A Different World

Written 12/6

I began my overseas experiences knowing that there would be challenges but I must admit I was really ignorant to the what those challenges would be. I knew the food and culture would be different but other things I didnt expect. In fact, of all the challenges I anticipated, none of those are an issue.

In the United States, we learn very early about race. As children, even today, we grow up knowing there is a difference among races. We are taught and learn different things (good and bad) about black, white, hispanic, asian etc. Even if we haven't interacted with members of other races, we are very aware of them. So, when I came overseas I did not suspect that race would be an issue.

Yes, there are people of different ethnicities and backgrounds everywhere. However, I honestly thought a history of distinction between races and cultures was something that was only prevalent in the US. When I was in the Middle East, I was told stories about about immigration practices and there being this "unspoken" difference in how westerners and non-westerners were treated. I was ignorant to the fact that we just live in a racial world.

Even in my current location, we get constant stares and people marveled by the foreigners. My hair is often an intriguing topic of discussion. In fact, one weekend I was sitting in the mall having lunch and a little girl walked by and started touching my hair. I often get questioned about where Im from. My skin immediately makes me stand out and my accent isn't far behind.

It wasn't until my experience here that I realized that I grew up with a lot more exposure and experience that I thought. I have pretty much seen and interacted with an individual from every major culture. There isn't a person that would walk down my street that I would just stare at because I was so intrigued with their appearance. The world is racial. People naturally make assumptions, form ideas or are intrigued by how different someone looks, speaks or acts. The interesting thing is that color sometimes makes those distinctions so noticeable.

While uncomfortable at times, I take away from this a new sense of awareness and respect for people who are different, whether it's religiously, socially, racially etc. I have learned to ask more questions and make less judgements. One think I have really noticed is that every culture is vastly different. What one person views as normal or rude is completely different than the next. I must admit those are the easiest things to get frustrated with. We have different understandings of respect and courteousness. I realize it takes an extremely flexible and patient person to live in such a racial world and I think that a lot of friction occurs because we aren't flexible. A lot of times people equate different with bad. It can be really hard to wrap your mind around it all. I must admit Im not even there yet.  

Living an Illiterate Life

As we all know, there is a growing population of struggling readers in America. As an elementary teacher in the south, I often had students that struggled with reading and comprehending the English language (Of course, that was unacceptable in my classroom ;-) ). Anyhow, I always wondered how it was possible to live life without knowing how to read. How do you order food at a restaurant? How do you read street signs and directions? How do you sign things that you can't read? How do you send a text, read an email, pass notes?

Well, for the last 3 months, I have been living an illiterate life and it has really helped me put literacy in perspective. I have been living in Gaziantep, Turkey, a place where there is a great desire to learn English but  it is rarely used. Consequently, I am a Turkish illiterate. I cannot read the language nor can I speak it very well.

While the thought and realization of being illiterate was surprising to me, what surprised me more is the ability of the brain. The brain automatically copes and adapts. Without knowing how to speak or read much Turkish, I can get a taxi, order from a menu and get my point across. We really are survivors. We learn to be resourceful. So, my next thought was, the reason I made learning Turkish less of a pressing priority is because I felt like I could get by without it. (I am learning Turkish but not at the speed I could be learning it).

And....here's the light bulb. My students weren't invested in reading because they felt like they could live a perfectly "normal" life without it. I am. We need to shift the focus off telling our children they need to read or trying to make them like it. We need to spend a lot of time investing them in the reasons why they need it. If I knew I couldn't get by I would be tackling learning Turkish from all angles. We need to convince them its something that they can't live without. If they think they are just fine without it they won't have a real eagerness or interest in learning it and technology makes this challenge even harder.

So, now I realize how relatively simple it is to get into the rhythm of living a illiterate life. The next step is to figure how to break this mind set that living in a modern age has given us.

25-Eve

Tomorrow, I will be 25. A quarter century. To some it may mean nothing at all but to me it means everything. I remember being a teenager and wanting to conquer the world. Im thankful to god I never lost that passion. I was terrified of turning 25 because even super-over achiever me felt like I have not done enough to commemorate this milestone. I felt like I had not grown enough, I have not fixed enough, I haven't learned enough...that things weren't quite perfect.

Then during the end of my work day my boss hands me a card that came in the mail from my Aunt. The card said "As busy as you are, there's no doubt that your life is spirit filled because the only way you could possibly get everything done is with God lifting you each step of the way!". I bet when she picked out the card she didn't realize that card would inspire me so much. I read it again and again and I stopped to think that before 25 I have been busy. From undergrad, to grad school, to moving around the world and touching the lives of many children like myself along the way. I have done more than I give myself credit for. I truly haven't stopped to appreciate all that I have accomplished so far. It's funny how people can be more proud of you than you are of yourself.

Despite the many many curveballs that 24 has thrown me, god has continued to bless me. He has pushed me forward in even the darkest storms. I am so proud of the person Ive become, the challenges I've overcome and the mountains I have yet to climb. I am thankful to realize that on 25-eve. Perfect Timing!! I have an amazing tight knit group of family and friends that I wouldn't trade the world for. I love you guys!!


 I'll toast to that! 

A New Perspective.....

It's been a few weeks since I touched my blog. So, many thoughts and feelings have been brewing. I have gone to Istanbul which I will put up at some point. I loved Istanbul without a doubt. It had all the things a city girl could dream of but there is just no place like home. Over the last few weeks, I learned how to be sensitive to other people from other cultures because for the first time in my life I am the stick out like a sore thumb.

