Hood Today

In addition to being one of Hood College's favorite professors and the faculty advisor for the Model Arab League, Professor Linda Pappas Funsch is also an amazingly interesting person who is deeply acquainted with the Middle East. She has studied, lived or traveled in at least eleven countries of the region, including Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Cyprus.

Her enduring affection for this fascinating part of the world developed during her undergraduate days, when her family relocated to Egypt. The reason for the move was her father's one-year Fulbright Fellowship award in Cairo, as a visiting professor. The following months would define the course of her career, broadening, in very significant ways, her worldview. Within weeks, a deep love and unbreakable bond between the people and culture of that region was forged. During her first year in Egypt, Professor Funsch was drawn to "the richness and diversity of the Middle Eastern history and culture and, most of all, to the warmth and hospitality of its people." At the same time, she "realized how little most Americans either knew of or understood that region." This experience inspired Professor Funsch to pursue a graduate degree in the field of Middle Eastern studies, to explore the region first-hand and to work toward educating herself and others about this vital part of the world. She continues to work towards these goals - traveling frequently, lecturing and writing about her experiences. She continues to pursue this mission, enlightening scores of students, from one semester to the next. Initially, living in a country so far from home, with a foreign language and different customs was an adjustment for a young lady from New York. However, in a short amount of time, Egypt - mysterious, charming and exciting - became her second home. She recalls seeing the pyramids of Giza on the horizon while commuting from her home to the American University in Cairo… surely a fantastic and extraordinary experience for anyone.

After asking Professor Funsch how she mastered the Arabic language, I received an interesting answer. For her, mastering this difficult, but beautiful language is an ongoing, "life-long endeavor." As an undergraduate in Egypt, she took courses in basic colloquial Arabic, enough to get around, make polite conversation and bargain in the suq (market). Her formal study of the language began in earnest during her graduate work at New York University, where she studied classical Arabic for three years. As a project specialist with the Ford Foundation in Lebanon for three years, she developed greater fluency. Professor Funsch encourages students to study Arabic because of the richness of the language and its international importance. In addition, she emphasizes the value of traveling to the region, not only for additional language practice, but mostly for the benefit of person-to-person interaction. Arabic-speaking people, she emphasizes, are patient, appreciative and receptive when foreigners attempt to speak their language, feeling both honored and respected.

After these introductory remarks, my conversation with professor Funsch led to a series of questions and answers, from which the most interesting are presented below: Question: Given your rich experience, living and traveling in the Middle East, are there any particular events or anecdotes which stand out in your mind?

"My love affair with the Middle East has lasted for many decades --- more than I wish to admit. I have been fortunate to have visited so many countries, as a student, a traveler, guest and professional. However, there are number of special images that are forever etched in my memory.

Very early on in my experience, I can remember, as if it were yesterday, ascending the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem before dawn, to await the first light rising over the Old City. The experience of sunrise over this majestic holy place and its revered buildings, bathed in golden hues, was a deeply personal and unforgettable experience. So many other special moments in time… from dining with the bedouin in the Jordanian desert, enjoying a sunset cruise aboard a felucca on the Nile, or flying low over the fabled "Empty Quarter" of the Arabian Dessert, layers above the world's greatest oil reserves. One has been very blessed!"

Question: Majestic memories, indeed! Every country has its own beauty, but is there a country in the Middle East that you hold especially dear to your heart? If so, why? "Very difficult to say, although of course, Egypt was my "first love" in the Middle East. My heart has never totally left that enchanting and enigmatic land. Egypt is a country of unbelievable history, proud and resilient people, and formidable challenges. However, the Sultanate of Oman, one of few "good news" stories to come out of the Middle East in recent years, is one with which I have a very strong and particular affection. As a member of an international advisory team sent to Oman more than 30 years ago, I witnessed the overwhelming challenges, which confronted its new and visionary leader, Sultan Qaboos. Oman was, until 1970, a backward and stagnant potentate, virtually cut off from the world.

I returned three years ago, after an absence of more than three decades, to find that the Sultanate had been catapulted into the modern age, transformed into a vibrant, stable, and, in many ways, exemplary state, one in which tradition and modernity coexist harmoniously. The renaissance, including the vital role, which women contribute to this process, is the focus of my current research.

