The World at your Feet, the Change* in your Hands

Near the end of an era

So yesterday I booked my tickets to go back to Singapore. 22,700 PKRs for a one way ticket, non-return flight. And then island hopping to Jakarta on Java for Fida's wedding on 1st August. Yay!

It certainly feels.... what's the word... wierd, nostalgic, sad, at the same time looking forward to going to a place where cars drive within the white lines, in their respective lanes!

Now for all potential trainees to Pakistan who may be reading this, please note that I have been here for 9 months and truth be told the city's getting to me. Maybe it's just the hot weather that's making my blood boil in frustration. Maybe it's just me being sad to leave.

For what will I leave behind that would cause such a feeling of loss? Of course, the families here.

Went to a cousin's wedding recently and there were about 1000 guest to whom I am related. Yes, ALL of them were relatives! The feeling was something akin to being at an AIESEC conference. e.g. at IC where hundreds of people setting a common vision, wow! = these hundreds of people all came from a common man/woman at some point. wow!

And I would also sorely miss the adopted family of brothers and sisters and self-proclaimed-ex-husbands all living and partying on the same roof. [Pause, as Zaf reminisces the good times there]

Images race in my mind: The birth of the "family" post-Jennifer debacle, Crabbing at sea, French beach, Thatta cum near-death experience with the car crash, shopping for kurtis at the old man's shop in Gulf, birthday bash, meet-the-parents in Faisalabad, economy class train journey (ugh, to that I say never again!) going out to eat at Karachi Broast, Baloch, Agha juice, good ole' MacDonalds...... *Sigh*

And alas! last but not the least. Baba, did u think I would forget? ... in fact this one's so annoying he won't get out of my head. *Sigh*

Right, so it's not quite the country that's getting to me. I guess it's the thought of leaving all this. Ah well, I'd say look on the brighter side of life. Home, Singapore, back to an orderly civilisation. Back to Thai Express on the weekends, satay on the beach, back to the blue, near-olympic-sized pool at home.... oooo!! I wanna dive into some blue chlorinated water... Somebody take me home!!! Better yet, somebody clone me so I can be in 2 places at once....

posted by Zafirah @ PM 06:14