The Express Tribune hi five - April 21

Ms APRIL 21, 2013

ISSUE NO. 44

The Lawn Fever

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Daniyah Sehar: Climbing her way to the top

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inside what she said —

Do you have what it takes to be the Boss?

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Section In-Charge: Batool Zehra Send your feedback to women@tribune.com.pk

Reeling in the Taurus man

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Ms

the buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 21, 2013

When Woman and Mountain Meet

by Ayesha Rehman

An Interview with Daniyah, a Pakistani Trekker

Daniyah Sehar

It’s 3 am in the morning. The temperature is -14 degrees Celsius and in the light of the headlamp all one can see is a frozen river of snow covered with deep crevasses. One breathes with difficulty as the altitude is more than 4,000m. In this feeble light, at this formidable height, a woman walks on the Darkut glacier that twists onwards like a huge snake. A team of hikers walk behind the woman, taking each step with great difficulty.

Each step is a test of these hikers’ strength Daniyah Sehar, and determination. on. F For D aniyah ani yah Se S har, this hi is a dream climb; se set conditions that would et in conditio ons tha hat woul uld challenge break many men, it iss a cha challe llenge lle nge th tthat at she she’s ’s been preparing ng for years.

I first ccame ame to know about Daniyah am h when Lake I saw saw a photo ph o of her by Karomber La phot ake on Facebook. trekker, freelance Facebo ok. k A tre k. tr kker, traveler, freelan nce photographer, off all, a nature photograp pher, and nd mos mostt o Daniyah been mountain lover, Daniy niyah hass be en a moun oun ntai tain n cclimbing limbing enthusiastt for man many gone any years. Once I’d gon on ne through Daniyah’s thr roug o h Da aniyah’s numerous al albums,, there was just one word on my lips:: wow. women In n Pakistan, where wo omen are considered ar re generally considere red home-confined tto o be home-conf fine ined and tthose th tho se who op pursue e careers c rs do so in fields such as teaching, teachi tea ching, ng fashion and medicine, designing g an a d medi dicin cine, e,, I wass convinced con co nvin vinced that th hat Daniyah might one D Dan iyah iya hm ight be o ne coolest Pakistani of the coole olest Pakis stani women alive! aliive! ve meeting her, Before m eeting h er, I expected expect cted e a tomboy, tom mboy, wearing bandana wearin r g a ban ndana and d sporting an attitude, attitu att itude, itu de butt I de, couldn’tt have co hav ave ve more been bee n mor m ore wrong. wrong g.

Daniyah turned Dan aniya iyah turn iya r ed d out to be a shy, ou dainty d nty and sweett dai

person with large eyes full of life and energy.

Had I not heard about her from reliable sources including the acclaimed mountaineer Sir Nazir Sabir, I would have taken her for just another demure Pakistani housewife.

While her fellow trekkies think of her as a daring, adventurous soul, the 31-year-old who has set her eyes on scaling Tirich Mir next, solemnly tells me, “I never go on any trek without taking permission from my mother.” mountaineer Here the intrepid mountaine eer tells us a little bit about her life and tra travels.

A moun mountaineer unta tain inee eerr is b bor born orn or n My maternal grandfath grandfather her Khan Bahadur d Khan belonged to the rroyal oyal family of Afghanistan and in my childhood I was stories about fascinated by the storie es that I heard abo out Hussain his travels. Then came Mustansar Hussai in Tarar sahab’s safarnam safarnamas mas (travelogues) which further this when whi hich ch fur furthe the th her ignited th his desire. And wh hen I gradually started going thirst gra adually st tartted goi g go oing ng on o tre treks ks the he th he thirs irstt tto irs o explore increased exp plore the world increa ased ed te ed ttenfold. nfold. nfo ld Mass I hold a masters degree e in Mas ss Communication English but Co ommunication and Eng glish Literature r bu b ut always beauty Ia lways wanted to view the be beaut auty u y of of tthe he with myy backpackk an world. So here I am wit wo th m and my wonders m camera, exploring tthe he ew onders of Nature. spell-binding places I have av been to spell-bin ndiing p laces which inaccessible.

Perhaps a totally are total a ly ina nacce na c ssible. P erhaps the most enriching have enrich enr hing in times m in my m life eh ave been when sitting wild, listening I’ve been sitti tting in the e wi ild, ld liliste stenin ni g to the me.. It’ not mountains, world around nd m me IIt’s t’s n ot just mount untain ains, s highly inspired I am high igh hly ins in pired byy other geological features too. featur tu es too tu o.

