The Trip Home/Final Thoughts

Well, it's official. It's time to go home, and my time in Turkey is finally over. I'm on the plane from Munich to Chicago right now, and since nothing monumental really happened today, I figured I'd take some time to put my final thoughts down on paper.

Turkey was a far different experience from what I thought it would be. Having lived in Europe, international travel is not something that is weird for me. However, being in Turkey definitely made me experience a culture shock that was far greater than anything I had ever felt before.

I guess I'm what you'd call a "westerner." All of my life experience has been in either the United States or western Europe. I never really considered myself culturally insensitive, but I don't think it would be a stretch to say I was culturally ignorant to a degree when it comes to eastern countries, especially Islamic ones. Quite frankly, growing up in Naperville and the US, I didn't really need to be that knowledgable. If there is one thing this trip changed for me, t is exactly that mentality.

When we first arrived in Istanbul, I felt honestly very uncomfortable. People were pushy, the city was confusing, and all the food looked weird. And that's even without the language barrier - I was totally lost. But unfortunately for me, not adapting wasn't really an option. We were in Turkey whether I liked it or not. So, after a few rough meals that were ordered using broken Turkish, English, and everything in between, I couldn't believe it, but I was starting to get used to it. Having a shopkeeper bombard me with questions over apple tea started to become a normality. Hearing the call to prayer at even intervals became as natural as the incessant honking of anything that had a horn. And you know what? I was actually starting to enjoy it.

I always said I loved Europe and Germany because I felt more at home there than I ever did in the US. One thing this trip taught me was that is is indeed possible to enjoy a place even if it is different that what you're used to. Outside of offhand references in history books, I really had no idea this country of such a rich and unique heritage existed. Having been there, I really wonder why it was never higher on my travel list. I may never live in Turkey, or even visit again, but I definitely feel like I have a new appreciation for the eastern culture and its place in the world.

This trip has helped me grow both personally and professionally far more than I ever thought I would. Istanbul may not be Constantinople, but I have learned that it is so much more than a song or any words can describe.