Meet Libby! Libby is a librarian and long-term IDEAS Associate. She works in libraries around the world and has lived in Turkey, Morocco and now part-time in Jordan. When asked why she loves working in these locations, here is her response:

"As a single woman, I am often asked why I work in the places I do. But I love working in the Middle East and North Africa for so many reasons! Here are a few:

• I've met the most amazingly hospitable, interesting people! Strangers invite me over for tea; neighbors watch out for me and share mouth-watering desserts; shopkeepers urge me to "wait, wait" while they run to find someone who can help me.  One taxi driver even told me that I'm now like his mother; he is taking personal responsibility for my safety!
• The history and culture is fascinating.  My perspective of "old" has changed; I never tire of crawling around Roman ruins.
• The food is delicious!  Falafels, dolmas, humus, couscous, baklava, fresh fruits and vegetables, always complemented by tea or coffee.
• I never know when someone will invite me into their home, to attend a wedding, to sit and drink tea.  Each day is an adventure in friendship.
•  I know I'm making an impact. I'm touching the lives of the next generation of North Africans and Middle Easterners, showing them that they can have a future and a hope.
•  I know that I am as safe as I am in any large city in America.

Now, let me expand on that last point a bit, since the questions I get asked most often in the 10+ years I've worked in North Africa and the Middle East are about safety.  Since the media most often emphasizes the negatives, it's easy for people in America to get a skewed sense of what's happening in other parts of the world.  Only the bad news gets reported, not the millions of people whose main focus is trying to live good, peaceful lives.  In all of the countries I've worked, there have been occasional acts of violence.  However, I'm from the Denver area, where we've had the Aurora theater and Columbine High School shootings.  Random acts of violence happen everywhere!

What about my safety as a woman?  Again, I do take precautions, the same ones I take wherever I live, even in America: being aware of my surroundings, choosing wisely where and at what times of day I travel alone.  I've lived alone in Turkey, Morocco and Jordan, and I actually feel more confident that my neighbors in those countries are watching out for me than I do in many neighborhoods where I've lived in America.

Finally, I know that IDEAS is also watching out for me.  Leadership is regularly monitoring situations that might impact me, and I know that if there were a crisis situation, as the saying goes, they've got my back.  Having a good organization to work with adds to my confidence.

So, if you are considering visiting or working in North Africa or the Middle East, my recommendation: just do it!  You'll have experiences you will never forget.  And hopefully, as I have, you'll fall in love with the people and the land."