Learning g the ro ropes opes My friend Sah Sa Sahib hib Khan [Sa [[Samina mina Baig’s me cousin] really ly taught m e the basic. Then experience one ex exp erience tteaches eaches on ne a lot. My role model mountaineer is mountaine inee er Gerlinde de e Kaltenbrunner, an Austrian, woman Au Aus t an, tri n th the e firs ffirst irstt woma irs w oman oma n tto o summ ssummit u um it all 14 8,000 without 8 ,000 meter er pe peakss wit pea ithou hout ssupplemental hou upplem mental oxygen porters. oxygen orr po

The e best trip triip ever ev verr Myy most challenging g trek was to o Gondogora G ondogora LA. We planned it so that we wentt from Hushe

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 21, 2013

to Saichto, Dilsanpa, Khushpang and then Gondogoro La. We had no time to acclimatise since we were gaining height quite rapidly.

Then we faced terrible weather conditions because of which we had to move back. We did the whole thing in less than a week so it had all the elements and a challenging trek which I can never forget. I also find the Desert Safari trek very interesting — there is nothing more beautiful and soulful then a desert in full moon and the sound of cattle bells.

not considered very respectable. People sully her character and discourage her with words such as, ‘Awaara’ and ‘Aurat ki jagah ghar par hai bahir nahin ( A woman’s place is at home and not outside)’, and even bring in religion just to impose restrictions. My biggest support was my family, especially my mother and elder sister who told me not to pay heed to what people said. I learnt that if remained focused I could utilise the negative force of such words to propel myself to action.

On female climbers

Facing fear

I think that men are physically stronger In a recent trek to Darkut Pass, I truly tasted than women. That doesn’t mean that some fear. My knee was badly damaged and I women aren’t stronger than some men, was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do the or even a lot of men, but the significant 1,800m descent strewn with huge boulders physiological which required a lot of differences in our stretching. Just before bodies are obvious and Darkut, I had trekked we can not change along the Wakhan that. When a woman Corridor and injured like Gerlinde comes my knee by slipping Fairy Meadows & Nanga Parbat BC along and scales all 14 from a rock. At that (4,300m), Dadarelli La (Swat), 8,000 peaks without time, it hadn’t hurt Hushe — Gondogoro La Trek (5,700m) , supplemental oxygen, at all and I’d thought Ganga Choti AJK Trek (3,045m) , or a route that has it was just a bruise.

Neelan Bhutto Trek, been up for a decade Even while while Shimshal Pamir Darkut pass (4,703m), or two, and it is the ascending the Darkut Along the Wakhan Corridor trek and first female ascent, Pass I was perfectly many more then it’s a historical fine. But when the moment and is descent began my inspiring to myself and knee refused to move. many other female adventurists. It shows My best friend and trek partner Rahat Latif that women are continually pushing the continuously backed me and kept diverting limits of the sport. I don’t see anything wrong my mind from that knee. But there came a with defining women’s accomplishments time when I refused to move an inch and he separate from the men’s. I can see why some literally scolded me. If he had not scolded might feel that grouping men and women me and supported me I would have not been in the same category is like telling women able to make it. When I finally did it, I felt on that we are just as good, and can be just as top of the world — even though we were in a good as men. I think that is mostly true, but plain area by that time! I had conquered my that still doesn’t mean we should all jumble fear and there is nothing sweeter than doing ourselves together as if there is no difference something that you thought you wouldn’t be in our make-up. able to achieve. That day we walked 13kms on foot. This 1,800m descent made me realise the true strength of a human being.

Overcoming barriers We think even a needle prick gives us lots To follow your dream you have to overcome of pain but there are circumstances in our a lot of hurdles — the biggest of which is life when we bear much more pain than we going against the norms. Travelling and normally would — it is during such moments trekking is considered to be the provenance that we realise our true strength! of men. A woman who travels on her own is

TRIPS

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Ms

en vogue

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 21, 2013

Combining Patterns

Prints

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 21, 2013

Designer Hira Lari introduces her new line of lawn prints for the summer season.

With exquisitely woven embroidery and delicately layered laces, the collection offers a dazzling range of casual and semi-formal fabric.

Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Styling: Moiz Kazmi Hair and Makeup: Omayr Waqar Designer: Hira Lari Lawn: Afroze Textiles Photography: Umair Bin Nisar Model: Mathira Mohammed

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Ms

what she said

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 21, 2013

“Stupid Minions”

Handling a team of minions is not meant for everybody by Zofishan Shahid

Six months later ‘employee of the month’ finds herself awkwardly clinging to a slimy rung on the corporate ladder. Promoted to senior executive she now toys with the idea of having her own team of minions.

