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# SMC to present ‘Funny in Farsi’
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/smc-to-present-funny-in-farsi/
- Published: 2005-10-24T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:01:43.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Downtown, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

There’s something funny about Persians in America. Santa Monica College will present “Funny in Farsi,” in what’s been described as an entertaining, humorous and insightful talk by best-selling Iranian-American author Firoozeh Dumas about experiences of Persian immigrants in America.

The talk, based on Dumas’ book with the same title, will be given twice: at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in room 214 of the SMC Art Complex, 1900 Pico Blvd., and at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at SMC’s Emeritus College, 1227 Second St. in downtown Santa Monica.

Dumas moved from Iran to Southern California with her family when she was a child and later attended UC Berkeley, where she met and married a French man. “Funny in Farsi” was published by Random House in 2003\. The book went on to be on the San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times’ bestseller lists and was a finalist for the PEN/USA award in 2004.

Orange County Reads One Book selected “Funny in Farsi” as its book of the year for 2004, as did the city of Whittier in 2005\. It is now on the California BRIEFS, from page 3 Recommended Reading List for schools and is used in many junior high, high schools and universities.

Dumas has been traveling the country talking about the book, and her one-woman show, “Laughing Without an Accent,” opened in Northern California in April to sold-out audiences. She has also done commentaries for National Public Radio.

“Funny in Farsi” is co-sponsored by the SMC English-as-a-Second Language Department, the SMC Persian Club and the SMC Associates, a private organization that funds speakers and special programs on campus.

The event is free, but seating is limited and is strictly on a first-arrival basis. A book signing follows the presentations. Call (310) 434-4303 for more information. Private school to celebrate Halloween gently

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 24, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/102405.pdf?ref=smdp.com)