My parents were so worried sending us to school everyday because of the war. I was born in Baghdad, in Iraq. Baghdad is a beautiful city with a lot of history, but also a lot of conflicts. I was two years old when America started a war in my country. I was five when the civil war started.

Everyday, on our way to school we worried about getting kidnapped or killed. I used to hear about so many people who got kidnapped and killed. I was depressed, I cried easily, and I was scared. I did not want to leave my house or go to school. When I was at school I used to hear gunshots every day during class. Even outside of school, sitting outside my house, I would hear them. Everyday we would walk past guards in front of our school who would hold AK47s to protect us.

When I would be sitting in my room, I expected at any minute an explosion could happen. And indeed, it did happen once when I was seven. I remember I was in my room and suddenly an explosion happened nearby. All the window glass shattered. It was terrible to live under these war conditions.

Iraq was safer in the 1970’s and before. Iraq once had a really great civilization. Iraq was the first country that invented writing. We have had famous mathematicians, like Ibn al-Haytham, and Al-Kindi, who is a philosopher. When I was little, I used to love visiting the Baghdadi museums to learn about our history. There were wax statues dressed up like how Iraqis used to live and rooms that looked like how people lived in the old days. I loved learning about Iraqi history.

But when I was 13, my family had the opportunity to move to the United States. It was unsafe in my country. When I arrived here, I was surprised by everything: the language, the people, and the culture. Everything was different. Schools in the United States are very different than in Iraq. They are much larger with many classrooms. Some things were the same. I saw security guards at my school but without guns. But like Iraq, in my school there were police officers with guns that were there to protect us, and here too schools get attacked.

What surprised me most was the view of some Americans about Iraq. I learned that some people thought that my country is only a place that is destroyed, and that there was no beauty. I wish people could see the many beautiful cities, to explore the history and museums, and to learn about the many diverse people that live there. I wish it were safe enough for people to travel there. It hurts me to see what is happening in Iraq now.

Even as I have made a new home here, I still miss everything in Iraq. I miss the rest of my family and friends. I miss the food and the spring weather. I miss the museum. All my memories and emotions are there. I can’t forget the fun I had there. I still remember how we celebrated our holidays together every year with our family.

I am glad that my family and I made it to the United States. Now my brother and I can get a good education. My family and I now can have a safer life and have the best education in the world.

I like, too, that I live with many people from around the world. It makes me so glad to see all of these cultures and learn about them. Even though I miss Iraq, I am also so happy in my new life. I have many friends from many places, many races, many religions, and many cultures. I believe being together from different places, learning from each other, makes us stronger.

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