Turkish Delight

The Turks totally got it right. They have discovered meaning of life; or at least a few key determining factors of happiness.

Istanbul is a place that needs to be experienced. I say experience because it cannot be merely visited or taken for what it shows you up front. No just getting the feet wet; Istanbul must be cannon-balled into. Most newcomers in a foreign country do what everyone else does, and by everyone else I mean “tourists”. They go see the high-traffic sights mentioned in the “1000 Places to See Before You Die” book, or they follow Rick Steve’s guide to Turkey to the letter. Now this is not necessarily a bad route to go, as it is relatively efficient (and the Caldwell’s tend to consider Rick a part of the family and his written word a sacred treasure) but it’s not the best. It is definitely a good idea to have a starting point for a to-do list in a place you’ve never been, however it should not be the sole reliance. A new traveler must live amongst the locals trying the grand variety of foods, out-of-the-way shopping areas, and the lesser-known “must-see” spots. This is not only a tip to better a tour, but a must in order to get the true feel for a country.

Yesterday, I sat in a café-esque lounge for three hours sipping Turkish coffee, smoking a nargile (water pipe) and having my fortune told by a stylish local woman. It was the most relaxing thing I’ve ever done. Hookah is an extremely common pastime in Turkey, especially alongside some Turkish coffee. It is a device to calm the senses and bring about intellectual conversations. The coffee ground reading was very interesting as well. This was no Professor Trelawney tea-leaf fortune-telling either. My new friend did not see “the grim” but she was eerily right on the mark with my past and present life and I can only hope she was correct when it came to my future. Hanging out in this genuine establishment among our new friends felt like the most authentically Turkish thing I could do. It made me appreciate the leisure activities of the Turks and the exceptional environment they have created. Everyone is so “chill” about life and there is no such thing as stress or a fast-paced mentality. This is how life should be lived everywhere. Food is also an event. Anyone can grab a Starbucks to-go cup or a McDonald’s burger on the run (as the average American does), but a meal is something to be relished in Turkey. Flavors, as well as time spent among friends, is something to be savored. I wish everyone in the world took the time to make a meal more of a time for relationships and palatal satisfaction than the menial task it has unfortunately become.

If people in the States could take baby steps in the direction of the Turk’s way of life, America would be a drastically different country in a positive way. This is one lesson I have learned in the short time I have been abroad. I am eager to continue my education in this unique culture.