Lunch break in Pakistan

[JayAtl]

Lunch break in the US or sometimes we refer it as watercolor moment is when we shoot the breeze, when we talk about " hey my sister got married" " Can you believe so and so did this?" or sometimes we talk politcs...

What is like at " lunch break in Pakistan" - I ask because I wonder,... you guys are being pushed against the wall everyday by this constant news, bad news about Pakistan. Constant barrage about how the world thinks about OMG Pakistan did this and that... it can get very frustrating. It take over a conversation even out of office, at social meetings. So, how do you deal with it? what are you hearing about others opinion? How angry does this make you feel.

Do you feel a sea change coming where this time, at election time, you and others are really going to make sure you will go out, stand in long lines like we do, to vote? Are you going to hold you elective representative responsible this time? do you believe that democracy is the only way and no way will you allow / support of any military rule/ coup?

I hope you don't mind this post- we wonder, on the other side of the pond, what do they discuss...

 

[Last Hope]

Nothing much. Talk about cricket and positive news about Pakistan.
Sometimes talk about day-to-day activities and normal life. Share problems and together find solutions to it.

Entertainment on my iPad, which included hilarious videos and rest (95%+ is filled with Pakistan Military stuff, around 4+ GB).
Have got cricket and WWE videos and even live streaming.

 

[VelocuR]

Oh jeeez,not again.

Mr. American, we are not really angry or sad in whole world, we are optimists and confidences. We knew we shall overcome many difficulties (happening in the past).......and sorting out some institutions.

Our lunch break in Pakistan is same as West standards. We still enjoy discussing about positive things, which is good examples here in forum where Indians members continue to throw us bad lights.

 

[JayAtl]

^^^ well I guess we are different then. I remember after we messed up on the Iraq WMD Intel, with so many of our young soldiers dying- we talked alot about the daily bombings and suicide attacks in Iraq and how Bush messed up. The world was not forgiving and it affected our conversations. seems like you are saying- you guys are not much into what's happening nationally.

 

[desioptimist]

^^^ well I guess we are different then. I remember after we messed up on the Iraq WMD Intel, with so many of our young soldiers dying- we talked alot about the daily bombings and suicide attacks in Iraq and how Bush messed up. The world was not forgiving and it affected our conversations. seems like you are saying- you guys are not much into what's happening nationally.

Situation went bad very slowly in pakistan, so people got used to it. If it was a sudden departure from their daily life, then it would have been a point of discussion.
Any case, I am sure most people will be talking about personal stuff than politics in lunch break. You cant express strong views in office.

 

[S.M.R]

Well you are right that how we projected by our own media. Lets take example of my own niece who is british national by birth. While she was coming to Pakistan, her friends asked her that why she is going to Pakistan, it is too dangerous. But the reality is in entire contrast. She came here lived for around 1 and a half month, and went back with totally changed perception. She said Mamoo it is nothing like here my friends were telling. The funniest question which I faced was, we were passing by the American Consulate when it was near Marriot Hotel, She asked 'Mamoo Is it Jail"......I started laughing and replied, "yes it is, we have kept americans here as prisoner'.

Well we do discuss all the things over lunch that include politics, personal matters etc etc. At least we dont look at food being suspicion of cooked by _____.

 

[Awesome]

Well obviously there's not just ONE thing we talk about, anything that's on our mind at that given moment.

 

[desioptimist]

Well you are right that how we projected by our own media. Lets take example of my own niece who is british national by birth. While she was coming to Pakistan, her friends asked her that why she is going to Pakistan, it is too dangerous. But the reality is in entire contrast. She came here lived for around 1 and a half month, and went back with totally changed perception. She said Mamoo it is nothing like here my friends were telling. The funniest question which I faced was, we were passing by the American Consulate when it was near Marriot Hotel, She asked 'Mamoo Is it Jail"......I started laughing and replied, "yes it is, we have kept americans here as prisoner'.

Your niece is too young and innocent. .
Talking of danger, I remember one of my friends scared of going to black ghetto areas in UK, even though he is from not so nice place in India.
We all play up danger in foreign places, and play down our own.

 

[Respect4Respect01]

we are not from mars.

 

[JonAsad]

Well- our discussions in lunch breaks are not directly or inversely proportional to the current scenario of Pakistan- We chill as usual people do- and guess what- we do have lunches to take

 

[Pride]

Anywhere in the world, Guys on lunch break talk abt sexy colleagues in office first, Then sports, Then cars, Investments and then anyone move to politics. Heavy talks like Politics is left normally for drinks

 

[Rafi]

Most of the violence is in the regions bordering Afghanistan, there are not many attacks in even Peshawar - Pakistanis love to get fit.

[video]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-13918180[/video]

 

[Spring Onion]

^^^ well I guess we are different then. I remember after we messed up on the Iraq WMD Intel, with so many of our young soldiers dying- we talked alot about the daily bombings and suicide attacks in Iraq and how Bush messed up. The world was not forgiving and it affected our conversations. seems like you are saying- you guys are not much into what's happening nationally.

sorry ajay you are an NRI not "We aka American" in this case which you are narrating.

and honesty a desi be it from India or Pakistan in any other country talks about normal things relating to personal lives and they dont own foreign policy of the host country

 

[Spring Onion]

From India it looks everyone in Pakistan is depressed and frustrated but reading comments on this thread, I think you people are pretty much normal (at least in Metros)....

bwahahahahah come on . i tell you people in villages are more happy than us in the metros. i always compliant that my cousins in hill stations have more relax life than us in cities

 

[BelligerentPacifist]

Guys, I too am curious what people in Pakistani schools and in Pakistani offices talk about during lunch breaks. I never talked to any people, and remained ignorant of this.