Married to a Bedouin

Synopsis

'"Where you staying?" the Bedouin asked. "Why you not stay with me tonight - in my cave?"'

Thus begins Marguerite van Geldermalsen's story of how a New Zealand-born nurse came to be married to Mohammad Abdallah Othman, a Bedouin souvenir-seller from the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. It was 1978 and she and a friend were travelling through the Middle East when Marguerite met the charismatic Mohammad who convinced her that he was the man for her.

A life with Mohammad meant moving into his ancient cave and learning to love the regular tasks of baking shrak bread on an open fire and collecting water from the spring. And as Marguerite feels herself becoming part of the Bedouin community, she is thankful for the twist in fate that has led her to this contented life.

Marguerite's light-hearted and guileless observations of the people she comes to love are as heart-warming as they are valuable, charting Bedouin traditions now lost to the modern world.

Summary

Chapter 1

In the first chapter of Married to a Bedouin, Eric Hansen recounts the story of his courtship by a Bedouin man. He is traveling in the Middle East and meets a man, Hakim, whom he is instantly attracted to. After some time of getting to know each other and spending time with Hakim's family, the two decide to marry with the blessing of Hakim's tribe.

Hakim's family welcomes Hansen to their tribe with open arms. Hansen is met with curiosity by both the young and old members of the family. He soon finds out that living in a small Bedouin village, with its own culture, and its own rules is much different than living in the west.

Chapter 2

The second chapter of Married to a Bedouin focuses on the cultural differences between Hansen and his new family. He soon finds out that Bedouins have different customs and ways of life than any other people group. These include sitting on the floor while eating, sharing their food with others, and wearing traditional clothing to signify their tribe.

Hansen also meets many members of the tribe and has to learn about how to act in different situations. He finds out the importance of respect, honor, and hospitality among the different members of the family and tribe.

Chapter 3

In chapter three, Hansen experiences how daily life is for the Bedouins. From herding goats and camels, to making tents and weaving mats, to attending weddings, and even participating in local ceremonies, he sees how the tribe interacts and works in their environment.

He also has to learn about Arabian nights and how to bargain like a Bedouin.Though negotiating in Arabic is a challenge, he soon finds out that the Bedouins are adept at bartering and bargaining.

Chapter 4

In the fourth chapter, Hansen gets an even better understanding of the Bedouin culture and begins to appreciate it even more. He visits some of their sacred locations where the tribe worships and finds out about some of their taboos. He also goes to the local market and becomes familiar with products that the Bedouins use every day, such as dates, nuts, oils, spices, and so much more.

Chapter 5

The fifth chapter talks about the marriage of Eric and Hakim. Not only do they have to satisfy the demands of their tribe, but they also have to find a way to make their marriage work in an unfamiliar environment. They both learn to trust each other, adapt, and communicate more effectively.

Chapter 6

In the last chapter of Married to a Bedouin, Hansen reflects on his experience living among the Bedouins and how it has impacted his life. He advises readers on how to truly appreciate the culture by understanding what it is like to live with the Bedouin people. He also provides advice on how to take life slowly and recognize the beauty in simplicity and the importance of patience. Despite all the challenges of his new lifestyle, he ends the book with a look of admiration and appreciation for the tribe that took him in and the man who works hard to make their marriage work.