My trip is over. I've unpacked my backpack. The jet lag is dissipating. I'm beginning to look toward school resuming in August.
I've put my passport away, but there are still six weeks left in summer, so why not consider a trip overseas.
Domestic travel is great, but international trips include the added thrill and benefit of exposing visitors to new cultures, new ideas, and new ways of seeing reality, all of which help break down some of the barriers that exist among nations and differing political, philosophical and theological ideologies.
Or to put it another way, it is hard to hate members of another culture if a visitor has a chance to interact personally with members of that culture.
Even though I've often encouraged friends and acquaintances to go abroad, people frequently tell me, "I can't go to _________because I don't know the language."
In an ideal situation, a traveler to a foreign country knows the language ahead of time. I speak Spanish, and this has enabled me to have many enriching experiences journeying south of the United States because I knew what was happening around me, and I could share ideas.
However, not knowing a language shouldn't keep one from leaving one's own borders.
For my trip this summer, I learned about ten Turkish phrases, which helped me immeasurably and which generated laughter throughout Turkey when I butchered the pronunciation.
I can't emphasize enough the power of a simple "merhaba" (hello). It tells Turks that a traveler cares enough to at least attempt the language. Also, I can't emphasize enough how much it can irritate a person in a foreign land if a traveler just walks up and begins speaking in his own language, assuming the other person understands. Unfortunately, Americans are very guilty of this one.
I've found that the secret to successful international travel is the ability to reawaken some of the skills mastered during kindergarten and the willingness to risk appearing foolish.
Gesturing is a wonderful tool for communication. Here are some of my favorites.
- The Pointer - Pointing is useful for ordering food, shopping, and choosing from items on lists, especially when the traveler in question sometimes has trouble in bus terminals pronouncing the names of certain Turkish cities.
- The Stomach Rub - This is an excellent way to indicate to a host that one is full or to demonstrate one's appreciation for the meal. One night, I applauded for the chef who cooked my kababs. He laughed and shook his head but seemed to appreciate my enjoyment of the dinner.
- The Thumb Raised Upward - I've used this gesture repeatedly over the years to communicate approval, understanding, and good will. Hey, it worked in Ancient Rome, worked for Fonzie, and still works for hitchhikers.
In addition, a sheet of paper performs wonders. I've written down addresses, telephone numbers, departure cities, and just handed it over for assistance. A blank sheet of paper also enables helpers to write down bus schedules, prices, and other valuable information.
It isn't always easy to communicate with gestures, but somehow the messages always get through.
I'm hoping that my summer trip through Turkey will give me more credibility in my classroom next year. I constantly tell my students to take chances with English, even if they might look silly.
The next time a student hesitates in class, I'm going to tell him or her that I made some pretty foolish gestures in Turkey to communicate, including my gesture for locating the bathroom. I'll leave that one to your imagination, but I got my point across, and students and adult travelers can too.
I would highly recommend Turkey, but if Turkey isn't to your liking, there are almost two hundred other foreign countries to visit. Life's short. Why not?
I hope you've seen repeatedly over the last month, through my experiences in Turkey, that another reason not knowing a language shouldn't be a deterrent to international travel is because the world is full of benevolent people who want to help you with your journey. The universe is a good place. It's O.K. to get out and explore.
Earlier this week, one of my Couch Surfing friends, Grace, sent me a quote that I can't get out of mind. The author was Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who wrote a famous diary about the two years that she and her family spent hiding from the Nazis during World War II.
Even with the horror that surrounded her, Anne wrote this, "It's really a wonder that I haven't dropped all my ideals, because they seem so absurd and impossible to carry out. Yet I keep them, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart."
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