Welcome to my home

No matter how much people in my country may dislike the U.S administration, there is definitely one positive side to it. Those who had never heard of Pakistan, know about it now..( although not in the true sense) So we must be thankful to this fame ( pun intended). Although sport fans are familar with the cricket star Imran Khan and Squash Champion Jehangir Khan, people generally have a very vague understanding of the place itself.

The images that people generally conjure of Pakistanis is bearded men wearing turbans and women clad in head to toe burqas living a very primitive life in some mountains...this is when you realise how the media has defaced the real beauty of this land. Modern Pakistanis are no different from any educated class of people in the world.

There is a wrong assumption, especially about women. Mostly people feel that women are very submissive and highly suppressed and are surprised to know that Pakistani moms drive their children to school and also balance a career at the same time. True there are issues in some remote villages but generally the Pakistani woman is more informed. We are proud to have female politicians, a female prime minister and a woman as the head of the State Bank. Women excel in all fields from being heads of multinational corporations, large financial institutions, architects, doctors, teachers, designers, pilots and even in the army as generals.

I am often amused at the look of astonishment on people's faces when I tell them I am from Pakistan. The next question is, "How long have u been here?" . " Just over a year." and they look incredulously, " Oh, I thought you have been here for many years, you are so confident and your English is so good". The same happens with my other family members here and we feel we are the true ambassadors of Pakistan and aim to slowly dispel the negative notions about Islam and our own culture. We are what we are today because of the education and skills we received back home.

The images in the video posted above give few snap shots of Pakistan. It's not as if I don't enjoy being in Australia. It's a beautiful country with great friendly people. My only aim of posting such information is to give a different view of my country which has unfortunately become synonymous with cross border terrorism. Our army is battling against insurgents under very challenging circumstances and the masses are scared and worried with the increasing de-stability in the region.

Still, its a wonderful place with the most beautiful deserts and famous mountainous regions...Although the war on terror has destroyed some very lovely resorts and wiped out  places of livelihood for the villagers :(

Pakistan has a great mix of culture that is unique in each province/region. This adds its own individual colour. The rich cuisine from the South of the country to the Frontier and Tribal Areas in the north have a myriad of different tastes and flavours. From the all time favourite spicy 'Biryani' to tantalising ' Sajji' and a wide range of cool summer drinks and teas, there is something to suit every taste bud.

The province of Sindh is known for it's famous saints and there is lovely historical
architecture in different parts, some dating back centuries. The lovely Shalimar Gardens built by Emperor Shahjahan in Lahore are a masterpiece of  Mughal architectural brilliance while the Shah Faisal mosque in Islamabad is an example of modern Islamic architecture.  These are just a few sites to visit. For all those who love shopping, there is soo much to choose from. Rich fabrics, lovely cool cottons, hand embroidered cushions, hand woven rugs and carpets and don't forget the scrunchy dry fruit galore in Quetta and Gilgit. It's simply a steal and the genuine warmth of the people will make you keep coming back for more.

My own work with the Aga Khan Education Service gave me the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful places in the world. While the Aga Khan Foundation works tirelessly for the social and economic development of the people living in the remote, challenging areas of Pakistan it also does a great service of opening the door to beautiful cultures and architecture that need to be preserved and cherished. A visit to the rocky and breathtakingly beautiful areas in Chitral, Hunza, Gilgit and Skardu have made me feel like I have already visited paradise on earth.

So on behalf of every Pakistani I say, " Khush Aamdaid" . Welcome to my Pakistan. :)

This is our Pakistan

Click on the title to view video

Pakistan's delicate balancing act -II

Pakistan's delicate balancing act - I

Of Khans

Recent conversations with a few friends evoked my interest in the name 'Khan' and it's origins.  Being a descendant of Khans from Afghanistan who travelled to India and later moved to Pakistan, I generally assumed that all Khans came from different parts of Afghanistan. 


But, to verify my knowledge I checked for information on Wikipedia and I learnt that the most famous Khan in history was Genghis Khan. He was not from Afghanistan, but a Mongol. 
However, Khan (Nasta`liq: خان) is a surname and title in Asia. It can have one of several connotations, all related in some capacity to the title of Khan, which originated in Turkic and Central Asian traditions and was thereafter historically granted to Muslim rulers. Infiltration of the name in to central Asia led to the term being used also as a surname or suffix by people of the region, especially the Pashtun^[1] and from them to the Muslim Rajputs.^[2]; Baloch tribes in Balochistan and in Sindh; Northern Iranian Turkic tribes; Subcontinental musicians; Sudhans of Kashmir; Krrals, Dhunds and miscellaneous tribes in northern Asia. It is though generally used as a shorthand name for Pashtuns/Pathans throughout South Asian Subcontinent. In India it is referred to as name for Pathans as a caste in the same way as Brahmin or other title.
Khan is also a last name found in Tatars , a Muslim Turkic speaking group, mostly in Russia. Also been known to be part with Ghengis Khan's army.


