Interview with Muaf Abdulla Karim, Ph.D. Student from TUMS School of Nursing

Interviewer (Emmanuel Adutwum): Good morning, Dr. Muaf.

Muaf Abdulla Karim: Good morning, Emmanuel.

- Can you please tell us a little about yourself?

-  Okay, sure. As you know, I am Muaf Karim from Kurdistan, Iraq. I came to Iran in October 2012. I enrolled in the Ph.D. program of Nursing, and, currently, I am almost done with my studies and am hoping to return to my country soon afterwards to join my family and friends. I am enjoying my life as well as my education over here, and, for now, I can say all is well with me.

-  Great! If I may ask, what prompted your choice of TUMS as your study destination?

- Well, it’s a whole lot of story. Before I applied to TUMS, I had a lot of information about this university and the people of Iran. Surprisingly, I got a full scholarship to study the same program in Australia and UK at the same I got my admission to TUMS. I selected TUMS due to the information I had about this university in terms of ranking and the kindness of the people of Iran. A peaceful country is indeed a safe place to study. This was my story.

-  Do you feel homesick?

-  Hmm, not really. You know, if you are in an environment which is peaceful and conducive for studying and learning, you tend to temporarily forget about your problems and enjoy the new things you are experiencing and studying. The people here are like my own family and the best thing is that the university provided me with accommodation in which I live right now with my wife. We are enjoying the rich culture of Iran together.

- You have been here for quite some time. How is TUMS and Iran different?

- Well, let me begin with the Iranian people. They are kind with a rich culture and are really friendly. They are ever ready to help you out if you find yourself in troubled waters. About TUMS, I can simply say it’s a different educational institution altogether as compared to other universities. The professors are so down to earth that you feel you are working with your colleagues. They are knowledgeable and always ready to give their best to students. My department has been very helpful throughout my research from my proposal through securing my research grants to finishing my research. I can’t compare it to any other place. I would like to express thanks to the whole university, to the administration, the staff and my fellow colleagues for making my stay here a cherished time.

-  How has TUMS contributed to your educational career?

-  As you know, the university offers you the chance to reinvent myself. Life at TUMS has affected my lifestyle in huge amounts. I have met some incredibly intelligent and talented people since arriving here; students and lecturers alike.  I have lecturers who are awe-inspiring, who make you competent in doing research and in all sectors of education, and I have met students who are so proactive and willing to share the knowledge they have acquired with you. I have loved every minute of learning here. You feel smarter every day and that’s a wonderful feeling. I feel that my personal communication abilities and skills have also improved greatly.

-  What do you plan to do after your graduation from TUMS?

- I hope to impart the knowledge I have acquired here to my people back home. I thus intend to join the university to teach and also to continue my research studies. I also have plans of pursuing a post-doctorate but that will be after a few years. I will ever remember TUMS in my career and work hard to defend its nobility wherever I find myself. 

- What are some of your memorable days in Iran?

- I have had quite a lot of fun since I arrived here. I can still remember my first trip in Iran to Tochal Mountain. It was about a month after my arrival. I was in my apartment most of the time so I hadn’t familiarized myself with the other students until the trip. During the trip, I had the chance to interact with other students, some of whom come from Africa and other Asian and European countries. I rode the Tochal Telecabin [(gondola lift)] for the first time, to the top of the mountain. Halfway through to the top, I felt I was quite far away from ground level and I was a bit scared [Laughs]. I began to shiver but I quickly took courage from the others and recovered. We had a lot of fun up there! I took lots of photos with the others and sent them to my family back home. I enjoyed myself a lot.

-  Great! It was a really nice to talk to you.

-  I am grateful for the opportunity.