P-A-K-I-S-T-A-N.

In the super-power country "United States Of America", between a Metropolitan state of North Carolina, under the shade of the bushes of Marion city, a 16-year old kid lives who is not part of the this land, not a native inhabitant of this environment, but he's the one with one heart, two eyes, two ears, one nose and each and everything that a normal human being has. And that is me. I am one of the seventy-one kids of Pakistan who left their country to study and experience life of an American kid in USA and let everyone know that a place called "Pakistan" exists in this world too.

The mornings,evenings and nights are same all over the world but still people compare places and set priorities for them. Human beings are the same all around the globe but still they are differentiated by caste, creed, race, religion and what not. In our daily schedule, did we ever take a 5 minutes out and tried to know why is this happening? No problem. It's because we are careless and we really don't care of what is happening around us unless it's of our own benefit and now I thank God that I have realised it. I can do nothing but write and make the people know what "Pakistan" is. It's a place situated in the south of Asia, right next to India and China in the north. It's actually a Diverse cultured country where people of different cultures and traditions live together as a single nation and stand under the Green flag of Pakistan.

I, being one of the lovers of Pakistan will try my best to make you people aware of a Pure name "Pakistan" which is part of this Globe. This word "Pakistan" has an essence of purity in it. It means a Pure Place. A place where no one but peace and brotherhood exists. Our ancestors had to face alot of hardships to gather a land for the Muslims of sub continent back in 1900s. Alot of people sacrificed their lives without thinking of their families because they did not want me and other fellow Pakistanis to be slaves of some one and live their lives like cowards. Properties were confiscated, Muslims of sub continent had no rights and nothing. But then during this bad times, a few people sparkled from the crowd and worked day in and day out to get Independence and wanted to have a separate identity. Their die hearted struggle did not go in vain and they clinched out a Nation named Pakistan from the deep seas of tyranny and agony.

Pakistan emerged on the world map as an independent sovereign state on 14 August 1947,

It was Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who was the founder of this country.

The National Language of Pakistan is "URDU". The population of Pakistan is about 170,540,500^[.

This country Pakistan is divided into four parts also called provinces. They are Sindh, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtoon Khuwa and Balochistan. It is a diverse cultural conutry , it's famous for so many cultures. Each province promotes and shares its own diverse culture. There are so many historical places that are worth visiting. People from all over the world pay visits to these ancient places and get to learn alot of stuff from the antique remains at these places and the designing and architecture is famous all over the world. The people of Pakistan make handicrafts by their hands which are so beautiful that people all around the globe come to see them. There are different kinds of traditional dances too. The cultural dresses of different provinces are different. The Natural Resources of Pakistan are Arable land, natural gas, limited oil, substantial hydropower potential, coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone. Agriculture Products--wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, eggs, fruits, vegetables, milk, beef, mutton.

It has worth visiting places in it to visit. The hilly areas of Pakistan are so beautiful.

The Northern Area is the most spectacular and fascinating region of Pakistan. It is here that the world's three famous mountain ranges meet - the Himalayas, the Karakorams and the Hindukush. The valleys of Pakistan are very beautiful and worth loving. These include Kaghan valley, Sawat Valley, Chitral Valley and alot more. Their purity and beauty shows the peace and harmony that exists in the hearts and minds of its people.

The Pakistani food is very tasty and a bit spicy too. Some of the famous dishes are Multani Halwa[Desert] , Nihari[Breakfast dish] , Bryani [A dish made with Rice] and etc.

I bet it will be very spicy for the people of America if they taste it. Some of them are Chicken Bryani , Chicken Karahee, Nihaari , Tikka and alot more.

Pakistan, the land of green is famous for making handicrafts all over the world. The handicrafts of HALA are very beautiful and the women of villages make these handicrafts with their hands, it requires a lot of hardwork, struggle and devotion. I salute those village women who work day in and day out to make those quality things and let Pakistan's head touch the skies. Pakistan is also famous for it's most beautiful Hills, mountains, valleys and lakes. It's almost a paradise.

The valleys of Sawat, Chitral happen to be so green and so heart-inspiring that we don't get a match like those all over the world. Well, I miss my country "Pakistan" but I know I have to go back after an year and the time is passing so fast. That's the only reason I am trying hard to get into American culture and Americans as much as I can and learn their customs and styles of living and share my own cultures and traditions. I really hope to have an unforgettable year.

Traditional Pakistani Dress.

