Classes have not begun, but the curriculum has been planned, as much as possible, and the 120 odd students met Saturday morning at orientation. Much of the time was given over to insisting that the students not smoke in class, and that medical certificates were not valid for male students if written by their aunty the gynaecologist…
The students are largely Pakistani, though there are a few from South Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Some of these are on regional cooperation scholarships. It should be an interesting mix.
I have moved from the BNU guesthouse to more permanent accommodation in Gulberg, a suburb about 10 minutes drive from the university. My room overlooks the large garden of the house next door. There are banana palms and mango tress. Squirrels call, and lizards run up and down the branches. It is quiet, and very peaceful. A welcome relief after the noise and bustle of the city.
Old Lahore is a maze of narrow streets. I have spent days lost in the tangle of bazaars and tea shops. The largest single industry seems to be footwear, but most everything a person could make or desire can be found within the remains of the city walls. So far I have discovered the camera, cell phone, cardboard, plumbing, optometry, dentistry, glassware, printing, picture framing, bamboo, mirror, crockery, furniture and leather sections. As always with bazaars it is not possible to plan what you might find, but simply to walk, and hope the streets do not double back too often. On Friday I passed a certain meat vendor, his wares hanging from hooks above the street, three times, but on each occasion the shops around had changed.
As well as dhal and sliced peaches the street hawkers sell a delicious salty lemon drink. The ice and water is invariably suspect, but it quenches your thirst and is a compulsory beverage after the heat dust, noise and pollution.
Classes begin Monday 1030 am. There is a lot to cover in 13 short weeks. We will see how we go…
