Iraq

During a break near the end of my MBA program, I decided, as one does, to spend my vacation in Iraq. It was the first country I visited that genuinely intimidated me. As an American, I worried about how I’d be received given the devastating legacy of the U.S. invasion. I still remember boarding my flight from Doha to Baghdad with my heart racing, unsure of what awaited me.

Instead, I found some of the kindest people I’ve ever met. I couldn’t walk down a busy street in Baghdad without a shopkeeper inviting me in for tea or pomegranate juice because they were so excited to see a tourist. Curious locals would stop to ask why I was in Iraq, and even after learning I was American, many thanked me simply for taking the time to visit their country. It was a level of warmth I never could have imagined.

I explored remarkable places like Babylon, one of the ancient world’s great cities, the Great Mosque of Samarra with its iconic spiral minaret, and Karbala, one of the holiest cities in Shia Islam. Standing among thousands of pilgrims in a place of such profound religious significance was an experience I’ll never forget. Iraq completely changed my perception of humanity. It showed me that people who have endured some of life’s greatest hardships are often among the most compassionate.