Lahore metblogs have some interesting pictures up. WINTER pictures.
My whole heart yearns to be there.
Funny I am missing the country where i got hurt. But its true.
Nothing is perfect. Question is: How do we cope with the imperfections?
Archive for Pakistan
Babies Unite @ Fara’s Place
Actually there were just 2 babies at Fara’s Place.. or… make that 2.5. LOL
Fara gave birth to Lil Uzair about 2 weeks ago exactly 2 yrs after Syifaa’
That’s the boy i’m talking about. He was “jeling”-ing (peering?) at the Foxy Mama…
I finally met Sue & Baby! I asked her along to visit Fara & her baby and she much needed the excuse to go out.. so…
Lil SiddiQ – 2 months old
Would have been fun-ner and more kecoh (chaotic) if Nisa had been there. Alas, She had to attend a wedding.
I hafta say it was the most empowering feeling to go out on my own without Zubair. I dont need him. At all.
Anyways. We chatted for hours!! While feeding, burping and changing the babies in between.
Poor Fara had only about 15min to prepare for our arrival. I had confirmed with her if she’d be at home on Sunday but didnt say i was coming till the last minute. I intended not to burden her to prepare anything (read: food) for our impending arrivals. Then i forgot to tell her earlier on that day and i realised this could cause chaos for the host as well. The house might not be ready to receive guests. Sorry Fara. She is such a proper host kept on apologising that she didnt prepare anything for us etc etc… But she still served us the yummiest mutton something with ghee rice, which to my surprise i cleaned it up! (i was allegedly turned off by rice otherwise.)
Hearing them mamas talking about all the Dos and Donts, i felt fear. I think i’d be a very inept and unprepared mother who knows nothing. They brushed it off saying that my own mum will be there to guide me as im still staying with them.
True but still… i have no inkling for eg that…
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You were supposed to push in the belly button
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Dont let boys cry too long as they are more prone to fits
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No need to bind babies after 1 month.
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Sterilising ur baby’s bottle is VERY important
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the pros and cons of electric / manual breast pump
I even have problem recognising babies’ faces. To me all babies look the same esp if their skin colour is similar.
There was a fearful moment when the babies were first laid out on the bed and two mothers were not around then i panicked and thought, “Oh no… which is which now??”
Pakis and Malays have very different practices of baby caring as well as after delivery caring for the mothers. Traditional Malays have all sortsa spices to air out the body to prevent wind, all sortsa herbs to drink to shrink and heal and lose weight effectively… Imagine, herbal baths, therapeutic (spellcheck!) massages not to mention the layers and layers of cloth to bind the tummy so it wont protrude leaving a hideous pregger tummy.
Pakis would press the baby’s head this way and that to “shape” it. It seemed torturous to our untrained eyes. and they would dress the baby hmm… heavily even in treacherous Singapore weather.
One tip i learnt tho that right from the beginning, DONT EVER let ur baby sleep between u and ur hubby nor rock him to sleep. Bcos the baby won’t ever let go of u nor sleep on his own thereafter! Thank Goodness i’ve already convinced Z that the baby should sleep in his own cot / bed, preferably in the hallway (not much space in my room) for fear one of us might roll over and suffocate the baby!
Oh another thing about traditional Pakis is that they mostly dont wanna know the gender. At first, Zubair didnt wanna know either wanted to keep it a surprise… Its a nice thought but again i told him, “But we need to know to buy pink or blue, gown or … whatever it is that boys wear.” He said oh ok. Good.
And so i Returned their Money…
If you remember, Last Jan, i took orders for punjabi suits .
If you remember, i had an accident while i was on holiday neither was there internet access at his home as his computer was down at that time. Then i tried to mms my clients to get them to choose which material they want but the MMSes never got thru to them. And i tot, nevermind lah i will post the pictures when i get back to Singapore and do the transaction via email or something.
Then another big hurdle of trying to translate the 5 measurement forms from English to Urdu. I couldnt figure out how to transfer the figures without having to rewrite ALL SETS over and over again and some measurements has extra instructions and specifications that was just IMPOSSIBLE to translate.
In the end, i tot just translate one form and ask Ammi to refer to that form for the others as the template is the same and besides she is a professional tailor she’d know how to estimate stuffs i imagine.
But there’s another problem. To match the measurement form with the picture of the material chosen for this or that person. Im telling u it was a complete headache. It was very bad of me to have procastinated for a long long time before i could settle the measurement.
It was April when i finally manage to write each information of each order into an email and send it off. By this time, their computer was ok so they could check their email.
