Cheers, E.: April 2007

Karachi Express

So in a couple of hours (contingent on the amount delay), I would board the Karachi Express UP to Lahore for my last official visit to the AIESEC chapter there. It's the same chapter that a few people started with me almost 3 yrs ago... Wow, does time fly or what!

It's also going to be the last time that I travel with my brilliant team on this train. This year has been the most intense experience in getting to know Kurt and Joanna, having shared the craziest of situations at the Mansion and the Office with them. In less than two months, Jo packs up her bags and leaves from the country, and I vividly remember the day we picked up this heatstruck european woman from the airport! haha! (More on that later). Kurt of course, being the desi that he is at heart, is more like to stay in Pakistan here on, than even me!

Anyway, the last couple of days have been quite the shakers. They've involved some more clarity on the opportunities that I would be pursuing. With the new reshuffling of things, it hasn't made things any simpler though. AI is out, and for the first time, I'm actually considering a life outside of AIESEC. Funnily, I was watching a couple of vids on YouTube and I realized how I don't quite feel so ready to move ahead. Perhaps I'm institutionalized!

There's also been some madness on other fronts. But I refuse to be a ranting blogger! haha!

While I now sort out my visa issues to travel to the UK for the Cadbury interview at the end of May, workwise, I have never been more focused. Now, with an extra month I have on this job, no excuses for not having a grand finale!

In other news,

A close friend's fallen head over heels in love. This man and I were always aversive to the 'L' Work. Bah!
The Prestige is an overrated movie.
It's started boiling in Karachi.
Nadya and I are reassessing our plans for June 1st.
Tori and Delia have been in touch (Muah!).
Subway now delivers. Sweden still does not have a Subway OR KFC joint. I've promised Jo I will change that one day.
I'm planning on going for the June 'May Trip' up North.
Salma has not made the biggest mistake of her life.
My blood Pakola level is low.
I've learnt to pack light.
And The world is NOT flat.

Ceau.

Clarity ?

.. Well, that sorts that, huh? ..

Quite an interesting exercise. Not the easiest one. But I'm still contemplating..

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

1 Year in Karachi

So, one year from today, I set foot on the Cantt Station in Karachi, with Tori, to be greeted by a bunch of super enthusiastic AIESECers that tried to play a failed prank on me - And then they merely settled for stamping my hands with the 'AIESEC stamp'! :)

The year's been quite crazy, indeed.

From the most insane fun times at the Mansion that I reside it to those times where there's been too much work to even take a food break! Fought randomly with so many people .. and then Got to make friends with all of them. Figured out some direction in life and got the skills and motivation to pursue it. 2 Eids that I worked on, a christmas party to kill for! Meeting some of the most special people in the world. Whining about being away from close buds and real glad to have others to keep me sane! From hatin' the city to defending it in khi-lhr arguments! (yes, its true). Living with people from 10 countries and having many more randomly staying over. Trying to get my car from Lahore all year. Getting on my first bus ride in Pakistan! Cursing the electrical flux, mosquitoes, too little water, too much water, too cold a weather, too hot a weather, running out of sugar at home and grumpy rickshaw drivers. Loving the Zainab market, learning to cook a little, trying to learn to use a Mac a little, the breeze, the freedom, the cafes, the sheesha on the roof, random TV shoots .. And finding the love of my life: Pakola.

The year's been quite crazy, indeed. And I know when I pick up all my bags and walk off soon, I'll have been a very changed person from the one that landed on Cantt Station on the 10th of April 2006, indeed.

Some Random Memories -

Fun News Day

So, there are days when my homepage (www.bbc.co.uk) - my only source of active link with the world, does come up with some fascinating stuff.

Today was one of those days! I'm stuck between the responses "LMAO" and "BLYUCK!".

So the big un's:

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards has claimed he snorted the ashes of his late father during a drugs binge. - EWWW! I mean, some things challenge even MY worldview. Why, Oh Why!

Unruly children used to answer back - now they just crush any comeback with a glib "whatev-ah". How do you respond to a word that kills off all debate? - There are no magic remedies, but hey, we've been Wateva'd enough times to think about it. Fun comments at the bottom.

Finally... Dun Du Dun...!

Chinese computer maker Lenovo has topped a ranking of the world's most eco-friendly electronics firms. - Now, I'm not a big fan of IBM lappies ever since they substituted their quality for better price (man, buy a damn PC if you wanna go cheap!). But the interesting thing is this is for all of us to notice who 'Bottomed' this ranking by Greenpeace -- La Da! Apple! Haha! Any surprised? First, they kill our ability to function in the electronic world (has anyone ever tried to restart the white machine with the keyboard? Bah!), and now they want to deprive us of the physical world! I go Picket! Are you With me? Or are you Dead?

Egypt!

Yes, I promised everyone some pictures from Egypt. Yes, I did forget! :)

Well, here you go - I can't quite describe being there, but let me tell you - It was good! The conference just made the whole experience a lot cooler. Barely any of these pictures are from the 'cool sights in cairo', but everyone that knows me also knows I'm about the people, not about the places! ;)

Compare and Contrast - UAE Airport giving away a private jet in a mega raffle, while Cairo airport is sorting through passports manually due to system breakdown.

Me and my 'special' western europeans

Me and my artistic (or pretending to be) eastern europeans

Cairo's got nothing on Karachi - Except Random Wireless Internet on the Streets!

Two of my funnest friends - Nadya and Natalie!

There was a lot of love at conference. And a lot of it was for AIESEC :P

Failed Sexy Poses 101: Me and Monica :)

Being all touristy. Nida, myself and the Irish gals at the Pyramids.

The Egyptian Museum of Ancient History. They didn't allow pictures inside, but oh MY God! There were even mummified ANIMALS!

8 people. 8 countries. And the sun rises behind the Red Sea.

The Afterparties! Oh My Gawd! Some of the craziness shall never be spoken of! (Pakola makes a guest appearance). Salman got evicted by his landlord the day we left!