It is also a family name for the descendants of people upon whom the British Raj bestowed the title Khan Sahib or Khan Bahadur.
It is now a widespread surname in most countries of Central and South Asia. Khan is the surname of over 80,000 Britons, mostly British Asian, making it the 80th most common surname in the United Kingdom, and one of only a handful in the 100 most common surnames which are of neither British nor Irish origin.<sup>[3]


Another  Pathan friend pointed out that all true Pathans are actually descendants of Jews. This was the first time I had heard of it. 


What I had learnt from my father, who was keen on tracing family roots was that his great grandfather came from Afghanistan, " Laal Khan' was a very respectable person in his tribe and some of his family members actually chose to leave normal life and adopted a solitary life of saint hood. 


Another 'Khan' recently said that he had Greek blood in his veins and that Khans are true warriors. 


In present times we are all familiar with celebrities like Imran Khan, Riz Khan and of course the top Bollywood actors Shahrukh Khan and Amir Khan. 


The present crisis in Afghanistan and the continuous political instability in Pakistan has inflicted more Khans than ever before. To some people it is tantamount to genocide of a brave race who is being wiped out by malicious super powers to gain strategic gains in the region. True that there is general instability in the entire country, but the areas close to Afghanistan and Balochistan borders are the worst hit.



To me it really does not matter where we come from, but the interesting conversations  I had recently  with people with this same  surname has started a quest for learning more.  


So if u r a Khan and can add to my knowledge by sharing what u know, that would be just great. Only when we truly begin to understand ourselves can we actually reach out to others too. 


Thanks for your time and  interest.</sup> 

What I learnt about love

I often think about love. Many would say what does that mean?? Have heard of people falling in love and being thrown into a whirlwind of emotions that makes the whole word spin around one particular person. Yes, this is not about spiritual love or the love you have for your family and friends. That's different. I am talking about the love between a man and woman, Adam and Eve. I have found love to be a very magical surreal experience, so I often contemplate what it really means in the real world.

Coming from a fairly conservative middle class family in Pakistan, I know some people would look at me with raised eyebrows, infact even some of my family may even do that. Its not right for a woman to talk about love. That will sound so ridiculous to people in the west but that is how it is.

Like every normal woman I admit I have been in love, in fact fallen in and out of it too.... loll.. I can laugh about it now but it definitely was not a nice feeling, I mean the falling out part. But this is not about me, its rather about my perceptions of love.

The heady feeling, the racing of the heart beat, the agonizing wait for a phone call, meeting or e-mail. The excitement and freedom of expression when you can actually find someone who reciprocates equally, singing out loud in the car, humming away as you work on your weekly report ....it seems that love fills you with boundless energy. When you are happy, you are just swayed away in the clouds with a feeling that you have conquered the world.

Here are some stanzas from a poem for you, that reflects this lovely feeling to some extent.

I am your butterfly

You make me dance and fly like a butterfly
Twittering about, humming the song of love
My colourful wings soaking the sun
Getting brighter with your love my hun...

You make me alive
You make me feel
You make me beautiful
You are the treasure that makes me full.....


But then the euphoria doesn't last for ever. Wouldn't it be just great if it really could. We have to get off cloud nine and land on earth..shucks!! but no, why should I be a cynic and scorn all the great lovers of time. Romeo and Juliet, Shireen Farhad, Laila Majnu are just some of them.

The most essential element in any love story is the extent of sacrifice you are willing to give for your loved one. Unless you can put your own needs behind the wishes of whom you love, you really are not in love. But then, interestingly if someone really loves you they will never test you that way. Hmmmm... an important lesson to keep in mind.

This brings me to that state of love that is often called an illness of the brain. I definitely don't think its an illness but I do believe it can sometimes be an illusion. This happens when you start trusting and loving someone who really does not deserve it, but then you are so blinded with your emotions that you shun the voice that comes from yr own head and just believe what you want to believe. This can be dangerous if not checked on time. So, the best thing is to share your feelings with people you can rely on, yr family and friends who with time have proven that they are sincere to you. Listen to them, sometimes the truth can get ugly.

What a totally un-romantic turn this post has taken. I still have no conclusions, except that once I used to believe that you need to be cool minded even in love. Isn't that just ridiculous!! Love and cool..totally opposite. I wonder what happened back then to make me form this opinion....hmmmm

But really unless you take that risk and leap into that calling from your heart, you can never feel the exhilaration that humankind has been writing about for centuries. Love can never be a planned activity, you just have to learn to let go and have faith.

