My discussion group today at Khartoum University focused on women's role in society. It was very interesting to hear about the traditional way women lived. For example, most women married their cousins. The men and the women are always separate at family gatherings, so before the marriage they would have had almost no contact with their spouse. After the marriage, the woman would not speak until the first child was born. It was considered rude for her to speak. Even after the first child, the husband and wife would rarely talk and they would never speak each other's names. They address each other as "the Mother / Father of Mohamed" or whatever the first child is named.

Now women are not expected to marry their cousins (although some still do) and they are allowed to speak to and get to know their future husband. However, men are allowed to marry up to four wives, so I am often asked if Emily is my only wife.