Off The Wall

Ok so I've been quite busy with illness, AIESEC and other jazz so
it's been a wee while since I've updated. I've actually decided to
update this time with an e-mail I sent to a friend yesterday in part
answering some questions he had and in part just rambling on.
(Andrew hope you don't mind my sharing this with everyone...)

Hehe good questions. To be honest I think today was the first day
I've actually been quite scared here in Pakistan (I probably
shouldn't tell you this as I don't want it to scare you away but
it'll be in my blog when i get around to updating it) don't let this
scare you away from Pakistan or even reconsider, I think life is all
about the experiences and opportunities we take and what we make of
them ...the occasional scare is all part of the learning process and
hey if we're not going to live life to the fullest is it really worth
living?

Well first of all really really really watch what you eat. On Friday
I had a burger at the University about half an hour later I started
feeling really ill. On Sunday I ended up spending the day at the
hospital with a temperature of 40C (104F) horrible stomach cramps,
head ache ...the works. It turned out to be a bad case of food
poisoning but they were able to fix me up. What I learned from
this... the AIESECers do know where to take you and the place they
took me was clean, organised and safe (I called my insurance company
they put a Danish doctor in contact with the one treating me to
review everything he was doing and it was all ace). I also learned
that no matter where you eat you need to be extra careful and just
double check meat and such things before eating it. For the most part
everything is safe just have to be careful.

Today I took the bus to Islamabad, I was a wee bit worried just
because I'd read the British Embassy's warnings about busses and such
the day before and it got me thinking more then I should. I really
got a bit scared this evening when out with friends for sheesha when
we heard the news that not too far away a suicide bomb had just gone
off. I guess it's only normal to give you a bit of a scare but hey
these things aren't just happening in Pakistan these days as you're
well aware. So on from the scare, this country is so amazing and I
love being here. Definitely a great choice for you to take a year and
experience.

The Muslim state... I think you'll find (at least initially) that a
lot of the Pakistani's that you spend time with are representative of
about 2% of the population, wealthy, western oriented, open minded.
This varies from city to city and I hear Karachi is by far the most
liberal (still haven't been there). From what I've noticed in Lahore
and Islamabad with the people I've been with it hasn't been an issue.
There are many things you notice on a day to day level of living in a
conservative ruled Muslim state but nothing that extreme. Social life
works a bit differently (off to the sheesha bar instead of the pub)
but as with many less developed countries Westerners can often get
away with more so I think there's less to feel but lots to observe.
Definitely get used to being stared at, it's just one of those
things. I love the fact that I'm in a Muslim state just because for
once in my life everybody is Muslim so when we get into discussions
there is such a wide base of knowledge on something I wasn't raised
with. There is so much to learn and though some of the things we may
already know (that there are differences between extremists and the
majority of ordinary people) it's really good to hear and also
very ...not quite sure what the right word to use it... very moving
to hear peoples emotions over what is going on in the world. I've
learned so much and I can't wait to go home and discuss it with
friends, go home to Denmark and discuss it with some rather close
minded family friends because even though many of the things are
obvious it helps so much to bring them to the surface. Wow i'm
really rambling on hope you're following me and hope this isn't too
much. I'll try to wrap up. If anything though, one of the best
experiences and biggest learning experiences of my life has been
spending the time I've spent here just learning about a people and a
culture that is very much the centre of attention in our world today.

Free time... After just one evening in Islamabad it has become very
apparent to me that it really varies from group to group and city to
city. Sports, Sheesha, Ice Cream/Coffee, Movies, Music, Singing/
Playing Guitar, Eating Eating Eating - At least in Lahore. Eating is
one of my favourite past times so I definitely approve but it's
definitely a social activity here so be prepared to enjoy that.
Weddings also seem to be a happening thing at different times of
year, I've had some friends tell me that during the Christmas
holidays they had wedding plans every night for an entire month! I
think there are lots of different things and it really varies who
you're around. You'll be around several trainees and the MC (I hear
they have quite the good time in Karachi) so you'll definitely be
having an awesome time!

I hope this sort of answered your questions, sorry I got so into it,
just had lots on my mind. Hope it's helpful. I know it started off a
little bleh but I hope I was able to work up to a more exciting look
on Pakistan.

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So you can see, it was a bit of a ramble. Love to hear your own
opinions. Hope all is well wherever you are in the world.

Mads