To conclude everything up, I'd like to state that Pakistan is not what all the people around you and me think. Pakistan is not a terrorist conutry, Pakistanis are not terrorists, they are the same people like you. There's a very friendly and loving nation in between those beautiful valleys, there are the same kids as there are in USA who love and want to learn and take Pakistan to the skies,It is the same piece of fabric that you and we wear.

When God gave us same pair of eyes, hands, nose, legs then why do we distribute ourselves in groups and differnt nations?

Ask yourself , not today maybe tomorrow you get to know we are made up of same clay and we all are equal in eyes of God and let's combine our hands and make a change and take this world from right here nor as a Pakistani , Neither as an American but as a Human.

I hope I have made a tiny change :]

A new feeling, A new hope, A new destiny.

Wooo.

It's been so long that I have not blogged but now I think I should and here am I once again but this time I am not one the same computer from which I used to blog, I am not on the same chair where I used to sit, I am not in the same house where I used to live and not even in the same country when I was born. This time, I am in United States Of America. Isn't it cool? Oh Yes, it actually is. I already understood what a cool feeling actually is. And with a new country, we have a new desire, a new feeling, a new hope and a new destiny. It's been almost a Month I have left my Motherland and the people who raised me up and made me understand the differences between bad and good. Till now, Life has passed in just a wink.Anyway, here's the summary of the life that I had lived for about a month.

It was the same morning as usual when I left Pakistan and headed towards my new journey towards USA. Checked in and entered the plane, I still did not have a feeling that I am about to fly in the air for the first time and am leaving my country. Just in no time, the plane took off and landed at the DUBAI Airport. I still did not feel anything special, maybe because I was with 72 other Pakistani kids with me who were also in search of their destinations. We all had the same feeling and I was still the same. After 8 hours of Transit at the Airport, we checked in and got in the Plane that was going to drop us at our destination after a long journey of 13 and a half hours. After a long wait, at last the journey ended. We entered USA. Wooow, I was actually in the Country of my dreams. Like I wanted to be in that country like anything. I just wanted to see the big buildings for which you have to raise your head high and the people of that Country who had made the country's name so high. After Entering the United States Of America, the first hope I had was that I am going to meet the President Barack Obama during this Year, I am still positive and if God wants I'll meet that person who had struggled so hard for USA and has had done so many good things for my Country :)

We were still at the Airport and then had to go for some paper work. Like everyone, I waited for my name to be called and do the paper work and step out to see the color of sky in USA. But it feels so teasing when the officer calls you and instead of helping you she talks to her friend about her Multi-colored Nail Polish and the Circus that was cancelled and will be held somewhere else now. I was just standing, smiling and staring at her to do the paperwork and let me go. After waiting for like 30 minutes, she finally freed me and Now I was allowed to go. I hurriedly took my luggage and headed towards the exit door. There were some Cultural Advisors waiting for all of us to get out of there. Everyone gathered at a single Place and then we proceeded towards the Main Exit Gate. It was the time I had been waiting for since so many months. I was standing right under the sky of USA but still there was no any feeling of being in a new country and being between new people, Hahaha! Strange but true.

Went to the American University, Had the best time of my life. I got to know a person very well, with whom I spent my 3 days so closely :). YES, Falak Sher Marri that was you. He seemed to be more than a brother to me. Attended the conferences, did small workshops and then the best part which was the Cultural Night. Everyone dressed up in their country's national Dress and So did I. Performed our traditional dance and stuff and it felt so inspiring and made me so proud because there were almost 400 People watching us and getting to know about what PAKISTAN is like :). We did our best to make Pakistan proud of us. It was the last night at the American University and now I started to have feeling of moving to my destination finally. I started being nervous. Hanged out with the friends during the night. Didn't even want to sleep. But then the clock struck 4.30 and it was time for me to leave the Premisis of American University. It was hard but finally rode in the bus and went to the Airport. I was so freaking sleepy. Didn't talk to anyone much but had a feeling of going to a new place where no one knows me and with a hope that I have to make them know me. I was all on my own from here. The plane landed and I was in North Carolina. Took the luggage and didn't find anyone, wandered here and there to see if my name was written somewhere on the Chart and if someone was waiting for me. After 20 minutes, Maria's(Girl from Pakistan) host family appeared and I thanked God because I didn't want to get lost somewhere and this time I knew that I am not in Pakistan. My host Dad could not come to pick me up because he was stuck somewhere in the meeting. I spent my first night at Maria's house and Ron(My Host Dad) came to pick me up on the second day. After meeting him, I swear I didn't feel like he's a complete stranger to me who has opened his door for me to come and experience this new journey. Till now, He has turned out to be such an Awesome Person. Though, he's a teacher and he is a great Person.

