PERSIAN (فارسی ) PARTY!

Since I've been in college in Los Angeles, I have experienced a number of things and attended events that I would NEVER have thought I'd find myself at. From indie rock concerts with the LA hipsters to standing on the red carpet at the BET Awards face to face with personalities from television and radio - I seriously try to absorb every event and person I meet so as to somehow get a deeper understanding of the world around me. I don't know if I'm understanding this world any better, but I'm having all kinds of fun just trying.

Last week, at the request of my wonderful friend (who happens to be of Persian descent), my roommate and I attended a semi-formal dinner party in Beverly Hills where Farsi was the language of the evening and meat was the stock of almost every dish. At first, I was nervous. "Im Black, they're gonna be looking at me like I'm crazy!!!...at least my Mexican roommate can pass as Persian...what if they're mean?...how many people are gonna be there?....am I dressed okay?...let me make sure I smell good so when they hug me they remember! ...should I bring my resume?...."

Upon arrival to the party, my heart is beating fast as a jackrabbit, and I get a little nervous. But at the sight of my friend's unique smile, I feel cool again "yea i got this...no worries...these people dont scare me" Once inside, I find that Persian people are some of the nicest people I have ever met!! Usually, when I go to non-Black friends' houses, I feel uncomfortable and unwelcome (but then again, that's in Pennsylvania and Texas..), but the people at this party made me feel as if they wanted to know me, as if I, with my own smile and courteous small talk, could enhance the lives of their own! It was refreshing and interesting.

Though the food wasn't all for me as a vegetarian - meat was a main ingredient of almost EVERY dish present - the salad and uniquely seasoned rice were both fancied by my tongue. In attendance were some some Persian big shots...some radio personality guy, an actress, a famous singer/tar player...and it was interesting to see all of these people so poised yet seeming to have such an enjoyable time. Oh, also, I can't fail to mention the funny/semi-creepy guy with the whitish-grey ponytail who, while introducing himself to us and getting to know us through exchange of conversation, managed to lowkey kinda scare us a bit!

It was interesting to see clear Persian traditions still prevail in the land of decadence and assimilation. The stand-out moments of the night for me were the performances by the tar player who sang songs in Farsi while the rest of the party chimed in, and when my friend's mother cut a rug and showed us her Persian dance skills!!!

All in all, I had a good time, and the fruit was delectable! I must say though, during the party I couldn't help but wonder how each person felt and/or was affected by the recent and not-so-recent political strife...??

Oh and did I mention how good the fruit was???? Fruit was so juicy made me wanna learn Farsi! Mmm....good times!

Shab bekheyr va khab hay e khoob bebini!