem (where you see the bird picking up the poetry), which is also being read from the wake (in the beginning of the video) is from the first eighteen lines of the Masnavi of Jalâl al-Din Rumi. The video is only showing what is from the first line of Rumi's Masnavi. There are many translations, though I particularly like this translation of the Reed Flute's Song, from Essential Rumi by Coleman Barks:

The Reed Flute's Song
by Jalalu'ddin Rumi, excerpted from Coleman Barks' translation in The Essential Rumi

Listen to the story told by the reed,
of being separated.

"Since I was cut from the reedbed,
I have made this crying sound.

Anyone apart from someone he loves
understands what I say.

Anyone pulled from a source
longs to go back.

At any gathering I am there,
mingling in the laughing and grieving,

a friend to each, but few
will hear the secrets hidden

within the notes. No ears for that.
Body flowing out of spirit,

spirit up from body: no concealing
that mixing. But it's not given us

to see the soul. The reed flute
is fire, not wind. Be that empty."

Hear the love fire tangled
in the reed notes, as bewilderment

melts into wine. The reed is a friend
to all who want the fabric torn

and drawn away. The reed is hurt
and salve combining. Intimacy

and longing for intimacy, one
song. A disastrous surrender

and a fine love, together. The one
who secretly hears this is senseless.

A tongue has one customer, the ear.
A sugarcane flute has such effect

because it was able to make sugar
in the reedbed. The sound it makes

is for everyone. Days full of wanting,
let them go by without worrying

that they do. Stay where you are
inside such a pure, hollow note.

Every thirst gets satisfied except
that of these fish, the mystics,

who swim a vast ocean of grace
still somehow longing for it!

No one lives in that without
being nourished every day.

But if someone doesn't want to hear
the song of the reed flute,

it's best to cut conversation
short, say good-bye, and leave.

A conversation about gratitude, being where you are, and choice

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What is gratitude? When do you know to be grateful for where you are?

When do you know that even though you can be where you are, you can choose something else?

This is a conversation in Tehran between my sister and a friend about gratitude and choice.

This video is eight minutes long...So please save this video for when you have time to listen to this very sweet philosophical discussion.

 

selling flowers in the streets

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Many things are sold in the streets of Tehran, while you are waiting in traffic. Some will sell walnuts, hafiz poems, and flowers....Others will perform an instrument or offer to clean your windshield. This is a clip of someone selling us Mariam flowers, a flower with a very lovely smell.

Translation______________________

My mom:
what? where? Bah! what flowers!
Sir how much are these flowers?
Please don't throw them in the car!*

Vendor:
1000 tomans per bunch.
how many would you like?

Mom:
1000 tomans per bunch? It has 5 in each? Tell him to bring one for me! Sir please come here! Sir! Tell him we want the good ones.

Me:
Sir! we would like one please! The good ones please!

My sister:
Thank you. Here you go sir [handing him the money]. Thank you. Goodbye.

[handing flowers to my mom]

Bah bah. [this is a sound used to express if something looks, sounds, smells or tastes good]

____________________

*Note
This has happened to my mom before, so perhaps she was taking preventative measures. Once a guy was selling walnuts in the street and saw we were interested. He put the bag of walnuts in the car, and the traffic light changed color before we had a chance to pay him. We had to turn back around and find him and give him the money! Our family was very disappointed in us for arriving so late :)

Tehran mountain experience

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Tehran is surrounded by mountains, and visiting them is one of my favorite things to do in Tehran. Here is a clip of my cousin and I, and some other passerbys...hiking, having picnics, and enjoying the day.

Thanks

First I want to thank everyone that has been coming to this videoblog... I really appreciate the feedback that I have been getting and the people that have been so supportive!

I am back in school now, and still with a passion to share moments of my life, that I feel others may find interesting. So I am going to keep posting video on another blog, http://marashivlog.blogspot.com. Meanwhile I will start editing more footage that I have from Iran and posting them on this blog.

New York City is truly a great place to be, and I am really happy to be in my second year at ITP. This semester I am doing an independent study to work on implementing a community videoblogging center in Iran. I am also taking a broadcast documentary class in the film department, among other really wonderful classes...