Leaving home for an exchange program, even for a short period of time, can be fraught with uncertainty. What will it be like in my new host country? What should I bring? How will I greet my new family? Will I make friends? What will I eat?!!
At the end of June, our group of 12 intrepid students gathered outside of Washington D.C. for a pre-departure orientation to help answer some of their questions and give them the confidence to succeed as “citizen ambassadors” during their time in Turkey. Orientation sessions include everything from general safety tips when traveling abroad, to country specific cultural do’s and don’ts: Do treat your host family as if they were your own family. Don’t be surprised if they try to feed you too much. Do take your shoes off when entering a Turkish home. Don’t expect everyone to be in bed by 10pm.
The orientation also includes the students’ first Turkish language lesson: just enough to whet their appetite and give them the essentials to greet their host families and express basic needs. “Hello!” “How are you?” “My name is ….” “I am full, thank you.” Many of the students have already begun to study Turkish in anticipation of their trip, but either way they are no longer true beginners. In Turkey, a little bit of proficiency goes a long way and even baby steps are warmly welcomed.
As we count down the hours to our departure, the sense of excitement is as palpable as the humidity in the DC air. The flight to Amsterdam and the connecting flight to Istanbul go off without a hitch, though of course everyone is a bit jet lagged when we finally arrive. We have a night and a day in Istanbul before transiting to Bursa, just enough time for students to visit a popular cultural center where they hear a live performance of Turkish hip hop; experience a Turkish breakfast that includes a somewhat unorthodox Turkish Delight buffet bar; have an in-country briefing from enthusiastic US consular staff; and, most importantly, rest up before connecting with their host families.
The trip between Istanbul and Bursa only lasts a couple of hours – with a little wiggle room thrown in for Istanbul traffic, which is worse even on a Sunday than Manhattan during rush hour. A bus ride through the country side and a ferry boat trip later and we are there. As we pull into the parking lot where the host families eagerly await us, squeals of excitement and nervous chatter break the calm. The moment has finally come! The students have arrived!
Of course, the adventure is just beginning…
