When we stepped off the plane, there were four men waiting for us with a "Layton/Bailey" sign. They helped us carry our luggage and handled security for us entirely. When we got to the luggage carousel, our bags had already been assembled on a cart. Outside, Anila gave us a big, warm hug and then introduced us to Sarah, a Cultural Affairs Officer and our new host from the American Embassy. We had only taken several steps toward Anila's car when she rerouted us to the "car" that we'd be driving in--a large, black, tinted-window truck with four men and three machine guns in the back bed. This photo of our new security team was taken through our rear view window. I am amazed at how quickly we have acclimated to this aspect of our trip.
Abrar Afridi, our security coordinator, has accompanied us everywhere and has, in the process, become our tour guide and good friend. He has been incredibly generous with answering every question we have and explaining all of the great landmarks around the city (as well as instructing us on when we can photograph and when we cannot). The fact that Brian and I were both able to start our lectures in Urdu is entirely a result of his patience! I don't know how many times he listened to and corrected our attempts to pronounce a single sentence. So much of our trip has been shaped by his guidance and kindness.
After checking in at the hotel, we went to Anila's home for a traditional Pakistani feast (delicious). This is where we first met the group of five graduate students who would be instrumental in helping us throughout the conference and beyond. From our current vantage point, it is very difficult to believe that we only met four days ago! We reviewed our schedules with Sarah, reconnected with Maqsood for the first time since meeting him in the U.S., and had our first look into the extent of the work that Anila did to organize what would become a groundbreaking conference. At the lunch, we also had the great privilege of meeting two of the Chief Guests, Professor Dr. Ahmed Ali Kahn and Lord Shaukat Nawaz Khan, two very impressive men who have had a significant global impact (emphasizing "significant") on improving conditions for children, Ethnic minorities, and those living with psychiatric disorders and learning disabilities across the world.
Words and images will never suffice in describing what came next:
As part of a "secret surprise" we were escorted to a motor-less sailing boat--one that I thought only existed in fictional movies--and ventured off into the sea for a seafood dinner that was partially caught and entirely cooked on the water. Had it not been so dark (our only light came from the glow of the distant city), I would have photographed the thick, worn ropes and the beautifully aged wood in more detail. Luckily, it was too dark to document anything at all.
While I try my best to restrict this following word to kids' events that include an old man, a deck of cards, and a rabbit, I have to make an exception in this case when I say that the experience was "magical". Yep. There, I said it. It was magical.
Eternal gratitude to our hosts for arranging this first and lasting impression of Pakistan.
No comments:
Post a Comment