Hassan Ali Rind Baloch

A blog of the Travel and Academic Journey of Hassan Ali Rind Baloch #SUSI17

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Academic Sessions

The Academic Sessions of SUSI 2017 have been engaging from day one. Right when we started with Ms. Sam Camera with Cultural Relativism and Religion afterwards followed by Mr. Thomas Fricke’s of US History and then US Constitution followed by Mr. Ravzan SIbi’s class on Leadership followed by Mr. Michael Hannahan’s on Public Policy and then classes of Mr. Obed Pasha on Policy Implementation and Evaluation. 

As good as these all were, I say this with a heavy heart, there is always a favorite. For me it was Mr. Macwillaim’s class.on a Presidential Campaign Simulation. Right from the time Mr. Mike gave us that case study on ASARCO Smelter and we discussed in class presenting our views, where he suggested we should be on President Trump’s Team for Campaign Simulation Run (which coincidentally we already were) it made me excited for the campaign.

To say we worked hard for the Campaign would be an understatement. Throughout the campaign simulation runs we were the last group to present anything which made the anticipations unbearable. Coming in last to present and sweeping away the winners trophy (an oval office mug in this case) was an ecstatic moment. Getting to this point required a lot of effort and while my teammates were at different moments acknowledged for their efforts {like Farheen winning the best speaker award and I getting special mentions at two different points by Mr. Macwilliams (thanks again sir!)} unfortunately a lot of hard work could not be appreciated in that small moment without which it all could not have been possible. 

When Mr. Macwilliams called out for the leader to come forward and accept the trophy on behalf of their team I called out for mentor (Team Julie FTW!) I later learned the leader was someone from within the participants. I was pleasantly surprised by my teammates calling me to go forward to receive this award on behalf of the team. It was a moment of great honor and pride for me. 

Even though it was the hardwork and dedication of Salman making such a phenomenal video that got us there. It was Ammarah working tediously to make the powerpoint presentation and giving a blasting speech during the debates. It was Mohsin with his clever ideas of thinking out of the box to learn from others and improve ourselves. It was Sundal’s dedication of working against all odds as a student of Medicine to overcome that barrier and delve into American Politics to give a stellar debate performance. It was Farheen’s dedication not only with the debate speech but also with the aesthetics of our campaign. I must also give special mentions to American students with us that helped us beyond their parts to push us towards victory, Lisa Servaes and Leah Eve-cooles it would not have been possible without your constant guidance and coaching about American Politics, your help with Campaign decorations and your support in the classroom during our presentations. You guys all made it possible.

At the end I would just like to thank all of my teammates for being so unimaginably awesome and for the Academic Directors Ms. Sam and Mr. Tom for putting up such eventful classes together which have made the Academic Sessions so engaging and enlightening.

Hassan Ali

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Culture.

I believe culture is the accumulation of small things that are shared among a group that form together to make an umbrella like identity for all the participating groups. 

In our case the Umbrella of a Pakistani Culture is our Islam driven principles, our national language Urdu and our lIve for our Flavorful (often referred to as spicy by our American friends) food.

In my observation the American Cultural identity would be of their love for Freedom of Speech, their Democracy and Pickup Trucks. A lot of pickup trucks. 

A lot of the major differences might already have been discussed by my co-participants so I’ll focus on the little things I noticed. So in order to make this a cultural comparison I’ll write about all the differences whether they be geographical, social, political or just infrastructural that I have observed.

I noticed the pickup trucks because I like cars. Besides the obvious thing of having the steering on the wrong side, people here drive a lot more SUVs and Pickup trucks than in Pakistan. Also the Americans like to drink lemonade, wherever I went to get a drink there’s always a lemonade option available. I have never seen so many flavors of lemonade itself ever since I have been here. In Pakistan its either Pepsi or Water. One more interesting comparison I haven’t had a sip of Pepsi here, its not much on displays either relative to Coca Cola. There’s an obsession of having two doors to enter any building. Two is must. The walls are all cardboard made and very thin, so everything I could hear my neighbors and I’m sure they could hear us as well. While we are used to having concrete walls back home. There’s a norm of early to bed and early to rise which means early dinner. I find it very difficult to adjust to the dining timings. I have never had dinner with the sun out ever before in my life and that too food that tasted so bland.  So going back to Pakistan I’ll first have to adjust to eating dinner when its dark outside and then also prepare for a spice hurricane. The Americans discussed money a lot. The somehow manage to cram in prices or dollars into at least half of the conversations I’ve had with them, which is very unusual in Pakistan and probably a cause why mostly I and most of my friends are penniless by the end of the month. We don’t consider the money so much. Also formal, that’s very rare. I repeat, very rare. It’s mostly shorts everywhere! 

I could go on about the differences for hours and hours but the major shock that I got in terms of Cultural differences was the US as it is painted in the media is very different. It is not the moral leader it is portrated to be. It is still fighting some of its battles over Racism, Freedom of Speech and Gender Discrimination. At the same time being a subcontinental Muslim guy I expected some raised eyebrows if not direct remarks but that didn’t happen. There have been surprises for sure and I expect to keep learning more. This is growing to be an eventful journey. 

Hassan Ali

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Alexander The Great, perhaps one of the greatest leaders in the world, once said “Whatever possession we gain by our sword cannot be sure or lasting, but the love gained by kindness and moderation is certain and durable.” The Emperor of Macedonia considered to be one of the most successful military leaders in the world concludes kindness and moderation to be stronger than the sharpest and fiercest swords his army had. Often touted to be an assertive, testosterone fueled and decisive trait does not do justice to leadership, leadership in my eyes is more than just a trait. It’s a way of life. Leadership should not be sought just in legacies but in everyday gestures. It’s not just a commanding effort to win a battle over. Leadership is also an instance of kindness, it’s an initiative. To do, to be. To be beyond yourself. The fellow Pakistani Student Leaders have been exceptional with their conduct towards the cultural differences within us, our diversity is not questioned by each other but celebrated. As a side not, in the process of which I have picked up on the “Mada” of my fellow Northern Pakistanis and I believe I’ve rubbed off the quintessential “Adey” of a Baluch. The initiatives of the fellow Pakistani to honor and appreciate the sub-cultural differences and languages among us have been heart warming. The hosts’ kindness and moderation are innumerable. Their hospitality and tolerance towards our Cultural differences has been commendable and is admired. Their initiatives to feel us welcome and feel at home have been sincere and heartfelt. Their constant presence, culture guidance and gestures are in my definition a true reflection of leadership.