Crossing Borders: An American Woman in the Middle East (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East (Paperback))

During the 1980s, Judith Caesar taught literature in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Her aptly titled book offers one woman's view of several political powder kegs that didn't make front page news and of the clash between Western and Middle Eastern customs. An open-minded nature and curiosity about the place of women in cultures that seem wildly restrictive to many Westerners helps Caesar deconstruct stereotypes on both sides of the border. The American television show Dallas, she notes, now in perpetual rerun in many countries, has become a gold mine of misinformation on Western women. Likewise, our squeamishness about arranged marriage belies some of the inside story shared by her students. One plans to land "a good temper man" by asking a suitor's sister to reveal his true temperament. And if he doesn't have a sister? "Then don't marry him," comes the swift reply. "He has never learned about women." In the five years that Judith Caesar taught literature in Saudi Arabia and Egypt during the 1980s, key events took place that changed the face of Middle Eastern politics. Seen through the eyes of many Westerners, the assassination of Anwar Sadat, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and the Intifada were incidents reflective of a seemingly volatile and aggressive culture. But Caesar saw these events from another perspective. Part memoir and part travelogue, Crossing Borders conveys simply and eloquently the voices of the people and the cultures Caesar came to know during her time in the Arab world. Some of her writings in this book have first appeared in publications such as the Christian Science Monitor. In the tradition of the best writings on foreign places, Caesar's narrative is both an inward as well as an outward journey of discovery. In addition to the political reverberations taking place around her, she writes of the misconceptions generated by both the Saudi and the American press. In "All the News That's Fit to Print", Caesar notes wildly disparate interpretations of news stories when they are translated from one language to another. Caesar also demonstrates an openness in discovering the meaning inherent in the simplest daily tasks. She focuses on what is politically significant in what people do every day, such as drinking tea, shopping, and teaching. Crossing Borders will appeal to people interested in a non-dogmatic description of the Middle East, and to those who love good travel writing. In The Five Years That Judith Caesar Taught Literature In Saudi Arabia And Egypt During The 1980s, Key Events Took Place That Changed The Face Of Middle Eastern Politics. Seen Through The Eyes Of Many Westerners, The Assassination Of Anwar Sadat, The Israeli Invasion Of Lebanon, And The Intifada Were Incidents Reflective Of A Seemingly Volatile And Aggressive Culture. But Caesar Saw These Events From Another Perspective. Part Memoir And Part Travelogue, Crossing Borders. Conveys Simply And Eloquently The Voices Of The People And The Cultures Caesar Came To Know During Her Time In The Arab World. In The Tradition Of The Best Writings On Foreign Places, Caesar's Narrative Is Both An Inward As Well As An Outward Journey Of Discovery. In Addition To The Political Reverberations Taking Place Around Her, She Writes Of The Misconceptions Generated By Both The Saudi And The American Press. In All The News That's Fit To Print, Caesar Notes The. Scanty And Sometimes Biased Reports In The American News Media, And The Equally Distorted Coverage Of Internal News Stories In The Saudi Press. She Also Considers The Psychological And Philosophical Implications Of Encountering Values And Assumptions About Human Nature Which Are Very Different From Those Prevailing In Contemporary American Society. Saudi Arabia: 1981-1983 -- Egypt: 1985-1986 -- Saudi Arabia: 1987-1990. Judith Caesar. Part memoir and part travelogue, this narrative provides an alternative viewpoint to events in the Middle East during the 1980s. Having lived in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, the author focuses on personal, day-to-day issues and highlights misconceptions of the Western view of events and places. This is Judith Caesar's account of her life and work in the Arab Middle East during a period of great political and social turmoil. While there, she was forced to begin the long process of unlearning much of what she thought she knew about Arabs. -- Provided by publisher