Reflections

 Since coming back home I have been fairly busy and I am just now getting a chance to sit down and write my wrap up blog about my experience.  It has come to my attention over the last week that I have no good way to write in a clear and concise manner what occurred  over the last month of my life.  How do you take the best experience of your life and write it into a neat little blog? I do not know the answer but I will attempt to do so, however I will probably fall short of my goal.  There are no words to express the deep love and admiration I have for the people and the places that we traveled to in our much too brief encounter with Turkey. I learned so much about the people and the culture that when my friends ask how my trip was I fall short and answer simply, "It was amazing!"  This is how I feel, and in truth and it cannot fully explain what this trip meant to me.  For those of you who have not been out of the country, I do not suggest starting with Turkey.  This is simply because a place this magnificent cannot help but to soil the impression of the other countries that you may visit. To elaborate on this I will explain some of the facets that I found the most fascinating and enlightening during my stay.
     The people who inhabit Turkey were hands down my favorite part of the culture. The Turkish people that we encountered were some of the nicest people that I have ever met.  They are always welcoming and ready to assist people when they need it, and trust me we needed it, they are curious about your life and what your plans for the future hold.  It is truly refreshing to visit a place where you get the impression that the small talk matters to the other person.  I never felt awkward or out of place despite being an american that was unable to speak the native language and I truly appreciate that sense of community. Another aspect of community that I was unfamiliar with was the connection of neighbors, even in a city the size of Istanbul, it is out of place for people not to know their neighbors which is a rarity in the states.
        Another aspect of Turkey that I felt was unique was the sheer amount of history contained in a country that is not very big.  Everywhere that you look you will find some object that is over two thousand years old and that to me is remarkable! We visited so many locations that have stood through several civilizations and remain standing today.  This history prompted me to imagine all of the people that came before us, people that I have heard about and read about in history books.  This is an amazing sensation and for me made the universe seem connected and that we are all part of a "circle of life," there will be people who stand in these same ruins hundreds or thousands of years from now and imagine the same things. It is truly remarkable to think that this has occurred and will continue long after I leave this mortal coil.
      One huge part of Turkish life that fascinated me was the political realm.  I truly believe that having knowledge of the government and the people that are running for office is an important part of life and should not be overlooked.  The Turkish people seem to be of the same opinion as myself as they all are acutely aware of who is running, what the possible changes that the person could bring, how the government works and they take this knowledge to heart. Turkey consistently has a high voter turnout rate, in fact the past election Turkey boasted an 87% turnout rate, which is remarkable.
       Overall my experience in Turkey was life changing, I am enrolling in Turkish in the fall and by next summer I should be able to go back to my new favorite place.  For anyone who wonders if they should try the study abroad program out, I say a resounding yes.  Turkey is a hidden gem in the world scope and has so much to offer everyone that if you ever get a chance to visit, please do not hesitate!