22 Feb

Part 10 of Dubai and Pakistan Trip Journal

8:35 AM

We’re at the departure lounge in Dubai International, and people have just started to board. This trip has been surreal for me. I’ve met dozens of family members that I didn’t even know existed. I’ve stood at the foot of the world’s tallest building. I’ve travelled in a two-stroke rickshaw around Karachi’s busiest streets. I’ve taken a camel ride on the beach. I’ve seen the tangible results of CIDA’s aid projects. I got to play cricket for the first time. I’ve had my t-shirts laundered and pressed by a servant. I’ve seen centuries-old islamic architecture that simply took my breath away. And I’ve eaten. A lot. Dal, chipatti, chickpeas, curry, you name it. Every meal, there were new dishes that I simply had to try, even if I was still stuffed from the last feast.

It’s mind-boggling.

I’m still going to be turning all these experiences over in my head a week, or a month, or a year from now, trying to make sense of it all. This was a pressure-cooked holiday, with so many new people and new things to meet and do in such a short time. It has certainly changed my view of the Middle East and South Asia for the better, and I’ll be back again someday.

That much I know.

Sam Nabi