This month is passing by so fast and by the grace of God, I am not homesick. I am trying to be into American culture without forgetting that I am a Muslim and just trying to make people love me, love a Pakistani, love a Muslim. My journey has just started and I am already loving it. I hope for the Best year ever and that People come to know about me and let me be part of their lives. And after a few years, while sitting in their Garden, having a cup of coffee, they might remember a Pakistani Kid who came and somehow made them feel good just for a moment and they might say three words which will mean more than anything to me and that are "God Bless Him".

This was all about me, I tried to precise the things but even then it turned out to be a very long Post.

Regards,

Shahzeb Memon [Pakistan]

It happened in less than a Year time.

I shifted to a new home back in October 2009. I never knew this new place is going to give me so many worth-loving memories. Life changes so soon and when you look back every thing becomes a history.
So this blog is about the building in which I live and it is about spending time with brothers, cousins and two acquaintances becoming Good friends. My elder brother Shahzad, Younger Brother Shafay, 3 cousins; Umair, Shan and Unaib, 2 new friends; Abdul Rehman and Ubaid (they both are brothers). Before shifting to this new home, we all had a feeling of fun which we knew we are going to witness just because we all were about to be live in the same building. At first, everything was a mess like it happens. New home, New people, New places, New shops, New neighbors and blah blah. But once you get used to them, trust me everthing looks completely awesome in your eyes. We shifted in October, Umair's family shifted in November and Abul Rehman's family shifted in January. We started playing cricket together, this cricket part is the best of all. It's so so much fun to play cricket and make a team that comprises of your own building's members. There was a Building just next to ours and the guys there used to play cricket too. We started fixing matches against them and played and we won the most. Shafay and Unaib were very weak in cricket and since Me, Shahzad Abdul Rehman and Umair were the oldest in the team so we threatened both of them on every point, even at home. hahaa.
Like, "Agar Merey lye Pepsi nahee leke aogey to team sey Out, Agar Mere lye paani nahee bhar k aye to team sey out, Agar Chokidar ko Khana nahee dekey aye to team sey out and blah blah"
And trust me, both of them did everything just to be in the team. Hahaha!
I am sorry to both of them but I know we won't stop, we'll keep on threatening them until we stop cricket. :D
Then comes Driving, I don't know driving. Shahzad Umair and Abdul Rehman are good drivers of car. And just to take advantage of this thing, whenever Mumma aur Dad gave any work to us to go and do in car, we(all the 8 kids) use to rush into the car and roam around and tease people coming on the way and dancing in the car and loved those moments :D

In short, I'll miss these people a lot during my exchange year :)
Love,
Shahzeb Memon.

Life changes in a wink?

