"Would you like to live and school overseas?" Mum would occasionally asked me and my 5 years younger brother. We always say yes, with the images of European or American cities. But Pakistan never occurred to us.
Then it happened, my dad was offered a position of a lifetime in Pakistan. Dad went ahead before us and we joined him few months later during our school holidays. My brother was exhilarated; this is the first time he travel to foreign land. I in the other hand have mixed feelings; just like my brother, while I'm excited to go to a foreign land (but unlike him this is not my first time) I also not really a fan of south Asia. Not that I'm racist, but growing up, with me mixed Pakistani, I often getting unwanted, dirty looks from men from south Asia. I grew to learn of their cultures and their view on woman which I find disgusting. Upon arrival, I wasn't far off from my expectations EXCEPT I learn in Pakistan, foreigner somehow have this unwritten pass to almost anything. Most importantly, despite my appearance, I was written as foreigner due to the way I dressed. PHEW
What I didn't expect was to experience winter and the house my dad's company provided us. I gotta admit never in my lifetime I would live in mansion with a driver?? Yes due to my father's new position, he was given a driver and not allowed to drive as part of his image. Despite the potential prospect of cool living style, I didn't feel like living in Pakistan for the next 3-4 years. I was enrolled to Islamabad American International School, and again, despite that mean I will be mingling around with foreigners, I still couldn't see myself living in Pakistan. I eventually decided to go back Malaysia and complete my last year study there instead. Mum totally supported this idea as she thinks I might get into complications if I graduated high school from foreign international school instead of local SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia). From there on I only visit my dad annually during Malaysia school holiday between October - December.
To be honest the locals treated me well, but I still detest them on how they treated their local women. While some might argue this did not apply to me as a foreigner, it's hard for me to turn blind eye on the treatments of my fellow woman receiving. Another thing I learnt while there is not to smile to the men; apparently it's signal to them that I'm interested with them, therefore it's ok for them to approached me. I learnt it in that hard way; but I'm more disgusted some older man actually tried to approached me despite I was obviously a minor. However, with the lack of infrastructures, I truly enjoyed the nature Pakistan can offer (for now I'm unable to find those photos).
One of the good memories I had was at Malam Jabbar. The journey to there however were horrendous; the roads were narrow and damaged.
Since I never experience winter, winter is probably one of the few things I actually enjoyed while in Pakistan. Another one is Jahanghir's kheer.
After my father retirement, we all go back to Malaysia for good.
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