What were you most surprised to learn and why? 
I was most surprised to learn about the huge similarities all the students shared. Although our lives couldn't get any more different, we are the same in many ways.

What stereotypes did Iraqi youth have of Americans?  How did you address them?
I think the most prevalent stereotype they held was that all the Americans would share the views of your "average American", and that we would be very reluctant to get to know them. These misconceptions got addressed very quickly, probably within the first couple hours-as soon as we spent a little time together.

How has the program influenced you?  What have you done to take what you learned from your Legacy experience home and expand on it?
The program has influenced me hugely. I truly think about friends from camp every single day. And luckily, with phones, facebook, and email, we've all been able to keep in pretty good contact. The program has encouraged me to learn more about other cultures, and try to meet and learn from as many people from these cultures as I can. I was already pretty attentive to the news and politics surrounding the Middle East, but my experience has encouraged me to keep even a closer watch. I am also starting to learn Arabic. I think what's happening in the Middle East is going to become more and more important in the coming years, and hopefully that'll be a wake up call for Americans and get them to start recognizing the citizens of those countries as people. Knowing Arabic is not only going to be important in the future, it will help me communicate with my Iraqi friends much better.