Marguerite Van Geldermalsen (Books)

Marguerite Van Geldermalsen Books

Marguerite van Geldermalsen's life took an unexpected turn when she married Mohammad Abdallah and moved to a cave dwelling in Petra. There, she established a small clinic to serve the local Bedouin community, while also adapting to a new life in a unique environment. After relocating to a settlement and experiencing the loss of her husband, she found the time to reflect on her extraordinary journey. Her writings now capture the essence of her remarkable experiences and the personal growth that came from embracing an unforeseen path.

Married to a Bedouin

279 pages
10 hours of reading

3.6(2245)Add rating

'"Where you staying?" the Bedouin asked. "Why you not stay with me tonight - in my cave?"' Thus begins Marguerite van Geldermalsen's story of how a New Zealand-born nurse came to be married to Mohammad Abdallah Othman, a Bedouin souvenir-seller from the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. It was 1978 and she and a friend were travelling through the Middle East when Marguerite met the charismatic Mohammad who convinced her that he was the man for her. A life with Mohammad meant moving into his ancient cave and learning to love the regular tasks of baking shrak bread on an open fire and collecting water from the spring. And as Marguerite feels herself becoming part of the Bedouin community, she is thankful for the twist in fate that has led her to this contented life. Marguerite's light-hearted and guileless observations of the people she comes to love are as heart-warming as they are valuable, charting Bedouin traditions now lost to the modern world.