The author describes her tour of Jordan with a group called Distant Horizons, formed by alumnae of the Seven Sisters Colleges. Its purpose was to learn more about the world by contact with the unfamiliar. These educated and accomplished American women met with women of the Middle East who were involved in international women's rights organizations. They met national leaders, lawyers, cabinet members, etc. This is a very good summary of Jordan in 2005, a predominantly Muslim and paternalistic society.