The key to being a Visiting Auntie From Abroad is to not get involved in local issues. Do not be a Western NGO: do not fly in to solve problems. Be a shaikh on a flying carpet: fly in, deliver ideas and insights through cryptic stories, radiate love into every heart, and fly out.
Most expats want a foot in each boat simultaneously. Maybe you can lay claims – if you’re moneyed enough to visit frequently and stay long enough. But then, to be honest, you’re a moneyed minority in a poor country.
In 2024, I conclude my 30th year 
as an expat. I’ve already lived longer in the West than I have in Pakistan. Questionable in my current home, questionable in my homeland. The only sense I can make of it is in a broader perspective that includes mortality. i.e. What is home anyway?
Shabana Mir's blog: Koonj - the crane 