Letters from Cairo (Syracuse University Press, 2007)
When her husband is offered a Fulbright grant to teach at Cairo University, Pauline Kaldas embarks on a new journey—and an opportunity to return home. Born in Egypt, she immigrated with her parents to the United States when she was eight years old. Returning now with her own children, Kaldas writes form a perspective as an Arab-American, straddling two homelands and two identities. Through a collection of letters, journal entries, essays, and even local recipes, she provides a richly detailed portrait of life in Cairo. Kaldas offers insight into the complexities of Egyptian culture, alternately taking on roles of linguist and cultural interpreter and addressing everything from class issues and political activism to education and the impact of Western culture. Marked by spare, graceful prose, this book captures the images, character, and passion of an extraordinary country.
When her husband is offered a Fulbright grant to teach at Cairo University, Pauline Kaldas embarks on a new journey—and an opportunity to return home. Born in Egypt, she immigrated with her parents to the United States when she was eight years old. Returning now with her own children, Kaldas writes form a perspective as an Arab-American, straddling two homelands and two identities. Through a collection of letters, journal entries, essays, and even local recipes, she provides a richly detailed portrait of life in Cairo. Kaldas offers insight into the complexities of Egyptian culture, alternately taking on roles of linguist and cultural interpreter and addressing everything from class issues and political activism to education and the impact of Western culture. Marked by spare, graceful prose, this book captures the images, character, and passion of an extraordinary country.