SOME FOND MEMORIES OF UK: 1

After writing the post about racism yesterday, it occurred to me that someone might get the wrong impression that the only two memories I have of UK are those two racist incidents. In reality, we have many many wonderful memories of UK so I thought I will share some of those here too.

England was in many ways our first home, because it was in London where we bought OUR first home, bought our first car, and where our elder two daughters were born. It was the first time in my life when I became financially independent, and for all of the above reasons UK will always have a special place in my heart.

We were living in UK when both 9/11 and 7/7 happened. I can say without any hesitation that even though we were dreading it, but we never faced any discrimination, any hatred, or even a dirty look, from any colleague, any friend, any neighbours. Whenever we returned to London after any international travel previously, we would only be asked two questions; what do you do, and which hospital do you work in, and were let into the country in 30 seconds. I was visiting Pakistan when 7/7 happened. When I returned that time I thought, today I am going to have a longer questioning, being a bearded Muslim Pakistani male and all. The Immigration Office at Heathrow asked, "what do you do? which hospital do you work?" and let me into the country. Then I took the tube and kept looking around if someone was staring at me, with my appearance and backpack and all. No one gave me even a second look. People who haven't been in that situation can't really appreciate what it is to be like to be treated the same as everyone else!