Memoirs of an American Woman in Arabia

"Leaving America" is book 1 in the series, "Memoirs of an American in Arabia." These memoirs are the true life story of Addison Ireland, the thirteenth child in a family of fourteen who was raised in the Seattle suburbs by Irish-Catholic parents. Addison is suddenly faced with tough life decisions at just nineteen years old, when her parents decide she and her brothers should move out of the house so that they can downsize and simplify their lives. It was also her parents attempt at forcing Addison to give up on marrying her Arabic boyfriend and move on in life. Addison thinks about the choices she has; the decision to either marry her Saudi Arabian boyfriend or find somewhere to live and make a new life for herself. Upset and crying, she leaves her parents house and drives to her friends seeking advice, only to get attacked and brutally raped by several men at her friend's apartment. Traumatized and in pain, Addison is dumped in front front of her parents home where her childhood friend, Bryce, rushes to her side to console her and let her know that he wants to protect her and be with her. Unfortunately, Addison's traumatic experience has caused her to repress any memory of that night. Addison's true story leads us down her long road of adversity as she ultimately decides to get married and move away to live in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; heading down what she hopes is a yellow brick road to a better life. Unfortunately, her yellow brick road turns blue at many times during her life married to a Saudi man. She overcomes situations no woman should ever have to face alone. Addison takes us into a world rarely seen by Americans and even clears up many of the misconceptions about Saudi Arabia. It's the sincere wish of the author that other women who have faced similar circumstances: sexual assault, divorce, oppression, abuse, etc. will find some inspiration in these memoirs and just know that we are stronger than we think we are. We can get through hardships and forge ahead to success if we put our minds to it and have faith.