Before I arrived here, everyone back home was telling me to think twice before going to Pakistan. It’s not really a tourist destination, and no one ever says, “Why don’t you go to Pakistan for your next vacation?” If I had listened to these people, I would not be here, typing this from Lahore — my new adopted city which I call home in Pakistan. It feels strange getting adjusted to a new environment, different people, different language, and a different way of life. However, I take this challenge on because there is always something to gain and never anything much to lose. Even though it can be a difficult progress, I have come up with one conclusion: As we Italians say, ”When in Rome, do as the Romans do”; well in this case, when in Pakistan, do as the Pakistanis do! My first Pakistani experience was that of having servants — a dream for us from the western world. As spring was in the air, I was excited to celebrate the Basant festival. As I was invited to a house party, the trip itself was a party of its own. Lahore was vibrant with people trying to get to their destinations in heavy traffic. Driving through the city along the canal, one could see the floats and the lights which enhanced the feeling of the celebration. Standing on the roof, all I could see was a sea of kites, with fireworks sparkling from all angles on other people’s roofs. Then a bang occurred — young men with guns were shooting in the air. I was thinking to myself, is this normal? As much as I was frightened that a stray bullet would come my way, no one else seemed to care, so I thought to myself, if this is how people celebrate here, let’s keep on celebrating. There is a sense of buzz and energy in Pakistan which cannot be explained. Just watching a street is amazing to me. It’s not like back home where you see everything is in a moderate way and predictable. Life itself, in Pakistan is far from that. Once I saw a red hot Ferrari driving through Lahore, passed a donkey cart carrying a whole family on board. Pakistan does certainly demonstrate all extremes of life. From the villagers who sell fruits on the roadside to the fashionable boutiques on MM Alam Road; from the calls for prayer at the local mosque, to loud dance music blaring out of a local café, this country has demonstrated to me that it has traditions and faith which will continue to thrive while it moves ahead with the times. All the eating places also amazed me. From American giants McDonalds with valet parking, to the little corner Tikka places, where food is delivered to your car. Now that is what I call customer service with a capital S! I have noticed some differences and some similar traits among the Pakistani women and us Italian women. While we are sitting in the burning sun tanning ourselves, women here are ‘fair and lovelying’ themselves. As the common Pakistani woman is matching her dupatta with her shalwar qameez with great ease, making sure all is in place, we westerners are grabbing the first thing that comes out of the cupboard as we don’t have the time to beautify ourselves. Jeans and t-shirts for us are a blessing. Yet we do have one thing in common which I think is universal, we love to gossip over family affairs and we both talk loud. The louder the better! So far I have concluded that Pakistan has more to offer than what the media in the western world portrays. Pakistan has been depicted as a country where people, especially women are suppressed, but I think the western world has it wrong, it is us westerners who are suppressed. This is a different world for me. Life can take you anywhere at anytime, and at times there are choices which have to be made. I had three options in my life, I could have been sitting at the famous Bondi beach in Sydney, or walking through the ancient streets of Rome. However, I think I will stay where I am, in 36 degree heat, in dusty Lahore. Why, you may ask? Because this is what feels right.