Pakistani Student Service Project Fall 2011

About In September of 2011, 34 students from throughout Pakistan visited the United States for the first time in a program through the American Institute of Research (AIR). This program was designed to have these students learn basic skills with computers and to have them visit the United States and learn about our culture. For the first time in the history of the program a group of these students would spend a few hours each day for two weeks at an American high school. I was assigned to students, Imdad and Saif, to shadow me throughout the day. We also took these students to a field hockey game and spent time with them at dinners and other various events throughout the two weeks.

Significance It is widely known that the US is not liked in many nations across the world, especially Pakistan. To have students from Pakistan be willing to travel thousands of miles to a country who is disliked by so many of their people is truly extraordinary. Many of these Pakistani students received threats to not join the program, but bravely they still committed. In two weeks I formed a close bond with these students. We were able to find common ground over things such as favorite movies and favorite music. After these two weeks we became life long friends and even a year later keep in contact over Facebook and Skype. After two weeks a group of American and Pakistani students were able to achieve more than the American and Pakistani governments had ever done. We were able to form an unbreakable bond.

My Role I was put in charge of deciding what events we should bring these Pakistani students to during their two weeks. I thought about what a normal high school student would be doing in the US and wanted to give them that same experience. I planned to have them attend a field hockey and volleyball game. We also planned a discussion between a group of 30 American high school students and these Pakistani students to discuss the similarities and differences between our culture and theirs. My greatest role was to be Saif and Imdad’s shadow. It was truly the past part of this entire program and I enjoyed the friendship we had.

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