We often talk about countries like Syria, Iran, or even Uzbekistan in terms of what’s wrong with them. But people live there, raise families, dream, create art, build communities, and find joy in little moments despite the odds. It’s unfair to define them only by their struggles. What I found in each of these places was people who were proud of where they came from and eager to share their stories with someone willing to listen; someone who is willing to give them a chance.
I didn’t travel to make any statement. I travelled because I wanted to understand. Because I believe every country deserves more than a single narrative. Their stories deserve to be heard. So when people ask, “Why would you go there?” My answer is simple: “Because they’re worth knowing.”
As destiny would have it, later in life, working in Dubai, a city shaped by migration and multiculturalism, I learned about people from these very places. Syrians, Iranians, and Uzbeks…they are my colleagues and friends. Our conversations often drifted to memories of home. Their stories of celebrations, traditions, and a life they had left behind due to various circumstances, were nothing like the flashy, sensational, jaded headlines. That contrast fascinated me even more. I couldn’t think of a better reason to go than to return and say, “Your country is amazing!” That, to me, is what travel is meant to do: bridge gaps, challenge preconceived notions, challenge your unconscious bias, fear, and assumptions, and create space for mutual respect, understanding, and connection.