Funny in Farsi

• Funny in Farsi

Question one

Firoozeh was a little nervous on her first day of elementary school as she had never been to any American school. To add to her problem, she was tensed when the teacher wanted her mum to locate Iran on the map. On failing to locate, she felt embarrassed by her mother for the first time in seven years.

On Firoozeh’s inability to speak English, I think that her fellow classmates assumed that she was perhaps illiterate or foolish per say. I think that very a majority of her classmates would not bother to master her difficult name. they would instead assume it’s impossible may have opted for a nickname as an alternative. Firoozeh’s classmates may have as well assumed that she was immature to an extent that she had to be accompanied by her mum to class for fear of getting lost.

Finally, I think those language barriers are to be greatly blamed as a cause of cultural misunderstandings. This is because most cultures and language go hand in hand. In this regard a person’s compatibility with a particular culture depends with their mastery of a particular language.

Question two

Firoozeh feels that due to her young age, she may not be in a position to express her ideas and suggestions freely to her parents. She gives up on encouraging her mother to learn English as she feels that the latter’s interest is elsewhere. She could not encourage her dad as she perceived him to be better than she was in speaking English.

Family embarrassments are common in day to day life in virtually all aspects of life. A family member’s personality, habit or words may be quite embarrassing especially when they occur in a gathering. As a victim of family embarrassment some years back, I can relate with Firoozeh’s discomfort and the sire need to even deny her mother.

Question three

The television set in Firoozeh’s family plays an important role in informing, reminding and persuading her mother on the existence of certain commodities in the market through adverts. In addition, the television set was used in entertainment and as a means of spending leisure time. Her dad found passion in Bowling for Dollars. In these advertisements, the American language connects her relatives more to products than her language simply because Americans are better in convincing buyers by showing how one can buy a lot of goods with relatively less money.

Question four

Firoozeh’s experience in Disneyland shows how quick the Westerners are quick to categorize people on the basis of their ability to speak English. In this instance, the boy’s inability to speak English probes the “comforters” to immediately associate his origin to Firoozeh’s. I feel that racial profiling in the 21^st century should be avoided at all costs as it may lead to misjudgment and discrimination based on one’s race. As a frequent racial profiler having recently misjudged a Chinese for a Japanese, I now have known that it is a vice that should be eliminated.

Question five

Firoozeh and her family experienced a cool atmosphere while in America. Americans were kind to them and would bring Firoozeh gifts and offers besides being invited to their homes. On the contrary, after the Iranian Revolution, Firoozeh’s friend who arrived in America never got any invites to Americans’ house beside the hostile atmosphere as everyone was suspicious of Iranians.

Immigrants whose native nations are in war with their adopted countries are sometimes discriminated and mistreated as they are perceived as hostile and real enemies despite their innocence. This common occurrence shows that the more a patriotic a person is then the more severe levels of xenophobia they will be exposed to.

Question six

Francois receives much credit for the good things in his homeland even though he had not in any way contributed to it. Americans seemed to be more free to the French and other well-known countries unlike Firoozeh’s Iran. I think that Americans’ attitudes towards immigrants from different countries greatly depended with the experience in that country and its identity. These attitudes are common even in the current times as an individual’s reaction towards an immigrant depends with the latter’s country of origin.

Question seven

Firoozeh’s isolation at the camp shows how people, irrespective of age, sex or race are at times subjected to discrimination and social isolation on the basis of being perceived as different from the rest. This kind of isolation affects the victim mentally, psychologically and emotionally.

I think that Firoozeh’s decision of not to bath might have contributed to her state of social segregation and exclusion. This decision meant that she could take part in limited activities unlike the other kids and thus end up feeling lonelier. It is natural for most humans to feel that they are deemed as invisible in such cases as everything seems to go on well without their involvement. I feel Firoozeh’s feeling was not as severe as it would have been there no other kids for the likes of Mary and her brother who were also kind of secluded.

Question eight

Firoozeh chose to adopt ‘Julie’ as her middle name for simplicity and to share some Americanism in her. This decision is a clear illustration of Firoozeh’s awareness of the Americans’ habit of judging a person based on his/her appearance or name. The change of name will at least help quench much questions as she will be able to associate herself to Americans by virtue of name. her dual identity enabled her see the full version of Americans’ discrimination against Iranians after the revolution as she could not get a job when using her original Iranian name but for some reason, she got numerous job offers as soon as she started using Julie in her CV.

Question nine

Being able to vote, just like Firoozeh’s father, brings joy to an individual as they are given the right and opportunity to directly participate in electing a leader of their choice. Many perceive it as the opportunity to vote in good leadership and equally remove a bad leadership from power. Voting evokes a feeling of belonging to a nation or a certain jurisdiction and culture. Unlike a democratic United States of America, Iran is a monarchial government. In the former, people vote in their leaders unlike in the latter where the highest social class rules. In Iran unlike in America, people are not allowed to vote for their leaders.

Question ten

The thanksgiving meal at Firoozeh’s house shows that as much as they give thanks for living in America, they have not forgotten about their Iranian cultures as they cook a combination of foods from both cultures. By virtue of eating foods from other cultures will help one have that sense of belonging to a particular culture and thus understanding its people better.

Question eleven

Kazem, having done and succeeded in the Fulbright exams, he was awarded a Fulbright grant followed by an acceptance from Texas A&M. This gave him an opportunity, though as an immigrant, to pursue his studies in engineering which enabled him change his life for the better as a result of a successful career.

In that same way, education should be adopted as key tool that will change the lives of those who believe in themselves irrespective of their places of origin, race, sex or beliefs provided they work hard.

Question twelve

Firoozeh’s interaction with her extended family is one of a kind. It is good to see her relate well with her uncles, aunts and cousins in a manner that is quite exemplary. I think her interaction and my interaction with my extended family are quite alike. Family is important to us and every moment spent with them is incomparable. The importance of family in the American society can be measured by the amount of time spent together by families to share in love, joy or in moments of grief.

Question thirteen

Firoozeh’s experience with the violence during president Shah’s visit seemed not to affect her psychologically then as she even was even suggesting to her parents that they should go back to statehouse. However, upon recalling the moments she fears a lot a she remembers the violence.

I think she finally able to make a reconciliation of the violent experiences with the goodies that America had to offer both economically, socially and politically.

Question fourteen

Firoozeh’s engagement with Francois is received by her parents with joy and her mum even abandons her earlier beliefs that her daughter should be marries to an Iranian doctor. Firoozeh’s parents take Francois to a restaurant just to prove their support and love for the duo.

Mixed marriages are accepted I our society as we believe that we are all humans irrespective of culture, race or ethnicity. In fact, so long as the two are in love and there exists no blood ties between them, then they are good to go.

Question fifteen

Firoozeh’s use of humor helps in highlighting her experiences in America as an Iranian in a more effective way and in a harmonious way. This helps me in appreciating the American culture’s role in making people’s lives better despite the challenges that may come along the way.

If I was told this story on a more serious perspective, then my attitude towards the then America would be totally different. I would be sadder and remorseful in her experiences.

Of the many humorous moments, I think her dad’s misinterpretation of some words in his speaking will be more memorable to me. This is mainly because I can relate with my own childhood experiences when I misused some words and phrases. This serves as a memory of my life as toddler.