“Yes! Come! I do not at all feel in danger as a single woman. I don’t go out at nights very often and when I do it’s in groups with others, but taking taxis to get around has not been a problem. It is also not a problem to shop alone at the local grocery stores in my neighborhood. There are occasional whistles and stares from men, but it is not a huge deal. Many of the teachers in our school are single women and I think being a single female could be a real asset for building relationships with these teachers.”
“Yes, there are lots of needs that I was able to meet, especially in showing love to and talking to the girls at the school. It is harder to live there as a single woman than it is in the States, but that challenge taught me so much about God, and about the honor He has given me in Christ.”
“It’s a little tricky being here as a single gal, but not impossible. And really I feel like my only restriction is not going out at night, which is okay because I use the nighttime for sleeping or grading papers. Or sometimes both simultaneously.”
“Yes. I went as a single female and never felt vulnerable. Of course, as a single female in a Middle Eastern culture, you can’t exercise all the same freedoms possible in the States.”
“I have seen single women serve very effectively in Kurdistan. I came with my family, and now my daughter wants to get her degree and come back to Kurdistan as a single woman.”
“Yes, but if you are really independent, it can be a difficult adjustment because there are things here that you just don’t do as single women because it’s not culturally appropriate. For example, going running. There is a park where women go early in the morning, but other than that, you wouldn’t go running in your neighborhood.”
“My guy teammates would say “OF COURSE! You’re in charge of cooking dinner!” Seriously though, as a single female, you will face many unique challenges. You’ll be lonely, you’ll be limited in some of your activities, you will be given lots of marriage proposals. You’ll have to learn to follow the local “honor code” and not bring shame on your team. But I loved serving there. The young women in the schools need role models.”
