Tonight, I am blessed to have a family reunion. In about 12 hours time, I will be at the international terminal of Ataturk Airport picking up my father and aunt. For the next 9 days I will be playing host in the city that I have adopted, or more accurately, that has adopted me. I can’t wait. But, there is one thing I must prepare for: the inevitable question of “what do you like most about living abroad?” This is a complicated question with myriad answers. However, I think they seem to fall into categories, the first being things I love about Istanbul. The second beings things I love about not being in America. The answers to the first part are clear, there is no beating the history and hospitality of this city — two things I can’t praise enough. But, answering the second aspect, what do I love most about not being in America, is a little more difficult. I have tried though, to create a short list of things that are true here in Istanbul, but probably also true for American ex-pats on any continent.
1. The education never stops.
When you live in your home country, people have a tendency to take the status quo for granted. We see our current political or cultural landscape and don’t question it much. People, for the most part, do not have a strong need to understand why they are the way they are, or for that matter, where they will go in the future. But, when you live abroad, in somebody else’s culture, climate and country, the questions never cease to come. Since moving here, I have learned something new about the Republic of Turkey and the empires that preceded it everyday. Understanding the past helps you understand the present and future. With every new fact, revelation or connection made about this place, added questions come two-fold. This never-ending scholarship is without a doubt my favorite part of living abroad. Constantly adding to your knowledge and understanding is its own reward, especially when you live amongst your subject.
2. The language barrier
This may seem strange that the language barrier can be considered a benefit, but let me explain further. I have tried to learn Turkish as best I can. However, it seems learning new languages is not my strong suit. My Turkish is stuck someplace between tourist and conversational. However, this does have a strong positive aspect. Because I don’t understand every word that is spoken to me, I must pay attention to body language and facial ques. This means that I don’t have any idea how smart or stupid any one person I interact with is, and their intelligence becomes unimportant. It also doesn’t matter how religious a person is or how materialistic a person is. It is only important how friendly they are. This is a very different experience from living in America, where trying make small-talk with ignorant, close-minded or vapid people was the worst part of everyday. It is refreshing to have a lifestyle where I am cut off from those topics and people who would normally enrage me. The only thing that is important is what is in their heart.
3. Becoming an ostrich about politics.
Similar to the insulation the language barrier provides, is the barrier the geography provides. Being outside America means I am not constantly bombarded with the polarizing and aggravating experience that is the American media. While I still follow news about America, I rarely follow American news. This means, while I still know that Glenn Beck is on the air and telling people social-justice is for Nazis, I don’t have to listen to assholes who regurgitate his words as political discourse. This means I know that Tea-Party protests have been slinging homophobic and racial slurs at Congress, but I don’t have to listen to Fox News go on about how they are misrepresented. I guess, #3 could be summed up as, don’t have to see Fox News or listen to people who take it seriously.
Yup, let’s make that change.
3. Becoming an ostrich about politics. Not listening to Fox News or assholes who take it seriously.
Good, that seems much more accurate. However, it’s not just Fox News. It also means when I hear about a big news story, like American soldiers killing journalists in Iraq, I don’t have to flip on the computer expecting real commentary and news, only to open CNN’s Web site and receive the list of who is sleeping with who this week instead. Plus, if I never have to see or hear the name Sarah Palin being seriously floated in the same sentence as “president” again, or hear some one try to tell me that universal healthcare is un-American, I will die happy.
4. Becoming Family
This week I am fortunate to have actual family coming to visit. But, the fact is I have family here too. When the family isn’t near, those who are near become family. All of our fellow teachers, our neighbors and even the local shop owners and bartenders have become like family. And sometimes, when you are a bit down and see that familiar face walking down the street and exchange a smile and a few words, it is enough to lift your spirits. It lets you know that across cultures, across languages and across the world, you can still make friends and family.
