Shopping with Perveen

Re: # 29

Now that is funny.

I don`t think you get though, that the reason she haggles over 10 rupees is that she knows it makes a difference, whereas you don`t realise that. She wants you to have nice curtains because it affects the way she is seen in her own little community of domestic workers. There is such a power disparity and I don`t see you recognising it. I think there is a lack of warmth here-she is obviously fond of you. If you are fond of her, it doesn`t come across that way.

ni perveen to kinni maskeen...

Re: # 34 Hmmm...actually I was very fond of Perveen...still am and she visits from time to time. We had a lot of laughs together, me and Perveen, and I was sorry she left. The University was on her doorstep. More money...as to power, servants can be VERY powerful, as I have discovered over the last 14 or so years. Our current servant is live-in, and she lives as a part of the family.

I think we should have double standards for you chris since you are a ferangi (foreigner) so the things that strike you as unique or worth commenting on are things that may strike alot of us as pretty banal and obvious.
Although this piece was possibly the worst thing i have read on chowk that doesnt make you a bad writer just a newbie - welcome!
What was interesting however was this phrase ``Hmmm…OK…errr…my servant says five hundred`` Most newbies cant say a non PC thing like ``my servant`` without cringing . I guess you have accelerated deveolpement :)

#36 Chris

Abey Chris kambakhat, don`t gloat! And don`t show off!

Doc nb is being nice to you!

Learn some Pakistani tehzeeb!

The correct resonse to her is as follows:

``Dear nb sahiba: Shukriya. Aaapki inaayat ke liye bahot, bahot shukriya! Aap theek farmaati hain! Kyunki aap hamesha hi theek farmati hain! Khaas taur se aap duss rupaye waaley pardon ki baat to ek-dumm theek farmati hain!

Thoree aur inayat kijiye aur apney panch hazaar dollar mujhey bhej dijiye! Us-se mere NGO ko bahot faida hoagaa! Aapki aur bhi inayat hogee aur humm hamesha ke liye aapke shukra-guzaar hongey!``

#37 Bridge

[Although this piece was possibly the worst thing i have read on chowk ]

You have not read much on chowk, have you?!

Chris

are you married to a Pakistani woman? If this is true how on earth did that happen? Do her family know where u guys live, am surprised you guys are still alive and some karo-kari style death squad hasnt turned up yet...

i personally cant imagine Pkstan being this `maadern` or `adbaansed` khair

khuda hafiz

ally yaar that guy brian in junoon was married to a pakistani, i actually know 5 muslim women in karachi married to ferangi`s (who converted ofcourse) and one was actually last generation. Its all good.

lol...i must have lived a charmed life BJ :) my standards are pretty low for UP ofcourse :)

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?

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:
``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?
:-)

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

Wish u long life 4 ur broadmindedness.

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

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.