• Where are you from?/Where is your heritage from? What you do in the US:

I am Jordanian Palestinian, born in Algeria raised all over the Mashriq, I have been living in the US since 2007, I work as am Engineer for Jacobs Engineering.

• What do you love most about your country/heritage?

Our Diversity! Whether its Race, language, Religion, Food, or Customs the Mashriq has proved that it is one of the most diverse regions on the planet!Without borders you could wake up on the shores facing the Mediterranean in Beirut, to have breakfast in the heart of bustling Damascus, and continue to learn a language or ten in Baghdad, in Amman come for the night life near the Roman ruins and end your day praying to the lord in his Kingdom of heaven in Jerusalem.

• Favorite food?

Mansaf, Msakhan, Kabseh and so many others! My mom is the cook in the family, and food always reminds me of her calling us to gather around the dinner table with our uncles and aunts and the rest of the family.

• Stereotypes of Al-Sham you think need reversing?

That we are divided and battle one another. We have more in common than we think, and we are more connected to each other through our differences, we are battling the political and religious leaders that keep trying to divide us for their gain.

• An icon from al-Sham that everyone should know about and why?

Fares al-Khoury, a Syrian minister, prime minister, the Godfather of modern Mashrqi politics. One of the founding members of the UN, a staunch secularist and Pan-Arabism Nationalism. His ideology and his defiance against colonialism and occupation of all Mashriqi lands was inspiring, an Idol that every Mashriqi man should aspire to be. His life was all about establishing a strong and independent Mashriq.