 The women moved into the French quarter and diligently studied Arabic through French study materials and eventually through a professional tutor.They also learned how do domestic work, all of them previously having had their needs met by servants.Later Trotter said that the early years were like "knocking our heads against stone walls," but the women were indefatigable, trying one technique after another in an attempt to make inroads into the Algerian culture and all the while improving their Arabic.