Visiting Iraq with Reymundo Perez

In the last twenty years, Iraq has undergone profound changes in governance and daily life. After the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 ended Saddam Hussein’s rule, the country entered a political transition marked by violence, sectarian division, and the rise of extremist groups. ISIS emerged from this instability and, in 2014, seized large territories before being defeated by Iraqi and international forces in 2017, marking a turning point in national sovereignty. In late 2019, widespread protests broke out across the country as Iraqis called for political and economic reform, leading to the resignation of the Iraqi Prime Minister. Since then, many communities have worked toward a new normal, rebuilding public life and reopening cultural sites, with hopes for a more stable future.

Following his trips to Syria and Egypt in 2023 and 2024, Adventurers’ Club member Reymundo Perez signed up to run a marathon in Iraq in October 2025, with the trip becoming a lesson in Iraqi culture and the resilience of the human spirit. His aim was to gain insights on shared knowledge about the human condition and what enables individuals and societies to prosper. Rey will be sharing a multimedia presentation of his experience including videos, photos, and 3D scans.
Reymundo Perez is a writer, filmmaker, and world traveler from Southern California, and has a passion for exploring diverse cultures and humanities. As Director of Creative Operations for Lightstorm Entertainment, Rey’s focus is on world-building, design, and emerging technologies for James Cameron’s Avatar franchise. He is also the author of Avatar: Fire and Ash: The Visual Dictionary (2025) from DK Books and Penguin Random House.