Although coming to the United States was something Kareem knew she wanted to do, she said leaving home and taking that big step was not very easy. As the sixth child of 10-five brothers and four sisters-she had some convincing to do where her family was concerned.

“I guess my parents and most of my brothers and sisters are OK with it now, but my youngest brothers are still not talking to me because they’re upset I left,” Kareem said.

It was in 2007 when, according to Kareem, something “happened by chance.” She had applied online for the Fulbright scholarship, which gives grants to international students, and “happened” to get it. From there, Kareem was placed in Point Park’s graduate program when she said she was interested in journalism. However, getting a visa is not always simple and can take up to six months or more.

“I kind of lost it. I said, ‘I’m not going,’ because I was not getting a visa,” Kareem said.

Instead, she signed a contract with International Relief and Development (IRD), another NGO, and worked there in Northern Iraq on the weekends while working for the Los Angeles Times during the week. It was just one month later when she received an e-mail asking her to go to the embassy to pick up her visa.

“It was like ‘Oh my God!’ And I had to choose coming [to the United States]. I mean, it’s my dream,” Kareem said.

Now that Kareem is here, there have been many adjustments she has had to make. To her, so many things are totally different, and it is difficult to feel at home.

“I’ve been here for 14 months, and I feel I’m not adjusted here,” she said.

One problem is the language barrier, despite her skills in speaking English, due to variations in the language. She finds she often has to repeat herself in some cases.

“It’s like a different language. It’s like there’s English and then there’s slang,” Kareem said.

Getting used to the chillier Pittsburgh weather has also been a challenge. According to Kareem, the recent fall weather has felt like winter in Iraq. Another change has been the general way of daily life, where Iraq is less “business-oriented” and more “family-oriented.” In Iraq, the work day ends around 3 p.m., and the rest of the day is for family.

“It’s like people do not have time to relax and have some family time [in America],” Kareem said.

As much time as Kareem spends around campus, it would be rare to find her in the Point Cafe, as she “hates” American food. According to Kareem, only fresh food, purchased daily, is eaten in Iraq, and so she almost always cooks her own food at her home in Greenfield.

Even though there are some cons to adjusting to such a new place, Kareem said she loves how interesting the diversity of the country is, and she certainly likes the feeling of peace here. However, Kareem will be graduating in the spring and will have to return to Iraq afterward. She is looking to get back into war reporting, though she would rather continue her work in Northern Iraq with an NGO like Mercy Corps.

But for now, Kareem is enjoying her courses and working with the teachers here at Point Park.

“I think it’s perfect here,” she said.