The train rounds a bend. The rest of the cars appear one by one, all tied to one another far into the distance. It comes as a surprise to be tied to things so far back Human Landscapes from My Country by Nazım Hikmet ____________________________________________________ As many of you know, Passages Through Pakistan: An American … Continue reading Passages Through Pakistan – Film & Reviews
The train rounds a bend. The rest of the cars appear one by one, all tied to one another far into the distance It comes as a surprise to be tied to things so far back Nazım Hikmet, Human Landscapes from My Country We moved from town to town during my childhood, but I was … Continue reading Passages Through Pakistan – An Excerpt
Before my family moved to Pakistan, prayer was relegated to the Sunday morning church service, the evening service and Wednesday night prayer meeting at McLauren Baptist Church. Our family had “family devotions–a daily time for short Bible readings and prayers–and we prayed before each meal. However my perspective on prayer was largely first formed … Continue reading On Prayer and a Pakistani Childhood
“My sons were flowers, borrowed from God.” grieving father to Reuters correspondent @mehreenzahra. “Next to a tiny body bag, there is dried blood on this hospital floor. Trampled by footsteps of crazed parents, resolute attendants #Peshawar“ In the midst of work emails, a cup of coffee, and trying to plan my day the news of the … Continue reading Mourning for Pakistan
“It seems that violence is the only lens through which ordinary people in Pakistan are viewed in the media. Even if it’s a story about a Pakistani rock band, it will be set in the context of a violent society. There’s nothing false about the perspective. Pakistan has a problem with violence. Violence is used … Continue reading Beyond the Headlines – Pakistan Zindabad
In less than three decades the goal to eradicate polio had become a public health success story. Polio is a disease that comes on suddenly, cripples quickly and kills indiscriminately. There is no cure and at the peak of the polio epidemic millions were affected and killed in every country. The disease brought fear to … Continue reading Public Health, Polio and Pakistan
Today is the 65th Anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence Day, the day in 1947 that marked Pakistan’s entry into the world as an independent nation, separate from India and the British Raj. Growing up the holiday was marked for us with a day off from school and a festive atmosphere. While today I sit in an … Continue reading Celebrating Pakistan – Pakistan Zindabad
With a roar of applause Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy arrived on the Oscar stage, her beautiful shalwar/kameez glittering under the lights. She took the Oscar for the Best Documentary (Short Subject) for a film that tells the story of Dr. Muhammad Jawad, a British-Pakistani plastic surgeon who works to restore physical and emotional health of Pakistani women burned in … Continue reading First Pakistani on the Oscar Stage
My mom grew up in a small town in Massachusetts called Winchendon known at the time for its toy factory. The toy factory made a variety of wooden toys and the town earned the well-deserved nickname of Toy Town. A large wooden rocking horse, created in 1912 and recreated in the 1980’s, stood under a … Continue reading Angels From the Rooftop – A Christmas Story from Pakistan
Just one year ago a flood devastated much of Pakistan, sending the country into crisis. It’s time to look back and remember as well as continue to understand the current needs and situation in the country. Aid agencies continue to voice concern about the relief efforts and the rebuilding that continues to take place. With … Continue reading Pakistan Flood – Looking Back
It seems years ago that I returned to Pakistan to take part in flood relief. As much as I wanted to daily hold in my heart the women and children from the villages and camps as well as the images of human need from this catastrophe, life has taken over adding more urgent things to … Continue reading Pakistan Flood Update: Webs of Protection.
If you have followed my blog, you will see that this week Pakistan has figured significantly into my posts. From Masoor Dal and Boarding School Bedtime Stories, Pittsfield to Pakistan and Baby Switching,instead of going on the usual tangential trajectory, my writing has kept this theme. Perhaps it’s the whirring of the fan signifying summer … Continue reading Painting Pakistan
85 years ago today, June 7th in 1926, a baby boy was born to a family in the city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He was fourth in the family, joining three sisters, a mom and a dad. Three years later his youngest sister was born and the family was complete. He was named Ralph Edward Brown … Continue reading Pittsfield to Pakistan – 85 Years and Still Going Strong
One of the challenges of adjustment from international to domestic living lies in the kitchen. How do I create the tastes that my palate has become accustomed to in this new land? Going from red pepper, garam masala, white cumin and turmeric to simply salt is distressing. A kitchen full of fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic and ginger … Continue reading A Cheater’s Curry – the Pakistani Pillsbury
Note from Author: This is the closing post to a 5-part series on Pakistan. If you are beginning the series feel free to link back to the first entry “Orientation”. Thank you for reading and caring! Our time was coming to an end. We had only 32 hours left before leaving by van, back to the Sukkur … Continue reading Series on Pakistan: The Benediction
This is number 5 in a 5-part series on Medical Flood Relief in Pakistan. If you are just beginning to read please feel free to check out the other postings in the series beginning with “Orientation”. The authors are grateful for the interest and emails they have received. Entry contributed by guest author Carol Brown(See … Continue reading Series on Pakistan: Wound Care for the Wounded
This entry is Part 4 of a 5 part series. If you have just begun to read please feel free to reference Part 1: Orientation. Thank you for your interest! I am not familiar with the face of hunger. While I am aware of this as a problem, my personal view of it is limited. … Continue reading Series on Pakistan: The Face of Hunger
