Bowling in an Abaya: An American Teacher's Memoir from Yemen is the story of an English teacher's life-changing assignment in Yemen. Her experiences open up a small window into Arab culture, reminding us of the personal growth that inevitably occurs when we have the courage to accept both the challenge and inspiration of unfamiliar territory. As Marisa's work finds her in front of hundreds of Yemeni students, the majority of whom are veiled, she realizes that like the identities of these women, the nuances of Yemeni culture are also hidden. It is only with time and patience that these subtleties and her own internal quest for meaning and purpose are revealed.