Run away

Sometimes I feel like running away; running away from this vicious daily routine; running away from the lights and noise of the city; running away from these people; running into the mountains to find peace; to find my soul; and to find my life. 

Do you feel the same too?

Bye Bye 2009 - I have been Taken

Pardon me for being a little late in putting my reminiscences of the past year on my blog. I was preoccupied with the changes that 2009 had brought into my life. The inevitable change which has changed my life altogether; Guys, I am not a carefree single soul anymore. I have been taken. I now have a mate. I got married in December 2009. I don’t feel comfortable putting my marriage details here. I can only say that "IT ALL WENT FINE". The last two months of 2009 have been really busy; the wedding preparations; shifting to a new home; guests; wedding events; in-laws; dinners; it all consumed me. Finally, I am back to routine and preparing for a new horizon of dreams and challenges in life. 

Apart from this, there were some other events which took place in the past year. 

• I visited Dubai, Amsterdam, and Berlin. 
• I faced a life and death situation at Liberty Round-about when the Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked. I was there too, on the incident site of the incident.
• Two of my uncles (my father’s brothers) died this year. This was a huge loss for our family. 
• I am still working for the same company, but on a different project this time :P 
• Like always, I have wasted this year on useless future planning :)
• I met my sister and her family after 2 years.

Catharsis

It’s been quite many months since I last shared myself on my blog. At times, there was so much to write about the things that were happening in my life; in my mind; in my heart; but somehow, I couldn’t get myself into writing it. The possible reason which I can think of for this anomaly is that maybe I have started trusting people. For quite some time, I have been sharing my thoughts and feelings with people around me; thoughts that accumulate inside me and which, previously, were expressed by me through my blog. After all, we humans need to express our emotions and thoughts. If these are not expressed, then like an unhealed abandoned wound, they accrue inside us. And slowly and gradually, they start destroying our lives and the lives of other people. Personally, I feel I have opened up a bit. Earlier, I used to confine my thoughts just to myself. Now I share most of it with the people close to me. But still, some of these are left un-expressed; they can’t be expressed in words or in writing. They can only be felt.

 

I am a very bad liar. I cannot carry a lie for a long period of time. If I try so, then it can easily be caught. If someone asks me something, I always prefer to answer honestly. Sometimes, if I don’t want to answer, I try to avoid it by saying something stupid or idiotic, or even come up with a lame excuse. At this point, I don’t care if the other person doubts my mental capacity or not, but at least I have saved myself in one way. People say my face is a reflection of my feelings. If I feel bad about something, then the other person can easily see it on my face. I am a bit naïve in this sense, therefore I try to overcome this modestly with a smile.

 

I am not an emotional person, but I am sensitive. This coldness makes it hard for me to express love. I love my parents a lot. I am grateful to them for the good education they have provided me against all odds. I want to give them equal happiness and comfort. I love my sisters and brother. I love them for the affection and care that they have always given me. I love my nephews and nieces. The smiles on their faces make my heart happy. I always want to be surrounded by my family. It makes me feel safe and carefree.

 

I never understood what life was. I am still disillusioned about the purpose of life. The 16 years of education didn’t teach me what life is, or at least I couldn’t understand it properly if it had. Why is there so much classification of humans when the basic necessities of life for everyone are the same? Why do we classify humans on the basis of their race, ethnicity, religion, country, monetary status, physical outlook, intelligence, education, family? Why don't we obey what the Prophet (peace be upon him) has asked us to do? "All mankind is from Adam and Eve. An Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also, a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over a white, except by piety and good action."

 

I am worried about the future. I tried not to think about it, but I couldn’t help myself. The crisis through which our country is going through worries me. Lawlessness, insecurity, inflation, poverty, and frustration make me depressed at times. I am hurt when I see little children doing laborious tasks to earn money. It makes me sad when I see the contrast of situations. Some people spend so much money on one meal that it is equal to the monthly expenses of one whole family. People are becoming more materialistic and greedy day by day. I don’t know what future we are going to give to our children. Maybe they are facing the worse. But I pray they have the best of all. I pray my country will become safe and sound. I pray my country becomes prosperous and an ideal place to live in the whole world. InshaAllah.

