1.First of all,l have learned a lot of intellectualy about identity, bias, othering, equity, oppression, and empathy. Here are some materials that really made a difference for me. Firstly, “The Danger of a Single Story” by  Adichie: This TED Talk taught me that we need more than one perspective to truly understand people and avoid stereotypes. l like how she explains this point using humor for example when she says how that the white boy she was reading in her book was happy that the sun was rising and that in her country Nigeria the sun was always rising. Because of this she thought that the character in her books were the ideal way to live. My question is how can the danger of a single story be suppressed since The US and most of europe are rich so they can copy more of their stories unlike poor countries like nigeria. Secondly, Jay Smooth’s “How to Tell Someone They Sound Racist”: This video showed me how to approach difficult conversations about race and bias in a respectful way, and how to call them out and to prove to them that a “racist” can literarily be anyone from a white male to a black female.l asked chatgbt what is racism and this was his response Racism is the belief that certain races are superior or inferior to others, often leading to discrimination, prejudice, and unfair treatment of people based on their race or ethnicity. It is rooted in the idea that people can be categorized by characteristics, such as skin color or cultural heritage, and that these categories imply qualities or abilities, often unfairly favoring some groups over others. https://chatgpt.com/c/672bf68e-73a8-8007-a703-1358bdd6f859.  My question here is how to know if l am racist? thirdly,5 Faces of Oppression by Iris Young: This reading helped me see how inequality and oppression work in society and how some people end up disadvantaged in different ways, because the author identifies 5 forms of oppression which are exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence. l don’t have any question here. and lastly,Paul Bloom’s “Against Empathy”: This reading got me thinking about empathy differently, showing that sometimes it’s important to think rationally as well as emotionally. Bloom argues that it can be biased and harmful sometimes. He suggests that empathy often leads us to favor people we know, which can not be juste. How can we combat this since it’s human nature to be biased ? I hope in Soliya l will talk to many different people from different backgrounds who can help me discover new perspectives.

2. l have learned to be more open minded and not judge people because l don’t know what this person is going through.l view the world as a diverse and beautiful place but also a scary place which can commit a lot of tragedies. My question about myself is how  my identity as an Egyptian Christian can affect the way I see the world, especially since I have faced discrimination in the past. I’m curious about how others in Soliya will see me, and I want to learn more about how my own identity affects my interactions. l think since l am going to meet a lot of people from different places my identity won’t be an issue. \Soliya might give me a chance to talk about my experiences and hear how others deal with similar issues.

3.l have learned the importance of listening to others and not judging quickly since l don’t know everyone’s background. I want to become a better “global citizen” by understanding people from different cultures and their beliefs, and I think Soliya will help me practice that by talking with others in a respectful, open-minded way.l will try to understand each one’s point of view.

4.If the topic of Palestine comes up in Soliya, I would want to make sure everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts. I would try to encourage people to share their personal experiences to help everyone understand each other better. I might need support in preparing for this kind of discussion with proof of every statement that l give so I can help keep it respectful and open.