I was waiting in the check-in queue at Islamabad's airport when I saw a man with a Spanish passport. At that time, I was still learning elementary Spanish and couldn't speak it well, but I knew I had to take this opportunity to put my skills to the test. So I approached him and asked him whether he's from Spain (I knew he was, but I had to start the conversation somehow). He replied with a yes, after which I said, "Yo estoy aprendiendo español." And that was that. He seemed happy and started talking to me in Spanish. For my part, I replied as best as I could, though often struggling. But it was exhillarating and satisfying. When I spoke what was to me a new language, a barrier that once existed between me and that stranger no longer existed. Such is the beauty of learning languages; it brings me so much closer to the multicultural world I live in.

Aside from world-famous Pakistani sweets? I can talk day and night about the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East, teach Urdu/Hindi phrases, share photography techniques, and listen attentively to their own cultural experiences.