After hearing about these experiences, I asked Professor Funsch when she plans to revisit the region.

God willing, the next trip will be coming up very soon. Next March, I will have the honor to escort a group of travelers to the Middle East for an unforgettable, "once in a lifetime," journey to Egypt, including the Sinai, and Jordan. Called "Timeless, Cultures, Sacred Traditions," this will be the second time I will lead a study tour to the region on behalf of Frederick Community College. This small, customized tour, will afford all guests a unique opportunity to experience the rich cultural mosaic, which is the Middle East.

In addition, I am hoping to visit Oman in 2010, to mark the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Sultan Qaboos' ascension to power, marking a "new beginning" in the life of this amazing country. What a grand occasion that would be!" Question: Recently, Hood College has hosted the premiere of the documentary movie "What a Billion Muslims Really Think?" followed by panel discussion. You played an important role in bringing this event to our campus. How did this begin and what impact do you think this educational and engaging movie can make on Hood College and the wider community?

"In the fall of 2008, I accompanied a delegation of Hood students to Goucher College to meet the Gallup pollster, Dalia Mogahed, who supervised an unprecedented six-year survey of more than 35 Muslim-majority countries. They we formed as part of a "live audience," witnessing the filming of a segment of this project.

As a result, Hood College was invited to host a premiere of the film before its broadcast on national television next year. I thought this would be a wonderful opportunity for our campus family, as well as for the larger Frederick community, to engage and discus some of the most important and contentious issues of our time. As stereotypes and unchallenged perceptions too often cloud the realities of our shared humanity and common goals, I hoped that this event would inform and set into motion a dialogue on interfaith and cross-cultural issues."

Question: One of the most controversial questions regarding the Middle East concerns isthe issue of Islam and women. What are your personal experiences and observation on this sensitive issue?

"Thank you for raising this very good question. This is a very important and largely misunderstood topic and one, which cannot be answered simply. I have taught entire courses on "Women and Gender in Islam," but I will try my best.

My own experiences as a woman in the Middle East have been uniformly positive. Even before marriage, I traveled frequently, as both a student and career professional, alone, as well as in the company of others, without restrictions or fear. Curiously, in most countries of the Middle East, except of course those in war zones, one does not fear for one's personal safety in public places. Incidents of personal assault by strangers are quite rare, particularly when compared to some industrialized countries in the West. I believe that if one is respectful of local customs and traditions and remembers that one is a guest, one will almost always be rewarded with warmth and hospitality. The question of women in the Middle East is very complicated one. First and foremost, it is essential to understand that the Middle East is a very diverse region, where patterns of behaviors range from very conservative to relatively permissive. Even in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula, which are considered to be the most traditional, women's education and participation in national development has undergone a tremendous transformation in recent years.

One cautionary note, when speaking about the women in the Middle East, especially to western audiences, it is important to avoid being "blinded" by the cultural veneer of such things as public dress. In the conservative societies of the region, most people separate their "public" from their "private" persona. For example, a Saudi woman wearing an abaya and hijab in the public sphere does not necessarily suggest that she is oppressed. Her dress simply reflects local custom for this woman who may very well be an engineer, physician, or corporate leader. When one has the pleasure of meeting conservatively dresses ladies in private settings, one is very likely to see all manner of colorful, fashionable attire.

Even the return to hijab (headscarf) increasingly favored by many young, professional and upwardly mobile women in the Middle East today, is, I have discovered, more an affirmation of religious or cultural conviction than a manifestation of oppression. To interpret the way people, particularly women, dress in public, as an indictment of entire faith tradition shows a lack of understanding of the diverse, dynamic and complex culture of the region."

In conclusion, the Middle East is becoming more important every day, particularly at Hood College. Professor Funsch is very pleased that Hood will now offer a major in Middle East Studies and looks forward to assisting in the development of this program. Her passion for education and teaching is clear, particularly as she discusses one of her most popular courses on campus: "Cultures of the Middle East," which she jokingly refers to as "Everything You ever Wanted to Know about the Middle East but Were Afraid to Ask".

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