yabroud

To be honest, I think whoever you are with, as long as you identify yourself as an outsider who want's to send their stories and messages back to the outside world, they will be more than eager to tell you their stories and the 'truth'. They really don't have a voice in syria anymore, so whoever you talk to, no matter which side they are on will tell you their struggles and hope for you to carry their messages to the outside world.

I would recommend not going to any cities that are still being fought for. Go only to 100% rebel controlled cities, and 100% state army controlled cities. Also, if you hear about a bombing or explosion that occurs in a city/block near you, be very cautious of rushing over right away, both sides like to use a 'delayed' tactic, where they have a small-medium size explosion, and then wait for civilians and medics to show up, then they hit the same spot with a large explosion, maximizing deaths.

Well since around 2009-2011 I didn't really have a choice of which side I was on. You know those 'death to america' and anti assad protests you see on the streets sometimes with kids holding up signs and stuff? I was in one of those growing up, but i didnt want to be. Anti america/west groups came into our high school one several times at gun point and demanded we participate in these rallys or we would be shot right their. I chose the FSA side because its really the only option i have at this point. The state police destroyed my uncles store because he was believed to be a 'rebel' even though he was never involved in any of that stuff. They would also fire into crowds of peaceful protests, killing civilians. Something is defiantly wrong when the government is trying that hard to silence people, I deleted my facebook account because i was tired of seeing a different friend have 'rip' on his wall every single day and it was too stressful. All i know is that with the FSA, im housed, clothed, fed, and protected. I would never contact the police if my life was in danger which it is.

Well no one 'hates the west' those are all extremists who are trying to use that and islam to gain more power in the middle east by using the west and their 'immoral ways' as a fear tactics to gain more supporters. all those death to america rallys you see are either members of those groups, or towns and schools forced to participate at gunpoint, as i was.

We generally have a favorable view towards americans, we watch their moives, tv shows, eat their foods. parents try to send their kids to school their if they have the money. friends and relatives are jealous of family members that study or live in canada and america. its really nowhere as bad as a view you would think.

The west intervening in the war though draws suspicious. some are in support of it, as i am, i dont really care what their intentions are at this point (oil, destabilization, geo-political leverage) i just want the death to end. and some dont want any outside counties to get involved, and they want the syrian people to handle it.

EDIT: This is what i feel the opinion towards the west for my age group is, the younger generation (less than 30).

No problem! Also always ask before you take a picture of someones uncovered face. They may fear it may end up somewhere and that you may be putting their family or life in danger if that picture get published somewhere (even if you aren't planning on publishing it, they don't know that, so just ask to be safe.)

Yes like a toll booth, and the ones who built, dug the tunnels are the ones charging others to use it. The nicer they are, the more they feel like you owe them to use it, which makes perfect sense. They are essentially self-owned/operated. Anyone can go through if they pay.