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Journal notes from the Middle East
MY HUSBAND , Richard, and I have lived in and out of the Middle East for the past several years. Initially, living in company-provided housing on a residential compound designed to approximate a small California desert community mitigated the sharp cultural change from life in the United States. It comfortably housed up to 10,000 predominantly Western expatriate workers and their families. We had a grocery store, two Americansystem schools, a golf course, a hobby center, a post office, riding stables, tennis courts, and several Olympic-sized pools. We lived in a stucco townhouse, landscaped with fragrant plumeria trees, birds of paradise, hibiscus, a large palm tree, and a small lawn. With double security checkpoints and guards to check the cars and occupants driving in and out, we called our compound a "minimum-security country club."
At first, the adjustment to cultural differences was amusing. I was required to dress conservatively, loosely covered from the neck, past elbows to ankles—with no bright colors. And this also applied to walking in and out of my own front door, as I learned during our first furniture delivery, when I wore what any normal person (from my part of the world) would wear on a 125ºF day with 90 percent humidity—a tank top and shorts. I couldn't understand why the seven men—all third-country nationals (Indian, Bangaladeshi, Pakistani, etc.)—were overtly grinning and wide-eyed every time they saw me. A day or so later, on an orientation tour, I was handed a dress-code flyer.
About the author
Wendy and Rich Winegar have lived and traveled throughout the Middle East and Europe in their careers in oil, gas, and water projects. Their home base is Park City, Utah.

January 14, 2002 issue
View Issue-
This is a good time
Dave Hohle
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YOUR LETTERS
with contributions from Joy Scott, Susan Chan, Vicki R. Knickerbocker, Gerry Vieten, Isaac Gatwiri, Virginia Hill
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Items of interest
with contributions from Aynur Ciftci, Robert J. Barro, Harvey Cox
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I'm not Eve—women's place in theology redefined
By Katherine Degrow
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She sees a new seminary
with contributions from Laura Lapointe
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Removing the mental veil
By Marta Greenwood
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Journal notes from the Middle East
By Wendy Winegar
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Tolerance in Bombay's railway station
By Neera Kapur
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Politics of tolerance
Warren Bolon with contributions from Emmanuel Diffa
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Nine Parts of Desire, The Hidden World of Islamic Women
By Warren Bolon Sentinel Staff
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Explosion survivor learns valuable spiritual lessons
Patricia Tweedle
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Spiritual growth eradicates migraines
Ann C. Brown
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Prayer—in every need
Celmira Blea
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Finding God, finding health
Leyla Martin Pinzon
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A beginning to the end of intolerance
Channing Walker