I wanted to do my first proper post on something I loved, so naturally I thought… Pakistan!! Woop Woop! Pakistan Zindabad!! Although I could easily write a whole book about why I love Pakistan, I wanted to convey a message through this post, to make a point.
When I was younger I used to avoid the fact that I was Pakistani. When I started secondary school all I wanted to do was blend in, which would obviously be hard given I was a hairy brown girl entering a school that was 90% white. And not just any white, snobby white. As with the students, there were very few non-white teachers. I later found out that this isn’t abnormal, as according to The Independent, only 6.7% of UK teachers are from minority ethnic background.
I noticed within a few weeks of starting school that in order to be popular you had to be ‘white’, act ‘white’. The lighter you were, the more friends you had. I saw that the ‘unpopular’ girls, the ones left out, were usually Black or Asian. The few POC that were popular all acted like they didn’t have dark skin. Because of this, I felt to some degree that I too wanted to ‘be white’.
I started to resent being Pakistani, because it made me stand out. I saw it as a burden rather than something I should proud of, and something that isolated me from my friends (lol what friends??).
Looking back, I really regret pushing away my culture and I wish I had appreciated it more and stopped caring about what people thought. I should have realised that my world wasn’t going to come falling down if a bunch of white girls made fun of something I had said. Within a few minutes they would have starting talking about Coachella or bindis and forgot all about me.
What I’m trying to say is that you should never forget your roots. Being Pakistani has played an important part in shaping who I am today.
Be proud of who you are. Be proud of where you’ve come from.
February 25, 2017 at 10:02 am
I get this.
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February 26, 2017 at 5:22 pm
Great words! You are right, we have to embrace who we are and not look down on ourselves. God has made us who we are for a reason we have to live out our purpose on this earth 😊
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February 26, 2017 at 5:25 pm
I couldn’t have put it better myself 🙂
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February 26, 2017 at 5:26 pm
Do you now embrace who you? Or do you still sometimes have your doubts?
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February 26, 2017 at 5:29 pm
I do have my doubts, but I honestly think that’s natural. There are some things in our culture that I definitely don’t agree with, but at the same time being Pakistani is a part of who I am. I really think it’s important to find a balance between culture and religion- people tend to get too invested in the culture aspect.
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February 26, 2017 at 5:39 pm
If you don’t mind sharing what are some of the things you don’t agree with?
I do agree, we have to balance religion and our culture and not get the two mixed up together
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February 26, 2017 at 6:09 pm
hahaha I am currently writing I blog post about this so I go into detail there 😀 basically, most of the issues for me centre around marriage, and the treatment of women in general. For example, it is just assumed that a wife will move into her husbands family home and live with him and his parents. This often leads to the parents in law verbally and physically abusing the wife, who is usually treated like a servant. However, this has absolutely nothing to do with Islam, yet in Pakistan it is treated as the normal thing to do. There are many other issues, but I would be sat here writing all night!
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February 26, 2017 at 6:29 pm
Wow! I am not so familiar with all this as yet! Thanks for the lesson. I am certainly going to check out your post when it comes out 😄😊
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February 26, 2017 at 6:34 pm
you’re welcome- I’m happy I’m able to give you a bit of insight into my culture- the good and the bad! 😀
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February 26, 2017 at 6:42 pm
I am enjoying it! I love learning about different cultures and experiences from others! I find it educational as well as interesting 😊
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February 26, 2017 at 6:51 pm
that so good! It’s so nice to share my culture with such an open-minded person 😊
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February 26, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Aww, your kind words mean so much to me. I am sure others are out there who are culture enthusiasts like me 😊
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February 26, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Hopefully there are!
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February 26, 2017 at 7:30 pm
I am sure there are, if there aren’t you have me 😄
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February 26, 2017 at 7:32 pm
hahaha I’m glad! One supportive person is all I need!
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February 26, 2017 at 7:33 pm
Glad to know I am that person! You have made my day start with happiness 😊😄
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February 26, 2017 at 7:34 pm
awww that is so sweet! 😊
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February 27, 2017 at 9:10 pm
Teenage girls are the worst when it comes to accepting anyone who is even slightly different, the need to be identical was never something I understood so I wasn’t “popular”!
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February 27, 2017 at 9:19 pm
I’ve only really realised how stupid the desperation to fit in is this year, just because although we are getting older, it seems that people are still stuck in this childish mindset that being popular is the be all and end all!
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February 27, 2017 at 9:51 pm
This is beautifully written. So glad I dropped by 🙂
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February 27, 2017 at 10:07 pm
Thank you so much!
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March 6, 2017 at 6:07 am
I love this, and I totally agree!! I’ve never been in this situation personally, and I am so grateful for that, but I can not stand by when someone is rejected or excluded from a group for any reason. I really love this post 🙂 ❤ xx
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March 6, 2017 at 6:20 am
Thank you so much ❤️
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March 8, 2017 at 8:12 pm
There is so much truth in this post. In both primary and high school darker skin was looked down upon because most of the country have lighter skin tones . and I absolutely hated all the jokes the bullies would throw at me , I also wish I hadn’t cared so much what people thought about something I had no control over . Still learning to be comfortable with my skin tone and culture! Great post!!!
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March 8, 2017 at 8:16 pm
Thanks so much! Your support means a lot ❤️ Sorry about what people said to you at school, it’s so sad how apparent this problem still is 😦
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March 8, 2017 at 8:37 pm
Anytime ❤️
I hope for their sake they no longer treat anyone that way xx
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March 8, 2017 at 8:40 pm
let’s hope so. It’s 2017, you’d think things would have changed by now xx
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April 15, 2017 at 10:56 pm
Hey there!
As much as I’ve fallen in love with your warm writing style, like it feels like you’re chatting rather than me reading, I’ve also been taken aback by this incredible post. Your sketch of what it’s like to be a Pakistani and then blend into a modernized predominantly Western society is genuinely relatable. I believe that one should feel none other than proud and patriotic embracing one’s identity: homeland! We indeed shouldn’t forget from where we belong and never let the media, other’s opinion and the social values change that. Great Job! Thanks for sharing!
You earned yourself a proud Pakistani follower. Pakistan Zindabad! 🇵🇰 ❤️
Stay blessed always!
~MJ Xx
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April 15, 2017 at 11:11 pm
Thank you so much for your kind message- it genuinely means so much that you are able to relate and enjoy my writing! And I agree, we should be proud of our heritage- it’s an integral part of us. Thanks again ❤️
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