Books I have read

Everyone who reads this knows that I am a librarian. That means that I am in the business of reading and recommending books. Since December I have been reading, reading, reading - almost all of it has been about Saudi Arabia. Here are a few recommendations...

Inside the Kingdom: My Life in Saudi Arabia (Carmen Bin Ladin)
I found this book very interesting. Ms. Bin Ladin married into the now infamous family and had two daughters. Over time, she found the opportunities for women to be stifling. While the book is certainly not balanced, I could relate to her as an outsider. I found her observations of Saudi Arabia fascinating.

The Unveiling: An American Teacher in a Saudi Palace (Kristin Decker)
Many Americans are employed in Saudi Arabia and this teacher and her husband took a job in a school with only two students! The two children were part of royalty and the American couple were employed to extend their education by exposing them to Western ideas and ways of learning. Their family wanted them to eventually attend Western universities. Surprising things happen that leave readers wondering.

Saudi Customs and Etiquette (Kathy Cuddihy)
My new Saudi friend, Mohamad, sent me this little book from Saudi Arabia! He has spent years in the US and now is in Saudi Arabia. He found this book and felt that it gives Americans a better understanding of Saudi Arabia. Since there are really no "tour books" for Saudi Arabia as there isn't any tourism, I found this book very useful at explaining, in a very balanced way, the protocol for getting along in Saudi Arabia. I'll read it again when I return and decide if I agree with it.


Beyond The Dunes: An Anthology of Modern Saudi Literature (Salma K. Jayyusi (Ed))
A rare collection of Saudi poetry, short stories, and essays that show the tension between traditional Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world world.

Islamic Art in Detail (Sheila R. Canby)
Since we will be going to many museums and important buildings, I wanted
to get a better understanding of the themes of Islamic art. This exquisite
book makes me excited about seeing the “real thing”. The art is colorful
and also full of non-traditional elements.

A Brief History Of Saudi Arabia (James Wynbrandt)
We received this book from the program that is coordinating our trip. I have several books from the "brief history" series in the library. This was my first chance to read one. The book is very well written. I found the history fascinating.

The Sword of the Prophet (Robert Goldston)
This book is a classic (published in 1982) about the beginnings of the Islamic empire. Despite its age, it is still considered to be a primer for understanding the events and people who are active in the Islamic world today. I am glad I read it.

One Month to Go

I am leaving for Saudi Arabia in four weeks! It is hard to believe! When I tell people that I am going, I commonly get two responses - WOW! and WHY? The answer to the question is that I love to travel and have never been to the Middle East. AND I believe that we must talk and listen to each other if we ever hope to understand each other.

EDUCATORS TO SAUDI ARABIA: This is the fifth Aramco trip. The first two were not open for a national competition so this is the third national competition. Usually about 150-200 applications are received for 24 slots. In order to apply, you must be either a Social Studies teacher or a librarian. Another librarian from Wisconsin went last year. I am the only
Wisconsin teacher to be selected for this trip.

ITINERARY: Our itinerary will not be known until we get to Houston. Previous groups have traveled to Dharhan, Riyadh, and Jeddah. We will be flying via Amsterdam - an 18 hour trip from Houston to Riyadh. I am loading up my ipod, sharpening my pencil (to do Sudokus), and looking for a VERY compelling novel to fill the hours. Hopefully, I will also get a good nap.


CLOTHING We know it will be very hot and we know that women must be entirely covered. A tailor will be making abayas (like the one shown) for the women on the first day. We do have to cover our arms to the wrist and our shirts must cover the collar bone. The abayas will not cover all of this. So today I went out to buy some clothes. Stores in Wisconsin do not sell "modest" summer clothes in February!