Some Overall Thoughts - I should note that I never talked with or even formally greeted women in Yemen. It was a weird reality and it wasn’t my intention, but it happened. Partly because I was a Westerner, but also because Yemen, while in certain places is relaxed on Islamic law, is mostly the center of the Arab world accessible to the West. Most Women I saw were covered from head to toe, but I did notice them making their mark with stylish handbags, high heels under their hijab, eyeliner, etc… Signs of natural emotional leanings and interests beneath a covering that seemingly strips them of any identity to the public eye. Yemen is extremely patriarchal, but who are we to condemn as Westerners. I would say its more prominent thought. Its part of Yemeni life and its engrained in Islam. The most striking thing about Yemen was that there seemed little distinction between religion and life. To me, this was a challenge to my own faith, but it also revealed how Islam is “cradle to the grave.” At times, other faiths of the World are this way, but not always, I'm not convinced either that it denotes inherent value. We had several discussions about Islam with Muslims on the street who surprisingly adapted a Christian meta-narrative and evangelical lingo to enhance their earshot. It was very interesting to hear and discuss. Most of all, this trip was a fantastic learning experience. I never did encounter any fundamentalists or extremists and most disowned any terrorist groups as heretics. I discovered that Yemeni are people with hearts and souls rather than anything else that a Western guise can easily create. The Muslim calls to prayer challenged me in my own faith. While the differences between myself and the people of Yemen are great, I’ll never forget this experience and will continually learn from my time with them.