Sara Farheen

I believe that everyone has a special place that evokes a sense of home, a sense of

belonging that brings peace. My special place is Pakistan, my motherland country. It is the place

where both of my parents were born and raised. Although I was born and raised here, Pakistan is

a part of my identity and has shaped me into the person I am today.

The breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and scenery, the ornate, grand, and mystifying

mosques, the scrumptious halal food that bursts with flavors, the Islamic culture, and the

enchanting aura all made me fall in love with Pakistan. My last visit to Pakistan was in 2013 for

my cousin’s wedding, but it was truly a life-changing experience for me.

One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Murree, a real beauty of Pakistan which is

also known as “Queen of Hills.” I could see beautiful green pine trees, fruit trees, long hills, and

carefree monkeys jumping from one branch or tree to another. The weather there was quite

pleasant and cool, and as we went up the hill, the clouds were so near that it felt like I was

actually touching them. We then went to Mall Road, a place in Murree in which there are

beautiful shops, restaurants, cafe’s, and stalls all around and you can also hear the fusion of

western and Pakistani music, making the atmosphere even more attractive.

During my visit to Pakistan, I witnessed families sleeping in the streets and living off

cheap street food. In their villages, I saw that these villagers didn’t have running water, or a

solid, concreted floor in their house. The women of the village would travel to the well with big

buckets on their heads to get the water they needed to do laundry and dishes. I also witnessed

women doing dishes and laundry in dirty river water where at the same time men were bathing

and women were washing their hair, because this natural “pool” is the only “tub” they had

available to them. These things stuck with me and made me realize to never take anything for
Sara Farheen

granted anymore: running and hot water, a toilet with a flush button, comfy beds, a washing

machine, and other appliances all seemed somewhat absurd after what I saw in Pakistan.

The intense smells, the crazy traffic and constant honking, the hundreds of homeless

people sleeping on sidewalks, the heartbreakingly sad eyes of the begging ladies who shyly

begged for money with their arms pleadingly open, and the village kids that ran around in just an

underwear and without shoes because they couldn’t afford them, all changed my perspective on

the smallest details of life, and made the things that I complain about in my daily life seem pretty

laughable. One of the most special moments of my trip was when I gave a Dairy Milk Chocolate

bar to a shy street girl, about 7 years old, and she smiled back at me with her sparkling eyes.

Aside from the pollution and poverty, I fell in love with the enchanting aura of Pakistan. I

remember roaming in the Meena Bazaar in the hot, humid summer days, shopping for and

exploring all the exquisite diverse clothes, jewelry, shoes, etc. Falling asleep in the Charpai as I

counted the stars in the cool, crisp night sky was my favorite. Lets not even talk about the food. I

miss the spicy Chicken Tikka pizza, buttered masala corn, Pani Puri, freshly-made Tutti-Frutti

ice cream, Falooda, and late night lemon-soda trips to the station. I also truly loved the Islamic

culture and environment in Pakistan. As muslims, we are obliged to pray five times a day, and in

Pakistan, there’s a mosque at every block. I remember waking up to the sound of the Fajr Azan,

along with a feast of Poori- Chole, Halwa, and Naan.

Overall, Pakistan, my motherland, is a very special place dear to my heart. I love

everything about Pakistan: from the breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and scenery to the

mystifying mosques to the scrumptious halal food that bursts with flavors. Pakistan has a truly

enchanting aura and I can’t wait to go back!