I never imagined that I would spend my 50th birthday in Tehran, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
But life is a long road full of so many surprises, and on Monday, March 2, 2009 I found myself at a dinner hosted by the Documentary Film Association of Iranian filmmakers, when suddenly, accompanied by the dizzying grooves of a Persian musical trio, our hosts brought out a flaming dish of red jello with what looked like a roman candle or a roadside flare on top, and started to clap their hands to the beat while singing "Happy Birthday" in Farsi. Wild!
While there is no alcohol served (at least publically!) in Iran, there was an intoxicating quality to the evening, aided by a delicious green vegetable drink that was prepared and served in what turned out to be a health food, organic produce restaurant.
It was a night to remember, and I will always be grateful for the warm celebration thrown by my colleagues from the Academy and our Iranian hosts.
How do you say "50 is the new 30" in Farsi?
william
Red jello cake with a roman candle, Natalie and Diego would have loved that :)
Posted by: margaret oomen | March 14, 2009 at 06:04 AM
Happy Birthday!!! It's nice to do something special for those birthdays that end in 0, yours looks like it was amazing.
Posted by: Janet M | March 14, 2009 at 09:34 AM
Now that is unique! Happy birthday!
Posted by: dutchbaby | March 14, 2009 at 03:37 PM
Happy birthday!
Posted by: estelluxx | March 16, 2009 at 08:59 AM
What a fabulous way to celebrate!
Posted by: Paris Parfait | March 18, 2009 at 01:05 PM
Wow Billy!
You're so lucky!
What a wonderful thing to have a birthday party in Iran.
I am sure that you had a great time!
Love!
Elsi :)
Posted by: Elsita :) | March 22, 2009 at 06:38 PM
"Panjah, Sea-yeh jadideh" or something to that effect is the way we'd say it in Farsi...Happy birthday or should I say "Tavalodet Mobarak."
How amazing & bizarre that you spent your 50th in the country of my birth -- the one that I lasted visited when I was nine-years old...it was, shall we say not a pleasant memory. But these pictures and your documentation of this incredible trip, certainly touched a nerve and reminded me of a place I was once so proud to call home.
-Mandy x
Posted by: Mandy Safavi Goldman | April 02, 2009 at 10:07 PM