She argued that the spirit of a place should be captured through its people not through monuments. Instead of showing Egypt as a land of pharaohs and giant pyramids, she wanted to show Americans what Egypt is really like and how they deal with their historical surroundings. She wanted to bring Middle Eastern culture closer to home for Americans, which is something she tried to do after living in Iraq for two years.
She maintained that a place's character should be revealed through its residents rather than through memorials. Rather than depicting Egypt as a land of pharaohs and massive pyramids, she sought to show Americans the authentic nature of Egypt and how its people interact with their historical heritage. She endeavored to make Middle Eastern culture more relatable to Americans, which she tried to accomplish after living in Iraq for two years.