For all you Pakistanis living in the West

[khattichic]

@Shak09

@khattichic

1. How often, if at all, do you visit Pakistan? Has the frequency changed over the course of the years?

Growing up, I did not go that much at all…at ages 3 & 6, I don’t remember those trips at all. The next time I went was when I was 14…and then not again until after I got married. The last time I went was in early 2008…it was not a joyous trip though, I went to be with my Papa who had cancer, and he passed away a couple of months after I left, so I have not been back since then. Prior to 2008, I was going pretty regularly after shaadi (2000, 2001, 2002… and then I stopped from 2003 onwards because of my pregnancies and babies)

2. What are your reasons for visiting? Is it more about the family? business? to attend specific events? regular trips? etc?

**Main reason for visits were for my inlaws…my MIL divides her time between US and Khi
**
3. Do you have a place you call home in Pakistan? Do you have one place you stay, or many?

**My MIL’s house is my permanent base, but I have lots of chachas, phuppis, cousins and some family on my mom’s side as well where I also stay.
**
4. During your stay, how do your spend your time? Family gatherings? Visiting tourist attractions? Attending cultural/religious/sporting/political/business events, etc?

**Most of my time there is spent shopping or hanging out with family. We usually have some picnic/leisure trips planned in and around khi. I haven not travelled much out of Karachi though. I went to Lahore/Islamabad/Muree/Swat when I was 14, but have not ventured outside of Karachi after that.
**
5. What is your favorite moment in Pakistan?

Eating out, hanging out with my cousins..staying up all night playing cards and telling jinn stories

6. What is your least favorite moment?

**Getting sick (which always happens)…the light going out of course…and the macchar
**
7. What stands out to you during your visits?

**On my most recent trip to Khi in 2008, what really stood out for me was the change in infrastructure (the flyovers, roads etc)…all the new luxury malls that are popping up…but most of all, unfortunately, the desparity and frustration on the faces of my friends and family. It’s heartbreaking to see them all working so hard, for such little return. It’s like the rich keep getting richer and the rest are just screwed.

**

I never knew you had so many relatives in Pak! :-o

My entire dadiyaal is still in Karachi (and Hyderabad, India)! My papa moved back there in late 2007 after taking early retirement from his job here laikin unfortunately, his cancer diagnosis came immediately afterwards. On my my moms side, my nana/nani, and all her siblings had immigrated to Texas by the early 80’s, so they don’t really have any ties left in Pakistan except for cousins and extended family.

My husband’s elder brother is still in Khi as is my MIL, but comes here on a regular basis.

But I pretty much echo X2’s sentiment. I don’t really feel the urge/longing to visit Pakistan anymore, especially after my papa’s death. The last time I went was directly after Benazir’s assassination and I saw/witnesses some scary stuff. It just doesn’t feel safe anymore.