The Express Tribune hi five - November 3

Ms NOVEMBER 3, 2013

ISSUE NO. 72

Turkish Delight

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Male teachers in Pakistan

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inside fashion smashion —

Bring on the coat revolution

domestic goddess —

Chicken with a Chinese twist

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Section In-Charge: Batool Zehra Sub-Editor: Amna Hashmi

The Pakistani rockstar

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Ms

the buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

by Saif Asif Khan

Ms T enters the classroom to get a firsthand look at being a male teacher in Pakistan and the many joys it entails

Have you ever wondered why teaching which is traditionally the preserve of women becomes primarily maledominated as we move up the educational hierarchy the world over? Why is it that college-level education is dominated largely by male professors, despite women having equal ability? Personally, I believe it may have something to do with the fact that teaching gets progressively unglamorous from kindergarten to college level.

Women figured this out a long time ago and left their male counterparts become bald, toothless caricatures of the bright lively beings they once used to be.

You might feel I am exaggerating but teaching young adults is perhaps the least exciting of all professions, devoid of the drama and adrenaline rushes felt in other jobs. There is no breaking news, no stock market plunges and no serious deadlines to be met. And worst still, there is rarely a need to don a suit and imagine oneself as the dapper Harvey Specter. Male university teachers were but a sad bunch of socially-challenged men who knew the stuff but failed to apply it to their lives. At least, that is how I used to see them.

The boy was a habitual truant from class, notorious for missing deadlines and pitching the exact same sob story that he had told me to other lecturers. That day, I learned another important lesson: never trust students without conducting an in-depth, CIA-level background check While at university, I secretly pitied the male members of the faculty. They never seemed to me more than awkward guys, dressed in shabby clothes one size too big, which was alright since they probably didn’t have much of a social life anyway. It also didn’t help that they had possibly the worst sense of humour imaginable with jokes that elicited little more than a few polite smiles from the students.

You can therefore imagine my apprehension when I

was offered a teaching position as part of my degree at a university. Would I become one of THEM? Would I start cracking jokes about the 1920s and sporting tweed jackets and dirty sneakers? Would I end up having lonely tea breaks at the corner table of the campus cafe, surrounded by students sniggering at my receding hairline?

Nonetheless, I decided to accept the offer despite all my concerns as the money was good and the international teaching experience would add to my resume. What I didn’t realize was that unlike other jobs, teaching grows on you rather quickly. Not only do you begin to enjoy being surrounded by over a dozen or so fresh minds, you also start to believe in your ability to make a positive contribution to their lives. You begin to see yourself as a suave Indiana Jones of sorts, ready to take on any challenge presented by the sleepy bunch of students you now look forward to meeting every morning. All in all, it goes straight to your head.

Fortunately, this misconception doesn’t last long and the bubble bursts. Come class evaluation time, students are asked to fill anonymous forms for feedback regarding a particular class or teacher. These forms are then weighed upon by the presiding faculty and necessary changes (if any) are made based on the results. For me, this day of reckoning came mid-term, just before the students broke for winter and I felt a familiar feeling of dread as I noticed my students appeared oddly happy as they filled their forms. The school’s protocol required that I give them their privacy so I stood waiting in a corner of the classroom, watching as a sleep-deprived group of 20-somethings decide my future as a teacher, resisting the urge to peer over their shoulders.

By next morning, I had a considerably low opinion of myself. It appeared that the anonymity of the evaluations had encouraged the students to unleash their inner demons. I realised that the best comment I had received was about my “amusing centre-parting and interesting choice in jumpers.” The rest were far less complimentary.

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

However, I did learn a lesson that day — wear only black, brown or blue to class.

However, if foreign students are unnecessarily vindictive in filling out evaluation forms, desi students take the cake when it comes to conjuring up innovative excuses to get out of trouble. About two years ago, I began my teaching stint in Pakistan by joining a renowned business school as visiting faculty without an inkling about what was to follow. In addition to disciplining apparently mature, young adults daily and confiscating cell-phones, my job entailed dealing with students who could talk their way out of anything. One such student was Farhan* who had been unable to submit his assignment before the deadline, the reason behind which was that he had been unable to leave his house due to gang-violence in his neighbourhood — a fairly plausible excuse considering the current situation in Pakistan. I asked why he couldn’t just email his work to me and he replied his family’s financial problems had forced them to cut off the internet. Months of unpaid bills had lead to the telephone company shutting the phone lines down so he couldn’t call and inform me either. And if you are wondering, as I did, why he couldn’t use a cell-phone then it was because he had been mugged at gunpoint a week ago.

