Who do you think integrates better into society…someone who was born and raised in Pakistan and comes to the west as an adult, or a Pakistani born and raised in the west coming to Pakistan as an adult?
Both countries/societies have their faults and their advantages no doubt, but I wonder who would better integrate? As far as I know, the former is much more common though there are cases of the latter as well..
Oh and please be advised, this is not a playground for attacking ABCDs or Fobs.. 
Re: Integration and Assimilation
I came to canada about 10 years ago when I was 15. My brother was an year younger and my sister an year older. To be totally honest with you I think that was a great age to come here because I had urdu and our culture pretty much ingrained in me at that part and I was young enough to pick most of the things about western culture (language, social skills e.t.c) to actually adjust well in the society. Again, I am in no way saying that people who have been brought up here or came here before me dont' have the paksitani culture because I know some abcds who are more paksitani than I am but I think that I did not have to work as hard because of the age/time I came as other would have had to.
Re: Integration and Assimilation
I came to UK about 10 years ago. I was born and raised in Pakistan. My mum is from UK but she lived in Pak most of her life and only decided to move back because she wanted us to get educated in west. When we came over, there were initial problems such as difference in culture etc but because we were all fairly young, we adapted pretty well and blended in with the kids from here. The only thing difference about us was that we all could read write and speak urdu fluently. Not only that but we also had certain values that most of the kids from UK lacked. ofcourse their parents must have tried to instill certain values and beliefs in them, but i guess growing up in west meant that kids leant more towards the western culture. I think myself and my siblings ahve the best of both worlds really. perfet blend of east meets west. No one can suspect that we have moved here from Pakistan, yet when we visit our Asian friends, (be it Muslim, Sikh Hindus etc) we are instantly praised for our manners and our awareness of our cultures and appreciation of things that kids from here do not have an understanding of.
Re: Integration and Assimilation
I think it depends on the person, you can't generalize.
Re: Integration and Assimilation
Yea I think later one works much better , because even if you were born in west then still you are a Pakistani and you always remember that . You just can't fit in 100% . When you come to Pakistan , it is much easier for you to adjust .
Re: Who integrates better?
I came to US at a matured age. I find it hard to integrate and assimilate. I do know what is right and what is wrong according to both the cultures . My kids are very much integrated into this society. But They have feel for both the cultures. The kids born and raised the way I am raising them are called bi-cultural here. They also know rights and wrongs of both the cultures and they know what is taboo in desi culture but OK in American culture and vice versa.
Re: Who integrates better?
largely depends on
1) Person
2) Definition of "integrate" which can vary from people to people. For some integrating may mean socializing and going to dace bars and for others it may merely be practice of no-showing up at someones house without calling them in advance.
Re: Who integrates better?
There are many types of FOBs and ABCDs. There are some ABCDs who lived their entire lives in burrows and did not integrate well into their society, they can integrate fine in Pakistan.
But those who are completely westernized, cannot live here at all without any problems. They have no regard for Pakistani culture and values(and even religion) and they complain about everything and make fun of everything no matter how insulting it is for others. They are known as the most badtameez people.
Similarly, fobs who have been educated in good quality schools and lived in liberal environment in Pakistan, integrate into any western country easily.
BTW Sara, what type of ABCD are you? 