I was a biology major at UCLA but I always had an interest in journalism. I had applied to NYU for dental school and was accepted, but I had reservations about going. The urge to be a journalist was too strong for me to ignore. So I took an internship in Los Angeles, and the rest is history.

I grew up in difficult times. I was just a child in Iran during the Revolution of 1979. Afterwards, when the mullah's came to power, the country changed drastically. But nothing could stop me from doing what I loved most, which was riding horses.

I remember when I was in Rwanda talking to a woman whose son was slaughtered right in front of her. I couldn't even understand her language, but I swear my whole body was shaking. With the hand gestures, I could see it all.

I've reported from several different countries in Africa. It's hard to pinpoint my favorite. I found the forgotten libraries of Timbuktu (Mali), filled with books hundreds of years old, which was fascinating. I also treasured traveling through Ethiopia. They have so much history there, like the churches of Lalibela - there are 14 of them that were carved into the mountain hundreds of years ago, some almost six stories deep. They were awe-inspiring. So too, were the castles of Gondor, and the diamond mines in Kimberley, South Africa.

Spontaneity is the spice of life! Recently, I has a friend in town visiting and we were driving around in New York on a very cold day. I saw an old woman waiting for a cab, shivering. I made my friend pull over and we gave her a ride to her home. She was so appreciative, and it made my day to have gotten her out of the cold.

America has always been like a father to me, but Iran will always be my mother in my heart.

I'm almost meticulous to a fault. But I get that from my grandfather. Every morning, he got up, showered and shined his shoes. And his clothes were always laid out the night before so he knew exactly what he would wear.

I have a reputation at CNN of being very hard to work with. I don't have editorial control. I fight every night with producers about what [story] should come first.

I have plenty of those! Topping the list is a woven red-and-cream Prada bag, for which I paid about $500. It looks like ice cubes.

Even when I go to sales, I end up buying something that's not on sale.

I like close-cut suits in navy, gray or black. Occasionally I will wear red, never yellow. I have a fantastic tailor, Zia, in Buckhead who alters my clothes for me. For accessories, I will wear my diamond stud Tiffany necklace or tiny pearl earrings.