Needless to say that by the time he was finished, I was speechless. I felt like a horrible, insensitive person and apologized immediately for my thoughtlessness, promising to do whatever I could to compensate for his bad grade. But a cautionary email I received from Farhan’s counsellor the next morning made me realise how gullible I had been. As it turned out, not only was the boy a habitual truant, he was also notorious for missing deadlines and pitching the exact same sob story to other lecturers before. That day, I learned another important lesson — never trust students without conducting an in-depth, CIA-level background check.

Ever since then, I had been seeking employment opportunities at different educational institutions hoping for better, more rewarding experiences. When I managed to land an offer from a local arts college, I briefly became Indian Jones once again until the classes started. Little did I know this too would be more of an education for me than my students! Soon after I joined,

Male university teachers were but a sad bunch of socially-challenged men who knew the stuff but failed to apply it to their lives. At least, that is how I used to see them a female student actually brought her child to class one day! Another was having trouble explaining just how her signature had appeared on the attendance sheet when she had never actually been spotted in class the whole term. But both of them barely compared to the poor chap who, I imagine, was dared into shameless sycophancy by his female students. Yet another lesson learnt — apparently, if you and everything else fail, perhaps flattering your way out of that F grade might just work.

Some days at the college our worse than others; when you encounter a set of assignments to be graded overnight which make you wonder if the sea of nodding heads which you saw during class last week were a figment of your imagination. Other days, my faith is restored temporarily by a student who responds correctly do a question. Nobody said teaching college students wouldn’t be a daunting task. In fact, I’d say that few things can be more troublesome than trying to get through to angsty teenagers and 20-somethings who care for little apart from their current Facebook statuses. But then again, there is something oddly rewarding about the proverbial rebellious young man with immaculately coiffed spikes and multiple piercings offering to carry your books up to the staff room. In that moment, the agony of teaching seems worthwhile — until you turn around and catch him winking to his friends mischievously.

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Ms

en vogue

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Timeless in

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Turkey

Maria K displays her latest exquisite wedding ensembles against the backdrop of Istanbul, adding a regal touch to her work Photography : Umair bin Nisar Designer : Maria K Model : Urwa Location : Istanbul, Turkey Co-ordination : Umair bin Nisar

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Ms

fashion smashion

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Coat revolution:

Jackets, boleros & capes by Eiman Masroor

Check out Ms T’s tips on how to rock the fabulous new trend this winter This year, the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) L’oreal Paris Bridal Week was a grandiose affair. From designers like SanaSafinaz, Asifa & Nabeel, Ali Xeeshan and Fahad Hussayn showcasing their latest work to the relatively new fangled talent like Misha Lakhani, one thing was clear: simplicity has no business on the ramp. It is all about taking risks, experimenting and marking your territory.

While the timeless traditional bridals were ever-present at PFDC, what truly stood out was the wide array of outerwear worn on desi formals, including jackets, capes, blazers and boleros. Asifa & Nabeel’s take on short jackets, for instance, was a breath of fresh air on top of the minimalistic sari which looked stunning on the ramp. On the other hand, Kamiar Rokni stayed true to himself with his innovative, floor-length white cape with intricate Oriental embroidery on the back and sleeves.

Women have already followed suit and the trend of outerwear can now be seen off the ramp too. So, if you are ready to take on this bold fashion statement, don’t think twice. Check out our tips to own this trendy new style this winter wedding season!

How they are worn The best thing about these external beauties is that when it comes to Eastern wear, the options are endless. Pair your jacket up with a lehenga, sharara, kurti, sari or a plain kameez and it will almost always look great! However, be wary of the length of outerwear as this is often the tricky part. If you are planning to wear a lehenga or sharara underneath, then a long cape open at the front will surely do the trick.

On the other hand, a long shirt or short kurti will look best paired with a sleeveless bolero that adds the extra spice to your outfit. As far as the fabric is concerned, the ones that work best are net, chiffon and jamawaar, anything that will add some weight to the dress. You can even add some lace or embroidery to liven it up a bit more.

When it comes to Western wear, girls generally go for boleros or short jackets as they seem to be much more modern and chic than traditional wear. Pair your jackets with fitted skinny jeans, palazzos or even a gorgeous jumpsuit to make everyone go gaga.

