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[Audio] Meet Nadia and Iqra, Murray State International Students from Pakistan

Matt Markgraf, WKMS

Murray State University is home to a diverse body of international students. Iqra Ilyas and Nadia Khan are graduate students from Pakistan. On Sounds Good, Matt Markgraf learns what they are studying at Murray State, how they met in western Kentucky, American television and politics, cultural misconceptions and hopes for the future.

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Extended, Full Conversation

Background and Studying at MSU

Iqra Ilyas comes from Sargodha, in the Punjab province in Pakistan (which she calls the California of Pakistan for their orange crop). She got her bachelor's degree from her home university and is working on her masters in mass communications with a concentration on public relations. She's also the publicity coordinator for the International Student Organization (ISO) on campus. Back home, she worked as a radio presenter for a music program for the Punjabi audience and in another show tailored to a female audience.

Iqra is in her second semester at Murray State and enjoys the practical work in her studies, was inspired by one of her professors and likes the affordability.

Nadia Khan was born in Karachi, a large city in the south (which she calls the New York City of Pakistan because it 'never sleeps'), but her parents are from the northern Hunza Valley. She received her bachelor's in graphic design in Karachi University and has a masters from Brunel University London in multimedia and 3D technology. She has co-founded a company called Empyrean Foundation, a non-profit that aims to empower girls and women living in ultra poverty in central and southeast Asia by training in the fashion and textile industry.

Nadia is studying nonprofit leadership at Murray State and is in her second semester. She says she likes the small class sizes at Murray State and hopes to develop strategic goals for her foundation.

Pakistan's Diversity

There are four large provinces in Pakistan, each with different languages and customs, connected by the language Urdu. Pakistan has the mountain peak of K-2 and the second largest salt mine in the world. The northern region is also known for its natural beauty, Iqra said.

Meeting at Murray State

Nadia and Iqra met for the first time during their orientation at Murray State and bonded. They enjoy sports and jogging in their free time, engaging in social and leadership work, food and watching TV shows on Netflix like Friends, House of Cards and Orange is the New Black. Nadia said American TV shows are popular in Pakistan and so are Urdu dramas. One that they watch is called Udaari, which brings up issues like child abuse and domestic violence. Iqra said shows Game of Thrones and Sherlock are popular back home.

Cultural Differences & Misconceptions

Nadia said living in London and traveling helped alleviate culture shock coming to western Kentucky. They said watching TV and movies have also helped. They said, however, hugging is a bit of an awkward difference. Iqra said hugs may be common among family members and close friends, but not everyone.

Nadia said another difference is the way people dress. She said in Karachi people wear western clothes like jeans, t-shirts and shorts (especially among young people). But there are, she said, parts of Pakistan where people wear traditional shalwar kameez (colorful dresses) including hijab (head scarves). Iqra said this is more common in Sargodha, where she is from. She said even in her small town, people can choose whether or not they want to cover their head or whole body. It's a choice, Iqra said, for instance she chooses not to cover her head, but her sister does. Nadia said her family doesn't impose the decision on them.

Nadia said in a journalism class the topic came up regarding a misconception outlined in a book: "Islam is the religion most associated with many of the countries to which the Arab Americans trace their routes. Muslims in the United States have often been portrayed racially as Arabs. The association has given Muslims a racial identity in U.S. media." Nadia said all Muslims are not Arabs. Iqra adds that one of the most populated Muslim countries is Indonesia.

Iqra said while she is Muslim, a friend of hers asked another student wearing a head scarf questions she had about being Muslim. Iqra wondered why she wasn't being asked the questions, to which her friend said since she wasn't wearing a head scarf she assumed she wouldn't know the answers. Iqra said it was surprising that people go on appearance. Nadia said she has read the Quran and knows the verses and has also read the Bible, but because she also doesn't wear a head scarf people are surprised to learn she is knowledgeable of these things.

Another misconception, perpetuated by media, is that women and girls in Pakistan are oppressed and can't leave their home or get an education. Iqra said she is educated and her mother is a teacher and also got an education. Nadia said the media should be more responsible in their portrayal of Pakistan. If something bad happens in a part of the country, she said, it doesn't mean the entire country is bad or in chaos.

Iqra said no one has ever stopped her from going to school. Nadia added that education for women is improving, with many women entrepreneurs trying to show a good image of the country, citing the Oscar award-winning documentary A Girl in the River and track and field athlete Naseem Hameed.

Among other international students, Iqra said Indian students at Murray State ask her which part of India she is from because she doesn't 'look Pakistani.' Another question they are asked is how they learn English, particularly from Saudi Arabian students. They said they started learning English in Kindergarten.

What People Back Home Ask About U.S.

They are often asked about what they have seen in the United States. Both have done quite a bit of traveling: Arkansas, Texas, Washington D.C., the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York and New Jersey.

Nadia said she talks with her mom quite a bit, who asks her if she is staying safe and eating well and how her studies are going. She said her mom was concerned about gun violence and crime in the United States, but Nadia reassured her that Murray has relatively less crime than other parts of the country. Iqra said her friends ask her for tips on how to make American friends.

American News Media & Presidential Race

In Pakistani news bulletins, there is about five or ten minutes for international news, Iqra said. While there is coverage of American politics, it is largely minimal, for instance - brief coverage of who won in the caucuses and primaries. As for who wins the presidential race, they agree that they don't have much of an interest, but generally favor Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump. Nadia said Trump represents America in the eyes of people in other countries. Iqra added that the things he says can, when distilled into sound bytes in international media, be interpreted as beliefs held by the entire U.S.

Nadia said media has a lot of responsibility and can change the narrative of something in seconds. Iqra said there should be equal representation to all populations. In watching the news, she said there is a lot of attention on race relations between blacks and whites, but said she is 'brown' and feels overlooked in the national narrative. Nadia said she has never seen a news clip in Pakistani news regarding racial or cultural difference in the United States and that mainstream media often portrays a "good picture" of the country. Many young people curious about the U.S. are drawn to social media for the complete picture.

Plans for the Future

Iqra said she hopes to establish a public relations firm back home, a newly emerging industry in Pakistan. She also hopes to work at a radio or TV station and possibly write for a newspaper. Nadia plans to continue her work with the Empyrean Foundation, working with underdeveloped countries and women empowerment. She is also working on a t-shirt company attached to her foundation.

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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