"My Brother's Wedding"

After living for three years in the United States, I went to back my country, Pakistan, to attend my brother’s wedding. I was very happy that finally time had come to again see my whole family, cousins and especially my friends.
 

The day I was leaving the United States was tough because I knew after a few hours I would be in a different environment and everything would change. I flew from New York to Karachi, Pakistan.

When I came out from the airport I saw my brother and sister waiting for me. I smiled and hugged them. We went home.  It was 7am in the morning when I entered my home and I saw my mother standing and waiting for me. When I saw her I ran toward her and hugged her. I was so very happy that my tears flowed.

I arrived in my country one week before my brother’s wedding. In my culture there are so many ceremonies in the wedding like “Dholki”, “Baraat” and “Valima”. The day I arrived there was also a ceremony called “Dholki” in the evening. “Dholki” is the ceremony where we all gather in the bride’s house and the bride and groom exchange rings,the bride's parents give gifts to cousins and there is a dance competition. It’s all so much fun.

When I arrived in the “Dholki” ceremony, everyone was shocked and surprised to see me as I didn’t tell anyone that I was coming to Pakistan to attend my brother’s wedding because I wanted to surprise everyone. They were happy to see me after 3 years.

My house decorate with lights

In the wedding there was so much work like decorating the house with lights, taking family to shopping, going to the wedding hall to see what’s happening over there, and to see the arrangements in the hall and the stage.



The Wedding hall

Later there was a day called “Baraat” which is all arranged by the bride’s parents. That day the bride’s family and guests come first and rest of the family, cousins and guest come together after an hour. In “Baraat”, the groom brings the bride home after signing a Nikkah papers (marriage certificate). So that day was all filled with fun and I met all the relatives and my old friends and my old cousins seemed all grown up. It was a memorable day.

Then there is the final celebration called “Valima” (reception). It is all arranged by the groom's parents. I helped to make those arrangements.

Wedding stage

Finally towards the end of the day it was time to say good bye to all my relatives and family as I was not going to see them anytime soon again. I was a little depressed too, but there was a new addition to our family and that thought cheered me up and I departed my homeland with happy memories.

Leaving Pakistan

                                                            


Pakistan map

The day I left Pakistan was the most terrible day of my life. I was alone 19 years old and didn’t want to leave my home, I didn’t want to leave my family and friends, but my father made a decision and he was sticking with that so I was depressed and was feeling soulless. There are some moments in one's life that become unforgettable memories which teach us great lessons. The experience that I will never forget in my life is the time when I came here to the United States and started living alone and on my own. Moving to a whole new country made a big impact on my life and some very remarkable changes in my personality which I would count as good ones.

I lived in Pakistan for 19 years and now in the United States. These cultures and languages are extremely different when compared. By exposing me to them both, my parents made me be a little versatile and broad versioned.

In 2011 when I was 19 years old, my dad decided to send me to America for further education. When I came here my father bought a house in Fairfield for me and my mother. He didn’t want us to be in trouble or any kind of burden. When I came here I was not a United States citizen or resident so my father planned to come and apply for a green card for me and my mother. After one month my father came to United States and applied for residency for me and my mother.



United States Of America

After ten days I continued my studies from 11th grade in Warde high school in Fairfield Connecticut. It was very difficult to adjust where you don’t know anyone but I tried my best to start being familiar with the environment. First few months were very challenging for me because my English was not as good as compared to other students in school so I used to feel like going back to my country where I could easily communicate, where I knew people and had friends. In general it's hard to easily make new friends so I didn't have any friends initially, didn't have any fun or anyone to talk to. In every class I used to sit alone and quiet, even in cafeteria. After a few months I got adjusted to the environment, I was a little comfortable; I made some friends, and started to take interest in school and studies. My friends proved to be really helpful in every regard.



USA flag left and Pakistan flag right

When you have lived in two different places during your lifetime, you learn that hard work and education are respected no matter where you are. In Pakistan I learned how to work hard in order to succeed in life. I am not fearful of hard work because with handwork our world can be a better place. I have experienced that in places where I lived is beauty. While cultural traditions may vary. Many people ask me if I prefer to live in Pakistan or United States. For me it's really hard to answer this question because every country is great in its own place. I like living in United States since I have a better chance of acquiring great education and build a better career while I also miss my old friends and my relatives living in Pakistan, so I'm happy either way but the better decision at this moment for me would be to follow my father's decision and to get higher level of education in order to become a successful person in my field.