The colour palette Judging from the pieces displayed at PFDC, it is best to stick to subtle shades like white and beige or single colours like black — anything that looks classy and sophisticated. A bright-coloured neon or intensely printed jacket will not only look confusing but also make the wearer appear heavier than they are. The idea of the cape is to add an extra dimension to your outfit and give it a more regal look which will be difficult to achieve with bright shades.

The best part These jackets are multi-season! Wear them during the hot summer days or on cold winter nights; it will always look great in both especially if your jacket is made of net or lace. Not to mention, the outerwear can be taken off at will. So if you are feeling too hot in your gorgeous jumpsuit-with-cape ensemble, simply take the cape off. These capes are almost as good as scarves, only better.

domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Recipe

Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce Add a touch of Chinese flavour to your dinner menu tonight with my quick and easy recipe for Chicken in Black Pepper Sauce. I guarantee you will love it!

Method • Marinate the boneless chicken pieces in salt, black pepper, garlic paste, soy sauce, flour and baking powder for about an hour.

• Once marinated, deep fry the chicken until it becomes golden brown.

• In a separate wok, add the oil and garlic paste and sauté on medium flame until golden brown. Add sugar to the mixture and once it melts, add the chicken stock and cook until the mixture simmers.

• In another bowl, mix corn flour, chicken powder, salt, soya sauce, black pepper and pour over the boiling chicken stock, stirring constantly to avoid lumps.

• Once the sauce is cooked and thickened, add the boneless chicken pieces to the wok and turn off the flame.

• Pour sesame oil into the dish and stir thoroughly. Your dish is now ready.

• Serve with egg-fried or vegetable rice.

Arooj Waqar runs a Facebook cooking page called Mona’s Kitchen and aspires to convert her passion for cooking into a career

For the chicken:

For the black pepper sauce:

Garlic paste Soya sauce Chicken 1 tsp pieces 1 cup 1 tbsp

Garlic paste 2 tsp

Flour 3 tbsp

Baking powder ½ tsp

Salt

Oil for frying

Black pepper

Oil 2 tbsp

Sugar 1 tsp Soya sauce 3 tbsp

Chicken powder 1 tbsp

Sesame oil 1 tbsp

Black pepper 1 and ½ tbsp

Salt (to taste)

Chicken stock 2 cups

Corn flour 2-3 tbsp

Water 2-4 tbsp

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 3, 2013

hottie of the week 8

Status Born

Married Lahore, Pakistan

Birthday

23rd September, 1977

Face

85%

Ali Noor

Body

80%

Who is he?

As founding member, lead singer and one half of Pakistan’s pioneering pop-rock duo, Noori, Ali Noor barely needs an introduction. Back in 2002, when Noori released its first studio album Suno Ke Mein Hoon Jawaan, no one knew this young musician from Lahore would someday take on the world with his soulful voice, musical genius and of course, rockstar looks. He sang about freedom, love, life and all its struggles for the youth of the nation and captivated the hearts of not just women but men across Pakistan too. Whether heard on the radio or performing live, Ali’s voice almost always manages to cast a spell on his fans and now, 11 years and three studio albums later, he is still working his magic. Our resident rockstar and his band travel the world, performing for their international fan base and promoting the Pakistani music industry. As for us, we may not be attending all his concerts but it is okay, so long as we can feast our eyes on his fun attitude, impeccable guitar skills and long shiny hair that just begs to be rumpled!

Talent

90%

Why we love him For those of us who followed Ali through his early hits like Manwa Re, Gaana no.1 and Hum Bhoolay, he is somewhat of a local legend. Thanks to the efforts of Noori, the Pakistani music scene was revived and people began flocking to concerts to experience its magic firsthand. But the best part about Ali is that he keeps his band as current today as it was at the beginning, with regular concerts and interviews, etc.

Despite international stardom and immense success, remains humble as ever with a great sense of humour. He is known across the Pakistani media for his witty jokes and as an all-around family man, defying the stereotype of the troubled rockstar every day. He derives inspiration from his grandfather and leads a simple and quiet life when he is not working.

What you didn’t know about him Ali has admitted that if he wasn’t part of Noori, he would like to work as a lawyer.

Tardiness is absolutely unbearable to Ali; he hates it when people arrive late and makes sure he reaches his own destinations well in advance.

Ali’s favourite holiday spot is our very own Abbottabad and he tries to squeeze in a visit whenever he can.

Total Package

85%