Point of view: January 2009

Dear reader,
first of all I apologize for huge delay with my answers. My days are unpredictible and as you see, I need some time to write this "short" post.
So lets move to the answers and check your results!

1. Quran forbids singing
This is absolute nonsense. Have you ever seen Indian movie? Yeah, after each 7-8 minutes they all dance and sing; doesn’t matter happy they are or sand, they fighting or make love.
Here is the same thing. Actually I found some nice music (never thought I will like it). If someone is interested – let me know and I will share.
Besides Indian/Pakistani music I challenged another stereotype of mine about Indian movies… Recently I saw one movie where characters were not singing and dancing – it was amazing movie. Again: if you curious what I’m talking about – let me know.

2. Women are not working in the sales
If this question would be asked several years ago, the answer definitely would NO. Though it is quite rare thing to see women working in sales, but such cases are exists. I take the example from my company. In my department there is one girl working as sales coordinator. She is doing not direct sales (sales coordinator), but her contribution is very visible. Besides that one, we have girl working in international sales and dealing with distributors in Europe.
If you don’t like such examples, we can go out on the street and you will see how many women (even with small child on hands) are selling all kind cheap things to people who passing street by car.
Ideally, women are not supposed to work. They rather stay at home and do all house wife duties: cleaning, cooking, taking care of kids and etc. But times are changing and more and more young women are seeking for career.
Once I asked one of my colleagues: “I see lots of girls studying in universities. What is the point for them to get education if most probably whey will choose to stay at home after marriage?” And he explained me that it will be beneficial for kids as she will be able to teach them some subjects: English, math, reading/writing and etc. After this answer I had no other counterarguments…

3. Traffic in Pakistan:
As in all ex British colonies, Pakistan drives on the left side (theoretically), but usually you can see a random driving style. But still most impressive thing is that I haven’t seen any car accident on the road. Even sitting in rickshaw sometimes I pray god that if I will survive this trip, I will never ever go by rickshaw because most of the drivers follow the simple logic: if I don’t disturb anyone, it means I’m not breaking any rules.
Most of the streets are without street lights, that’s why people driving with a long distance light. Obviously, if you are pedestrian you getting blind every time you look aside trying to avoid “slowly flying cars”. I still can not get used to traffic: each time I need to cross the street I’m looking to a wrong side and I see cars going away from me. It takes ~2 sec. to realize that I’m still in Pakistan and not somewhere else.
But looking from other side you can be sure that you will not be crashed by drunk driver as it happens in “developed countries”.

4. All women are covering their faces while being in the public
It is damn good question! I didn’t know the answer myself while writing possible answers and I’m not surprised that you had different opinions about that.
Believe me or not, but it is all up to women to cover her face or not (!) No one can tell her how to do (even husband). The only one common understanding is that women has (strongly advised) to cover her shoulders and hair.
Walking down the street you can see all differently dressed women: with jeans, with shalwar Kameez and etc. But you never see with a skirt or open shirt with all beauties inside : )
People are mistaken thinking that Pakistan is the strictest Muslim country in the world. No! According local peoples’ explanation the strictest county is Saudi Arabia. After that goes Iran.
Common thing in Muslim countries is that women (and preferably men) would live in modest.

5. Weddings last:
You want it or not, but weddings in Pakistan have to be from 4 parts which takes 4 days. However these 4 parts (ceremonies) can be done with a breaks between. So it means that wedding can extend to 5, 6 or 7 days.
People are crazy about weddings. Having in mind how big families they have you can imagine weddings from 500 people to few thousand. Personally I was in only one part called Mehendi. If my roommates didn’t confuse me these four parts sound as following: Mehendi, Shaadi, Valimah and Nika (it can be done anytime).
It was interesting to observe Mehendi where young guys and girls are coming into the circle and doing synchronized dances (yeah, right!). All aunties are gathering around and whispering to each other how good wife/husband would be to their kids : )
‘Nika’ is actually the most important part of the weddings as during this ceremony wedding signatures are done.

6. Weddings are organized by parents
Depends. Pakistanis still have that deep cultural tradition that marriage has to be approved by both sides parents. Some times families decides that they want to join and only one way to do that is to marry their kids (of course not all of them as they have usually 5-6 and more kids).
Even a guy (lets call him Ahmed) and a girl (lets call her Maham) falls in love they have to get a permission from their parents, organize engagement ceremony and etc. It is quite complicated for us who used to live with boyfriend/girlfriend for years before getting merry.
What is more strange here is that people can get marry his/her 1st, 2nd or 3rd cousin!

7. Most popular car brand in Pakistan is:
Kyeatr?! Wtf is that? : )
Honestly, I didn’t make any statistical research or something like that, but from what I see in the streets, I can tell you that the most popular brand is Suzuki. It is more popular than WV Golf III in Lithuania!
Second place gets Toyota.
Most of the cars are very small which use less petrol or CNG.
Rickshaw is not a car! It is public transportation. About this ‘thing’ I could write a separate story how I bargain better price from drivers without knowing each others language. You should see it. Every time they make me smile : ) It is never ending adventure. Thank You, rickshaw drivers!