I am just sitting on that same chair from where the only thing i can do is facebook, play games and plan parties and I can feel that nothing is going right, I am so hell bored and when i am bored i start assuming my life that is going to start like after 20 days.
I'd like to start from the very beginning and write everything i remember about this YES thing. It's actually a US scholarship that makes you a cultural ambassador and live a life as an exchange student there in US. I never knew anything about this scholarship before applying for it. I just thought that this is an awesome scholarship that sends you to US free of cost =p
Well , There were four girls who had been YES scholars, they were from the same school where I was. I still remember when these girls left for US, a teacher while teaching in our class started making us realize our worth in that school by saying that these for girls were so talented that they are in US on an scholarship and they are from AKU(Agha Khan University) Board and at that time i was writing something on the blackboard but my ears were on his words. As I heard of a scholarship, i just turned back in no time and interrupted and asked about the scholarship and stuff ? And asked him the only reason for not even telling us about that scholarship, Just because we are Sindh Board students and they are AKU ones?
He looked me with his weird eyes and I could do nothing but turn around and continue writing on the black board. That was the day I am Shahan decided to find about it ourselves. After a few weeks, I was online at Internet and Shahan asked me to see the link about that YES scholarship and I, within no time went through everything in it. I got a bit satisfied by looking at an statement written which said you can apply independently too because i knew my school will never want SINDH BOARD students to Compete AKU ones, lol this is drama but happens. But at that time we had already graduated from our schools and were in Colleges now. Anyway, then I and Shahan Applied for the scholarship and unfortunately Shahan could not get selected just because of OVER-AGE which was one of the main parts in the terms and conditions. I felt bad and still today i kind of miss him when i go to anything related to YES and i am not even kidding Shahan. Well then i Got selected in the SLEP test, my Dad was like it's such a high profile scholarship but i never agreed with him on this. I had never applied for any scholarship and this was my first one. I really wanted to get selected as I also wanted to be popular in my family after seeing my cousins going to different countries on scholarships. Well, then I cleared the SLEP test, was called for the Interview which was the real big deal. I asked Bakh about it again and again and she constantly kept on saying that Interview is the point where they kick asses and knowing that who'll want to get his ass kicked?
So i kept on watching English news channels, unnecessarily started talking English with my siblings as wanted to be fluent during interview, lol. And then the Interview day came, I was Not so social at that time so it was hard for me to even greet people there but i managed. And then interview went on and went So Good , there was Nothing to be afraid of. Sir Saleem was so good as an interviewer and felt like My dad is talking to me.
And then i had nothing to do but prayed day and night to get selected as going to another world was something unbelievable. Atleast a Month passed and i lost all the hopes of being selected. Shahan asked me about it and I just had nothing to say but that I know i am not going in there. But he continuously kept on saying that I know you'll get selected but I took it as a sympathy. Well Just in a week after then the Final letter reached my house and said that congratulated on being selected as an exchange Student. That was the day I could not stop my feelings. I literally started dancing at my House and my Grandmother said my mother like what happened to your child ?
I did not tell anyone about it, Just a very few people. It was Just because i still could not believe that I am going to US after 5 months and my dad believed that things can change in no time and it all happens because of people's Jealous nature so just don't leak anything out and I kind of agreed and kept quiet but my inner feelings were like i was flying so high.
And from there on my YES Journey started.
First Workshop was not so happening as i did not know anyone but a couple of people there, Interviews were not so fun either but then the Final PDO's came and changed my life for 5 days. Living in 4-star Hotel was not a piece of cake. Then it was fun all over. Made so many friends, Loved them, laughed with them, Played pranks, Played Games, Loved life, Learned a a lot of things too, had fun with Alumni's.
Especially , Thank you very much Bilal Khan. Mate I swear if you were not there to guide me at times, I'd have been one of those bad asses in the eyes of everyone, your advices turned out to be very helpful and I spent those 5 days in a decent yet enjoyable manner. Those 5 days are still On my mind and I am really looking forward to love the rest of the Journey , InshAllah.

Regards,
Shahzeb Memon.

We are in Need.

When the word Peace boggles in your mind, a more bunch of words start flashing in our brains like Love, Brotherhood, harmony, tranquility and so on. There was a time when human society was not so much extended and the people were pretty much aware of each others smiles and tears, a sweet breeze of Peace blew from all the directions. As the time passes, things change. These changes are often unfavorable but it happened.
In this hi-tech world of today, where clocks move so fast and every person is into his/her own interests. They want to make money but don't want to use it for a good cause, they want power but don't utilize it in changing the world, they want attention but don't render services of being a human and in this way the world goes on. There are way too many difficulties and hardships being faced by Pakistani's. We have world's best doctors, engineers, scientists and what not but still we hire outsiders for our country's projects. We are the largest Muslim populated country but we are not united.
Change is what we all demand. This change is only possible if the Youth is not neglected because i believe there's no any other crowd who's more dominating than the Youth and no one can make our voices shut if we just take a step. A very small percentage of people want to to for this country in real means and others just come, live and die which is not at all the reason of coming into this world i suppose. Secondly, children of this nation don't get attention and as a result children are forced to do labor. At their early ages when a royal kid goes to his school and learn, a poor kid carries loads on his small shoulders which is not what our religion, culture and morals teach us and there is no one outside the country who has any idea about it.
I will definitely support this in front of high officials and let them know what the Youth thinks and i bet every sensible young person is there to support me. But before that I'll make the most of my Upcoming cultural experience to demolish bad happenings from my society and let the world know the strength that we owe.

I hope I am not wrong anywhere.
Shahzeb Memon.

Hey,

I'm Shahzeb Memon, a student who has recently taken 11th Grade examinations and live in Hyderabad. Well, I finally started to write something. Well, blogging was never my priority but it happens like when we have noting to do at 1.30 AM midnight, we often start talking to ourselves so yeah, i think there can't be any best way to talk to yourself other than blogging =p

And today i remembered a quote which i probably heard my teachers saying since GRADE 5 which says,
"When there's a will, there's always a way".
And seriously, i had no idea about the things on which i should start writing but than a memory flashed in my mind, a big roar of laughter started floating in my mind and when i focused, i found it was the year i spent in a place like Prison where there's no any outdoor fun except to do one thing and that is STUDY STUDY STUDY but but i can never ever forget this place and there are reasons for that.
I don't think you had got any clue after reading these confusing lines. Don't worry, i am going to make it clear and this Place was none other than the college in which i am studying and that is "Superior College Of Science, Hyderabad".
This is a college which has gained a lot of respect and value in the market nowadays a small not-so-lovely city Hyderabad. You can get an idea interviewing the pupil who have passed their matriculation and just go and ask what college will you join now? I bet more than 90% of Good students will answer " I'll Join SUPERIOR COLLEGE". This college is really a very good place for Good students to come in and make their future. I, being one of the good students till 10th, also planned to join SCS so yeah i joined , went through the ENTRANCE TESTS and finally got admission.