Brain Drain

 (I presented this topic as a part of my communication skills course last year.)

 "Brain drain" means the emigration of trained and talented individuals to other nations.

The reason for leaving the homeland could be any of these.

First, going abroad for higher education

Second reason could be that the person wants a better job. The opportunities in his country are limited, and he is unable to earn good money for his living.

Third, the country's worsening political, social, or economic conditions compelled him to make this decision.

Fourth, there are family issues.

Fifth, one of the causes of brain drain could be travel.

Sixth, health risks could be the cause.

Finally, you despise being in your home country.

Many developed nations have immigration and work permit programmes in order to attract talented and skilful people to their countries. In return, they promise them a better life, security and opportunities that they don’t find in their own countries. Programs like the H1B visa, HSMP, and Australian and Canadian skilled immigration are widely popular. Therefore, if one is skilful and talented, then he can easily avail of these opportunities.

The phenomenon of brain drain is perhaps most problematic for developing nations, where it is widespread. In these countries, higher education and professional certification are often viewed as the surest paths to escape from a troubled economy or difficult political situation. The country’s investment in higher education is lost when a trained and skilled individual leaves and does not return and contributes to its economy. Instead of this, he uses all the education and skills that he acquired from his home country for the betterment and economic boost of an alien nation.

Brain drain is becoming a global problem these days for developing countries. Every nation is facing it. Countries in South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India are mostly affected by it. The economic and political situations of these countries are fairly poor. Let me make one thing clear. A common conception is that only South Asian countries are affected by it. But the reality is that brain drain is a problem for every nation. Many European and Middle Eastern countries are also victims of it. Europe has been losing talented people who are being lured to immigrant countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Many of Europe's best young scientists now live in the United States. A survey released by the European Commission found that only 13% of European science professionals working abroad intend to return home. Eastern European countries have expressed concerns about brain drain to Ireland and the United Kingdom. Portugal is the leader in brain drain. Yugoslavia, Romania, and Bulgaria followed it. Germany faced over one hundred thousand brain drains in 2005 due to economic conditions. Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia are also thought to be affected. A high percentage of Egyptians, Palestinians, and Syrians leave their country upon completing their higher education for other countries, particularly the countries of the Persian Gulf. China, the Philippines, Venezuela, Iran, and Iraq are also facing it. In Malaysia, the government is trying to lure back these people. Most people opt to migrate to Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, believing that they will have a better life than if they stay in Malaysia.

The only solution to this alarming situation of brain drain is that every nation should treasure its skilful people and should provide ample opportunities for them. Better living, security, and a free environment where a person can breathe is ultimately what every person wants and it’s his right to have this. So, a government should provide this to its human capital. And another point is that we should all realise our responsibility towards our nation, and we should strengthen our nation instead of leaving it.

Five things you should learn in Life

Acceptance 
Accept the realities of life and the world around you. Accept yourself and the people around you as they are. The sooner you accept it, the better it will be. Because once you start accepting things, then it will be easy to realise the changes to be made. It will only make you grow stronger and calmer. 

Patience 
Be patient. Patience gives you calmness of mind and soul, and you will lead a more peaceful life. Things will happen in life when they have to be. Just do your best and give. Leave things to Allah. Acting hastily or getting tense will only ruin things. 

Respect 
Treat everyone with respect. Whether they are your parents, spouse, siblings, or other family members, even if they are your servants. Give respect to everyone Respect your work as well as your body and the obligations you have in life. 

Forgiveness 
Learn to forgive people. Don’t hold back the grudges or allow the feeling of revenge to grow inside you; it will only make you bitter. Forgiveness will make you a better human being. 

