Shopping with Perveen

......... and to think i almost missed this ........ nice! ....... it tickled my funny bone .......

A little chop of candy taste, hum...um

#PM

Thanks for providing the scoop on this Cork fellow.

And here I was - thinking that he is an aspiring novice!

Chris, sorry man! Had I known that you are a buddha khushoot writer, I would have worded my comments a bit differently! :)

re. ally #49:
``i`ve never heard of Pakistani women with non-pak husbands... even my christian pak friends aren`t allowed to marry into white or anything else thats not pak christian!!!``

Yaar, not true.. Depends very much on the situation. If the gora guy is well-to-do, and of no known major character flaws, tying the knot is acceptable, even encouraged, esp. among the uneducated and well-educated. Further, for many educated Pakistani Christians, ``allowed`` is non-sequitor these days; they pretty much do as they please, knowing that the most they stand to lose is a few years` worth of daddy and mommy`s blessings.

And I`m not even talking about Christians in the big cities like Karachi, where, by and large, this wouldn`t even be an issue to begin with.

re. ally #49:
``i`ve never heard of Pakistani women with non-pak husbands... even my christian pak friends aren`t allowed to marry into white or anything else thats not pak christian!!!``

Yaar, not true.. Depends very much on the situation. If the gora guy is well-to-do, and of no known major character flaws, tying the knot is acceptable, even encouraged, esp. among the uneducated and well-educated. Further, for many educated Pakistani Christians, ``allowed`` is non-sequitor these days; they pretty much do as they please, knowing that the most they stand to lose is a few years` worth of daddy and mommy`s blessings.

And I`m not even talking about Christians in the big cities like Karachi, where, by and large, this wouldn`t even be an issue to begin with.

This is the second article I meant to link in the last para.

nb, re. #51:
Yes, I understood that. But how does that (supposed) power disparity become an argument against the writing of this satire with some socially charged undertones?

Stukay:
Here`s one of Chris`s articles that I think evinces his sound understanding of Pakistani society, going beyond platitudes about the heoric common man, and `fertile ground for revolution`.

Here`s one that merely touches on the military`s role and prospects in Pakistan. It`s not the excellent piece I referred to in an earlier post, which I can`t seem to dig up from The News` archives. They don`t appear to give a by-columnist listing there. Eediots!

You form your own opinion about his analyses.

These two pieces establish Chris` Real Nice Guy (or alternatively, Not Arrogant Gora) credentials. I hope nb reads them, so s/he might sleep a little easier. :-)

Re: # 44
no Patrick, not the retailers, between him and Perveen.eyes rolling.

take my word on it ally and dont bet any money against it :)

#43

good for u and ur wife... all the best... hope u learn seriaki its suonds very sweet like sindhi...

Clifton aunty

i`ve never heard of Pakistani women with non-pak husbands... even my christian pak friends aren`t allowed to marry into white or anything else thats not pak christian!!!

khair but i suppose society moves on and gets over the racism... now lets see if we can get over our inter-provincial racism!!!

peace
xx

Welcome to chowk, Chris!

I like your article, it`s simple and whilst some description would add colour, it is a nice read that brings back some memories for me (and anecdotes of my own haggling experiences in Delhi).
I`ve submitted several articles for chowk and never been on FP :(

Are you still in Pakistan? I plan to visit there again soon, maybe work a while. Maybe you could advise me.

I tht this was an English translation of Abrar`s song called Parveen!!

Hey I thought this was poetry too actually...and im so Lit-illiterate I thought it was darn good poetry!!

Can u post a link to a couple of your articles? If resident libertarian PM thinks they are ``fair and balanced`` like Fox news, I would love to read em.

Cheers

#43 by Chris on June 15, 2007 11:31am PT

Wish u long life 4 ur broadmindedness.

re. #40:
``We foster a profoundly deaf Pakistani girl and have just adopted a 5 wks Pakistani baby. Anything else you want to know?``

Yeah. Now that you mention it, twice, Why Pakistani? Why not Cambodian? or Malawian? eh?
:-)

re nb #34
`` There is such a power disparity and I don`t see you recognising it. ``

~sighhh!~

So in the name of recognizing supposed power disparities, are we to condone all instances of pettiness (not to mention arm-twisting of possibly poor retailers) and always give benefit of doubt of motive (after trying our best to create the doubt) to the supposed powerless?

Sometimes its okay to look at even the less privileged and say (to oneself if to no one else), ``This is ugly-- or at the very least funny!`` That will keep one from romanticising poverty; or accepting it, at the very least.

Re: # 40 Yes...my wife is Pakistani...a Seraiki. We have been married for 12 years. We foster a profoundly deaf Pakistani girl and have just adopted a 5 wks Pakistani baby. Anything else you want to know?