“We do not see the world as it is. We see the world as we are.” ~ Talmud
Travel is truly an exercise in perception. Nothing will shake you up more than being immersed in a foreign culture. Sure, the mystique, the aura, and the romance of living abroad cannot be rivaled, but it also can be a humbling, challenging, and sometimes defeating experience. The expat experience is dictated by our attitudes toward it, and perceptions are formed by our willingness to embrace and accept the good, the bad, and the ugly. Life overseas has both blessed me, and cursed me, with newfound wisdom, and an evolving perspective of life.
I grew up imagining that the world was a pyramid with the USA at the peak. I was infused with idealistic notions that our role in the world was to help people get it right… American style, that is. After all, aren’t we the world power, the epitome of society and success, and the guarantor of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? I have been majorly mistaken, misguided, and frankly, fatally flawed in my thinking.
The world still needs America the Beautiful, but we have so much that we need to learn from others. For example, while the USA experiences prosperity and material success that borders on the infinite, there is a definite deficit of morale, and the deeper, intrinsic qualities of life. In contrast, India (where nearly half of the population lives on less than a dollar a day) is a nation steeped in spiritual and internal riches. Consider that India is the only country that has not invaded another country in 10, ooo years, yet its culture has ruled Southeast Asia, China, and Japan through its philosophy, religion, science, and cosmology for the last century. Is there any great mystery to this?
Universally, the human race is on a quest for identity and meaning in life, whether it be for truth, power, freedom, or fulfillment. Every nation and society, through their respective customs and traditions, has much to reveal and teach us. Since September of 2010, I have lived in Izmir, Turkey, and have had the good fortune to travel to Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Uzbekistan, Tunisia, England, the Virgin Islands, and China. Visiting these lands saturated with ancient and modern culture, absorbing the history, and listening to the stories of people all over the world has been the experience of a lifetime, and an education in itself. Something magical happens when crossing cultures in the spirit of gaining understanding – barriers are broken, bridges are built, the boundaries that divide us bring us closer together, and my perception of life is forever changed.
The 16 months that you have lived in Turkey, I must say you’ve not wasted any time enjoying your surroundings. One thing you said was “Consider that India is the only country that has not invaded another country in 10,000 years, yet its culture has ruled Southeast Asia, China, and Japan through its philosophy, religion, science, and cosmology for the last century.” That’s amazing. Even in America, you see the culture woven in our fabric. Thanks for sharing your travel notes and pictures.