Faisalabad

Very dry and very hot. It's 47 degrees in Faisalabad now. We have been to the field for four days, interviewing people. It's been very interesting, but hard work both physically and mentally. I thought I drank enough of both water and saline, but still ended up with a fever. Now we have come to Lahore, where I am resting in bed and doing pretty good. Seeing what I saw in Faisalabad makes me feel grateful that I can be sick in a comfortable bed in an airconditioned room.

This flag shows that the house belongs to Shia Muslims. A black flag with a hand on top.

Mad Cow's s lazy relatives.

Bangladesh being my default South Asian setting, I compare Pakistan with Bangladesh all the time. Many big things to say, but there was one small thing that struck me. Only one has asked me whether I am married, or how many children I have. In Bangladesh I even had an imaginary husband to refer to when I needed it, so I would tell the same story every time. Nithi, my male Malaysian colleague was often asked, however, and next time he goes to Pakistan he will be equipped with an imaginary wife named Candy... a sure success!