Wishing you all many joyful times with your loved ones.

Cheers!!

The final cook off- What a marvellous affair !!

http://www.pressurecooks.com.au/thefinals.html

                
http://shawjonathan.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/bankstown-cooks-with-grace-under-pressure/

The final cook off of the Bankstown Pressure Cooks was held this saturday. What a great day full of unexpected technical glitches, the buzz of the shoppers as they peered at the whole drama on way to buying their weekend groceries and the enthusiasm and flexibility of the contestants who remained undeterred despite of a sudden change in plans and the need to modify their recipes.

The final contestants were the Daisy Crazy friends team from Maltese background and the Hot and Spicy team from mainland China. As one of the judges, I once again got a chance to observe the cooking talent from up close. The Hot and Spicy team won for their meticulous knife skills and calm and finely tuned in orchestration of the entire cooking process. It was simply amazing how the husband and wife team quietly carried on with their task in a very focussed manner amidst a live audience.

The cultural advisers and the other competitors came to watch the grand final. Prizes were awarded by Mayor Tanya and MP Jason Claire. 

It was  a perfect closure to the competition that had created a buzz in Bankstown. Community members participated enthusiastically to make it a success by sharing their recipes and taking on the challenge of cooking from a different culture.

The essence of the competition was actually the joy it spread amongst people living in the same area, providing them a chance to break the barriers of social isolation and open heartedly welcome others to try their treasured recipes. Bankstown Pressure Cooks has proved that food is not just the way to a man's heart, it can infact pave way for a more harmonious and exciting fusion of cultures.

New Beginnings

Here I was happy and excited to soon meet my family in Sydney. I had visited before but this time I was coming with an intention to stay and make a new home in this land soooooooooooooooooooooooo far away from my own homeland. Coming Downunder from a developing country like Pakistan was a big decision from me. I loved my own city, and was sad to leave my family and friends back home but looking forward to this new phase of my life. Confident that with a good exposure to different cultures, my professional experience and personal skills I will soon be one of the successfully settled Skilled Migrants in Australia.

The first few days I just enjoyed taking in the natural beauty. Everytime we went on a ride, I was struck by the beautiful horizon- the clear blue skies with white feathery clouds scattered here and there, the lovely beaches and trees almost everywhere you looked. Sydney certainly is a sight for sore eyes. Watching the Harbour bridge from the ferry, enjoying the cool sea breeze while taking in the scenic tourist attractions at the Circular Quay were the most relaxing times.

But I was not just a tourist, I was here to stay and build a new life.....this is when things started getting complex. My earlier excitement soon faded as I realised I had no contacts, no professional referees. I was lucky to be living with family but after a very productive life and a successful career, I was to start all over again at the age of 40. This was daunting. I know this is not an isolated case, I am just one of the thousands of immigrants who chose to move to the developed world in search of brighter prospects. Although, my own incentive was really family as I was very happy with my earlier life..still, I had to make a place for myself in this new city.

Always a firm believer in positive thinking and a keen learner I engaged myself into studies, learning new skills and learning about the Australian culture and workplace environment. I soon learnt that applying for jobs online was not that effective, it was more important to start networking, meeting people and building your contacts. The Global Financial Crisis had made it tough for people already settled here for many years, so finding a job was even more difficult for a new immigrant.

Apart from the job hunt, it was not easy to deal with the feeling of homesickness, I missed my friends terribly and my busy life. The social isoltaion made me seek familiar faces in the crowd. Initially, I would be fascinated to see someone from my own background and would eargerly establish contact. This is how I made some friends in my neighbourhood, just walking from the bus stop back home I would spot a friendly face and strike a conversation.

I realized that when we keep living in one place we take so many things for granted- the system, the people around us, cultural norms, behaviours, attitudes, dress codes, food, our work....but when we are required to interact with people from other cultures we realize how little we know. While there are some universal norms, each culture has its peculiar behaviours. The beauty of Australia is that no matter where we came from we all slowly adopted the Australian culture- Good Day Mate, No Worries and lollies(candies) are some expressions found only on this side of the world.

Guided by my family and mainly through my own personal efforts, I found useful resources and networks. Bullettin boards in the local library are a good starting point. I learnt about NSW AMES and the Skilled Migrant Mentoring Program. Both these places were excellent starting points. I am especially very fortunate to have an excellent teacher at NSW AMES who encouraged me and believed in me. She gave me reference of a former colleague who was working at a very credible NGO and this was the start of my wonderful association with them.

