Author Archives: rehmatravels

I Finally Did It. What it Feels Like Serving in the Peace Corps!

Peace Corps is the single best thing I’ve done in my life. It sounds cliché but it’s true. Every thought that I have, every decision I make, and every social connection I create is related to my Peace Corps service. It feels strange to even begin to describe those 2 years I spent in TheContinue reading “I Finally Did It. What it Feels Like Serving in the Peace Corps!”

Getting a U.K. International Law Degree as an American

In March 2023, I received my international human rights law degree from the University of London. In the United Kingdom and almost all over sovereign nations, the degree awarded to future lawyers is the LLM or Master of Laws degree. It is only in the United States that lawyers receive the JD or Juris DoctorContinue reading “Getting a U.K. International Law Degree as an American”

What it Feels Like Visiting Pakistan after 20 Years

A few months before the end of our Peace Corps service, Rehan and I were in the middle of planning a multi-continent trip to mark the end of our Peace Corps era. Rehan’s first cousin was getting married in Islamabad in February and we decided to visit Pakistan to join the festivities!

Ethiopian Hospitality Took our Breath Away

We visited Ethiopia in 2020, just a few weeks before the global pandemic that would shake the world and its people. From the moment we landed, we were mesmerized. Ethiopia has one of the most unique cultures that we’ve ever experienced. It has a mesmerizing language, unique coffee culture, and unbelievably hospitable people.

A-100 Anxiety!

In 4 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days, I will be swearing into the U.S. Foreign Service as an American diplomat. It’s a moment I’ve been anticipating for 2 years, and in some ways, almost a decade. It marks the moment when I can fully shed the residual shame of being a medical school dropoutContinue reading “A-100 Anxiety!”

Countdown to Becoming a Diplomat!

I first found out that I would be a U.S. diplomat in December 2021. I remember the moment vividly. My husband Rehan and I were apartment-hunting and we had just finished touring a lackluster 1-bedroom in the NoMa neighborhood of Washington, D.C. I checked my email on my phone for the 10th time that dayContinue reading “Countdown to Becoming a Diplomat!”