“I was a well-educated young lady from Boston with a thirst for bohemian counterculture and no clear plan. But I had no idea what to do with all my pent-up longing for adventure, or how to make my eagerness to take risks productive. No scientific bent was evident in my thinking—what I valued was artistry and effort and emotion.” 

This description of Kerman’s earlier persona helps explain how a well-educated woman like herself unwittingly traffics drugs. While her adventurous spirit got her into trouble right after college, it’s also what allows her to survive in prison. During this time in her life, before she gets imprisoned, she doesn’t want to commit to a steady job or typical lifestyle. Kerman then meets Nora, whose wild and exciting lifestyle attracts her. 

“The way their business worked was simple. From West Africa, Alaji would make it known to select people in the States that he had ‘contracts’ for units of drugs (usually custom-built suitcases with heroin sewn into the linings) available—they could turn up at any number of places in the world. People like Nora and Jack (essentially subcontractors) would arrange to transport the suitcases into the states, where they were headed off to an anonymous pickup.” 

This explains the basic premise of the drug trafficking scheme that Nora had going with Alaji. As described here, Alaji was the mastermind behind everything, and Nora was one of his coordinators and runners. At first, Nora and Kerman’s relationship is romantic and playful. However, as Nora gets deeper into Alaji’s drug ring, she becomes increasingly desperate, expecting Kerman to help her deliver the drugs and money. By the time Nora asks for Kerman’s help, Kerman feels too involved with Nora to say no. 

“I never talked about my involvement with Nora to new friends, and the number of people who knew my secret remained very small. As time passed, I gradually relaxed inside my head. I started to feel as though there were no second shoe, and it had all been a crazy interlude. I thought I understood risk. I considered my time abroad with Nora as a crash course on the realities of the world, how ugly things can get, and how important it is to stay true to yourself even in the midst of an adventure or experiment.” 

This moment comes after Kerman has broken up with Nora but before Kerman’s arrest. It explains how she dealt with everything that happened with Nora and how she tried to move on from her past and start fresh.