We literally haven't had time to write, it has been so crazy. Dan has delivered two very well received lectures at two different medical schools in Lahore. The first was an all-women's medical school and the audience and their welcoming reception were truly amazing. He said it was one of the best groups he has ever addressed and they seemed very appreciative of his presentation, our willingness to come to Pakistan, and Dan's personal history in this city. Dan put up a picture of himself, Mary, Amy and John standing in front of a Pakistani haystack when he was about 7 that they were very touched to see (and it actually tied in to his talk).
Tuesday afternoon we were also given tea and a tour of the most impressive school I have ever seen, a two year old, private pre-school though high school called Learning Alliance. The two women who met with us had a lot of interesting things to say about Pakistan, politics, recent reaction to the assassination of the governor of the Punjab and the Raymond Davis case that is, of course, huge in the press here, etc. Lots of food for thought. Later, we were taken shopping by our host doctor's sister-in-law who has just returned to Lahore after three year of her husband serving as the ambassador to Italy, living in Rome. These are very impressive people we are meeting here. All three of their children are also Australian citizens and do not feel very Pakistani.
Wednesday, after Dan's lecture, he was asked to consult on some difficult patients at the rheumatology clinic. As the patients were presented to him, about 10 other doctors and students gathered around to listen. I only had to object to his diagnosis once (he was being very vague in a dispute between a very upper class couple about how much she should exercise!). After pizza hut lunch in the hospital president's conference room, we went to a charity clinic where a few patients had also been lined up to see the American expert. Even though Dr. Nighat Ahmad has the same training as Dan, she is so open to his opinions and expertise and is a delightful person. This was tested further when she took us to a handicrafts store owned by a friend of hers and she patiently waited while we looked at every carpet and they didn't commit to buying even one! Meanwhile, we were already an hour late to meet for dinner with the family of Khushee, the Christian gardener, sweeper who worked for the Sagers and became part of the family while they were in Lahore. When we finally made it there, they had prepared a very nice dinner and we got to know the 7 children and six adults living together in two rooms on the campus of Forman Christian College.
Oops, we have to go now!
Julie & Dan
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