‘There is no question that I choose to stay in this country after claiming my degree,’ I heard one of my close friends on telephone, speaking on telephone from England. He went to Cardiff last year to earn a Master degree in Accounting. I expected that he, like so many others, who fly to the developed west, would have tempting tales of the beauty and sophistication of life in Britain. While these things do abound in the British life, his personal experience turned out quite different – far from satisfactory – and he craves each moment to return to the beloved life of Peshawar, even when the city resonates with explosion and its inhabitants live in the dark shadows of fear and uncertainty. He wants to return, and return soon as he completes his education.

My friend in question is not just homesick, stupid, or insane. He is pretty wise and mature – qualities that enabled him to see and feel beyond the popular charm of earning more and living longer in a peaceful place. To him, sitting with friends and chatting over hobbyhorses in the evening, over a cup of tea, is as rewarding an experience as anything. Enjoying the company of his family and friends, the mutual sense of belongingness, the respect paid and won daily, the unfailing trust in long-known souls, and the freedom to call on any of his near and dear anytime – these are all the precious gifts at hand that enrich the experience of a good life. Unlike many other of my countrymen, this particular friend of mine neither takes these troves of life for granted nor does he fail to notice them lacking in his life in England. To him, living in Britain is an alienating experience.

The fact that he is impatient to return to Peshawar and resume his former lifestyle is not being mentioned here as some attempt for proving the superiority of one culture or lifestyle over another but only for pointing to the fact that each culture, or land, has its unique gifts – things that can’t be bought, reproduced, or simply carried along in one’s bag. Not all people are won to the charms of foreign beaches, luxury hotels, luring career prospects, and even to such desirable privileges as greater freedom of expression. For some people, just like my friend in Cardiff, one’s entourage along with the love and trust of one’s faithful friends gives greater meaning to life. He likes England but he loves Pakistan and he will return without even thinking about immigration to UK. He belongs here. And we too can’t wait to enjoy his good company in the coming days with the hope and wishes for safety and peace for all.