The Greater Middle East poses major challenges for the United States. Yet despite decades of intense involvement in Middle Eastern affairs, most Americans still know little about the cultures of the region. Simple Gestures describes one Americanαs efforts over forty years to better understand the society in the countries where she lived and worked: Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In her multiple roles, Andrea Rugh came to know people from many walks of life. As a mother, she became friendly with local families. As the wife of a diplomat, who later became an ambassador to two countries, she came to know social elites in the Persian Gulf. As a professional anthropologist, she spent time with people from parts of society who are usually inaccessible to foreigners. Culture is revealed most clearly in the way people interact with one another₂in the way they treat the poor, the elderly, and women; how they rear and educate their children; and in the way they react to a foreigner suddenly thrust in their midst. Describing the satisfactions, sudden insights, challenges, and miscommunications that come from being immersed in a foreign culture, Rugh brings to life on the page the places and the people she met along the way.

Foreshadowings (1945-1964) -- Slow beginnings: Beirut, Lebanon (1964-1965, 1970), and Cairo, Egypt (1965-1966) -- Moving ahead: Jidda, Saudi Arabia (1966-1967) -- Into the interior: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1967-1969) -- Rima: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (1967-1969) -- Familiar territory: Jidda again (1969-1971) -- Retooling: home leave (1971-1976) -- Second chance: Cairo again (1976-1978) -- Immersion: Bulaq, Egypt (1976-1978) -- A new direction: Cairo after graduate school (1978-1981) -- Change: Abdul Wahhab and the religious shaikhs -- Finding a niche: Syria (1981-1984) -- Road blocks: Sana, Yemen (1984-1987) -- BRIDGES: Yemen (1987) and Pakistan (1987-1994) -- On the road to reform: Pakistan (1990-1994) -- New worlds: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (1992-1995) -- Ultimate destination: Afghanistan under the Taliban (1998, 2000) -- Finish line: Afghanistan after the invasion (2001-2002) -- Reflections.