Savor the little victories.

• Author: Benjamin, Medea
• Position: Brief article

I RECALL MY FIRST TRIP TO IRAQ, ten years ago, just weeks before the U.S. invasion. When passing through customs at the Jordanian-Iraqi border, I panicked when the border guard took my passport, looked at my last name, and muttered, "Benjamin. Isn't that Jewish?" I meekly answered yes, knowing the hatred between Iraq and Israel. My mind began racing with thoughts of being kidnapped and beheaded by Saddam's henchmen.

The guard took my passport, disappeared, and returned a half hour later, huffing and puffing. "Here," he said, shoving a dog-eared notebook into my hand. "I've been teaching myself Hebrew, and I just ran home to get my notebook. I wonder if you could check my grammar."

Relieved and amazed, I asked why he was studying Hebrew. "During the war with Iran, I taught myself Farsi, and...