Kazem Aghlmand, the Most Famous Refreshment Server in Iran

Kazem Aghlmand never imagined he would become so famous that TV networks and newspapers would come looking for him, or that his picture would appear in magazines.

But that is exactly what happened when he started writing about his daily life online, and posting pictures of teacups, samovars and fruit bowls he had prepared for meetings.

Kazem is 32. He belongs to that ever-present if seldom noticed cadre of Iranian office life: the refreshment server or, more literally, “refreshment steward.” These gentlemen provide other employees with the amenities and services they need to make it through the day but are often taken for granted.

Now Kazem is known as the “most famous refreshment server in Iran.”

This is all because of social media. Kazem started his activities online by blogging, then joined Facebook and Instagram. “I wrote satirical blogs and then moved to Facebook,” he says. “When Facebook was filtered I went to Instagram, which is easier to work with. Then I came up with the idea of posting pictures of my daily life with humorous captions.”

Now his Instagram page, “The Daily Life of a Refreshment Server” has more than 51, 000 followers. “I always write under my own name and I never hide anything,” he says. “I think one reason that people like my page is that I am for real.”

Kazem was 23 when he started working as a refreshment server and runner for a private company. Since joining social media, he has never concealed his job online. “After a few weeks of writing blogs I asked my readers to guess my job,” he says. “Most thought I was an educated employee with his own desk. After they had answered, I told them that I was a refreshment server.”

At first, Kazem thought that revealing his job might cause him to lose readers. But to his surprise, they have increased day by day. On his first day on Facebook, he posted a status update about his job, which he says changed his life.

“I have been a refreshment server at the same company for around six years,” he wrote in the status update. “One of my duties is to serve tea to my colleagues and their visitors. What I wish for is that someday somebody will pour me some tea and say, ‘Well done! Have some tea.’ Of course, they do it if I ask them, but the fun is if they do it without me asking.”

After his posting was so well received, Kazem decided to dedicate his Instagram page to his day-to-day life.

The Happiness Option

Kazem did not always feel so enthusiastic. “When I started this job I was so unhappy,” he says. “I cried my heart out when I swept the floor. But one day I thought about it and told myself that I would never be 25 again. So I decided to change my life. I had neither the education nor the connections to find better work. But I had a choice. I could cry and be miserable every day or I could try to do my job in high spirits and enjoy it. I chose the second option.”

A short while later he made another big decision. “I decided to continue my education if I got the chance,” he says. So he registered at night school. “I had only studied up to the first year of high school but now, God willing, if I pass all the credits, I will get my high school diploma this year.”

Kazem has now posted details about his night classes, his report cards, and his textbooks on his Instagram page. Kazem was married a few years ago, and he also posts pictures of his wife and their guests. His friends, relatives, colleagues, and manager are among his followers on Instagram. “At first, my family had problems with it, and when I took pictures they made fun of me.” He laughs and adds, “Now they all want me to take their photos.”

Breaking Taboos

I ask Kazem what has been the most important accomplishment of his page. “Breaking taboos,” he answers without hesitation. “You might not believe it, but many times when I was sitting in a cab chatting with the driver, he would ask me about my job. When I said I was a refreshment server he would say, ‘No, seriously!’ I would answer that I really am a refreshment server, I make a living out of it, and see no reason to hide it.

“Many people who work in the service industry leave comments online and thank me for giving them the courage to say what their job is,” he says. “A while back, a woman left me a message saying ‘my husband is also in service and I always concealed his job, but since I came across your page, I hold my head high and say that he is a refreshment server.’”

Kazem posts pictures of his travels, his fun times on weekends and holidays, and what he buys for himself and his wife Fariba. “Many people think I am promoting a simple life and they thank me for that,” he says. “I am not doing anything like that. I am only saying that it makes no difference whether you are rich or poor. Enjoy life and have fun with whatever you have got. I promote a joyous life and talk about little excuses to feel happy, like walking along a beautiful street with your wife in springtime or having your favorite dish.”

“Don’t Send Me Money!”

Kazem has refused to profit from his fame. “Some kind followers want to help me,” he says. “For example, they ask for my account number so they can deposit money. One follower who lives in America wanted to send me a smartphone. I don’t accept their offers. I don’t want to change my regular life.”

Kazem has followers from every walk of life: doctors, engineers, teachers, and workers. “A few psychologists follow my page and encourage me,” he says. “One of them was saying ‘we have studied so much, but after all this education we have just come up with the same idea [about happiness] that you have.’”

Perhaps this is what has inspired Kazem to become a psychologist. “I love psychology,” he says. “If I get into college, I will definitely study psychology. I hope so, I hope so,” he says excitedly.