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Hassan’s enthusiasm can’t be summed up in words — which is good because the city’s best parking attendant is mute. But what he lacks in verbal articulation, he more than makes up for in his animated gestures. So for today’s interview, Hassan’s friends at the Tebet parking lot where he works pitched in to help translate.

As soon as we convinced Hassan to stop waving his hands and giving directions, we sat down and chatted with two security guards, three of his fellow attendants and a roadside stall owner — all friends he’s known for years.

To see our video of Hassan in action, click here!

Your enthusiasm is unrelenting. Your body movement to direct these cars is just like a yellow shirt on an aircraft carrier. Where do you get all your energy?

I drink a lot of jamu [traditional herbal medicine] every day.

Who taught you how to park cars?

I learned on my own by watching people.

Being mute, is it hard to work with other people?

Only with the new guy [laughs], but with people who have already known me for a while, it’s easy. But for work, I can do everything on my own; I barely need any help to park cars.

This parking lot is about the size of a tennis court, how many cars could you park in here?

[Hassan looks around, his eyes deep in thought, and he flashes three fingers on one hand and then uses both hands to show us six.]

Thirty-six cars in this tiny spot? That’s impressive. Do you make good money here?

Everyone splits the tips. We all pool them together. There are three of us working here along this part of the road. Each shift, we pool and split the cash.

Do you think people give you more money because they feel sorry for you or because you’re so good at your job?

Both. Sometimes it’s because they see that I am mute, other times they are impressed by my parking skills.

How much do you usually get from each car?

I get Rp 5,000 a parking space, but sometimes I’ll get a big tip of Rp 20,000 to Rp 50,000. On average, we each can make up to Rp 100,000 a day.

What time do you come to work every day?

I’m here at 8 in the morning and I leave at 5 in the afternoon, but sometimes I hang around here until late.

How so?

If someone didn’t show up, is late for their shift or the place gets busy, I’m always ready to help or stand by.

Do you have another job?

Yeah, after this I go and sell drinks and cigarettes at a local hangout spot where a live band plays.

Does your wife get mad if you don’t call and tell her you’re going to be late?

Ha! I just text her. [He flashes his cellphone screen, which has a jumble of letters and signs that are probably unreadable to anyone else besides his wife. He smiles and then flips the phone over to show us a sticker that has a picture of his daughter on it].

Are your wife and daughter mute as well?

My wife is. We have our own language. We use a little bit of our own sign language and lip reading. But my daughter is normal.

So who taught your daughter to speak?

[Hassan smiles sheepishly as he hunches his shoulders and looks up at the sky while the two security guards both chime in, ‘Grandma.’]

Where is your wife now?

She’s in Depok. Sometimes she comes here on the motorbike and we park cars together as a team.

When it comes to parking cars in tight spots, are you the best guy in Jakarta for the job?

[Everyone in the parking lot nods their head whe they hear the question. Hassan blushes and his friends pat him on the shoulder]. He’s the best there is. He’s never tired and if he sees an empty parking spot, even when he’s not working, he fills it.