Oy vey

Tl;dr - Detailed account of nothing of substance by a self involved person with perpetual victim and people pleasing mentality who has a hard time speaking up for herself and makes a lot of assumptions of what others think.

As an Israeli born and raised Sabra, the author should really have had more presence of mind and smarts to expect the treatment she received and risk she exposed herself to in Jordan. She keeps putting it on the Peace Corps, how they shouldn’t have sent her there, how they should’ve known better, how she wanted to make a good impression so she didn’t speak up, how they didn’t protect her name properly. Seriously. As an adult, you could’ve known better. Such entitlement and moaning is throughout the book.

Someone who doesn’t have children, the author has the audacity to pass judgement repeatedly on small kids in the book, calling them spoiled brats, and judging their parents for not disciplining them better. Um.. excuse me? I don’t believe your doctorate in Arab studies qualifies you to make such judgements on people’s parenting choices. Especially in a third world country with limited access to child care. I thought it was amazing that women were able to have their children with them in their workplace. And if the kids misbehaved a bit - so be it. They are young and will learn better eventually.

I didn’t have very night hopes for this book but thought it would be an interesting account of something I know nothing about. It started out well enough, the drawn out application process and training was interesting. But then I started getting a feeling that the author is not that fun to be around. Her sisters and sister in law were not that interested in being close, she was continually mistreated by her fellow volunteers and supervisors, and she kept trying to please everyone by just pretending everything was fine and not saying anything, but obviously harbouring resentment. At some point I will Ben said out loud, as I was driving in my car, “Dalya, I don’t think it’s them, I think it’s you”.

The author is constantly pointing out how she is more special than everyone else, more experienced, better educated. I have a feeling that if we heard this story from the other side, we’d quickly find out that the background check was just an excuse to get her off the program for being a poor fit. And maybe it’s the Peace Corps’ fault for not figuring it out sooner, it’s possible.

Anyway, the book is sort of informative, although nothing Earth shattering. Maybe a bit of a cautionary tale to other idealistically inclined Americans, especially if Jewish descent, thinking they will be welcome with open arms in places they have no business being. Don’t be naive. Assess risks with your eyes open and don’t trust anyone else with your own safety and security.

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