Day 9- Shukrya Pakistan!

Finally, we presented the review findings to the management team of our Pakistan office, along with our recommendations.  After some discussions, arguments, clarifications, we came to some agreements. 

And! Hospitable as they are, we were given some gifts: lovely Pakistani jars.

And our review was finally concluded.

Since our flight is not until almost midnight, we had time to do a few more shopping. I went back to the nuts shop and got half kilo walnut and half kilo raisins  (Yep- I am nuts with nuts!) and a few more wood decors. We had quick dinner then we went back to the guest house to pack- which, as you could guess, turned out to be very challenging.

The office driver came for us at 8 and dropped us at the airport. It was not very pleasant at the airport- with a police officer’s failed attempt to con us and tried to get our passports (he had to return it when we did not budge and we told him we had our visas).

Aside from that not so pleasant experience at the airport, it turned out to be a nice trip. It was a good learning and sharing experience.  The people I met were very friendly and hospitable. And I loved the places I have been to.

Shukrya, Pakistan, for the good experience. 

Day 8- Pakistan Visit: At Margalla Hills. Yay!

13 April 2014. On Sunday, we were back in the office to do the reports and presentation for Monday.  We were slave-driven, and allowed to take our lunch only at 4! Unlike! L

Shazia, however, saved the day.  She came at 3:30 , picked us up, brought us to lunch and took us to some shopping, again, at Jinna market.  13I got 1.5 kilos almonds and half kilo pistachio nuts, a Pakistani shawl and some Pakistani wood decors. Too bad the carpets are heavy! I wanted one.

Shopping time...finally.

After the quick shopping, we went to Margalla Hills.  It is a 20 to 30 minutes drive from Jinna market. On our way to the top, we passed by a memorial for the victims of an airplane that crashed in that site some years back.

At the top is the very nice Monat Restaurant, which gives a good view of the entire Islamabad City.  We got there just in time for the sunset. We had a nice Pakistani dinner (mutton and chicken barbecue, nan bread, salad) and then we called it a day.

At the Monat Restaurant

Top of Margalla Hills

Moon at Margalla

Memories of Margalla Hills

Day 4- Pakistan Visit: Saidpur Village

9 April 2014. Day 4 did not quite start right. We were supposed to go to another slum community at 9AM.  Earlier, however, there was a bomb blast in one of the markets close to that community. The Security Officer called up and asked us to wait at the office for another hour, and then he will give us another advice.

We decided to just continue with our system and document review.  After an hour or so, we were given the clearance to go.

On the way to the community...beautiful park turned into clothes drying area :)

We went to another Christian community and had the meetings in another small church. It felt good to be able to talk to some project beneficiaries- it does validate the work that we do. We talked with some youth volunteer health educators  and I was amazed to find out how much they are learning and how their involvement are helping them develop themselves.

Meeting with children and community

 After the meeting, we headed to Saidpur Village for lunch. On the way, I cannot help but notice the lovely roses lining the major streets. Wish we have this too in Manila- but then that might not be possible due to the terrible air pollution.

Aren't they lovely

 Situated at the foot of a hill, Saidpur Village is a heritage place.  It is an old village and the government are taking pains to maintain it and they are not anymore allowed to build more houses there.  The hill, flowers, blue skies and good weather all together made it the lovely place that it is.  

We enjoyed  a good Pakistani lunch and then headed back to the Program Unit office for a quick presentation of our findings and recommendations.

Day 3- Pakistan Visit: Hospitality

8 April, 2014. Days 3 and 4 were for the review of our other office in Islamabad.  In our lingo, their office  is called the Program Unit. A Program Unit is directly responsible for implementing projects in the communities we are working with. Their office is a block away from our Pakistan office.

After meetings, workshops and review of their system and documents, we had lunch at the office. And after lunch, we headed to one of the communities.

We went to a Christian community, obviously the minority in a country like Pakistan. And true to the South Asian culture, the children showered us with rose petals as we were ushered to the meeting place, which is a small Christian church. Not to mention the drum roll (literally). After the introductions, the children presented us with flower bouquets (such hospitality! :).

Lovely roses. They grow in abundance in Islamabad.

 The series of meetings with various groups followed. We also visited some of the families who are participating in our programs. I am happy to hear how our projects are helping them have paved roads, health check-ups, and trainings, among the many others. It is fulfilling to hear that the community have been organized and are now learning how to run projects in their community.

After the meetings, we were asked to go to the community event place, for a simple Easter celebration with the community. Easter celebration meant a prayer, simple cake, some local pastries and bottles of coca cola products.

A simple Easter celebration with a Christian community in Islamabad

It  was a good day.

Day 1- Pakistan Trip: Lost

I just got back from a 9 day trip to Pakistan, where we did a review of our Pakistan office.

I was very anxious before the trip. Weeks before my flight, a Malaysian Airlines plane, MH370, just disappeared and until now, no one knows for sure what happened to the plane, or to the passengers. Saying that it was disconcerting is a major understatement.  I dreaded the trip.

Nonetheless, it pushed through. I literally surrendered myself to God as I boarded the plane. After 8 hours of nerve-wracking flying time, I thanked Him that the trip was un-eventful.

We arrived at Islamabad on the midnight of Saturday, April 5, on board Thai Airways, and I was surprised to see that they now have a lady immigration officer.  During my trip two years ago, they were all men. One lady out of 4 immigration officers is a good development.

The driver of our Pakistan office was already waiting for us outside of the airport and he kindly took us to the guest house where we were booked. The guest house, Capri Executive, is a big 9 bedroom house.

Capri Executive, Islamabad

The next day, Sunday, 5 members of the review team met at our Pakistan office.  Two of us came from the Philippines, and we were overseeing the peer review.  The other one came from our Nepal office, the other from our Vietnam office and the other one was from Vehari, Pakistan. We were to train them on how to do the peer review. 

We had lunch at Centaurus Mall- a very new mall which was also non-existent 2 years ago. I was surprised that there is now abundance of "western", branded clothes being sold at the mall. 

Queue to the mall

It was a long day. Security Officer came to give us a briefing in the afternoon.  One of his reminders was: to make sure we are already inside the guest house after dark or at around 6:20pm.

At 5:30 pm, we went to Jinna Market, which is 15 minute walk from our guest house, to have some of our dollars changed, and have dinner.  Our colleague from Vehari was with us and he was our “guide”. Dinner was good at Kabul Restaurant, where they serve very good barbecue and Afghan food.

Afghan naan bread

After dinner, we saw an old man selling strawberries on the streets.  It was not an extraordinary sight…but what was extra-ordinary was the weighing scale!  It was the oldest old school weighing scale I have ever seen!

The strawberry vendor and his old school weighing scale

It was not until before 7 when we decided to head back to our guest house. We were already defying the security officer’s advice. We walked back to the hotel, and after an hour, we were still walking. We knew then that we were lost! The side streets do not have street lights, and it was very dark. There were men loitering the streets- and there was not a woman to be seen.  And there we were- four foreign looking women and a man, who is not from Islamabad, looking confused and lost. A lady stopped her car - I guess it was obvious that we were lost because she asked where we are going.  She pointed to us the direction.  We walked, got to an intersection, and did not know where to turn again.  It was a good thing a taxi stopped and he knows the guest house.  We took the smallest taxi I have ever seen, even if it is only for 4 people, tops.  Our colleague from Vietnam had to sit on my lap.

After ten minutes, we reached the guest house.  Safe and in one piece.

I. Will.Never.Ever.Again.Go.Out.At.Night.In.Islamabad.

I swear.