The Snow Plowers

snow clip image, originally uploaded by Parham.

Iran is one of those places where even a short conversation with a total stranger who happens to be passing by can be rich in content. This is pretty much unlike elsewhere, where even interactions that are supposed to be deep are often shallow and devoid of any real sign of life.

The following videoclip was not setup. I had just taped my son playing with his friends in the snow the other day when I decided to go out and take a look outside with my camera on. What happened next is what you see in the clip.

For those who can't hear what was said in the audio, here's the text of the conversation, together with a translation in English, courtesy of Jahanshah Javid:

Barfi 1: (from afar): Barfieh... barfieh... (It's the snow plower... it's the snow plower...)...
Barfi 1: (after having seen me recording the scene): Agha shabakeye chandom pakhsh misheh? (Sir, which channel will broadcast this?)
Me: (laughing): Az in shaansaa nadaari... (No such luck...)
Barfi 1: Bezaar tu Jam-e-Jam.... (Put it on Jam-e Jam TV)
Me: Ru maahvaare pakhshesh mikonim. (We'll put it on satellite TV)
Barfi 1: (now near) Agha salam. Biaaym paaroo konim? (Hello sir... should we come in and plow your snow?)
Barfi 2: Khasteh nabaashin... (May you not be tired...)
Me: Merci, ghorboone shomaa. Na... (Thank you very much, no thanks...)
Barfi 1: Tooye Jame-Jam bezaar oonaayi ke oonvare aaban befahman maa che gereftariyi daarim. (Put this on Jam-e Jam TV so that people on the other side of the ocean know what kind of problems we have...)
Me (laughing): Areh, vaasat mizaaram hame tamaashaa konan. Ma'roof mishi tu Amrica. (Yeah, I'll air it for everyone. You'll become famous in America.)
Barfi 1: Areh baba, chikaar konim digeh... (Yeah, what else can we do?...)
Barfi 1: (disappearing in the horizon with Barfi 2): Barfieh, barfieh... (It's the snow plower, it's the snow plower...)

Download the clip here (3.6 MB approx.)