Extremism is not endemic in my region, nor is anti-Western sentiment. No doubt there is discontent and distrust. That is towards more the American and some Western policies, and not toward the American people.

There are so many misperceptions and stereotypes out there that I would love to see clarified one day.

The more time goes on, the closer I am to the ground. I've been exposed to so many issues and people living under different pressures. It's helped me realize that a lot of glamorous things that people prioritize really don't matter.

I think generally, in life, I try to always ensure that there are periodic moments where I do venture out of my comfort zone, because that's what keeps you alive. That's what keeps you from getting stale.

Polls show that Arabs admire a lot of the Western values, cultural aspects in the West. It is more about policies than about way of life.

I don't believe there is a clash between cultures. I believe there is a clash between perceptions of each other.

Of course democracy is good, but it is a process, not a prescription.