Country Presentation-Pakistan

By coming here to United States on Global UGRAD Student Exchange Program, it offered many activities for me. This program does not only provide you academic exchange but also a cultural exchange. It offered me cultural activities, community services and also to be a Cultural Ambassador for Pakistan to promote mutual understanding between the people of Pakistan and the people of United States.

Country Presentation is definitely the main highlight of this program. I gave almost two major presentations at Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina and the other one in Blowing Rock Conference Center  North Carolina which was a part of my Mountain Trip. The remaining two were just my hands-on experiences about coming here and my life so far at St. Williams Church, Philadelphia, PA and First Presbyterian Church, St. Petersburg, FL. Every presentation that I gave had a positive feedback and people loved the culture and traditions that we Pakistani follow.

I presented Pakistani Dessert (Gulab Jaman), my traditional dress, Pakistan songs and some handicrafts to support my presentation. I would like to share some interesting facts that were part of my presentation that illustrated the positive snapshot of Pakistan. 

• Pre-wedding customs of Pakistan. You may be Pakistani Wedding here.
• We love Cricket. 

• Adul Sattar Edhi-Guinness World Record Holder for offering the largest ambulatory services in Pakistan. He won a Nobel Peace Prize and UNESCO Award. For more information you can log on: www.edhifoundation.com

• Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy-1st Pakistani Oscar Winner for he documentary "Saving Faces" which portrays the picture of battered women in Pakistan. 

• Siachen Glacier-2nd Largest glacier in non-polar areas of the world. It is guarded by Pakistan Army. 

• Arfa Karim (Late)- World's Youngest Microsoft Certified Professional at 9 years old. Died on January 14, 2012 due to a cardiac arrest. 

• Indus Blind Dolphins-Found only in River Indus of Pakistan. 

• Gwader Port- World's Largest Deep Sea Port.

• Albert Football used in London Olympics 2012 were manufactured in Pakistan. Almost 80% of the soccer balls around the world are manufactured here.

• Famous peaks in Pakistan include: K-2 2nd highest of the world, and Nanga Parbat being the 9th Highest peak of the world. 

These were some of the facts that just surprised everyone about how beautiful Pakistan is and how people are progressing. Some of my friends already want to visit Lahore. :)

I hope you are thrilled about it too.

P.S. Will try to upload my entire presentation very soon.

Mountain Trip

Mountain Trip had been the best trips I have had so far in the U.S. May be because I went hiking for the first time ever in my life.

It was organized by the PIF for the International Students at Greensboro, North Carolina.

1st Day:

We all set our bags and headed to the Blowing Rock Conference Center near Boone, in North Carolina. The entire journey of two hours had been filled with fun with other International Students. As soon as I got out of the bus, it was freezing cold almost -4 Degree Celsius. Spent the rest of the evening knowing some interesting facts about the area and those mountains. Students from different countries welcomed each other in their own style.

2nd Day:

The second day, we went to the famous Grandfather Mountain, the highest peak on the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. We did the Hiking. It was an awesome experience. It was very windy and cold by almost -8 degree Celsius. I hiked the Grandfather Mountain Trail.

And climbed the Swinging Bridge which is 1 mile from the ground.

It was very scary but it will was an absolute fun. I never did anything this interesting before as I had always been afraid of heights. But I conquered my phobia of heights!! :D

The Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway was beautiful. The different shades of Fall added to its beauty. I have never seen such scenic beauty anywhere.

International Cultural Hour- Gave a presentation about Pakistan and shared some great highlights.

Day 3:

It was thrilling. Started with a visit to the Blowing Rock, (NC). This has a great story behind it. And it is considered to be the only place where leaves fall upside as well as the snow is seen to blow upwards. You may read the story of Blowing Rock here.

It was followed by S'mores Campfire at night. I loved the marsh mellows with chocolate and wafers. I actually loved the concept behind S'more as being "Give me Some more" :) You can read more about this custom here.

This trip gave me memories for a lifetime. I enjoyed adapting and learning about American Culture in this trip. Will definitely miss it when I go back home :(

Removing Negative Stereotypes about Pakistan

Internationalization is definitely a two way street. It helps you get to learn about your host community as well as your help them know about your own community and in this way once you get back it helps you to tell your own community about the negative perceptions they might have or something they do not know of.

Before coming here, I have had some negative stereotypes about Africans Americans. But after coming here, staying with them, sharing culture and traditions with them, I have discovered that they are absolutely amazing. I have formed some great friendships too. :)

On the other hand, due to front-line position of Pakistan in Media and all the consequences of terror activity, people around the world have had a bad image about it. And this something we as Pakistani as facing as our biggest challenges. This needs to be addressed as there is so much in Pakistan that media does not show. I think this Global UGRAD Program gave me an opportunity to talk about it and present a positive insight about Pakistan.

My friends, and colleagues here and the general public whoever met me amazed me by the stereotypes they have had. Some include:

• Do you ride on camels to school as it a dessert area? (Trust me, Pakistan has a rich fertile land, and only 5 deserts which are not widespread)
• Do you use cellphones? (They were shocked me using an iPhone. We have a progressing IT and Telecommunications industry. )
• Asians are Chinese. Pakistanis are South-Asians. (Wow)
• Strict Parents
• Pakistani Women are backward. (After watching my Country Presentation and my progress in University their views changed)
• Bloodshed, Terrorism

These were some of the stereotypes that Americans had about Pakistan. I'm removing these stereotypes through interacting with them and telling them about the positive side of Pakistan.