I dont know why but after one month there was still no news. I kept asking Zubair to call and ask but everytime he would just say, “Darling, i suggest u just return their money lah.” BUt i told him, “Ok…. but i at least wanna know which part of the transaction went wrong. Is it no more material or cannot understand or what? At least i can explain to the rest mah”
This conversation repeated like 5 or 6 times… in the end i just ask which are ready so i can return the rest. Even that one Zubair cant answer properly. Dont know lah ur cousin’s red colour and your sisters i think. I ask, “My cousin didnt order red colour! and my sister’s all two sets or what?” a big DONT KNOW. And he’s telling ME to have some KNOWLEDGE?!?!?!?!?!?!
We wanted to send whatever that is ready thru my uncle who is visiting Old Lahore which is about 1 or 2hrs away. But even that he couldnt arrange properly. Granted He DID try to contact my uncle but his hp was off. But i dont suppose he tried very hard. How to register a business like this? OMG. *heart pain*
In any case, since i got some money, i quickly return everybody’s money. If it happens that any of their suits are ready i will give them THEN and they can pay THEN.
So i just got back from having lunch with my Japanese Aunty who works nearby and returned her $50. She was the one who was apologetic. I said no no it really is my fault. then she treated me with lunch at Wok Express =D
After that i straight away met my junior from sch who works even nearer to me. She also very cute one. very generous type. She ordered just 1 suit but gave me $50. But told me to return only $40 for all the arrangement that i have done thus far. She understands that its a very complicated process.
So yes. Today i feel very light and happy! I dont wanna owe anybody any money. Even though i let my customers down, we are still friends… and relative. =)
EntrePass & Business Plans
I’ve been dreading to start writing again bcos the topic on hand is a difficult and tiresome one.
Last Thurs, i took half day leave to go and research how to set up a company for Zubair.
Actually i’ve already done the research on the phone some time last year i think. I still have the notes. But oklah wanted to appease Zubair and show that i really do support him morally.
First Stop. International Plaza – DP Bureau.
We had to pay $10 for consultation which is refundable when we eventually set up the company. Basically nothing new that i dont know already… except for the revised fees, processing time and some pros and cons as well as opinions of the officer and what other services that they could do for us.
Basically his company will be offering private music lessons at home, as well as on hire for any performance or music composition and what nots.
In Summary, we hafta register the Partnership FIRST with fees of $133 and will be approved between 3 – 5 days if there’s no problem with the Business Name.
Second step: apply to MOM for Employment Pass. This DP Bureau could not help to submit for us the papers. We already know that our chance is slim without a degree. And normally, if applied from an employer, the requirement to get an EP is to have $2,500 pm salary. However, we put hope that bcos its his OWN partnership, he has a Singaporean wife as well as a Professional Cert might up the chance by a big notch.
On the other hand, I realised that Grade 5 Theory might not be enough to be called a professional certificate. Nonetheless, i pray and i hope.
Next stop: MOM
We wanted to know what are our chances first before applying for that partnership and then end up he cant operate it. like my sister would say: buang karen ajer (waste energy).
We looked up the long alphabetically sections for queues but couldn’t decide whether its a Work Permit or Employment Pass, almost argued about it. Then went to the reception counter and we related our intention.
Without hesitation nor much thought, she said, You can apply for an EntrePass along with your Business Plan. THEN when its provisionally approved, you can register your partnership.
On the first run, i was delighted! Ok at last somebody who’s confident about the answer.
When i got back and checked on the net. I remembered why i didnt even consider EntrePass. Because of this clause
In addition, businesses not of an entrepreneurial nature (e.g. coffee
shops/hawker centres/food courts, foot reflexology/massage parlours, karaoke
lounges, money changing/remitting, newspaper vending, geomancy and tuition
services etc) will not be considered for an EntrePass.
Golden Question: Would the partnership that we intend to set up be regarded as entrepreneurial in nature???
Application fee is $40 regardless of result.
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On the sideline…. Just a day before we went to do all this research, Zubair has finally succumbed, “Lets go back to Pak.”
But this time I’m the hesitant one.
- Why is he suddenly so anxious to go back? He had been tired for a long time already what.
- Waiting for the outcome of this partnership idea
- No way am i gonna endanger my life as well as my baby’s with that CRAZY BITCH Still breathing and roaming around in Pak.
Ikonz’s Video – Raastey
I must say this video is SUPERBly professionally done! The kid is Shumaim, their youngest bro. The vocalist is Shaji . And i GUARANTEE you will SWOON when you see Shumail (eldest) at his guitar. Not good for your health to fall head over heels for him though. He’s a heartbreaker but super kind and appropriate to guests.
The 3rd guitarist is Giant. Behind the drums is Asad, their cousin.
