WASHINGTON (AP) — The family of an American collegestudent killed in Egypt during violent protests
says their son caredpassionately about the Middle East and was in the country to teachEnglish to children
and to improve his own Arabic.Andrew Pochter,of Chevy Chase, Md., was killed Friday in Alexandria during
clashesbetween government supporters and opponents. His family said in astatement Saturday that he was
stabbed by a protester while observingthe demonstrations."He went to Egypt because he cared
profoundlyabout the Middle East. He had studied in the region, loved the culture,and planned to live and
work there in the pursuit of peace andunderstanding," the statement said.The country has been roiled
byongoing demonstrations between protesters trying to oust PresidentMohammed Morsi and Islamists seeking to
keep him in power. The U.S.State Department has warned Americans against all but essential travel,and
households have been stocking up on goods in case the protests dragon.The 21-year-old spent his spring
semester studying in Amman,Jordan, as part of the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program and wasteaching in Egypt
before returning in the fall to Kenyon College inOhio. He majored in religious studies, was active in Hillel
House — thecampus center for Jewish life — and was a member of the rugby club andan organizer for the Middle
Eastern Students Association, the collegesaid.Meryn Chimes, a New York University student who said she wasa
friend of Pochter, recalled how he traveled to Morocco between highschool and college and sent her excited
letters about how much he lovedit there."When he came back, he just had this passion for the Middle
East," she said.Duringhis travels, she said, he would marvel at everything from the food tothe people
he encountered at marketplaces to the Colonial architectureof Alexandria. She said he told her how much he
loved teaching Egyptianchildren and how they worked so hard to master English."He said he hoped they
liked him as a teacher, which I’m sure they did," she said.She said they last spoke a few days
ago."Hereally wanted to broaden people’s perspective, especially in America.He wanted people to see
places the way he saw them," said Chimes, notinghow Pochter had spoken of potentially becoming a
reporter."He saw the world in a way that I don’t think anyone else did, and it was a really beautiful
way," she added.LucasPastorfield-Li, a friend from college, said he bonded with Pochter overa shared
interest in education and international affairs. He saidPochter was soft-spoken and humble but also a
talented musician whowould weave international topics — he did a college research project onthe Muslim
Brotherhood — into freestyle raps."He had a way ofjust being way too wise beyond his years. I feel like
most of the peoplein my generation are constantly trying to be heard," saidPastorfield-Li, 20, adding,
"He had an amazing way of just conveyingwisdom in such a humble and kind of subtle way."He said
Pochter would have been the "perfect poster boy" for any ad campaign for the college."It’snot
just me right now that this is really affecting," he said. "He wassuch an important person to so
many people at the school, and Kenyon’ssuch a small school, someone like Andrew is going to be a
celebrity."Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.