Five Things I’ve Had To Learn As An Expat

Living in Pakistan has meant that I have had to learn new ways of doing things. Coming here from a different culture and a different religious tradition, I’ve had to forget certain habits and condition myself to suppress manners and reactions that are natural to me, but that in this culture would be out of place [...]

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Five Cultural Observations About Pakistan

Most houses in Lahore have a square shape, a flat roof and very large windows that are often covered up with thick outdoor shades called chiks. There is always at least one terrace.
Cars and driveways are washed every day.
Brooms and mops don’t have a stick. Traditional brooms are a bunch of needles that are tied together with [...]

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NaBloPoMo: Past the Midway Point

I’ve made it past the hump without missing a day, but it’s been close.
I have plenty of ideas, but fitting in the time to write has been a challenge sometimes, especially because my concentration suffers when I’m interrupted constantly, as it is bound to happen with a young child.
So far, NaBloPoMo has been good for [...]

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Seen on the Street

Neon sign over a take out barbecue restaurant in Lahore:
Peppers
Takeawaytaurant

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5 Things I’ve Done as an Expat

That I would probably never have done at home:

I’ve had threading done on my eyebrows. Hair is removed with a string that is held taut and pulled over the skin. It hurts. A lot.
I have used a squat toilet.
I am used to driving in traffic without rules.
I have eaten a cow’s tongue for dinner.
I have bought meat [...]

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Postcard from Pakistan No.3

People in Lahore decorate their houses with lights and flowers when there’s a wedding in their family. This one, a few blocks from our house, is done with colors, in the new style.

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