Currently, geopolitical discourse is dominated by the ongoing Iranian conflict. What began as a localized crisis has spread across the globe, reshaping international travel and diplomacy. For a group of Pace students, these headlines were not just news reports, but the center of a unique journey that took us around the entire circumference of the Earth.
Our journey began on February 25, 2026. With suitcases packed and spirits high, we departed from Atlanta, connecting through Newark before landing in the ultra-modern metropolis of Dubai. The first two days were a dream. We immersed ourselves in the local culture, admiring the views and absorbing the unique blend of tradition and futurism that defines Dubai. There was no indication that our experience would transform from an ICGL trip to a lesson in global crisis management.
The atmosphere shifted irrevocably the night of February 28. As we settled into our rooms, the silence was shattered by the sound of missiles overhead. The hotel erupted into panic. For many of us, the reality of the 2026 Iran conflict had never felt so visceral. “For me, that evening put my leadership skills to work at the highest level. There was no time for me to process what any of it meant on a larger scale. My focus was on our students. To move forward when there is an unknown factor (like when the airspace will open) was disorienting, but I had to keep my mind and emotions in a place that would allow me to move in a way that still provided students with a positive experience, given the circumstances,” said Ms. Brown, head chaperone of the trip.
That “frantic feeling” described by Ms. Brown became a constant companion for several others on the trip. For the next several days, our main goal was to return home. To ensure our safety, we were relocated to various resorts on the outskirts of Dubai, away from the city center. While the luxury of the resorts remained, the mood was somber. We spent those days in a state of limbo, waiting for news on how we would return home. When the decision was made to evacuate, the path did not lead west back to the Atlantic, but further east. On March 5, we began the journey to Melbourne, Australia.
Arriving in Melbourne felt like entering a different world. For two days, we took the time to decompress and reflect on the intensity of our experience in the Middle East. It was a chance to process the fear we felt on the night of the 28th and the logistical chaos that followed. “I think many of us seriously thought about the worst-case scenarios that night. Being in Australia gave us the space to breathe again, but the memory of Dubai stays with you,” said junior, Aznariah Bienne.
On March 8, we finally touched down in Los Angeles, then promptly flew to Atlanta. Our journey around the globe was complete! What started as an ICGL trip to study culture and sustainability ended as an unintentional masterclass in global volatility. We returned to Atlanta with a profound understanding of how quickly the world can change, and a new appreciation for the safety we often take for granted.
