Expat Advice: Relationships in Karachi, Pakistan

What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?

Karachi

What is your current status? Are you single, dating, in a long-term relationship, married or divorced?

married

What is it like in your country of residence for someone with your relationship status (married/divorced/dating)? If you're single, how do you meet other people? Do English-speaking people tend to gravitate to certain parts of your city?

In Ohio, it depends on where you live how you are treated in a mixed culture and race relation -- in cities it is not noticed, but in rural areas we still draw very distasteful looks and even very rude comments and discrimination.

We have even had CPS called on us simply because my husband is Pakistani (they reported him as "that Iraqi man" - luckily for him he was not even in the country at the time!). Some people are very ignorant in the rural areas.

In Karachi, Pakistan people pretend to be open and friendly to Americans, but that is to your face. Behind your back, it is different... so you need to be careful to know who truly is your friend and who is not.

If you have children, what advice would you give to others making a similar transition to your country of residence?

In either country, keep your children close. Do not allow them to go to other's homes, have them play in your home/yard; walk them to school and pick them up yourself; limit internet time and keep close eye on usage; get them into community activities and charity work; let them have a hand in the setting up of the new home.

If you are married or in a relationship with a person of another nationality, how has this experience enriched you as a person. What kind of challenges do you face?

I've always been open to people of other cultures so it wasn't unusual thing to find myself in relation and marriage to Pakistani man. But, the shock came with the HATRED with which his mother and one of his brothers (on prompting of his mother) treats me. It is common for Pakistani men to marry their cousins and she had plans for him to marry a maternal cousin and those plans were ruined when he fell in love with me.

What would be the best advice you could give someone with your relationship status that lives in your country of residence? Any other thoughts?

If i had to do it again, I would meet perspective in-laws first before getting serious. Horrible in-laws can make life very miserable for you.