My name is Ferhan Kamal and I was born in Karachi, Pakistan. I live in Coral Springs and am in the eleventh grade at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. My favorite subjects are algebra and language arts because I like solving equations and writing essays about movies, books and life. I love playing basketball, football and cricket and plan to become a lawyer since I enjoy debate. Joins me on a trip to Pakistan.

Language

The national language of Pakistan is Urdu, which means ‘army’ or ‘camp’, reflecting the fact that the language was formed from a mixture of Hindi, local languages and the Persian, Arabic and Turkish spoken by invaders from the north. Though Urdu is the mother tongue of only a part of the population, it is the medium of education in schools and the language of poetry and literature. English is also taught in some schools. Other important languages spoken in Pakistan include Punjabi, Sindhi, Baluchi and Pashta.

“Gulli danda is a popular game played by children of all ages. A small wooden stick tapered at both ends is placed on the ground and another larger stick also. To aim is to hit the gulli, the smaller stick on one of the tapered ends with the danda, the other larger stick, so that it spins up into the air and then hit it again in mid-air as far as you can. If it is caught the player is out and if not the player gets a point.”

Here is a brief language lesson:

English Urdu

How are you? Aapka kya Hal heyh?

I am well. Theekh thak.

Thank you. Shukriya.

Goodbye. Khuda haafiz.

Yes ji haan

No naheen

OK, good achhaa

Food khana

Please mehrbani kar ke

Favorite foods

Puri: a small, round deep-fried pastry that puffs up when cooked, with the orange candy called halwa(halva).

Qorma: a popular dish of braised meat curry in gravy.

Qofta: minced balls of lamb, meat or vegetables in sauce.

Qeema: minced mutton or beef in sauce.

Halvah: a confection made from lentils, semolina or wheat with butter, sugar, milk and sweet spices.

Chicken karahi: bits of chicken boiled in a rich tomato sauce.

Jalebi: deep-fried orange pretzels made from flour, yogurt and lots of sugar.

Kheer: a milk and rice custard pudding served with cashew nuts. This dish is often used to break the fast of Ramadan.

Holidays and festivals

Pakistan Day, March 23: celebrating the 1940 resolution of the Muslim League of India to create the independent Muslim state of Pakistan.

Ramazan: the month of fasting in the Islamic calendar, when no food or drink is taken from sunrise to sunset.

Basant: from late February to early March, the kite-flying festival of Lahore is an ancient celebration of spring when everybody wears yellow clothing and young people fly kites from rooftops. Ground glass coats the kite strings to cut down other kites. Participants get very excited about the kite battles. Pakistanis have picnics on their rooftops to watch the kite-filled skies.

The Lok Mela in October is a folk festival of music dance and craftsmen at work on handicrafts they offer for sale. The event spotlights the efforts of the Lok Virsa Institute of Folk and Traditional Heritage in Shakarparian Park in Islamabad.

Eid-ul-Fitr: two to three days marking the end of Ramazan. On this day Muslims go to the mosque and a special area where they greet each other. There are celebrations through family visits, gifts, banquets, bonuses at work and donations to the poor. The holiday is celebrated to give thanks and praise to Allah.

Sports

Cricket, soccer, hockey, tennis, table tennis, squash and wrestling. The Pakistanis are known to enjoy polo, horse and camel racing. Fishing, bird watching, trekking, mountaineering, rafting, kayaking, cycling and hunting are also popular sports and activities.

Did you know?

Cricket is Pakistan’s greatest sports obsession.

If you are invited to a Pakistani home, take a small gift, like sweets for the children or postcards from home.

Never step over any part of a person’s body or walk in front of someone praying to Mecca.

The Quaid-I-Azam Mausoleum is a monument to Pakistan’s founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah.

Want to meet Broward’s international students and learn about their languages, customs and lifestyles? Check out Dr. Diversity’s “Culture Corner” featuring multicultural kids every fourth Wednesday in this section.

Dr. Diversity is Francine Black, Broward’s 1991 Teacher of the Year and former Director of the Multicultural Program at Nova Middle and former assistant principal at Silver Trail Middle School.