mlivesocial

Hey there! I believe the biggest misconception about the people living in Iraq is that they're violent. Growing up in the states, media portrayed Iraq to be a place of extreme violence and those perpetrating that violence to be the Iraqi people. That's not true. I spent two weeks in Iraq and not once did I feel threatened by someone there. People stared, yes, because we looked different but no one treated Bronte and I badly. In fact, we were always met with the most hospitality and empathy. People offered us food, sweets and tea. We were treated with respect regardless of our accents and appearances. It was a breath of fresh air to feel so welcomed by people. At the end of the day, people in Iraq are like humans everywhere. They wake up, go to work and try to make an honest living so their families can live happily. While I understand Iraq was much more violent during the war it's calmed down significantly. I strongly encourage people to visit if they get the chance. The people in Iraq will welcome you with open arms.

As for the food... My favorite meal to gather around is stuffed grape leaves. My family and I packed a pot of stuffed grape leaves and took it to a park in Baghdad during my trip. Inside the gates of the park, hundreds of families were gathering around their own picnics. We sat under a palm tree, laid out a sheet and sat around the pot of stuffed grape leaves laughing at our own inside jokes. It's a memory I think back on often now. If you want to try stuffed grape leaves, I highly recommend checking out your nearest Middle Eastern restaurant! While you're there, grab some hummus, baba ganoush (smoked eggplant dip), tabouli (parsley salad) and pita to snack on as well.

-Zahra Ahmad

This is Natasha. I started with reaching out to our local Community Mental Health (CMH) organization. In most states, you can call 2-1-1 and they can give you information about your local CMH. Your local CMH should be funded to accept you regardless of your income level. You're already breaking the cycle by having a desire to get help! Additionally, if you're near a health system that also has outpatient psychologists or psychiatrists and you're low income, they may have foundation funds or a patient assistance program that will help cover co-pays. Don't stop trying!

In Iraq? No, we didn't drink out of the tap there. Somone delivers 5-gallon jugs to homes every week. In Flint? Yes, the state says the water is testing above the federal limits for lead. But some residents, like myself and roommates, don't drink out of the tap because of the distrust.

https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/04/its-been-5-years-flint-still-doesnt-trust-the-water.html

-Zahra Ahmad

This is Julie. My editor and I were talking about this just yesterday! There's still a LOT we don't know about how the brain works and how to effectively address mental-health issues.

Hello, Zahra here! I can only speak from my experience of exploring Babylon with my family. The gentleman that was giving us a tour throughout the ancient city's museum mentioned many of its artifacts have been looted by trespassers. I was surprised by the lack of people at the ruins themselves. There were only a handful of families walking through the mazes of Babylon. It was far more populated in Saddam Hussein's castle, which he built to oversee the ancient city. If you have any questions about his castle, please feel free to ask.