I just returned from three weeks in Turkey. My heart was full, my mind replete with warm memories, and my computer teeming with new photos. The best part, though, was that my travel compatriots now love Turkey as much as I do.

It happens. Traveling to new places broadens who we are.

Building and Strengthening Friendships

I knew most of the 10 people in our tour group, but they didn’t know each other prior to this trip. By the end of our weeks together, we were a cohesive, caring clan. Sharing unique experiences is a wonderful way to bond; whether old friends or new, traveling together builds relationships.

Challenging Yourself

Some people visit the same places year after year because they’re comfortable with what they know. That’s fine. However, visiting a country with a different language and culture can enrich your personality.

It challenges every part of you – your senses, your palate, your ears, and even your sense of self. Waking to the Call to Prayer, so different from the loon calls of my northwoods home, it warmed my heart each morning.

Expanding Your Knowledge

I was bored with history all through school, yet when I visit a foreign country as an adult, I’m fascinated with the sequence of events that brought it to where it is.

Turkey’s rich history, both political and religious, continues to spur my desire to learn more. After traveling I always come home eager to devour both historical fiction and non-fiction about the places I’ve seen.

Experiencing New Cuisines

Ah, the food! There’s something about new tastes that enlivens the palate. From the döner of street vendors to the haute cuisine of the world-renowned Mikla Restaurant, my palate was tickled daily in Turkey.

Breakfasts of tomatoes, cucumbers, dried fruit, bread, eggs, and olives greeted me each morning, and I blush to confess that I never left my plate with fewer than 20 olive pits. We experienced the unique cuisines of each region, always preceded by mezes (Turkish appetizers).

One favorite dish was the testi kabob, a rich stew baked in a pottery jar that’s brought flaming to the table, then broken with a flourish by an enthusiastic waiter.

And, of course, the fish was not to be missed – grilled head-on, it required a bit of finesse to separate the flesh from the bones, but we were rewarded with the tantalizing flavors of fresh, light trout or sea bass.

Learning About Yourself

As you traverse a new country, you can’t help but push the limits of your abilities, both physical and emotional. You may find myself conquering hills you would never have attempted or foraging into buildings you might not have explored.

I’m often astonished at how well people can communicate with signs and pantomime. Confidence, along with curiosity, increase as you immerse yourself into new experiences.

Viewing the World Through a New Lens

I’m embarrassed that my country is so self-absorbed that we seldom know what’s going on outside our Western World. Shame on us. I love seeing the world through the lens of a different culture, viewing the advances and accomplishments of smaller nations and listening to their perspectives on America.

Understanding World Politics

When I’m overseas, I pay much more attention to international politics. Visiting a less-known destination helps dispel the myth that a few countries dominate the world. Each country plays a role, and each faces its own issues.

Turkey currently struggles with the ever-increasing power of their president, and they’re beginning to kick back. I loved discussing this issue with the Turks; I have yet to meet anyone happy with the current situation.

Seeing Your Position in the World

Travel helps me realize how broad the world is, populated by people with varied lifestyles and experiences. When I volunteered in Ethiopia, I was touched by the desperate need of people who still found it in their hearts to smile.

In Turkey, I was repeatedly helped by people who had no reason to care about my needs. I can’t help but realize my insignificance in this world of 7+ billion people, each one as important as I am. It brings to mind these lyrics from “The Galaxy Song” by Monty Python:

So remember, when you’re feeling very small and insecure,

How amazingly unlikely is your birth;

And pray that there’s intelligent life somewhere out in space,

‘Cause there’s bugger all down here on Earth!

Spreading the Word

Because of your experiences, you’ll share insights and stories with friends. Of course, you don’t want to bore them with a grocery list of events, but it’s fun to interject an anecdote about your first experience in a Turkish bath or your awe at the ancient ruins of Ephesus.

Your stories can open the world to those less apt to tackle the adventures you’ve enjoyed.

Appreciating Home

I’m always happy to return home. Being away makes me more thankful for my life in Minnesota. Though I left warm sunny days behind, I was undaunted at the ice still on our lake.

I reveled in time with good friends and dove back into local activities. It’s the life I choose, the home I love, and the wilderness I occasionally leave to explore the world beyond.

You can read more about my Turkey tour on Ann Marie’s Istanbul.

Where did you go on your last journey? What different culture did you explore? What did you learn about yourself? Please share your observations in the comments below!