As all good things must end, my thrilling year abroad has concluded. Despite even the last minute attempts of Istanbul to keep me at the airport,(therefore still in Turkey) eventually, I sent along my overstuffed and overweight luggage and got on the first plane headed west.
As it was my second round of goodbyes, I knew what to expect of my emotions. I knew that the magnitude of what was happening wouldn’t hit me until I was alone, en route to Dallas. We exchange students finished our final exams, packed up our dorm rooms, took our last panoramic pictures of the beautiful sights of Istanbul, and had our last night on the town overlooking the water and the stunning Bosphorus Bridge.
Being squeezed in the middle seat gave me little space for reflection. Once on the ground in the US, facing “Welcome Home” signs and all the oddly familiar people, I realized I was home and that I had missed it. Immediately, differences became apparent; no one looked at me as if I was on stage. People obligingly returned my polite smiles. Hearing all of the English and Spanish buzzing around me was almost too stimulating, to the point of being overwhelming.
Four months later, I look back and chuckle at all of the things I thought I would do (or would not do) while abroad and how they differed from my true experiences. I found myself in countries and situations I never could have predicted. I have learned so much about the world and immersed myself in a part of the world that is untraveled by my social circle. Perhaps there was a way to reach this same conclusion without the expenses. Traveling isn’t the cheapest experience, and my savings reflect that. As much as I decorate my classrooms with inspirational posters claiming that reading can take my students around the world, I realize this effect is not boundless. The distinction between the one who is on the ground and the armchair traveler is limitless.
My semester was full of learning and friendships up until the very last second. As I wasted time before my flight, I met an Iraqi woman who had come to Istanbul to visit universities where she could work towards getting her PhD in dentistry. We talked about education and the costs, and about her children and their problems. We enjoyed our time on the timed massage chairs, pouring more lira coins into the slots. Exhausted after spending nearly twelve hours at the airport, she woke me up from my nap to let me know it was time to check in. This is a lot like my semester. I went in alone or nearly alone, had a few misunderstandings and blunders, but enjoyed my time thanks to new friends. As quick as it came, the experience ended.
My new friend asked me though, much like many of the Ghanaian students I was lucky enough to meet, why I had chosen to study abroad in this country. Just hours before, my taxi driver jokingly asked me if there were not universities in the United States. I laughed in the backseat, and though I have answered this question countless times this year, I was without answer. At the airport, with hours to kill, my new friend waited for an adequate response.
My reply was inspired by the words of my Urban Sociology professor who said, “if you can’t think of an explanation for something, go with ‘globalization.’ Usually, it will work.” In a time where it is increasingly important to be able to work with people from different cultures, being away from your own is imperative. Knowing that some things are different while many remain the same is a defining moment that allows for the tolerant spirit of respectful conversations. She accepted this.
I’ve been home about a week now. I’ve barely attempted to unpack, digging through gifts, for my work clothes. Required to be at my internship the next morning, the jet lag and transition has been brutal. So simply, friends and coworkers ask me “how was it” of my two semesters abroad. I have resolved to simply saying “fantastic” or “the best decision I’ve ever made.” Both are true but so simplistic that I feel phony and guilty. What else can I say?
To say that the year abroad has changed my entire life might be a little broad though not at all untrue. I was globally minded before, and I still am. The difference is the deep understanding of what travel means. It has spread even further into other fields of my life, pushing me deeper into development work, emphasizing this life changing opportunity in college, what else.
Importantly, It has not made me neglect the very problems we have at home. Rather, I understand that there are problems abroad that are also present in my own backyard.
I was given an amazing opportunity that led to many more. They do not go unappreciated. I fully realize the kindness of other travelers, locals, and the power of social networks. Thanks to technology, it will not all go to waste. So even though, I have unpacked my traveler’s power adapter, I will not let the lessons and friendships I have gathered collect dust.