8. All Pakistanis are potential suicide bombers
Sometimes I think that you wish that it would be like that…
Actually Pakistanis are very peaceful people (surprisingly). Only because they grow big beards and dressing the same color shalwar kameez (national clothes: long shirt with a wide pants) they look suspicious. I admit that in beginning I felt the same. As we are coming from the culture where all of us are trying to be different and original from others and when you suddenly get into such culture where all people look similar – you start feeling uncomfortable.
Be sure that they are not suicide bombers. If it happens, it usually happens in Northern areas. You should be aware of the fact that those people who killing people by exploding themselves are not real Muslims. Quran is against such things and all people who are working everyday to feed their family (doesn’t matter how poor they are) would never do such thing.
Anytime you visiting some ones house – they treat you as VIP. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable because of that. But it is a part of culture: each guest in a house is like a gift from Allah. That’s why they so hospitable like nowhere else.

9. Food is extremely spicy and hot
Well, most of dishes have spices. In beginning I hardly could eat as my mouth was burning, tears are running and nose was ready to explode all substance at any second. But now I started to enjoy the food and I have no problems with that.
Was very “funny” in beginning when I arrived to Pakistan and on the same day joined conference. During the lunch or dinner members were coming to me and asking how I like Pakistan, where I come from, how long I’m going to stay and etc. But non of them realized that I was fighting with my liquids inside and I could hardly talk : )

10. The economy of Pakistan is going to be bankrupt soon
Today I think that my decision to go to the east was right as I feel more save and apart of whole financial crises. Of course some influence are visible in the market as the prices for gas or petrol is increased, banks, hotels and other financial institution don’t have that big turn over as they used to have in the past few years.
Comparing situation between Pakistan and Lithuania, I can say that I don’t hear or see articles about big rate of unemployment or strikes. So if you want to live comfortable life – do not hesitate to visit me in Karachi!

11. Karachi is famous in its region of:
Karachi is the biggest city in Pakistan. Officially here are living about 12-13 mln people, unofficially – near 20 mln people.
Karachi does lots of exports of textile, fruits and etc. However, here is a center of all biggest financial institutions: banks, insurance companies, stock market and etc. Almost all banks have their headquarters in Karachi.

12. In all Pakistan they have wireless network access
If you have in mind wireless for computers, when it obviously not true. However, if you are traveling through Pakistan you can always access internet through your mobile!
In Pakistan there are 5 mobile network providers: maybe because of competitions or because of huge population – I don’t know, but here tariffs are very cheep. People keep smsing each other non-stop. Sometimes it drives me crazy.
So if you have advanced mobile phone and sim card – you can easily access gmail.com, one.lt or facebook.com : )

13. When two men meets, they greet each other with a kiss on a chick
No way!
Such thing exists in Egypt or in Saudi Arabia but not in Pakistan. But if you are close friend with someone, it is very natural thing to give a soft hug to each other and than shake the hands.
Rarely happens that other guy who shakes my hand push it as a real man, ‘macho’… Still can not use to that.

14. How many seasons Pakistan has:
Pakistan has 4 seasons (theoretically). It depends on where you are: the higher up to north, the more visible differences between seasons. In the northern areas they even have snow (sometimes). But the place I live – summer all year long.
At this time during the day you can easily walk with T-shirt on a street, but when the night comes you need a warmer clothe. I guess the fact that Arabian Sea is just right near it affects the weather during ‘winter’ and summer.
Northern areas have very cold winters and extremely hot summers as they don’t have a cool breeze from the sea.
I really hope to survive upcoming summer…

15. The highest political power has:
This area needs lots of improvements and changes – urgently (!) The corruption and huge bureaucracy are out of order. The worst thing is that government has some prioritized areas on which they focus (oil supply, army support, their own salary and something else).
Did you know that Pakistan was ruled by army for the 40 (if not longer) years. According me, police has no power at all. Whenever you are stopped by traffic police there are two options how to deal with them:
a) You give him 20-100 PKR and keep going your way;
b) You take your cell phone, call to your relative who is/was in army, give the phone to speak with police man and you keep going you way.
Police doesn’t like bureaucracy, neither drivers : )
However times are changing and highest political power has prime minister.

16. Every family must have a son
It’s nice to have diversity but not necessary. Families are not a kingdom where is necessary to have the heir to the throne. But as in Pakistan families tend to be big, sooner or later they always get at least one boy.

17. The most popular sport in Pakistan is:
Honestly, I can not imagine Pakistanis playing rugby : ) It would be a suicide for them…
As Lithuanians are crazy about basketball, here they are crazy about cricket. The game is played by everyone and everywhere and it is sooo long game that after few hours you get bored. Personally I’m missing more action in that game, not enough moves, physical contact and too less gamble. Every weekend, when I have long sleep in the morning, I can hear screams, cheers and emotions by local guys playing cricket on the street just right in front of my window. One day, I swear god, one day I will through potato or something like that if they will keep annoying me (I hope it will never happen).
The second most popular game is hockey (on the loan). I guess they are good at that, but tell you truth – never saw.

18. According Islamic calendar now is:
Happy 1430! : )

Winners? Well, you can check by yourself how close you were to the right answers. Hope this small educational article was a useful for you. Make sure whenever you will be talking to other people about Pakistan you will be using a right message. And I, meanwhile, will be presenting Lithuania in the best way I can do. Deal?

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Quize answers

Friday, January 2, 2009

Facts about Pakistan: What do I know about it?

My favorite sites

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