On Thursday, February 16, Northwest College Associate Professor of Anthropology Greg Smith will be giving a presentation on his recent trip to Pakistan, made possible by the Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program Grant. The presentation, titled “Down the Indus: An Anthropologist in Pakistan”, will be held in the Yellowstone Building Conference Center from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m., and is free and open to the public. A traditional Pakistani dish will also be served for lunch.

Landing in the nation’s capital city of Islamabad on January 1, Dr. Smith spent the first two weeks of 2023 in the South Asian country while doing presentations at his host, Bahria University. He also had the opportunity to observe wild monkeys in a national park, visit a small village that was the subject of an anthropological study in the 1950s, and explore the ruins of 4,000-year-old ancient cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. The activities were undertaken to infuse real-world experiences into several of Smith’s anthropology and geography classes.

“Walking around the ruined city of Mohenjo Daro with quite literally millions of artifacts all over the place was an archaeological dream come true for me,” said Smith.

During his stay in Pakistan, Smith was provided with a driver and a guide, enhancing the experience, and allowing a more efficient travel schedule. He was also able to interact with local residents frequently throughout his stay.

“I was overwhelmed by the hospitality that was extended to me by complete strangers and the food was delicious,” Smith said. “One thing I was not expecting though was being regularly stopped by Pakistani tourists who wanted me to be in their photo.”

The UISFL Grant is provided through the International and Foreign Language program at the U.S. Department of Education. It is jointly managed by the Northwest College Office of Intercultural Programs and the Office of International Studies at Montana State University Billings, which maintains partnerships with 20 overseas universities. NWC and MSUB are two of only 32 colleges or universities nationwide to receive this funding.