The Road to Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey: A booming metropolis that stands as one of the largest cities in the world with almost 14 million people. Istanbul has been named the European Capital of Culture, as well as the tenth most popular tourist destination.

Yesterday began the road of anticipation and excitement that leads to Istanbul. 76 days. 76 days to prepare for the journey of a lifetime. 11 students. 11 students seeking to learn and grow in a place completely different from the United States of America. 1 month. 1 month to learn about the Turkish culture and how it is completely different, but equally valuable as our own.

Each time a student travels abroad, a new lens is opened. Study abroad is necessary to enable students to see the world from perspectives that do not appear until you are immersed and exposed to a culture different than your own. This is the opportunity we have: to be immersed into such a powerful culture. Dr.Kearney mentioned a phrase that caught my attention about the Turkish culture. He called it a “muscular culture,” which is full of powerful beliefs, values, and customs. Although these may be different than my own, the purpose of leaving the United States of America is to gain an understanding of Turkish culture from the people’s perspective, not my own.

My classmates and I look forward to the opportunity to learn the history, beliefs, and values of the Turkish culture. We are fortunate to have this opportunity and we are excited to step foot on Istanbul ground.