AAA Translation - We'll Take You Global

1) Take a look at 4th of July celebrations by Americans held in countries all over the world.

2) Check out the 10 biggest 4th of July fireworks displays in the U.S., according to Conde Nast Traveler.

3) Independence Day celebrations aren't reserved for just the U.S. -- many other countries have their own celebrations on different dates with their own customs and traditions.

This month's featured country is Iraq. The country's name has been in use since before the 6th century. An Arabic folk etymology for the name is "deeply rooted, well-watered; fertile."

The region of the country between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, often referred to as Mesopotamia, is the world's oldest civilization. It is here that mankind first began to read, write, create laws and live in cities under an organized government. The area has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC.

We recently interviewed a man who immigrated to the U.S. from Iraq with his family when he was a child. First, they moved to Syria in 1993; from there, they came to the U.S. in 1997. Currently, he lives in Texas.

Q. What are the cultural differences between Iraq and the U.S.?

The United States is a melting pot of cultural diversity. There are many types of races and religions in the U.S., and it is wonderful. In Iraq, everyone was predominantly Muslim and born in Iraq.

Q. What brought you to the U.S.?

We came to the U.S. to seek a better life because Saddam Hussein was killing innocent people.

Q. What is something most people don't know about your original country?

There are regular houses there. Nobody in Iraq lives in stone houses in the middle of the desert. The scenery is beautiful. There are big houses in the city and paved roads. People drive the latest cars and have the latest technology. There are also a lot of McDonald's everywhere, and a vast number of mountains. In many ways, it is just like the U.S.

Q. What do you miss the most about Iraq?

I miss going to my grandma and grandpa's house and seeing my whole family there. I also miss the delicious kabobs and shwarmas. I can't seem to find kabobs and shwarmas in the U.S. that taste the same as they did back home. The meat was so tender and juicy and had the freshest vegetables.

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