College starts:

OMG , i still remember the time when it was the first day of college and i had no idea about where the classes are? where to report? what to do? and blah blah , but somehow i and Umair reached my class and since we wer late so we did not get to sit on one of the front seats on the first day. 1st day passes and the things go hell boring and the remaining 5 days of the week went boring as well , so it was my first week spent at college , i could not do anything but come home and tell my mum and dad the news of this not-s-fun-having college.

Then, the time goes on and on , I never liked the environment of that place but Shahan ,Shahneel and Wasif [who were the only people i knew when i entered in this college] were still sitting on those front benches and getting their sweat out and listen to those boring lectures. I really could not handle it anymore so me and Umair came on the back benches and got familiar with Zeeshan, Haseeeb and Sarang. Though we were in same school but did not had much knowledge about each other but now at college we became good friends. And then the scene started, all of us were the sailors of same boat, all of us were hell bored and fed up of listening to these daily prolonged lectures and presentation of those same faced ignorant teachers.But then we never left a small chance of ridiculing peons (who were being mean to everybody) and we played so many pranks with teachers, i still remember everything.

We entered in the college premises early in the morning, No one of us had identity card hanging in our shoulders because we already tore every inch of the ID cards of each other in the first few days! :D , Sometimes standing in punish for the whole first period on different cases like being absent for a day without application and so on. Then entered the class , and talking and laughing so loudly by putting heads down and not letting the teacher have a pinch of idea about who's disturbing :D How can i forget those pranks done at the canteen ! :D , Just rushing inside the canteen, breaking the lines and buying the things that we want to eat and after eating our own food , Poking nose and looking like dogs in one of the Gang's members Eating stuff and if he refuses to let us eat , he won't get a chance to eat either as we won't let him eat ! :D

We actually were 8 Gang members now namely: SHAHZEB[Me], SHAHAN , SHAHNEEL , WASIF , UMAIR , HASEEB , ZEESHAN , SARANG.

We called our gang as "Qaddooo GANG" and we had a slogan which was " Hamaree Gang mein Rehem Naam ki Koi cheez Nae hoti" =p , This slogan was the most appropriate slogan for the gang as we never spared each other at any step of college life , like torn shirts of each other, Torn bags of each other, Torn Register, Broke chairs, Threw each and everything of the gang members outside the windows, not letting each other sit, Picking someone altogether and throwing him in the ground, those hugeeee laughters when seriosu jokes were cracked up.We even had an Unwillingly Snatched treat from Shahneel , Left one or the other every time when we went somewhere for outing and ran away in car so that the left one comes in RICKSHAW [HAHAHA :D] , Experienced many things , Loved and hated people , Lived our own life like we won't see tomorrow. I could then feel a serious change in myself as i was not longer the Obedient student , though i never compromised on studies, i always went up to the mark when studies were concerned and maybe that was the reason i was not given Suspended from College many time , Experienced the Scary feelings before going to Principal's Office and than loved the moments and scenes that we did inside the principal's office. Broke Tubelights, Broke Fans, Bunked Classes, Jumped from ROOFTOP of college to another floor, Caught for using mobile phones in college and blah blah blah .. I can never forget these things.
These 8 people were the whole world to me for this 1 year but then college ended , we took exams and now we are in touch with each other but we all miss the fun that can never be forgotten which was done in the past one year.
It's really a great deal to do such things in a college where you get suspended and your admission is cancelled on really small small mistakes but anyhow we managed to do the most of the things that we could.
Now, I realise it that Yes, we were wrong at many places but what i think is that this was our right as we had no any outdoor activity , no any picnic, no any fun period, No library , No free periods, No Games , No PT Periods, No computer Labs through Out the year but yet we can never forget this place and the *QADOO GANG*

May we always be in Touch with each other and love each other always the way we love at the moment [AAMEEN] (:

P.S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAGloR-Sc8U

This video is a small 5 minutes clip which gathers all the memories and fun moments we had in this college.

Thanks for reading!

Shahzeb.