A world traveler, Leigh Simone, Ph.D., wasn’t afraid to play “plus one” on her husband’s recent, week-long trip to Kuwait — a Middle Eastern desert country, south of Iraq.
Prior, Leigh Simone, a professor of Spanish, had visited countless scapes across the continents — from Germany’s lush planes to Spain’s pristine waters — but she’d yet to venture west.
Ed Simone, Ph.D., a professor of theater, was invited by Zennia Paganini, Ph.D., the cultural attaché for the United States Embassy in Kuwait, to introduce American art and culture to the Kuwaiti people.
“He gave poetry readings of American poets,” Leigh Simone said. “And the American poets he read were Walt Whitman, Robert Frost and others.”
Leigh, with a bit more free time to explore, said being the “tagalong” afforded her the opportunity to experience Kuwait in all aspects — living the true “local” lifestyle.
Throughout the week, Leigh Simone bounced between seminars and local sights — experiencing American art and Kuwaiti masterpieces in a variety of uncharted spaces — from a conservative Muslim mosque (The Grand Mosque) to a more affluent, American high school abroad (comprised of American business families).
Leigh said, of the seminar locations, she found the mosque most impactful. Adorned in a traditional hijab and garments, Leigh Simone said she transitioned to a point of visual similarity with the majority of Kuwaiti women — although she added that the city is surprisingly cosmopolitan and liberal, somewhat resembling California — she said she felt like a Kuwaiti citizen, sitting within a structure said to hold upwards of 10,000 people.
“Their reaction to the poetry was quite interesting,” Leigh Simone said. “They were attentive, they understood it [and], so, they were able to ask him questions.”
And, while Ed Simone headed abroad to share American poetry, Leigh added that experiencing the local artwork was entirely removed from the typical gallery visit Americans are accustomed to. In fact, galleries are virtually nonexistent in the country — as the Quran becomes an art form, displayed across the cities. There is no ballet. And seldom does a musical come to town, although there was a showing of “Cats” during the Simone’s visit.
From the Holy Book’s sentiments etched into a leaf to their carving into an arched doorway, she said words very easily become visual artwork.
“The art is the physical representation of God’s word,” Leigh Simone explained.
Aside from indulging in local architecture, Leigh Simone said she learned volumes in her daily interactions. She added that every person had an interest in American culture — from our political standings to our popular culture movements.
“They love Americans,” she said. “Our relationship with them is that we helped liberate them from the Iraqis. They came up to us and said ‘We love America,’ unsolicited.”
She admitted that, when departing for the trip, she felt the usual safety and jet lag apprehensions travel entails. But, she added, the kindness of the locals stripped away any unease she felt in her travels.
Leigh Simone said the Kuwaiti people were giving, offering water and sweet treats wherever the group went. And, she added, minus easily polarized cultural differences, Kuwait isn’t all that different from American grounds. Its visual bares resemblance to our West Coast and, its people, our friendliest, she explained.
The biggest takeaway of the week, she elaborated: Experiencing a culture first-hand affords you a few new customs to take back home and an unparalleled understanding of a culture.
mcgurllt14@bonaventure.edu
