“Irvine”, went there for interview and I like the atmosphere, it was so clean and neat. I believe, it is is piece of heaven. Los Angeles/Beverly Hills is ubber expensive.
At my present location, I can easily attend Friday prayer. Connect myself with Muslim community in Isha prayer. Halal middle eastern and desi restaurants are in reachable distance. Halal meat and desi stuff is also available. Bayyinah Academy and ILFT offers Islamic studies/courses.
Weather: Hot in summer (99F to 105F), average temperature remain near 80 to 90F. Cold weather is like Islamabad, but not that bad.
Housing: It is much cheaper. You can get only one room apartment in NY, while in same cost you can rent whole house over here.
I'm surprised people are suggesting Toronto. My cousins have lived there for 13+ years, and they are ready to get out of there. The main reason would be the Pakistani community. Or maybe it's just the Pakistani community where they live.
Anyways, living in the United States, I would say it's a pretty good place also. The cities are not all that great for raising kids, but the suburbs are great. There are plenty of Muslim communities, Mosques, and schools. If you sent your kid to a public school, you would obviously have to teach them a lot more at home about the difference between Islam and other religions. They will be interacting with non-muslims allthe time, and will be familiar with things like Xmas and other holidays. You would have to explain why we don't celebrate them,etc. Having gone to elementary, middle, and high school here, I would say you really have to be cautious and keep an eye on your child's in school and out school activities. I'd say about 90% of the seniors at my HS drank alcohol, and college is just completely different story. You really have to make sure they are with the right company. Its tough raising kids to be practicing Muslims if they go to your average American public school.
Surely, only if you have lived in all the other countries can you come to that conclusion!
There are some great and some not so great places to live in every country. Same applies to UK, Pakistan or indeed USA.
Most of you in north America are in various stages of westernization and you dont even realize it...most of the muslim immigrants to North and south america have had their heritage wiped out within 3 generations there...
Really? Yet for some stupid reason, about 20,000 people convert to Islam every year in USA (highest rate of conversion in any non-Muslim country in the world). Must be some Islamabadis coming to their dreams and preaching islam to them cause we Muslims living in USA are total jack asses and a lost case.
Bay Area , California . . . but its just so freaken expensive .
I grew up in Toronto and moved to the Bay Area, CA 2 years ago. I absolutely LOVE it here. The job opportunities are great for professionals, most suburbs like the tri-valley area are very safe and have many middle-class Pakistanis and Indians. The schools are very good and there is plenty of halal food available. I would agree that it is more expensive than Toronto but then again, on average, ppl earn more here. It's not uncommon to see a professional with 8-10 years of experience earning 6 figures. And one last thing...two of the country's best colleges- Stanford and UC Berkeley are within a 50 mile radius.
I love Toronto but I would not want to go back to the brutal winters and hot and humid summers.
I am living in Singapore from Past 23 years, and I love this place.
It is small tiny City state, nice and well managed, weather is slightly worm and humidity level is but high, but extremely safe almost crime free environment.
Employment rate is more 95%, for Islamic point of view it is best non muslim country for us, here you have public Holidys on Eids, almost meat shops only sale Halal mutton and Beaf, almost all major fast food chains only offers Halal meals. There more then 70 mosques on top of that in many major office building you could find small prayer place reserved for Muslims.
**I visited around the world... so many countries maybe countless places And i never feel comfort anywhere, But This year when i stay at Madina city. I can not even explain my feelings . That was great experience of my life and i realized there is only one place where you can feel comfort **
Since you are interested, let me expend a bit more. There is small Pakistani community here mostly professionals and businessman. From primary school till A level it is compulsory for students to study their mother tongue. So we have Saturday Urdu classes.
It is low tax country, as mentioned earlier extremely safe, I have 2 grown up daughters and I need not to worry about their safety even if they need to work very late night. Another thing is relatively closer to home. I was able to reach home when my parents passed away (I was only 6 hours flying time to Karachi but unfortunately SIA no longer flying now it take 10-12 hours due to connecting flights).
Getting work permit for Pakistanies is bit tough, but if you have right qualification and someone willing hire you then should not be big problem.
I would be more then happy if you need any More information.
“Irvine”, went there for interview and I like the atmosphere, it was so clean and neat. I believe, it is is piece of heaven. Los Angeles/Beverly Hills is ubber expensive.
