the Adventures of *AND*

"There's a party goin' on right here; a celebration that lasts throughout the year... so bring your good times! and your laughter too! We're gonna celebrate and party with you."
- Kool and the Gang, none other than the best!!

Alina's in a good mood tonight, folks! Wanna know why??? CUZ SHE'S COMING BACK HOME!!!!! Six months here has done me some good, definitely. Never have I appreciated orderly traffic, low-fat milk, funtioning sewage systems, flushing toilets, clean air, and (almost) just about everything else that makes my America America. A lot of people have been asking me what made my parents make this decision so quickly and I guess they just realized that my sibs and I (well, Naiema, Daniah, and me at least) would never be able to adjust here like they thought we would. This isn't the same Pakistan that their romanticsm led them to beleive. The infrastructure here is disorgnized, the educational system is mediocre, people have no respect for the law, blah blah blah.

For the past six months, I was bored out of my mind. No school, no library, no Barnes and Noble (Saira.... lol), no GFC, no MCA, practically nothing! When I get back home inshaAllah, I'm gonna be ultra-productive. No more anxiety; instead it'll be all about PROductivity. You guys all hold me to that, please, when I get lethargic and sluggish.

Tommorrow we are making our last trip to Dera (*tears*). Dera, for those who don't know it, is the small town my parents grew up in and where my entire family (100+ people, mashaAllah) resides. I never knew I could love a group of people so much until I met my relatives. My mamoo's (mom's brothers), mami's (mamoo's wives), grandparents, and cousins are just so awesome. I have tons of fun with them. I'm especially gonna miss my little buddies Maaz, Hamza, and Mahad. They are soooooo cool and funny.

Okay, I gotta go. It's 9 pm and I still have not had dinner yet (yes, Lahori's have their meals quite late). I can't wait to see yall soon inshaAllah.