Travel

   Iraq   By: Lana Kamalaldin

What is Iraq?

This Middle Eastern country, located at the headwaters of the Persian Gulf, lies partly between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in an area often regarded as the cradle of civilization. Its history dates back 5,000 years ago. The capital of Iraq is Baghdad. In Iraq, people mostly speak Arabic. People living in Iraq also know a little bit of English. So if you do not know Arabic and you go there do not worry because they will most likely understand you.

                                                                 Where is Iraq?

Iraq is bordered by Turkey on the north, Iran on the east, and the Persian Gulf on the southeast. It is bounded by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on the south and Jordan and Syria on the west. The Zab River flows into Iraq from Turkey. To the south and southwest, Iraq shares a desert steppe with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Part of the Syrian Desert extends into the country in the northwest. Iraq is bordered by Turkey on the north, Iran on the east, and the Persian Gulf on the southeast. It is bounded by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia on the south and Jordan and Syria on the west. The Zab River flows into Iraq from Turkey. To the south and southwest, Iraq shares a desert steppe with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. A desert steppe is an area covered with grass, shrubs, or both, it also is dry enough to n northwest. Baghdad is the capital of Iraq. Part of Iraq, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia used to be part of the Ottoman Empire (including Baghdad).

What kind of people live in Iraq?

Most people who live in Iraq are Muslims and they eat halal meat. You will see women that are wearing hijabs. A hijab is something Muslimahs usually wear. They wear hijabs with dignity and grace. A hijab is a piece of clothing that women wear on their heads. It comes in all shapes, styles, and sizes. Men wear checkered cloth that is usually red and white on their heads. These pieces of cloth are called turbans. They put big black rings around the turban so it does not fly away.

                                                      What do people eat in Iraq?

People in Iraq eat many different kinds of food. Some of the foods they eat are kabob ( but a different kind than what you probably know as a kabob), rice, soup, and many more things. But most of the meat in Iraq is halal. Halal meat is an animal that has been blessed so it won’t get hurt when they kill it. It also might have a different taste than regular meat because the blood is taken out but who am I to know, I’ve never tasted regular meat.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is the month when Muslims fast. Fasting is when you don’t eat or drink for a certain amount of time.  You usually wake up at 5:00 am to eat a morning feast which is called suhoor ( Sah- Hoor). You have to eat before sunrise and the morning prayer. Later in the evening, they have a huge feast to break the fast. Children, seniors, pregnant women, and sick people do not have to fast. It is your choice to make. It is very hard to do this and it takes discipline to do this.

                                                                  My experiences 

I left the airport, I spent one ENTIRE day traveling. I took a step, I felt a whoosh of wind, I am home. Me and my family were SUPER excited to be there but we were also very tired. We had one GAZILLION suitcases and we had to try to shove them all in two cars. We met my uncle خالو علي           ( my mom's younger brother) who was very excited to meet me for the second time and meet my siblings for the first. We drove one and a half hours to Al Hillah, which is where my family lives. Even the street lights had neon palm tree lights on them. It was so fascinating. I went to sleep in the daylight and woke up at night. The city was WAY more spectacular at night. Shops were lit up, people were walking, and everyone knew each other. The city was way more different than Austin. We arrived at my grandma's house, it looked like a MILLION-dollar mansion. It was a gated-off place with a mini courtyard and two balconies, one on the roof and one on the second layer. We went in, it felt so familiar. I met my mom's older sister, my mom's mom, and my mom's dad. I waited five minutes, then I fell asleep. Also, my mom is the second youngest out of her bunch. First is the oldest, my aunt Rose, then my aunt Rend, then my mom, and then the youngest, my mom's brother, uncle Ali. I woke up the next day to the smell of eggs and REAL tea. I was in heaven. We had such a blast during my vacation, we went to different parks and cities, different shops and restaurants, and different monuments and mosques. It was amazing. Definitely, a place to visit. I give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐.