“I think that the more you travel the more you realize that people everywhere are pretty much the same,” Costa said. “Outside of, you know, basic cultural differences, most people care about family, people care about food, especially in Middle Eastern culture.”

Karim Kawar, the former Jordanian ambassador to the United States and Mexico from 2002 to 2007 and BC ’87, spoke with Kathleen Bailey, a professor in the political science department, at the second-annual Omar Aggad Memorial Lecture on Thursday.

"American Boston College students, whether they like it or not, represent the U.S. while they study abroad."