Zubair cldn’t sleep after seeing this music video for sheer … regret? of not being in it after a lot of hardwork he’s put in for the song itself. He WAS being called to come to Pak to film this video but of cos it was toooooooooo expensive for us.
I suppose i can understand his pain. But im all too relieved actually that he’s not in it. Who knows what some pathetic girls will do to my husband upon seeing it? Already there’s one who just can’t stop clinging to him. and its not me.
Lovely Overseas Phone Call
My Bro-in-Law, Salman called me last night.
He called my hp and Zubair was not around. We talked for a full 12min. And suddenly things seem so much easier and i think i can live through all hurdles.
He’s two years younger than me but seem more matured. We struggled with English and Urdu. Very nice to be put back on pressure to speak Urdu, otherwise it’ll get rusty even before it can run off my tongue.
He related how he was reminiscing with Ammi ji (MIL) when she was down with fever the other day about that first night when i came to Pakistan and we had dinner on that particular floor they were on …
He said how they all missed me and Not to worry but come back to Pakistan quickly, he will take leave from work and be my BODYGUARD. I feel very much relieved upon hearing that. Zubair can go have fun with HIS friends all he want (he warned me earlier to leave him alone to go out the next trip and tt i cldn’t join bcos its really not what they do), Salman will accompany me, HUMPH.
He asked if everything is ok, if i’m happy. Well i just said, “Main bahut khushu hai/hoon?” Im happy lah… dont have the heart to complain about the trivial things. After all, Z doesnt go and complain ANYTHING about ME to ANYONE.
And then he said, “Im happy to hear you laugh.” Although it’s really bcos i think my Urdu was crappy but it’s nice all the same that he remarked such.
Last of all, we arrange a date to come online for webchat Sat night/Sun morning. Hopefully Z will be home by then! Im sure Ammi misses to look at him.
That call really made my night. Suddenly i can jump mountains. and All is well…
I Miss Pakistan
Every other thing somehow reminds me of Pakistan.
Flashes of some scenes sparked in my mind as i try to go to sleep…
My heart is breaking…
I cant wait to see everybody again… To experience Lahore again… to eat their food again… but maybe not black bean…. haha…
But of course i dont wanna cut my hand again. Ergh
I Rejected a Lovely Job Offer
to work in Karachi for Sats Catering.
Our friends in Karachi has been talking to people about us possibly wanting to migrate to Pak and hence, looking for career opportunities there.
So Monday morning, out of the blue i got a call asking me to come down for interview that very afternoon or the next day.
I was SUPER excited taking into account that it would be a good “overseas stint” for my resume, and perhaps its for a managerial position? (I didnt have the nerve to ask what position is it for.) And Esp after knowing that:
- We will be given an apartment
- Children’s education will be paid for
- Possibly given a car and a driver
I know actually that Z not really in favour of working in KHI as we had discussed about it before. reasons being:
- Not safe
- Wants good education for children in spore
- Not a good career prospect for HIM
- Still not so near to his family in Lahore.
While i think he is rather settled here in Singapore with a band who’s participating in a competition and other things, i still thought this opportunity is something not to be missed. If at least, just to find out what they are offering. But Z still not keen.
At that time, i was very restless… i asked a few of my friends, one said cant comment what to do, other said no hard finding out. Finally, i asked my dad and he said, “I think it is better not to know the offer, bcos, knowing it will put u in more dilemma.” I realised after that that that is so true (hahaha 3 thats!)… Just to be sure i told Z again about the possible fringe benefits of this job but he stood firm.
Oh well… The next day i called up the guy and told him we’re not open for it at the moment. But he was so nice he said, “Ok just call me when you are open for it then.”
I felt very satisfied with that.
A Pillion Again
I rode pillion on my dad’s bike yesterday.
The first thing i said to him, “Oh your Phantom is green colour eh?” Ayah’s had the bike for like 10 years or possibly more but i dont remember the colour. Reason being most of the time we take the car instead. The bike is left parked in Ayah’s office for when he needs to go site inspections.
But yesterday, he went to a 1 day course at my office building and to park your car here for a whole day is a NIGHTMARE!!! $1 for half an hour. 9 hrs = $18!!!! But that is just the cheaper open air car park.. if you park at building underground car park it’d be daylight robbery!
So the solution is for us to park the car at the Ayah’s office and take the bike to town.
The ride really reminded me of the time i went riding with Zubair in Lahore. Only the scene was way more interesting than boring Singapore. and (at that time) the air was soo much cooler. Though i must say the air pollution was worse lah.
And before that i was browsing my Karachi friend’s multiply and i decidedly MISS Pakistan!!
I don’t know i want to go back there!!
