( CNN ) -- An American student fatally stabbed in Egypt was so fascinated with the region , he read poems about it to his girlfriend , his mother said . Andrew Pochter of Chevy Chase , Maryland , was stabbed Friday in the port city of Alexandria . He was in the country teaching English to elementary school children . `` As we understand it , he was witnessing the protest as a bystander and was stabbed by a protester , '' his family said in a statement . `` He went to Egypt because he cared profoundly about the Middle East , and he planned to live and work there in the pursuit of peace and understanding . '' Egyptian state media reported that he was stabbed in the chest while filming the protests . Protests have raged for days between supporters and foes of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy , prompting the United States to recently warn its citizens against travel to the nation . Poetry about the region . The 21-year-old went to Egypt this year after spending time in Morocco and falling in love with the region . Before the trip , he interned for AMIDEAST , an American nonprofit that focuses on the Middle East and North Africa . He also took a class in regional politics . While enrolled in the class , he read poems about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to his girlfriend , said his mother , Elizabeth Pochter . `` The class was n't just about some detached war to him , but a struggle that he passionately wanted to resolve , '' she said , according to a statement by Kenyon College , where he had just completed his sophomore year . `` Andrew was a person who did n't see the world as separate nations , but a collection of vibrant cultures . '' Governments issue warnings against travel to Egypt . 'One of the rare kids ' His goal was to understand the political and religious dynamics in the region , sharpen his Arabic skills and learn the different dialects , according to his family . `` He was one of the rare kids who lived what he believed , '' said Marc Bragin , a chaplain at Kenyon . `` His belief was that everyone should be included , everyone had a voice , and no one should be left out because what they think is different than what others think . '' Rugby player , radio station host . A religious studies major , Pochter was raised in a Christian and Jewish household , and was a member of the Middle Eastern Students Association . He was headed into his junior year in college . After Egypt and Morocco , he planned to venture farther into the region , including a planned trip to Amman , Jordan . `` In an essay as part of his application for the study-abroad program in Jordan , Andrew ... reflected on his hopes to develop 'life-long ties ... with Arab-speaking friends , ' `` the college said in a statement . Pochter , a college radio station host , had varied interests , including rugby and cooking , his mother said . Kenyon College said it was planning a memorial service in the fall . In addition to his mother , Pochter is survived by his father , Theodore Pochter , and sister , Emily Pochter . Opinion : Get ready for Egypt 's 'second revolution ' CNN 's Yousuf Basil and Greg Botelho contributed to this report .
NEW : Egypt state media say he was filming the protests . Comment: Andrew Pochter was watching protests in Alexandria when he was stabbed . The 21-year-old went to Egypt this year after spending time in Morocco . Family : He planned to live in the Middle East `` in the pursuit of peace and understanding ''