My Country Up Close

            Since this is my first blog post, I figure I start with the city I called home for the past 21 years of my life; Lahore! When you think of Lahore or Pakistan in general, words like terrorism, violence, extremists and poverty jump up at you because of what you may have seen or heard by media outlets. Although they are facets of Lahore which can’t be denied or brushed away, it is important to understand that they are a very small piece of a much larger puzzle.
 
Lahore is spectacular! The people, culture, history, traditions, landscapes, nature etc. all come together effortlessly to make a rich and vibrant city. From stunning mosques like Badshahi Mosque and Grand Jamia Mosque, ample amount of greenery, mouth-watering local and western style foods, magnificent malls for shopping, amusement parks, state-of-the-art universities and colleges, beautiful landmarks like The Eiffel tower and Miner-e-Pakistan, Lahore has something for everyone. 


With all that being said, Lahore’s charm and best characteristic lies within the people who call it home. The hospitality and kind heart that the people of Lahore show to one another and those who come from afar is simply beautiful. You don’t have to be living in Lahore to feel at home in Lahore. Even the poor in Lahore are rich at heart. It’s heartbreaking to see that a few bad apples changed the worlds view of people so loving and caring.

Does Lahore and Pakistan as a whole have work to do to do? Sure, it does. The new government in power seems to be on the right track in making Lahore a better place and eradicating the bad aspects of it but only time will tell how much gets accomplished. However, the positive aspects of the city far outweigh the negatives ones. Pictures do little justice. It’s simply a place you have to visit and see firsthand to get the gist of everything Lahore has to offer.