By Aroob Kazmi
Our world is a tapestry of lively colours, influencing our emotions, insights, and interactions. Colours evoke feelings, convey meanings, and shape people moods. Yet, being humans, we often perceive life in stark contrasts—good and bad, black, white, East and West.
For many in the South Asian countries, the Western world is seen as a wonderland. Many think that there is no issue in the west. I had once shared this thought, embarking on my own journey to west, captivated by the tales of beauty and opportunity, convinced that equality reigned regardless of any background.
I was charmed by the idea of this fantastical realm, but views are fragile constructs that can take time to build and even longer to pull apart. I soon discovered that the wonderland was relentless in revealing the truth of my misconceptions.
From Germany to Pakistan
In 2018, I travelled to Germany, just before the pandemic. I was young, newly married, and filled with hope and enthusiasm. Securing my visa felt like a dream, and I planned my future in this foreign land overnight, packing my favourite clothes, hijabs, and accessories. Little did I know that one garment would challenge my entire thinking, casting shadows on my lively dreams.
The journey from Pakistan to Germany was long, with no direct flights available for us. After a stopover in Turkey, the moment we landed, my fellow Pakistani women rushed for different activities to fresh themselves.
As we landed in Germany, I was overjoyed, convinced I was breathing the air of western world. Having travelled before, I felt confident, unaware of the realities that awaited me. The immigration process felt like a trial; the officers asked me a lot of questions. Each time, I responded correctly, I sensed their mistrust, especially when they glanced at my hijab. Their looks conveyed surprise, even disdain, as if they couldn’t reconcile my appearance with my competence. When I began speaking German, their shock deepened, as if they couldn’t bear to hear their language spoken by a woman in a hijab.
The next four years in Germany became a profound journey of self-discovery, filled with experiences of discrimination. I realized that the vibrant, colourful facade often masked a hypocritical reality, where the way one dresses can dictate the treatment one receives in a society. I observed many things including good and bad things in the western society, but their attitude towards hijab forced me to rethink about the so-called pluralistic society. There is general perception that they accept everyone and I agree that they welcome a lot of people on their land. I faced this issue in person but many people of different background laud their society as well. We should learn from each experience and take it as a lesson rather than criticizing others and generalize it on the whole population and society. From the entire episode, I learnt that we should first give respect to our values and norms and realize the world that we have own rich values and norms. In short, I must say that four years stay in Germany, enabled me to rethink about the beauty of my country and traditions.
