???

The anti-American demonstrations continue in Pakistan, though I have yet to see any of them. I do find it ironic, however, to read interviews from raging Islamic fundamentalists bleating their outrage over the deaths of "innocent women and children." It's the first time I've heard fundamentalists giving consideration to the lives of women or children.

However, in spite of the rise in anti-Americanism, so far my own reception in Pakistan has been much the same -- mixed. Most folks are friendly, even after I've told them where I'm from, but there is the occasional odd occurence that leaves me scratching my head.

For example, an American colleague and I asked a taxi driver if he'd take us to the Serena, the largest and best-known hotel in Islamabad. He didn't appear overly enthusiastic (which was strange in itself - usually cabs stalk me as I walk down the street), but he agreed. When we got in the cab, however, he professed not to understand where or what the Serena was (which was unlikely), and stared at me in such an odd fashion that I suggested we get another cab and got out of the car. Our exit was ruined, however, when my friend discovered her jacket was stuck in the door. I finally had to go around the car and open the door myself to extricate her. The taxi driver parked next to him took us directly to the Serena with a smile.

Was taxi driver A being deliberately dense to frustrate the foreigners? Was it all a misunderstanding?