The Culture of Pakistan Essay -- Culture Cultural Essays

The Culture of PakistanI am invariably fascinated with other peoples cultures. The New York or Californian culture ever amazes me although these states are in the fall in States. These areas of the nation seem very incompatible than Texas. I do not have any friends that have latterly moved here from another culture so, I set forbidden to my neighborhood Stop N Go. The clerks at this convenience store are all from other countries. One clerk whom I have talked to galore(postnominal) a(prenominal) times, named Sohail Shah, always spoke of Pakistan. I often listened to his stories of being in the Karachi law of nature force or of Pakistans different customs. Sohail Shah, a thirty year grey male clerk at the Stop N Go located on North Braeswood near Chimney Rock, has been in the United States for quartet age. He moved here with his married woman and two children to escape penalization. Sohail claims he was in the secret police protecting the president when many governmental changes were made. Many of his co-workers were put in jail for many years for reasons he would not openly discuss. He has to work two jobs because his married woman does not work. According to Mr. Shah, she will never work. In Pakistan, women are to confine home and raise children. Currently, Sohail is observing the set apart month of fasting called Ramadan. This is find during the ninth month of the Islamic year and is ordained by the Koran, the Islam holy book. The fasting begins every morning at dawn and ends immediately at sunset. Muslims cannot eat, drink or smoke at all. In the evening, regular activities resume. The Islam driven culture of Pakistan shapes everyday life. Each day, all Muslims pray five times. The commencement is before sunrise, the second around noon, the third in the late afternoon, the ordinal immediately after sunset, and the fifth before retiring and before midnight. They organization the Kaaba, which is a small box in Mecca. No matter where a Musl im is, he will pause, face the East, and pray when it is time. When Sohail hotd in Pakistan, he lived in a habitation with his whole family. As an adult, he lived with his parents and siblings as well as his wife and children. The house was large enough to support over fourteen people. All the women stayed home to keep up the house and prepare meals. If the women were to go to the market, they would completely cover themselves except for their eyes. Women were not to be seen in public without covers. A... ...like the idea that the family is very close. I dont know if my ideal family could live under one roof, though. During the holidays, tensions build when my whole family is together(grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins). The situation of the wife staying home to keep up the home, prepare meals and take care of children is a positive characteristic. When my parents were young, their mothers stayed home to do the same tasks. I believe if the frugality in the U.S. improved, the mothers would stay home, if they were still married. The way of conducting funerals is sort of peculiar. Wrapping the soundbox in a grass mat that is tied shut at the ends is bizarre by my standards. I would prefer the casket approach to funerals. My feelings towards the Pakistani culture could be defined as xenocentric. I feel that the United Stated was once family focused and crime free. I would like to live in a culture much(prenominal) as Pakistans but without such extreme religious influence. I do not agree that women should be covered up in public or that they are not allowed into cemeteries. For Pakistan to be my ideal culture, it would have somewhat the same norms but exemption of religion and equality for women.