Travelling tips: For college-bound Pakistanis

10 things found in a college-bound Pakistani suitcase

Going to college abroad may be a daunting experience for many teenagers. For most, it is the first time they are going to live alone and independently. To ease the transition, most incoming freshmen take a piece of home with them to their destination.

Here is a list of some things that the writer has come across during his stay at college:

1. Maggi noodles

This product is perhaps single-handedly responsible for satisfying pangs of hunger at odd times of the night. Yes you may find this delicacy in desi stores abroad as well, but the ones from home taste so much better. In my opinion, Maggi has the highest taste-to-cooking time ratio in cooked foods. Tantalise your taste buds in five minutes.

2. Masalas

God bless the folks at Shaan and National masalas. Just sauté some meat in ginger, garlic, onions and tomatoes, chuck in the masala packet, let it cook for a little while and voila — you’ll have authentic biryani, nihari or any other desi delicacy simmering on your stove. And it’ll taste exactly like home (minus that elusive ingredient — motherly love).

3. Chutneys

If there’s something almost every Pakistani craves sooner or later, it is spices. Some homemade green chili chutney or tamarind chutney works wonders with almost any food from any cuisine — primarily because all you taste is the chutney.

4. Mithai

No, it’s probably a bad idea to take chum chum or gulab jamun in a suitcase, but mithai such as barfi can last for a while in the fridge. And it’s the ultimate comfort food.

5. A qaumi parcham

Once you’ve addressed the food issues, a bit of patriotism is called for. The jhanda may be displayed proudly in your dorm room. Every once in a while you may dream of our cricket team winning the world cup to give you an excuse to wrap the flag around yourself and run around campus.

6. A shalwar kameez

Even if you never wear it — and you may never get the chance to if your campus is covered in snow half the year — there’s something about the presence of the dress in your closet that is heartening.

7. A Jinnah cap

Why take a piece of the homeland with you when you can take a piece of the homeland’s father? While this may not be the best fashion statement — Jinnah himself wore it in his later years — it certainly seems to be a comfortable head covering for walking in a windy, chilly city.

8. A cricket bat, electrical tape and a tennis ball

For that sunny afternoon when everyone’s sunbathing and you march out with ten other guys with a chair for a wicket. It’s cricket season!

9. Chai and powdered milk

We really like our chai. The key word there is “our”, not “chai”.

10. A lota

Because there will be no muslim showers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 19^th, 2011.