Believe 
Have faith in yourself and God. Believe that everything happens for a reason. And sooner or later, the tough time will pass. In that course, never let your belief be shaken.

Bye Bye 2008 - I Wish...

Today is the first day of the year 2009. 2008 has gone. The year 2008 was one of the most happening years of my life. It was a year of fulfilment of wishes and goodbyes.

 

The year started with goodbyes. In the first month, my sister left for the UK. days after one of my very good workplace friends left for the UK for higher education. Several weeks after another of my workplace friends went to Australia for immigration, I don’t have any other friends left in my workplace. These two friends were with me for quite some time. A month later, my only friend from my FC College days also left the country and got a job in the UAE. So I could say that in the first few months, all the friends I had left the country for good. I am left with a few friends in Pakistan now. The initial 3 months have been the months of good byes. And I am never fond of goodbyes. But I guess life doesn’t end with the departure of someone. It always moves on, and so a lot of new people were waiting for me to meet them for the rest of the year.

 

This year, I decided to forego my MBA from Lums and instead study in the United States once I arrived there. I applied for a US visa via the H1B programme and gave an interview at the US Embassy. However, they put the decision on hold indefinitely.

 

The best thing about this year was that I visited Paris. It had been my dream for the past 4 years to see Paris, and ultimately it came true this year. Apart from that, I visited Amsterdam and Brussels as well. I enjoyed that one month which I spent in Europe a lot. I had loads of fun and went many places on my own.

 

The next best thing about this year was that I met some quite interesting people, and I learnt a lot while interacting with them. It helped me to understand people more clearly than ever. I made a very good friend this year, but I ruined our friendship with my immaturity and let myself suffer emotionally.

 

The third best thing is that I feel I have become closer to my family and friends. I realised the importance of these relationships in one’s life.

 

The fourth best thing was that I drove a lot this year. I was always scared of driving, but this year I overcame my fear. I drove to other cities and even to the mountains.

 

The fifth best thing is that I realised that, as a person, I am not that bad as I always used to think ;)

 

Anyway, 2008 has been a memorable year in my personal life, and I had quite a fun year. Even though my visa for the US got delayed this year, I hope it will be all done in 2009. INSHALLAH.

Memento

Can you recall your very first memory of your life? Do you remember the very first time you actually saw your parents, your siblings, your home and your relatives? Perhaps, you don’t remember these things, but you do remember those moments when you have actually realised that they all exist. You do remember the moment when you felt that you exist in this world and some people do exist in your life. I have some of my earliest memories, but I don’t remember them in the correct chronological order, and I don’t think you either remember your earliest memories in that order too. There are a few dozen such memories which I still remember.

 

I still remember my first day at school. My parents waited outside the school gate in the car (which was a red Toyota Corolla 1984 something model) and were watching me going inside the school. I was crying, and I still remember the smile on the faces of my parents. I kept crying all the time in the school during the assembly.

 

I remember that moment when I was sitting on a couch in my old home next to my mother.

 

I remember that moment when my father talked to my mother about me.

 

I remember that evening when I, along with my elder sister, visited my maternal grandfather in a hospital before his death.

 

I remember that day when I was crying in class and then the teacher made me sit in my elder brother’s class along with him.

 

I remember that night, when during the exhibition in Fortress Stadium we got stuck in a horrible storm.

 

I remember that moment when one of my uncles shifted to their new home.

 

I remember that night when my sister got injured in the race course park.

 

I remember that day when I got injured while running on the roads with my brother in Sialkot.

 

I remember that moment when I was getting scared of cows in our home, and later I showed affection to them. I also remember when I went to see their newly born calf.

 

I remember that day when I broke my arm while playing with my sister.

 

I remember that day when my dad brought the movie "Pakzeezah".

 

In all these very first memories of my life, I can only recollect those memories that were associated with my family. There are hardly a few of them that are linked with other relatives or any of my friends.