Act like a guest

To my fellow Pakistani brothers and sisters (and to fellow South Aisans as well) I want to give you a little bit of well intentioned advice. As with any nation or culture you should be ready to run into differences when away from home.

You should not and cannot reasonably expect to be treated fair when that is something that no one in their own nation can expect at all times, regardless of where you live on the planet and I have traveled to almost all the continents you will not find perfection. Come on be honest, is this not why you left your country? because your homeland could not give you what your host country is offering you?

My advice is to act like guests at all times, not sometimes, you must respect the host country, it is their country, their rules and their laws, leave your own rules behind if they clash with the local laws and rules, sure we as South Asians are very warm and hospitable, but that is no reason to expect or to demand reciprocity, that will come naturally if you behave nicely, during my travel to Dubai, Saudia I mostly met very hospitable people. I think people will react to the way you behave, if you walk around with a chip on your shoulder or act foolish, then obviously it is their country and they will reciprocate in a defensive/offensive manner. So suppress any feeling of anger, arrogance, hostility, overly unreasonable expectations and you will be fine.

Don’t ever forget you are ambassadors of your nation, and how you act, speak and react with locals in foreign lands directly reflects on your nation. So I stress again and again, be very respectful to the local laws and traditions, do not break and local taboos, and please just because you are on vacation or away from home does not mean you can act silly, act the way you would in front of your family back home in your native country.

Any nation that is generous enough to allow you to stay in their country, to live, work and earn a decent living to support your families back home, deserves your highest respect. If you still don’t like it, don’t act stupid, just go back home or to some new country, Allah SWT has made this planet very big and there are many places where you could be a better fit. Dont be like some nationalities I know who have been refugees in Pakistan for over 30 years but still hate Pakistan and demand things that even poor Pakistanis dont get. Dont be like them, thankless....Always be thankful, they dont owe you anything, just remember that.

Finally, never forget to thank your hosts, invite them to dinners, or a cup of coffee, don’t remain segregated or it may also offend your hosts, make an effort to make friends with the locals, and do it with sincerity and not with any guile in mind.

Finally, before you leave or while you are there, remember to do something positive for the host nation, whether spending some free time with charity work, or donating to a needy cause, or helping make the host country strong in some way. Be loyal to the host country who trusted you and allowed you to their country, remember you are guests and only guests, act and behave like guests and you will be treated like guests. If you act like robbers or thieves or gangsters, then be prepapred to be dealt with as such. I pray our young Pakistani educated people would make a shining example in every country they live and work in.

I wish you all the best.

In the USA as a Proud Pakistani American Muslim.