Video: "Life in the U.S."

Currently working on the video. Will upload very soon. Keep following! :)

Thanks for your patience.


Anum 

Three Cups of Tea & Malala

One of my friend Roxana who met at the International Students Dinner was from Rome and talked about this amazing real story of Greg Mortenson who is a climber and visited Pakistan during his summit K2. 

It's a great inspiring story how he helped build schools in Pakistan & Afghanistan, one school at a time to promote education and peace. With collaboration with Central Asia Institute they helped build schools especially for girls. This is one of the bigger challenges that Pakistan faces today in the Northern and North-Western Areas. 

Here is also a link to a slideshow showing some pictures from his work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ywBTYOEbrc&feature=related

And, Malala Yousafzai the 14-year-old girl who was brave enough to accept this challenge, has set another example for everyone around the globe. She stood for the promotion of girls and women rights in her area (Northern Pakistan). She is definitely one of the pioneers of promotion of education for girls around the globe especially where education for girls was only a dream.

The UN Petition, in her name " I am Malala", and that all children to be in school by 2015, has inspired everyone from all walks of life and of all ages. We salute you, Malala.

"Dont wait for Change, Be the Change."

1st Swimming Class

As I am a soft-hearted person, I have always had a fear of water. Looking at the water has always stunned me with fear. In Pakistan, last year I finally decided if I could swim but somehow due to less female students in the class, they cancelled it. Here I got the chance to take part in it and I got enrolled. Finally the day came and believe me it was not as easy as I thought it would have been. Standing on the boundary of the pool was just terrible. With a large heart, I just prayed to God and got in with my eyes closed. I felt that I'm drowning. The water was taking me down. My instructor and my other classmates helped me a lot. Just ten minutes and I was fine. 

Till now I have enjoyed every class. Its really fun! I plan to continue swimming in Pakistan as it is good for fitness and health. :)

1st Piano Class

As I was fortunate enough to study in a highly renowned Catholic School in Lahore, Convent of Jesus and Mary, I always participated in Choir and wondered how the black and white keys made a harmony in a style with a gentle touch of the fingertips. 

Staying in the Choir at school and Church during Christmas and Easter services especially benefited me to read the music like where to go on a high pitch and where to go on a low pitch.

Opportunity knocked the door and luckily I got a chance to learn and play the piano. It was definitely a dream come true. I worked diligently and practiced all the exercises assigned to me.

Yesterday, it was my Midterm Exam. I was so nervous because I was supposed to play the notes without any help. I'm so glad to tell you that I played four solo selection and scored 98%. Yay! I can play PIANO NOW!!! :D

The selections I played were:

1. Mary had a Little Lamb
2. Alouette (French)
3. Ode to Symphony by Beethoven (My Favorite)
4. When the saints go marching in

I am working in harmonies now. Will definitely upload some video about it.

I'm having the best times of my life. Thanks Lord. 

1st Fitness & Condition Class

Whenever the word ‘Fitness' clings to our mind, it is usually associated with physical activity and health. By getting enrolled in this course had helped me how to stay fit and healthy. If you do regular exercise it does marvels to our body. Back in Pakistan, I was not involved in so much physical activity and now since I have started my fitness class, I have observed I have become more active and feel good about myself. 

Exercise especially for women is of immense importance, it prevents you from osteoporosis which is very common in women as they get into the phase of aging. Plus, it helps you live longer for example you may be 40 years old as per your Chronological age (calendar age) but if you have an active lifestyle you can have a physiological age of just 20 years old. 

You can surely benefit from exercise too. The choice is yours. Just grab your trainers and get set go! 

1st Walmart Trip, Greensboro, North Carolina

Bennett College welcomed me with an opportunity of going to the Walmart with the other new students on campus. They were mostly freshmen who have come from different states of the United States. Everybody had been eager to visit the Walmart. And finally our big sisters (upperclassmen) took us on a ride to Walmart during the Orientation Week.

I was awestruck by the spacious mart with a diversity of the products. You just name it! Walmart had it all. What I learnt was to look for three or more brands of the same product and then decide what I need to purchase according to my budget.

On the other hand, the diversity of options for products you have is very appealing and can let you spend your dollars away!  

The upperclassmen helped me get some grocery and some utilities for my room. 

P.S. I bought some make-up and a hair-straightener on sale! :)

1st Community Service- Campus Clean Up

It was a great learning experience. Learnt a lot. It was campus clean up. We were arranged in groups of 3-4 students. It started on Saturday 15, 2012 from 9am to 11am on-campus. It was organized by the Junior Class of 2014. The main objective of this community service was to clean the campus. Every group was allotted different sections of the campus. Me and my group was allotted the Lee Street which is the western street along the campus and the Gorrell Street which is the southern street along the campus. We picked trash that included paper bits, cigarettes, some cards and posters etc. The important thing that I learnt from the other students who accompanied was when we pick up the trash as bottles plastic or glass make sure to drain the liquid inside because you may never know what the liquid. It can be some strong acid, alcohol, beer, juice or just water. Its better to be safe than sorry.

This project really inspired me. The reason being that the students made an individual as well as team-effort to work collectively to clean the campus where we study for the most of the time. They did it with a feeling that it was there own home. This made me responsible citizen to look up my campus as well and keep it clean. I wish to do this project on my campus in Pakistan. No funds, no license or paperwork required in this project, all what requires is a sense of responsibility to give back something to the motherland. :)