The Pakistani Spectator

Would you please tell us something about you and your site?

I’m Nadia, born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan.  I have earned two degrees, both in the field of medical sciences, Alhumdulillah.  I am married to an Indian computer engineer for a year and a half now, and we are both currently living in Dubai.

My blog, Walking Through, is relatively new.  In fact, it’s only been 2 months since I started it.  As the name suggests, my blog is about life, as I walk through it and document my experiences.  Most of my posts reflect my personal life, with an occasional touch of humor.

Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you? 
Absolutely!  I find it easier to transcribe my thoughts into words more effortlessly now.  For me, this is important because often times I feel as if I need to express myself.  When I write a post, I want the reader to clearly visualize what I have in mind by simply reading the words on the screen.

I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
The sudden influx of readers and their valuable comments in itself is a memorable experience for me.  I have never imagined that I would be able to attract readers from different parts of the world.

What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
I regularly check my comments section and make sure I answer them promptly.  I also take time out to read the posts of fellow bloggers, specially those who regularly visit mine, and make sure I leave a comment, whenever necessary.

I also send emails to certain bloggers to show them my appreciation.  Sending emails gives a personal touch and is much appreciated by the recipient.

What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
Frankly speaking, I’m allergic to politics and know so little about it.  But obviously, with more people having access to the internet, I think the web is currently the most innovative use of technology in politics.

Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
Definitely.  People from all walks of life can now conveniently voice out their concerns and opinions on almost any topic.  With the advent of blogging, people have a personal space to speak up and be heard.  They also the option to keep themselves anonymous if they wish to.

What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
It’s unique in the sense that my blog can not be placed in a certain category.  I write about anything that sparks my interest.  Apart from its diverse topics, I have tried to keep my posts simple and easy to understand.  I want each reader to relate to my posts and feel the connection.

If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
Dedication.  I put my heart and soul in everything that I do.  Dedication makes a work near-perfect and flawless, and of course a whole lot of fun!

What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
I was happiest when I got married, because I was embarking on a new journey with the man I truly love.

The gloomiest moment of my life is quite personal.  I chose not to discuss it.

If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for - what would your top 3 choices be?
Saudi Arabia, to perform Hajj.
Africa, the Safari Park
Switzerland

What is your favorite book and why?
I actually have three all-time favorites:  The Qur’an (my life manual, which I read every day), Sister of My Heart by Chitra Divakaruni, and One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
The face, specifically the eyes.  Because eyes are the mirror to the soul.

Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
No. On the contrary, everyone I knew told me I should write.

How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?

I prefer not to use my blog to make money.  However, I did some online reading on how some bloggers benefit financially.  There are several ways such as direct advertising of certain products, pay-per-post blogs, and Adsense, to name a few.

Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
It depends on the blog content.  If a post is about the writer’s personal experience or opinion, then it takes lesser time to blog.  However, if the post requires the writer to do some research and state facts, then it takes a lot of time to blog.

What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
Bloggers should first be friendly themselves, be considerate, and should be able to respect someone else’s opinion and views.  Bloggers should concentrate on constructive criticism and healthy debates.  Personal views should not be forced into someone else.

Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
This is a hard question to answer because I am a relatively new blogger.  There are so many great blogs out there that I still need to discover.  For the meantime, I enjoy reading the following blogs:

Thoughts and Tips, by Laila
Everyday Baby Steps, by Mary
Inner Reflections Transcribed, by Sumera
Life of An Ordinary Girl, by Ordinary Girl
Thoughts From Dubai, by my husband

Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
Yes, it’s a post titled ‘Sharjah Aquarium’, which got the highest number of hits.  Sharjah Aquarium is a newly established place here in the UAE and apparently, people searched online for info and eventually found my blog.

The most powerful reaction came from a reader who used very foul and abusive language, which I had to delete.  The reader said, “I see that u urself has taken the fotos
u know that u r a ****** for takin the pics of these beautiful fishes and spoiling their beauty by *** ur camea in front of them.
i hope that they dont get blinded cuz of that. u r da reezun that fishes like these are getting killed daily.”

What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
Pakistan is my identity.  God has blessed Pakistan with almost everything - fertile lands, snow peaked mountains, rivers and lakes, forests, sea, desert, and good-looking people. Pakistan is going through a rough patch, and it saddens me to see her being abused so badly by a lot of people.

Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
I find each blogger unique.  I am amazed by the information I get each time I read someone’s blog.  I have learned so much from these couple of months of blogging.

What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
The facilities and benefits provided by the government to its people.

What is the future of blogging?
The future of blogging is very bright.  It is gaining popularity at such an enormous rate with more people having access to internet in the privacy of their homes or even at work.  I suppose time will come when everyone will own a personal blog.

You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life? 
Now that I blog, I pay close attention to the details in every day life, so that I can write about the interesting ones, hehe.  It’s a hobby and an outlet for my passion to write, and therefore it has a positive effect for me as a person.  It makes me feel good while learning something new at the same time.

What are your future plans?
I’d like to have my own  domain name and  a personalized webpage.

Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?

If you blog, do so responsibly and treat others with respect.

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