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When i first arrived here in Copenhagen in the spring of 2003, I was taken aback by how cold it was even in April. Coming from Karachi where the warm sun keeps us relaxed and at ease, the cold here made me cringe. Its no doubt that Copenhagen is a beautiful city and that I realized in late spring and summer when everything looked so fresh and colorful. It is never easy to move countries, especially when you are so well One of the main obstacles which I faced in Copenhagen was the language, they insist on speaking Danish and unlike us in Pakistan where we have adopted English, Denmark holds on to its language and culture very dearly and feels threatened that the immigrants might try to change the status quo. They do speak English and will respond to you politely but when the conversation goes to the point, how long have you been here and anything more than a year will give you the look ‘and you don’t speak Danish? Continuing with a polite sentence, yes we know our language is difficult to learn but if you plan on living here then you must make the effort ‘. And believe me I have made the effort still I can’t get the pronunciation right. You have to be born here to know how to use your vocal cords to make those sounds. I say that because I see my boys making those sounds without an effort! However, its not all gloom and doom and one of the things that I like best about living in Copenhagen is that I can use This article was sent to the editor by Suraiya Kasim who is a lawyer from Karachi and currently settled at Copenhagen. Suraiya intends to share her experience as an expat Pakistani living in Denmark. Suraiya aims to write on women issues, human rights, immigrant advise and life in Denmark experienced by Pakistanis. Do check back for more by Suraiya Related Articles |
settled in your own comfortable surroundings. It is one thing to move because of circumstances or career but moving because you got married to someone who happens to live in another country is quite another matter. Firstly because you enter in a new relationship that is one adjustment, on top of that you are in a new and foreign country. That makes the challenge even greater. And marriage is one such relationship which makes you do things which you think you would never do, in my case it was leaving Pakistan.
my cycle for anything and everything. Here are great facilities for biking. So much so those on some roads the cycle paths are wider than the main road. We have a bike in which our boys can sit in front and together we go on long bike rides which is both relaxing and fun. I wish we could do the same in Pakistan and make our dependence on oil much less. A very good thing about these western countries is that they have long term plans and visions and they keep their future in mind when making decisions rather than focusing on the present and short term goals. It was actually the oil crises in the 70s that made the Danish government change its policy of becoming less dependent on oil that started this revolution of cycles and windmills. Today Denmark generates 20% of their total electricity from wind power and its known to be the best cycle city in the world.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
(We have a bike in which our boys can sit in front and together we go on long bike rides which is both relaxing and fun. I wish we could do the same in Pakistan)
dear you are in Denmark or where ever but don’t forget that pakistan is a Islamic Country and we can’t do this ***** here in pakistan
yes i also agree with you (western countries is that they have long term plans and visions and they keep their future in mind when making decisions rather than focusing on the present and short term goals.) on this point our Govt should think like this but sorry to say that our govt is going work for him self not for the peoples of pakistan,
we hope for the best
pakistan zinda abad
im impressed
@ ali, very strange that taking your kids on bike is considered un Islamic by you! It is closed minds like yours that will never let our country progress and by progress i don’t mean taking your kids on bike rides but the fact that such a small innocent act in your eyes is UnIslamic is mind blowing!
Great Insight. Tell us about the Pakistani community there ! what are there numbers and general professsion etc
Mr. Ali - for starters mind your filthy language - you dont have to advertise your upbringing every time you come online - second of all - is using the words ‘Bullshitter’ very Islamic ?
Suraiya on behalf of Pakistanis in Pakistan - i apologize for Mr. Ali’s remarks , whose Islam only revolves around such puny things.
A very good read and im looking forward to reading more of your blogs.
Nice Reading Suraiya!
I think it will better to just ignore such comment(s).
2-years back,one day in morning arround 4:am I was about to go for my job so I started my old but reliable Ford 1998 but I found its battery was dead,I had no time to call tow truck for boost,so I started walking bcz my work place is hardly 45-minutes by walk ,I used short cut and when I approached to an appartment building I saw in dark a bicycle was lying beside a GARBAGE bin,I thought it was “Gaiby Muddad”, I took it & started biking fast, within 20-minutes I was at my work place.I parked outside near tree & went inside.On my break one of colleague asked me about my car bcz he did’nt see the one & only old model car at our parking lot.I narrated whole story ,another guy was standing by,he asked me whether I came on bike,I replied yes,he said “Usman do you know that you come on women bike bcz it has no BAR b/w handle & seat”,I replied Really bcz upto that time I had’nt know the difference b/w Gents bikes & Ladies bike.
To tell this story I ‘m curious and just want to know where sister sakina’s both son sit on her Bike?
@ Usman: Lol read the name under the article again….SURAIYA not SAKINA :)
@Suraiya: I loved what you’ve written:) I was reading a couple of days back how Pakistan could decrease its finance account deficit by cutting down on oil expenditure. Even if we don’t start using bikes or whatever, it would be great to have long-term planning and put this issue on the table in all the meetings they’re always having.
let me know madams if 2 lover goes on bike ride is it Islamic??
is it good thing you people such a thing in Islamic country?
i don’t think so dears
Dear Ali,
None of us here is a scholar to pass any judgment on what you have been asking. Anyways, i don’t know what’s wrong if two lovers use the bike.
@sakina sister–I want to hear something from you thats why I deliberately wrote “sakina” instead of “suriya”,any ways my question is still Valid.
@Usman: Enlighten me as to what it is exactly that you want to hear. And this is not a search engine. Google your valid question to get an answer.
ok dears,
i apologize if some one hurt from my comments,but Islamic point of you it’s HARAM, our PROPHET said that before i think we should follow our Prophet not the law of world or Europe it’s my thought but as a Muslim its not allow for us
that’s it
thanks
best regards
ali
saudi arabia
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