Ive always been the type A personality. Everything has to be perfect, everything has to be right. I can't let anyone see me sweat, I can't let anyone see my cry, I have to be tough as nails. I have to overachieve. On the other hand, I believe everything happens for a reason.Being overseas, has made me appreciate home so much. It has given me perspective about a lot of things in my life. There are so many amazing people who have just loved me from 7000 miles away, people i didn't fully appreciate when I was on their front doorstep. I loved my job and the impact i have had and I would love to do it again. I now understand the point of lesson plans and assessments. I understand why we have mounds of paperwork. But I know, I wouldn't have appreciated all of that if I hadn't come overseas.

So, I love being overseas but I can't wait to come home. I can't wait to celebrate holidays and events with my friends and families. Maybe it wasn't the lesson I hoped to learn but I did learn a lesson and I can say that I tried it. Not everything has to be perfect and its ok sometimes to say that things didn't work out at as you planned. A lesson is a lesson whether its good or bad. 

Bayram and the Holidays

School is out to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Bayram. Angie and I decided to hope on a plane and visit Istanbul for vacation (More to come on Istanbul in the next entry :-)  ). Anyhow, as I am sitting on the tour bus riding through Istanbul and listening to the tour guide, I began to think about holidays.

During Bayram, families purchase a live animal which is in most cases a sheep but can also be a cow or goat. They sacrifice the animal, cook the meat and then give it to the poor. The entire family comes together to celebrate having each other and sharing with the less fortunate. The holiday lasts for 4 days and each day there is a different activity or ritual.  The most important part is that the activities are completed as a family. While this principle has much more depth, I have only mentioned it to say that it makes me realize that we too often get caught up in the "holiday". We often forget the meaning or why we are doing something. We get so caught up in the commercial aspect of it all. The shopping, the decorating, the parades but somehow along the way the meaning has been lost.

This will be my first year away from my family for all of the holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter etc). I must say that I am guilty of it too. When I was in the states, I only visited home once a year. Of course, I had the time off (Im a teacher lol) but I think over the years I lost the importance of being with the people who I love the most and sharing what we are thankful for and appreciating each other. Thanksgiving has turned more into a tradition of the women getting up early to cook, everybody eating, some fussing of course :-) and then watching an afternoon of football. One things that being overseas has taught me is that you have to appreciate the ones you love. It has also shown me how important it is to be thankful for and share your blessings.

In closing, I will be away from my family this year. However, when I get back I am going to make an effort to have Thanksgiving and holidays as they should be. Not filled with shopping or tension but filled with meaning. As, the holiday season approaches, I encourage everyone to think about why the holiday is important. This year, have a meaningful holiday and share with the less fortunate. Try to invite someone to dinner, give to the Salvation Army, donate food to the shelter or buy toys for a family. 

Dont Ask, Dont Tell

It's going to take every bone in my body not to gain weight in Turkey. Their food is so delicious. But, its so full of carbs and rich oils. Everything I have had so far has been so delicious. I bought bread at the market on the way home from work because I was craving it. I don't know what it is about Turkish bread but Im addicted.

Our school has the most wonderful lunches. I bet you never thought you would hear school, lunch and wonderful in the same sentence. But I have to be honest, lunch is one of the highlights of my day. Hey, call me what you want but this is my year off from life and Im not passing up a good Turkish meal. I will work it off at some other time.lol.

Anyhow, I was eating this delicious Turkish stew on Friday. Absolutely, loved it. The meat was so tender. So, the teachers and I were sitting around talking about the Eid Holiday. Its a holiday celebrated in the Muslim religion. She was explaining to me how Eid is about sharing and helping the poor and in their religion there is this concept of killing a sheep, cooking it and sharing it with the poor. So, I reply "that's gross". Then, she goes well you don't eat sheep and I said "NO"! Then she replies "Well, that's what you were eating at lunch on Friday". I couldn't do anything but laugh lol. So my new theory is if I dont ask then please dont tell. 

On the Midnight Plane to.....

The next step on my quest of traveling the world....Gaziantep, Turkey. I arrived to Gaziantep just three days ago. I stepped off the plane to the most foreign feeling I have ever felt. A Chill!!!!! I stepped of the plane and I was actually cold. From Louisiana to Doha....I haven't been cold in at least 6 months lol. So, for the first time in a while I had to wear a sweater. However, the effect of the chill didnt last long. As soon as I saw the breathtaking views of the mountains and greenery. I knew I was home. Turkey has amazing natural beauty. Gaziantep is an old city mixed with modern charm.

I literally spent my entire weekend outside. I wondered through the parks and splashed in the streams. I ate lots of random vendor food on the side of the road that I couldn't identify. I took a train into the town and went down roads and roads of shopping. Turkey is wonderful and it is actually a place I could see myself living.

Now, Turkey does have its challenges. No one here speaks English. In fact, Ive eaten pizza the last 3 days because it is the only thing I can read and point to on the menu. However, the people have been so lovely about it. They use hand gestures and use what English they know to help me. I want to learn Turkish so badly but apparently it is the 6th hardest language in the world to learn. The kids in the school absolutely love me and just want to ask me questions about where Im from!. Its good for them it helps them practice their English. The teachers in my department are lovely as well. They have been so generous and helpful. The school is massive and beautiful and they serve the most delicious Turkish food. I dont ask questions I just eat...lol. Im afraid if I ask I wont eat lol.

So far Turkey...has been amazing. However, the adventure has just begun....There is so much more to come!