A Florida high school teen has decided to see the war-torn destruction of Iraq by going to the country by himself - as a tourist.

Farris Hassan, 16, a student of Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was inspired by his "immersion journalism" to take the trip. Farris left America three weeks ago, using money given to him by his parents, but opted not to tell them about his plans.

Farris, who does not speak Arabic, told the Associated Press he realized he could be in danger when he left his hotel to find food, and had to pull out his phrase book.

"I'm like, 'Well, I should probably be going.' It was not a safe place. The way they were looking at me kind of freaked me out."

On December 27 Farris contacted the Associated Press in Baghdad, who notified the U.S. Embassy, which then sent soldiers to pick him up.

Farris' travels have guaranteed him much closer parental supervision from now on.

"We are going to watch his every move," his mother told CBS television. "We are going to take his passport. We're going to limit his access to money."