“Stupid minions,” I muttered under my breath. But before I list reasons to support what is clearly a fact, I must tell the story of my past. (It’s more dramatic that way).

The snail before me had left a slimy trail but had managed to crawl up while I found myself awkwardly clinging to the rung labeled ‘Executive.’ But there I hung — feet hovering inches above the pool of unemployment. As much as the feminist within dreamt of blaming the glass ceiling, it knew it had to reach it first let alone break through.

As time flew, Superior left to pop out a baby, coworkers jumped ship and I got cozier in my little cubicle. While I failed to see anything wrong with five empty workstations, the CEO felt the emptiness and decided it was time for new recruits. He spoke of responsibility and training — terms my brain had been trained to disregard as noise while it performed more crucial functions like doodling and deciding what to have for lunch. “…How about two… under your supervision?”

Wait, what? Annoying interns in ‘my’ office?

“I mean…”

The fight or flight syndrome kicked in and quickly processed enough data to present crucial information and form valid arguments on how hiring during this ‘critical’ period could have serious consequences for ‘our’ company. (Rule No. 42 Declare ownership) I threw in facts and figures, quoted CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and was this close to sealing the deal. I had him right where I wanted when he decided to raise the stakes and threw in ‘promotion’ and ‘raise’ Touché.

I started shuffling a thick stack of paper that made me look busy but were just photocopies of a receipt I could not get the stupid machine to scan.

“I’ll get in touch with HR as soon as I’m done with these reports. I would like to make sure that this hiring benefits us in the long run. “ If I couldn’t avoid this, I might as well control it. And besides it was time the employee — supervisor rule book was revised. (Did we even have one?) All the same, I had a few ideas I wanted approved by the HR. I’d have aimed for new recruitment laws but that would have meant pulling in favors and I was saving those for later. Complaints registered in HR don’t just take care of themselves.

But I wasn’t done. Not yet at least and the CEO knew it. Neither of us was in the mood to argue any further, so I just blurted it out.

“Bigger desk?”

He frowned.

“Done. Just clear yours.”

Yep, it was an actual conversation that happened. For real and not just in my head!

But as I walked out of his office, I began to question his new found faith in my training skills. I mean here I was, unsure about my level of crazy.

Where would I be placed on the ‘Corporate Psychopath scale of B*-ness’ that ranged from ‘that crazy lady’ to the tyrannical and capricious Miranda Priestly. Of course everyone knew the crazy ones were the ones who managed to survive and so the scale of conventionality disregarded the ethical bottom of the food chain.

It didn’t take me long to clean my old workstation (clean here being relative) and move in to my comfy new spinning chair. Apart from the empty coffee cups and three course meals fit for an entire ant farm stuck between my keyboard, I did find a half eaten sandwich that had turned in to nasty green mold. I decided to leave it thinking it would act as a polite reminder for the newcomer to not leave food around for long. The huge stack of paper on the table, mostly accidents that had happened at the copy machine were tossed in to the shredder.

Two weeks later, two new interns were hired. One was an old acquaintance who at the time of the interview squealed, “I am so excited. I can’t wait for us to work together.”

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 21, 2013

‘Funny, I always saw you working and me, walking in late’ but I decided to hold on to that till after she had signed the contract.

The idea of having my own team of minions running around the office as I barked orders began to grow on me. I decided to name them Minion 1 and Minion 2. Now I just had to tell them that. I finally mustered enough courage to walk in one day and make this little announcement.

Minion 1, who happened to tower over all women and most men making her an excellent recruit for minion ship, (yes, I just coined that term) turned around, raised an eyebrow and said, “Excuse me?” while Minion 2 continued to snore.

Yep, she was definitely good.

I quickly muttered “nothing” and retreated to my desk deeming it best to gently break this to them. Fate took pity, the phone rang and I was able to save whatever dignity was left. I think I even heard her crack her knuckles. In retrospect I was quite brave that day for fighting the urge to crawl under my new desk and rock back and forth.

I decided to jump start Phase 2 mostly because Phase 1 wasn’t really going according to plan. Office supplies that had to be beaten in to submission were found broken. The stapler had suffered the worst fate.

I could have sworn I had seen Minion 1 clench her fists when I ‘politely inquired’ about it. I’m not stupid and fortunately I can read enough nonverbal cues to know when a person is fighting the urge to strangle or snap me in two. I quietly decided to retreat to my five by three foot fortress. Forget privacy, never had I been so grateful for 24-hour video surveillance.

