Well, I was born and raised in Pakistan but made a grand escape at 24—then spent the next 30 years playing an international game of ping-pong between Japan, Pakistan, and China. Basically, I’ve been a wandering soul with a suitcase that’s seen more flights than some airline pilots. LOL.
Now, Pakistan… oh, what a love-hate relationship we have. I adore my friends and extended family, but when it comes to the political and bureaucratic circus? Let’s just say, if corruption were an Olympic sport, Pakistan would have more gold medals than Michael Phelps. Then there’s the added thrill of navigating conversations with extremists and those devoutly blindfolded folks who refuse to peek beyond what their mentors tell them. I mean, imagine having the Quran and Hadith right there, but instead of reading them, they just hit the "Accept Terms & Conditions" button on whatever someone else says.
But then… oh, the Athan! That sweet, soul-soothing sound, ringing five times a day, pulling at my heartstrings and making me feel all sorts of spiritual—until I’m distracted by the aroma of biryani wafting through the air. Speaking of food, no matter how many Michelin-star restaurants I’ve tried across the globe, nothing—nothing—hits like the taste of home. Especially my mom’s cooking! If food were a love language, she’d be Shakespeare.
And let’s talk about Pakistani sweets. Hands down, the best in the world in terms of taste, and simultaneously the worst in terms of health. A single bite of gulab jamun probably contains more sugar than an entire candy factory, but hey, life’s short! My belly is living proof that I have embraced the foodie lifestyle with zero regrets. Some people chase six-pack abs; I chase nihari and halwa puri. Priorities, my friend.
At the end of the day, we’re all going to kick the bucket—some sooner, some later, but nobody’s getting out of here alive. So why not live a little, love your belly, and savor every bite?
Now, enough about me—what about the rest of you wandering souls? Where did you start, where have you landed, and what wild expat stories do you have? Let’s swap some tales!"
