As today is my last day in Pakistan, I am recalling the wonderful moments I have experienced here as well as the lessons I have learned. This has truly been a life changing experience, and this is no cliche. For years and years my dream was to come back to Pakistan and work in AKU. I can proudly say that my dream has come true. I will let you in on a secret. While thinking about pursuing nursing as a career, I had talked to Shams Kassam Lakha, President of AKU at that time, about the possibility of me pursuing nursing at AKU. He humbly advised me to finish my program in Canada and then come back to Pakistan to work. Well, I didn't really work as a nurse while here but I was definitely blessed with a wonderful opportunity.

I apologize if this is long but the following is a recap of my experiences while in Karachi. These have been moments of joy for me and each of them has been a blessing. I wish to share these with you, my dear friends...



- Re-connected with my birth place and my childhood.
- Visited the our home in karimabad that we left Canada from. I then realized the hardships my
mom and father had gone through to raise and take care of us. My parents left Pakistan with
the belief that us children will receive a better a education. To be back in Pakistan
after acquiring my BScN was truly a humbling moment and one filled with many thanks.
- Experienced genuine Love and Spiritual Ecstasy. My Soul lifted on several occasions and
strengthened my bond with the Divine.
- Made amazing and lifelong friends. People who I had met for the first time but felt as if I had
known them forever…Maybe in a different lifetime…
- Experienced a life outside my own narrow world and loved every single moment of it
- Experienced first-hand how others live and struggle in life and how they do so with joy and
laughter.
- Learned a multitude of life’s lessons through people I had never met. Compassion, gratitude,
and sympathy amongst many others.
- Witnessed both the sadness and joy in the eyes of many
- Experienced poverty and destitution, hunger, environmental degradation, lack of political will,
lack of enterprise, illiteracy, frustration and anger, terrorism, and violence.
- Witnessed strangers lending a helping hand regardless of age, race, gender, class, ethnicity, and
religion. People are wrong....civil society does exist in Pakistan, but to a different degree.
- Experienced the power of language but also the power of human connection without the use of
any words

- Achieved my goal of having more questions when leaving this country
- I see my goal, my focus, my path and my destination. I now know what I need to do
- Through my many field visits, I saw how people live together, eat together, and pray together
- Wore many hats as an intern: learner, educator, event planner, administrator, leader, clinician,
and many more. All these roles came with lessons and challenges but all very rewarding!
- Learned a great deal about health and health care systems, primary health care, government
and non-government health care structures, maternal and child health, and the list can go on
and on…
- Had the wonderful opportunity to be taught by intellectuals and visionaries. Such amazing
people here! So much brain power!
- Given the opportunity to visit various NGOs: AKU itself, Urban Health Programme and
HANDS
- Had my dreams fulfilled of working for AKU and AKHSP (trip to Northern Areas and
volunteering at Noorabad Health Center).

- Spending time with family. Meeting those family members whom I had never met before or
was too young to remember
- Blew up my kitchen the first day of moving into the women’s residence.
- Experienced intense security and safety issues, with a case in particular.
- Rode on a camel twice at sea view. However, while mounting the camel the second time I
ripped my pants… Yes the noise of the tear was loud. Yes it was a pretty bad tear. Yes it was
extremely difficult to mount off without giving every one a show.
- Re-discovered my love for climbing trees. In love with on particular tree outside my residence.
I love the way it makes me feel – liberating.
- Realized I had Michael Jackson’s blood running through my veins – My moonwalks and other
‘dances’ in public spaces.
- Had my first and only Hen/bachelorette party in Karachi thrown by my wonderful girlfriends.
This involved walking around the city and malls with a veil and flowers over my head, asking
random people for random marriage advice and singing marriage songs to random people.
- Rode my first quad bike at Go-Aish. Accelerated without knowing how to steer or brake,
crashed into the wall, got thrown off the bike, and landed on my head on the cement. Alive to
talk and joke about it!
- Driving for two hours to find Dream World. Once around the vicinity, taking one more hour to
find it. Wondering if this place is actually a dream, like ‘never never land.’ Once there, enjoyed
the water slides, archery, horse back riding and rodeo.
- Faced my fear of swimming by teaching myself how to swim. However, because I still do not
know how to swim properly and keep my eyes closed, I crashed into the wall and hit my head
pretty hard. I had the biggest bump on my head and two days of headaches.
- Faced my fear of Chipkalis (lizards). I am not completely over this fear but I feel I have made
pretty good progress.
- Had ‘stomach issues’ for four months, including an episode of traveler’s diarrhea (sorry for the
details). I refused to take antibiotics until I was cornered. Also had three chest infections. I
blame the pollution!
- Travelled to the Northern Areas of Pakistan: learned about the health care system, enjoyed
the company of wonderful people and re-connected with nature and culture.
- Attended my first outside rock concert (‘Call’) and the ‘after party’ after the party!
- Attended my first outdoor soccer game-Manchester United and Barcelona Finals
- Attended my first cricket final (even though if it was inside in an auditorium). Experienced the
joy of Pakistan’s win with my fellow brothers and sisters. Falling in love with Afridi. The only
girls dancing on the stage after the win, which created a fight.
- Developed a love for bargaining at various bazaars and markets. Enjoyed joking around with
the merchants in order for them to cut me a deal. My favorite tag line: “Mein apki favorite
customer hoon” which means “I am your favorite customer.” Shopping was always great fun
with a multitude of colors, fabrics, and designs. Pleasure to the eyes.
- Learned how to buy fabrics and get outfits made at tailors. This was not an easy task at first-in
fact it was very tedious and time-consuming. However, I think I have gotten the hang of this!
- Developed a love for riding in rickshaws and sticking my head out to see what the world has to
offer.
- Re-connected with my fellow HDPians on route to Pakistan and while in Karachi and Gilgit.
- Re-experienced the joys of my childhood favorites: Gola Ganda, Halwa puri, Kheer puri,
biryani, Nihari, Haleem, Guban, Kulfi on a stick, faluda and so much more!
- Discovered new local dishes like handi and Afghani pilau. Shawaras at Guru mandir, Thai food
at Bhan Thai, and Chinese at Peeking, My ultimate favorite restaurant: Chatterbox! Food,
food and more food!!!
- Experienced the joys of late nights with great friends and good food. Drinking chai and the
infamous ‘plain cake’ at AKU cafeteria. Sunday breakfast with the girls.
- Enjoyed street food, even though the after affects were not so pleasant. Ice off the street.
Sugar cane juice from sketchy vendors. Bun kabab that led to food poisoning. I heart street
food!
- Experienced monsoon season in Karachi. This resulted in spending the night at a friend’s house
as road conditions were too dangerous to go back to residence.
- Tolerated +40 degrees Celsius- of dry and arid heat. Sweating buckets and smelling of body
odor. The talcum powder, body sprays and multiple cold showers in a day became my best
friends.
- Enjoyed a variety of delicious and sweet fruits at every season. My favorites: falsa (similiar to
cranberries), mangos and Guava.
- Enjoyed some Jamat Khana hopping and visited many Ismaili colonies.
- Developed a crush on Dr. S and Dr. Z. Oh so wise and caring! Lets not forget good looking too,
especially Dr. S!
- Sunday Bazaar, Sadaar, High tea, cafeteria food, chilling at sea view, the memories go and on...

Shukar Shukar Shukar!!!