Which is why it was back to Phase 2, which meant creating a to-do list for the two minions…. or just Minion 2. We already had a chai wala so asking her to fetch coffee seemed like a waste of a good resource. Besides, Minion 1 now had me convinced she had the potential to kill and frankly, being poisoned is a pretty dumb way to die. I mean, who wants to be known as the idiot who fell for the oldest trick in the book.

In the end, here’s what I had: • Conveniently blame when things go wrong • Conveniently blame when bored — Just to see how things play out • Grab coffee • Ask to do actual office work • Get the latest office gossip • Use as target practice I had spent a week on the list. Perhaps it was time to call someone with more minion experience who was willing to share her basic minion factoids. I looked up at my test subjects. Minion 1 was busy snapping pencils in two while Minion 2 seemed to be silently choking in her own pool of drool. Maybe this could still work out, I mean Minion 1 probably felt sharing office supplies would somehow decrease our cost. Perhaps she felt we were short on supplies or maybe she was, umm… Okay, why was she snapping pencils in two?

As if I had asked this question out loud, Minion 1 looked up, gave me a death stare, and snapped another pencil in to two.

That was it. This whole minion ship wasn’t meant for me. Forget the list. Now I just had two things on my agenda.

• Kill the whale • Live to tell the tale.

But chances of survival diminished with every pencil that she jammed in her customized dart board with my face on it. But I was up for the challenge. It was do or die. (Or if lucky, end up with a purple eye). The next time she’d threaten me, I’d be ready. I’d look her in the eye and clearly state (and not mumble) “Bring It On B*!”

Yep, next time. For sure... Or maybe the time after that. But one day, I’d be ready. (*We’re going to assume B stood for bossy or bully.)

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written in the stars 8

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, APRIL 21, 2013

Match made in heaven

Scoring A man April 20 –May 20

Bewitched by a Taurus man? Ms. T has the entire scoop on how to set a Taurus man’s heart on fire.

Taurus Man — Virgo Woman

The Taurus man is an emotional lover at heart and the Virgo woman appreciates his nurturing. With similar views, common grounds and a shared need for consistency, this relationship can be the most harmonious. completely ha You are both willing to comple ete tely ly devote yourselves ote yours rsel e ves to each other which renderss it to be relationship. a long-lasting rel lations nsh hip.

DON’T even think about it

d a e h s u r u a T Inside the

use he is lly resilient beca na io ot em d an e he has being rigid pleasing you. Onc Taurus male for in ed e id ad pr he s llke bu ta is d eces an Don’t confuse th shattered into pi ur compliments be yo ill w on t s bu ve y ri pp th who u to talk make you ha the big old softie does not want yo s every ounce to hi an m in t us pu ur ill Ta w a , he u, you are with ely passionate imprinted on yo t matter is that ha , loyal and extrem w rn d bo an ub s St ne . go man so e by if he fails to do g about a Taurus him, bygones ar tin r ta ri Fo . ir ps be hi n ns ca tio rela e thing that ly possible about your past ent. If there is on e looks. It is high tiv om es m gg ry su ve d at an th s shy him right now, in ay appear quite pick up your hint m to he m hi gh ct ou pe lth A ex . Don’t full of out yourself! is that he is slow an enjoyable ride ough to ask him ct en pe ld ex , bo ul be ha to ng ve hip for the lo that you might ha are in a relations o tw u yo ce on respect. and silent but ssion and lasting pa e ns te in , ve lo exuberant

Celebrity Taurus These celebrities are proof that Taurus men are some of the hottest men around.

Taurus Ma Man an — Woman Aquarius Woman A Taur Taurus urus m man a is down-to-eart an down-to-earth rth h and d simplistic approach whereas an Aquarius in app pproach h wh wher erea eass a n Aqu qua arius woman is unconve unconventional flows vent n ional and flow ows with changing style. with l Both h are equally ll stubborn bb i h the h Taurus man being too possessive and the Aquarian woman too detached which can be aggravating in the long-term.

How to grab those horns?

1. It’s important that you show a Taurus man how much you appreciate him and the little things in life and how much you fancy being loved by him because that is what keeps him breathing.

2. Chocolates! Taurus men simply cannot resist anything that has a touch of cocoa bean in it so now you know how to break that ice.

Bound for disaster!

David Boreanaz

1. This strong, quick-tempered bull can sniff a fake from miles away so you better be honest and genuine about your feelings for him. Pay attention to his needs and tell him the truth, not just a version of it.

2. Don’t try and change his mindset immediately. He enjoys his routine and can be very repetitive. Go with the flow and focus on one slow change at a time.

George C looney

David Beckham Robert Pattinson