There’s a common line when someone is advertising their culture. The template is something like, “we do this, we’re good at this, and oh, we REALLY love food!” It has always struck me as a little bold for a cultural representative to claim ownership over loving food. Doesn’t everyone love food? My three-week visit to Pakistan has softened my view. Pakistanis love food. REALLY. And now I know why: they contend for the best cuisine on the planet. I’m not just saying that because my in-laws will read this.
Continue reading…Month: September 2021
Istanbul feels like the middle of the world. The city itself straddles two continents, sliced by the Bosphorous strait that separates Europe from Asia. But the geography just feels like the physical expression of a culture that resists falling cleanly into one box or another. On the same street you’ll see a woman in a hijab covered to her ankles, a girl in a crop top with half blue hair and fishnet stockings, and a flamboyantly gay guy in a muscle shirt and makeup (but they’ll all be smoking a cig). The call to prayer rings from the minarets 5 times a day but it’s also legal to walk around with an open bottle of beer.
Continue reading…About Me
Hi! I’m Maheen but my family calls me Mano. Jack and I are traveling the world together and I’ll be sharing my thoughts and pictures on this site. Thanks for stopping by!