Re: Congrats to all Pakistani students who got admitted to US/UK/Can universities!
Congrats!! You had a goal in mind, and you achieved it. You studied hard. All those nights when your peers were out playing night badminton tournaments, you were busy re-reading your course books. All those weddings you missed becaue of exams, all those Clifton outings that you didn't go to, and all those TV shows and movies you put off to a later date, all that has paid off now. You got admitted to the university you wanted. The future is bright for you!!
Now onto the important things, a few dos and donts and general advice.
1) Deodrant:
First thing, buy and use deodrant. They can be had for as low as a dollar. I recommend Bic and Gillette, they are good. Your talcum powder is no longer good. You don't want to be the smelly one in the class and be called "Smelly Paki" behind your back. Also, daily showers are a necassity. I know in Pakistan a lot of us took showers Jumma to Jumma, but its time to change.
2) Shave off the mustache:
Your one and only sign of manliness is no longer a sign a manliness here. Two types of people keep mustaches, country rednecks, and very stereotypical gay people. Even the sensible gay person avoids the mustache because they are so ugly.
3) Trim those hair peeping out of your shirt:
Very important. Us desis are hairy, but doesn't mean the whole world has to see it. Use scissors to cut the ones peeping out. Oh and open shirts showing hairy chest is no longer sexy.
4) Watch how the average person dresses and maybe copy them, keeping within your cultural and religious requirements.
Leave your custom tailored dress pants at home. Don't wear them to class. Tight jeans are also a no no. They only look good on a very selective group of people, and that is also a big maybe. Also don't wear dress shirts to class with jeans. Dressing different and unique is ok, but one must have an attitude to go along with it.
5) Stop parting your hair.
Parting hair is very 70s. Most people comb down, or up. Also, short hair cuts are common. Long hair are for hippies, and mullets are for rednecks. I know, both are equally popular in Pakistan, but you are not in Pakistan any more toto.
6) Leave the khopray ka tail at home.
No explaination necessary.
7) No one is interested in how great Jeddah, Doha, Lahore or Sargodha is.
I know it is very furstrating and people just nod infront of you, and behind your back they don't believe you. So just let it go. Yes, I know Jeddah malls were amazing, 50% of cars in Doha are Ferarris and Lamborghinis, Lahore's food is the greatest in the world, and Sargodha has the most beautiful sun rises. But just let go. Also, don't make up lies about how great life is for 2% of the population in Pakistan, and try to pass it of as everyone's lifestyle.
It took me 5 years to figure this out, and I am providing this advice for free. So take it.
Once again, congrats.
So you finally handed control of what makes you, you, to others...Maybe in your next post you can teach us how to be ourselves...