It's now been a little more than a year and I find myself little less anxious, I have learnt so much from my voluntary work with the community organisations and work experience at the headoffice of a top computer company. Still the journey has just started and there is a long way to go.....

Bankstown Pressure Cooks- A cultural harmony project with a difference!!

We all know Food is such an important part of each culture. The ingredients, style of cooking, presentation all reflect not only the geography of the region but the social norms that show how families get together for meals and discuss the most important things in their lives.

I consider myself very fortunate for being involved in an innovative Multicultural Cooking competition that aimed to promote cross cultural interaction through sharing of recipes. This competition has been organized by The Benevolent Society one of the oldest charities in Australia. It is a chance for local community members to learn about different cultures. It was held in one of the suburbs of New South Wales in partnership with the Local City Council and other community organisations. What gave this cooking competition an edge was the use of 'Cultural Advisers' who provided recipes from their cultures. Contestants were challenged by cooking a recipe that was not from their culture and they were all 'Every Day Cooks' who just came together because of their love for food and the need to mingle with others, share and learn!

As a member of the working committee, I was involved from the planning stage, doing my bit to promote the event and helping out in communication activities. It was really marvellous to later on see this wonderful project actually take shape as the competitions began with a lot of enthusiasm and excitement. With a little encouragement from one of the office bearers, I found myself becoming a Cultural Adviser for Pakistani Food. This was my chance to show everyone what rich cuisine we had and learn about other cultures. The other advisers represented Food culture of Greece, China, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and the contestants were teams of diverse age groups from Chinese, Maltese, Malaysian, Lebanese, Nepalese, Australian backgrounds. So you can just imagine the wonderful mix of exotic tastes, texture and colours.

I was also given the opportunity to act as a co-judge for the first two rounds. This was my first experience as a judge for any cooking competition, let alone such a multicultural one. But this is what the entire project was about. It gave community members the opportunity to come out of their shell and encouraged them to talk and share ideas in a fun and productive manner. It was such a treat watching a team of Chinese ladies making the traditional Pakistani snack ' Dahi Vadas', the young Nepalese cooks struggling with the 'Vietamese pancake' and finally getting it right, the Maltese team stuffing minced meat in squids for another Vietnamese delicacy and a Lebanese team carefully arranging ' Thai Chicken boats' . Wowww..very memorable moments indeed.

This has by far been my most positive experience in Aussie Land so far. I arrived here just over a year ago and am simply amazed at the genuine warmth of the people I have met. My association with all members who have worked on this project has given a boost to my dwindling morale in an economy hit by recession.

The buzz, excitement and the feelings of warmth and social inclusion that generated from this marvellous project are a great success for the organisers. I hope you have enjoyed reading about this event as much as I have enjoyed being being part of if. You can log onto www.PressureCooks.Com.au  to learn more about this wonderful project.

Share your comments and any other ideas on social inclusion/ cultural harmony projects you may have been part of.

Take care. Eat Well. Rest Well & Enjoy Life!

Welcome to my blog

Hey Friends!! Thanks for visiting my blog. After a lot of tribulation, I finally decided to create my own little place in cyberspace. This is meant to be a place where friends are welcome to visit, chat, share their ideas and hopefully work towards building better understanding of different cultures. That is the main purpose of my blog- " Celebrating Diversity and Building Harmony" .

Well first of all let me introduce myself. I am a Muslim female from Pakistan who has had the good fortune of travelling and been exposed to different cultures.  I have worked on international and national-level education, social enterprise and community projects in Pakistan, Australia and UK and is a marketing communications professional who also has a passion for humanitarian work.  I am passionate about respecting cultural diversity. Having lived  in four very culturally diverse places - Middle East, Pakistan, Australia and the UK she feels that ‘peace’ and ‘tolerance’ can only be achieved when we truly accept this diversity, learn to accept our differences and, where possible, complement each other. My personal journey as a twice new migrant is full of meaningful lessons. 

After spending almost five years Downunder, I chose to move to the pinnacle of modern civilisation- London! . It was fun discovering the many places that I had only so far passed through on a Monopoly board game. The rhyme “ Pussy cat Pussy cat where have you been? … “ kept playing in my mind as for a second time I found myself struggling to create my identity as a new migrant in the land of the Queen.

My own personal take on different cultures is that its like a beautiful patchwork quilt made by God, with each piece adding value to the entire quilt- the human race. The fine stitches that bind us together sometimes run smoothly, but are mostly rugged and sometimes attached at very difficult points. Only when we handle these difficult stitches with care and treat them with love can we feel the full warmth and glow of this beautiful quilt.

How do you think we can work together to create this harmony and celebrate diversity?

Lets keep the conversation going.

Sha