Hey guys....
I know that this post is way outdated and I am posting sort of late,...but being a newbie I am going to allow myself to make a few acceptions to the norm and post way late.....
Since Sarah was going to Duhok.....I wanted to say a few things, I am sure she has already been there and back...but here is my two cents worth...
I was in Duhok this past fall.....and these are the things I saw .....
Most Kurdish girls bleached their hair blonde and did not cover it, my sister being one, she is a teacher in Duhok.
Most of them wore jeans and tight shirts that they call "body" i guess from it hugging their buddies.lol
They wear 4 inch heels..... because some of them are slightly shorter than the models they see on TV.
They wear lots and lotsa make up....
they will not show up at a social function before going to a salon...it is almost a taboo...ooooooooo i suppose it could mean that is shows them to be either stingy or out stylistically outdated.
a lot are driving, more so than we would expect.
Sometimes there were girls walking around alone and others they were either with friends or family...not sure
and THEY ALL WORE BURKHAS! just kidding, in Duhok, it is now out of style and fashion to wear the abaa', the black cover that some used to wear decades ago.
things were along the same spectrum in Hewler and Zakho and even Diyana which is much smaller. I did not travel to Slemania that time, but I will next time.
I believe that a lot of times we do have the fear of traveling to the unknown and it is very natural, but I praise your gust for even thinking about going.
Just one last piece of advice....the fashion trends tend to come and go very fast in all of kurdistan. I remember when I was there last year....I just happened to have a few articles of clothing with me...and I was not going to buy more...but the minute I got to Duhok....I was taken to the shopping center before GOD FORBID anyone saw me in my American shabby and baggy clothes and I shamed the whole family or tribes' names. kidding but it did look that way. SO ...my point was...oh yeah....if you see everyone wearing pink ( last year's "in color" for the girls or pastel shirts under dark suits " for the guys") do not get shocked...things hit them in waves and leave just as quickly.
You will probabely go to Mazi Market....it is now a hang out place for the younger people..there is a restuarant inside a small (by our western standards) shopping center where you can get "fingers"...actually french fries that are call fingers i am not sure why, pizza...not like New York deep dish pizza but it hits the spot and the feeling of home sickness goes away....well a little .
If your friend's house is in Hay al Mala'eeen.....then it is probabely decorated with marble from inside-out....that is the ultra rich new district being built in duhok...I can go on forever, because I saw the city for the first time in a long long time....
anyhooo I hope yourtrip went well
and I hope you do not get J'LUS of our beauties....as they say...Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder"....so what seems pretty and knock out dangerously hot to one man, is dead butt ugly to another.
as well...you may have about 1000 marriage offers while you are there....some of my American friends just came from Kurdistan and they were telling me they got so many offers.....i told them next time to take me...I will get atleast 50 camels worth of dowry for each!

kidding kidding , we do not do camels...we do donkeys...hahaha ok i am just pulling your leg...but go and have fun
...also Sheraton Hotel, set almot above the whole city is were all the Western folks stayed. it is a bit Pricey...but it is nice
Alright little sister. I wish you the best and get back with me to let me know of your experiece. I will keep you in my prayers for things to turn out well. I know our dark looks and dashing bodies are having all the English roses falling head over heels for us, but be careful and think of things very long and hard before you make any judgements or decisions regaring your situation.
XOXO