Ignore the hype...

[jezoz]

For those who are considering travel to this region...

Forget anything you think you know about these countries and their people:

- The land is oozing with culture and history
- The people are extraordinarily friendly and embrace you like their own (especially if you are a busty blonde from scandinavia)
- Most countries have limited tourism, making the experience authentic, but there is enough infrastructure to make things easy if you wish.
- 99.99% of Muslim people are not fundamental (but if you want to join hezbollah they do have a current recruiting drive in the south of lebanon)

I will be living over here for the next six months (mostly in syria) so ask any questions you like and force me to justify this stance...

[Max Spielberg]

I'm an eighteen year old Jewish American, and am dying to break out of my middle class westernized mold. I've just returned from my first solo trip, to Southeast Asia. I'm anxious to break through the maze of American propaganda, and see what the real Muslim world is like. Is Syria dangerous for an American, particularly a young American, and one who 'looks' stereotypically Jewish (excuse me for being politically incorrect)? Then again, you're talking to someone who just came back from Cambodia. I also have an obviously Jewish last name.

I was looking to live somewhere, renting a place and such. Is this possible for a foreigner, an American? Is Syria expensive, if one is not travelling around, and has an apartment and such? Consider that I'm a budget traveller, and spending ten bucks a day for me is heavy.

I really appreciate all your help, in advance of course.
_________________
Max S