tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785008130539689905.post2209465841963326961..comments2023-03-31T02:32:01.738-07:00Comments on one hundred essays: 6.s.e.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06762313846063890265noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785008130539689905.post-71705882334625820402011-04-24T21:59:13.959-07:002011-04-24T21:59:13.959-07:00Thanks for the encouragement Annonymous! I try to ...Thanks for the encouragement Annonymous! I try to write as often as I can but you've motivated me to write some more :)<br />In response to your questions: There was never any doubt that I would go back to Pakistan right after graduation. I funded my own college education (mostly through generous financial aid but partly through loans and work-study) and the idea of graduating into a shitty US economy was extremely unappealing. I also had my very patient boyfriend of seven years waiting for me to finally finish and come home so we could earn some money and get married. I didn't want to miss out on seeing my youngest sibling growing up-he was still a toddler when I left for college. And finally, I was afraid that if I stayed, I would never return. I feel like that tends to happen in spite of our best intentions. All in all, I'm very happy I returned. I think studying abroad can be a great experience, but it's what you make of it that matters. A liberal arts education is incredible if you take advantage of all it offers, but then again I've seen people who go through it and come home as unenlightened as when they left. I guess that applies to everything though. <br />As for my History degree, I was hoping to go for a PhD one day. I had no idea what I would do right away, but I believe that if you sincerely love what you do, you find ways to make it work. There's also the plus that getting jobs is easier in Pakistan. Very fortunately for me, I'm working as a historical researcher/archivist and teacher here in Karachi, so I found my niche!<br />Hope that answers your queries, but a blog post on one of these things is coming up soon :Ds.e.https://www.blogger.com/profile/06762313846063890265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3785008130539689905.post-69472736571591293162011-04-24T16:29:24.562-07:002011-04-24T16:29:24.562-07:00For reasons I cannot quite point out I had/have be...For reasons I cannot quite point out I had/have been feeling utterly homesick/stressed and tired. So I decided to stumble the internet looking for blogs, videos, pictures by people from pakistani individuals that I could remotely relate to. And so amongst songs from Cheapmunks I stumbled upon your blog. And I have to say that I am utterly impressed and humbled by your writing and material. I can't remember the last time I read for hours without being distracted or feeling sleepy, reading in bed, on my phone, in class, at work (a part of me did not want to finish). <br />Aside from your very articulate and engaging writing style and your extremely intellectual insight into the various issues surrounding Karachi, Pakistan and the Pakisanis, but what really drove it home for me was of your experience as a pakistani girl with an amreekan college experience and degree. As cliche as it sounds but that hit the spot for me. <br />As a rising senior at a liberal arts college in the northeast, who has loved and is loving every second, every moment but has the nightmare of graduation looming around the corner, your blog really gave me the solace I needed. <br />I really enjoyed reading of your experiences at MOHO and all the feelings and responses you received after graduating and moving back home. <br />I find myself in the same position of defending the liberal arts education and my choice not to do medicine in Pakistan (shorter,less expensive, more lucrative JOB). But really kudos to you for defending your B.A history, now I wish I had studied history but them my mom might have not funded my education. But really liberal arts has been the best thing that has happened to me and in some corner of my arrogant brain I think my friends who went to england or big state schools for their professional degrees are just unfortunate. I remember when people were so confused as to why I wanted to 'do' arts when I had studied biology al my life. And also why I would go to an unheard of small college just because I wanted to go to america!?<br /><br />I am sorry this post is turning our to be kind of a blog post but thank you for the inspiration!<br /><br />I wish I could put together my thoughts as well as you but thank you so much for blogging. Frankly I'd love to read more stories of your experience at MOHO and after (what ever you feel is appropriate ;) ).<br /><br />But reading through I was just curious about a few things;<br />why did you decide to go back to Pakistan right after graduation?<br />What do you think about Pakistani students abroad basically the idea of studying abroad?<br />What did you hope to do with a History degree?<br /><br />and just a side note, you could be the next big female writer out of south Asia, so may be sip on some chai eat some chaat (i am not really making my homesickness easy on myself), sit on the porch with your lap top and while the pedestal fan blows your hair back, just WRITE till the maulvi on the microphone calls for fajar or the akhbaar wala comes by (which ever comes first)<br /><br />tumhari behanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com