The isolation of the Iraqi people from the international community is decades long.
Since the war with Iran in 1980s it was virtually impossible for any man in military service age to travel outside Iraq.
After graduation from the medical school, all doctors can not get their certificate of graduation. They also can not issue a passport. This right can be granted only through an approval from the highest officials in the government in special circumstances.
I got my first passport in May 2005, when I was 27 years of age.
My first journey outside Iraq was to Syria. I planned to do an English language test, the IELTS in the British Council in Damascus.
Although I stayed there for one week only, and spend half of this week indoors to read, I enjoyed very much this journey.
To be able to see the outside world for the first time was an exciting experiment for me.
My second journey was to last longer, I went to Egypt on 28 September 2005.
I spent seven month there in Al Dokki, Giza.
My stay in Egypt was to do another examination, the PLAB test. The PLAB (Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board) is a test organised by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom in certain countries to attract overseas qualified doctors to work in the UK.
The test does not grant the candidate a work but it provides an opportunity of getting into the system of the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.
It also does not grant the registration for the candidate unless the doctor gets a suitable employment there.
I passed the test in Cairo in March 2006, and headed for the next giant step which is going to the UK.
I arrived to the UK in the worst period witnessed by the junior doctors there. There was a dramatic change taking place in the training structure for doctors and most importantly, the visa regulations for overseas doctors.
Before April 2006, any doctor who gets an employment in the UK is granted a Permit Free Training Visa. The visa allows the doctor to work a long period of time to get a higher training in any speciality.
After April 2006, the UK government abolished this type of visa and replaced it with another type, the Work Permit Visa. The latter means that any employment for an overseas doctor must only be in case that this employment can not be filled by any UK or European Union citizen.
After few months I spend in the UK trying in vain to get into the system, my predictable failure convinced me to return to Egypt.
However my period in the UK has greatly benefited me on the personal and professional levels.
Personally, it helped me a lot to socialise in the new surrounding. I have acquired many friends there that I am still in contact with them.
Concerning the effect of my career, I gained higher self confidence especially after I cleared all the examinations without a hurdle.