NORTHBROOK, Illinois, 19 June 2005 — The library at Glenbrook North High School is a busy place as students from Gerome Hoyne’s freshman social studies class finish their final exams on the school’s computer network. As they present their final paperwork to the teacher in this Chicago suburb, they look at an array of items spread out on a table — an abaya and hijab, a “ghutra” and “igal” and a variety of other examples of life in Saudi Arabia.
Hoynes was one of a group of teachers who recently toured the Kingdom in a trip organized by the Institute of International Education. After giving presentations to three classes, students across the school are getting a newfound interest about the Kingdom and its people.
“I noticed that while they were going through a lot of the traditional clothing and other things they were discussing, like meals or greetings, that students who were outside the classroom were very interested — because I think it is a part of the world that not very many people are exposed to,” said Stacey Mechales, an instructional assistant at the school’s library.
“As an American, if you go on a vacation you go to Cancun or England. I don’t know many people who have gone to Saudi Arabia, so it is almost like a mystery place. It is unfortunate because a lot of these cultures and religions are so misunderstood because they are going by hearsay and not facts or experience, so I think it is wonderful that every year Hoynes takes kids to a different area of the world. I think it is important for the kids to understand that — for the next generation. Hopefully, it will avoid a lot of confusion — hatred or mistrust. To me, I think they are getting a huge advantage.”
It is definitely a learning experience.
“I just thought it was mostly desert,” said 15-year-old Megan Purcell. “I was surprised by all the different cultures they have there. I just thought there was just one way that everyone went by; now I guess they have a lot of different ways of doing things that I really didn’t know about the country.”
Purcell made her comments while she was wearing a headscarf and abaya. She thought the garments were somewhat uncomfortable.
“I tried it on. The only thing I could see was my eyes; I couldn’t see any other part of my body,” Purcell said. “It was different, and it felt kind of hot. I don’t think I could walk around like that because black absorbs heat — especially in Saudi Arabia because it gets really hot there. I don’t think I could ever see myself wearing something like that.”
She also thought there might be some advantages.
“Women are fully clothed and can’t show any part of their bodies,” she said. “In a way, that’s kind of cool because here, people just wear what they want, and it doesn’t matter. Here, physical appearance is important. You’re an individual; in Saudi Arabia, it seems like everybody pretty much dresses the same. In Saudi Arabia, it seems like all the women look the same. Actually, that might be a better way because you’re not judged that easily. People would get to know you by your personality instead of your appearance.”
For some students, it was a chance to abandon stereotypes of Saudis, and perhaps replace them with some curiosity about what stereo types young Saudis prefer — Sony or Panasonic?
“We learned that there are a lot of people in Saudi Arabia who are nice guys and cool to talk to,” said Ryan Goberstein, 16. “Most of them are good people and friendly.”
“It was interesting that they are kind of close to Americans,” said Alan Kravtsov, 15. “I mean, the culture is similar. Young people listen to the same kind of music — there are a lot of similarities. They’re more religious, but they’re still similar. They watch DVDs and play sports, so they’re similar and different at the same time.”
Kravtsov recently took part in a class that conducted a simulation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. In the simulation, he played US President George W. Bush. At Glenbrook North, they were able to advance the peace process — at least in their simulation.
“We made some progress,” Kravtsov said. “We got the Palestinian team and the Israeli team to negotiate. We learned that you don’t always get what you want during discussions. We got them to agree to separate borders, and Jerusalem became a neutral city — everyone could come and visit. It wasn’t Israel’s or Palestine’s; it was everyone’s and open for all religions.”
“The one thing that surprised me the most was that they’re starting to change women’s rights,” said Gary Pett, 16. “That’s impressive, and I was happy to hear that.”
The learning experience wasn’t restricted to students.
“The kids were really interested in the Saudi Arabia trip,” said Sue Eddington, the school’s librarian. “I learned new things in each of the three presentations. We learned that the country is not monolithic and that there are varying degrees of Western infusion into the culture. He (Hoynes) also spoke a lot about women and their various degrees of empowerment in the society. These were new things that I was not actually aware of.”
Hoynes is anxious to share his experiences.
“They are very interested,” he said of the students. “They’re curious about the artifacts I brought back; they’re curious about the young people over there. They want to know more. They want to see my pictures; they want to see the garments. There’s been a whole lot of curiosity about what I had the chance to experience.”
While students likely will spend their summers working on a tan at the beach or in a summer job, Hoynes will be busy charting out a course for next semester.
“I plan on making the most of this experience,” Hoynes said of his trip to Saudi Arabia. “I’m planning to set up some speaking engagements with classes and community groups. Most importantly, I’m going to continue learning and read as much as I can about the Kingdom, the larger Arab world and Islam and try to inform myself and try to spread that knowledge and interest to others. It’s not going to end here. I look at this as just a beginning.”
A few plans already are in the works.
“We’re going to set up e-mail groups and connections with Saudi classrooms,” Hoynes said. “I need the summer to process this — to look through and think about the message and questions I still have. I had more questions leaving Saudi Arabia than I did going in. All the teachers and librarians I went with were more fascinated by Saudi Arabia after we had a chance to look inside. It left us all eager to know more.”
For many students at Glenbrook North, it is a chance to expand their horizons.
“It was an eye-opening experience to see how the world is different over there,” Pett said, and how it is the same in some aspects.”
