Monday, March 12, 2007
Final Thoughts
Summary: It’s now Monday, and school has begun its cycle again, and most of us have come well adjusted to the jet lag and the daylight savings. If there is one thing this trip has taught me it is that I am now passionate to support those who want to impact the world around them here and abroad, and I’m passionate to keep my friendships going with my new friends overseas. The general consensus before I left for this journey was fear; fear of the unknown culture and its people. Let’s not kid ourselves, when 9-11 happened and we saw those planes hit our homeland, we were all filled with fear and some form of hatred towards a region and their people who we knew nothing about, except the belief that they had targeted us like a deer in the forest. Going over there into a Muslim world and the Middle Eastern region really opened my eyes. Sure what we might have experienced was a mild case wrapped up in the time of a week, but we interacted with the people and saw their spirit and their hearts. And what we saw wasn’t hatred towards us, but a misunderstanding on both sides. It was like we were two players in a game of chess, and we had forgotten the rules of the game and decided to just move pieces wherever we wanted. Rooks, pawns, and bishops just danced all over the board, smashing into each other and fighting over territory and space. That’s how I see our nation and the region across the world. We’ve lost our focus and our respect for one another. When my friend spoke about 9-11 and I heard the sincerity echoing from his heart it really got me thinking about everything going on around me. Not just on the war in Iraq. It has nothing to do with that. In my mind I kept thinking about the homes and lives of my friends. This has nothing to do with our worldly war, but a war on a much higher level in our souls. Am I rioting for peace in the world? No. I’m just trying to let my passion ring through that not everyone in that part of the world is an extremist with the sole intent of putting harm on our doorstep. People kept telling us how amazed they are that Americans were there on the island, because they had all just stopped coming. We don’t need to live in fear. On of the men from Jordan told us how at his home they all keep doors unlocked and they are unafraid, while we here at home lock our doors and fear intruders of all kinds. I’m not saying they have it made there, nor am I saying we should take note from the ways of those we came in contact with. I’m saying we need to forget our fear of those we don’t know and remember that there is huge world around us that needs to be outreached in the emotions of love and friendship as we tried to do on this journey, and it was met, I believe, with great success. It was an amazing time that I will never forget, and will never try to. Continue to support those like us who travel the world locally and abroad to take a similar message to the unknown peoples of this world.
Day 8: Home, Sweet Home!
5:45 p.m. EST and local time
Saturday, 03-10-07
Welcome home! As I rounded the corner in the corridor of the Atlanta airport, I saw a familiar face I had been longing to see since departing from Cyprus, she was my beautiful girlfriend. I ran to her with the weight of the two bags on my shoulders and hugged her. I was definitely home. As the rest of the team came towards baggage claim, we were all met with familiar faces of family, friends and loved ones. Love was now the universal language all around us, and I absolutely loved every moment of it. Our time together as 19 friends had now ended, but ended incredibly stronger. We will take with us so many new faces and unforgettable memories with us from this journey together, and we will do so wanting to tell everyone each individual detail about them. As I walked with my girlfriend to her car, I tried to wrap my mind around the fact that I had just traveled home from the complete other side of the globe. I thought about how thankful I was for the opportunity and how much I’m going to miss my time there in Turkey and Cyprus. Maybe I’ll go back, all or some of us, and maybe I’ll get to relive those memories with my new local friends or family that might tag along the next time around. But there was no maybe about it, all 19 of us were forever changed, and definitely for the better. We were home, but we will never forget our new home that formed in a week on the streets of Istanbul and the beaches of Cyprus on the other side of the world.
Saturday, 03-10-07
Welcome home! As I rounded the corner in the corridor of the Atlanta airport, I saw a familiar face I had been longing to see since departing from Cyprus, she was my beautiful girlfriend. I ran to her with the weight of the two bags on my shoulders and hugged her. I was definitely home. As the rest of the team came towards baggage claim, we were all met with familiar faces of family, friends and loved ones. Love was now the universal language all around us, and I absolutely loved every moment of it. Our time together as 19 friends had now ended, but ended incredibly stronger. We will take with us so many new faces and unforgettable memories with us from this journey together, and we will do so wanting to tell everyone each individual detail about them. As I walked with my girlfriend to her car, I tried to wrap my mind around the fact that I had just traveled home from the complete other side of the globe. I thought about how thankful I was for the opportunity and how much I’m going to miss my time there in Turkey and Cyprus. Maybe I’ll go back, all or some of us, and maybe I’ll get to relive those memories with my new local friends or family that might tag along the next time around. But there was no maybe about it, all 19 of us were forever changed, and definitely for the better. We were home, but we will never forget our new home that formed in a week on the streets of Istanbul and the beaches of Cyprus on the other side of the world.
Day 7: Naps on a Plane
7:45 p.m. EST
If only we had more time. That seemed to be the common belief among all of us as we tiredly loaded the bus with our luggage and exhausted bodies and headed out to the airport, 45 minutes away. Pulling away from the terminal at the airport filled me with excitement to see those I love back at home and also with sorrow knowing that I may not see my new friends again. The mixed emotions ran high today, and stayed with me long after our jet engines woke the steel wings North to Istanbul again. The whirring sound of the engines steadily rocked me to sleep the entire flight to Turkey. Once we landed in Istanbul around 5:45 a.m. our time and 10:45 p.m. back home, we had to say goodbye to our trip leader who was headed home to his family in a different direction. I had the honor of meeting him last year on a similar trip, and now after two weeks of him in my life, both last year and this trip now, I consider him one of my best friends and one of the best men I’m lucky enough to know. I hope to see him again. Two flights to go now, and I can almost smell the American air. We depart towards Paris at 9:05 a.m. Saturday, and 2:05 a.m. at home. This flight was also spent being rocked to sleep, and chasing jet lag in my hazy dreams. The 10-hour flight to Atlanta from Paris at 1:50 p.m. local time and 7:50 a.m. EST was a neverending one. We were fortunate enough to have our own miniature screens for movie-viewing pleasure again at our seats like we did coming over here, and we all spent our time between the land of dreams and the land of the movie Dreamgirls playing in front of us. The only thing I can recall between my thoughts of coming home and the images on the screen in front of me, was just how uncomfortable it made me feel to watch the wings out my window bend so easily in the wind over the Atlantic. So I shut my window blind faster than a Mockingbird could flitter its wings, and continued to lean on the pillow next to me, trying to speed up time to when I was safely on the ground and in the arms of those I love back home. Unfortunately, I seemed to not have packed the remote control that speeds or slows time, so I was stuck in my Air France seat that had little leg room for my tall, skinny figure, and that made me wonder if a strongly worded letter was needed to the FAA.
If only we had more time. That seemed to be the common belief among all of us as we tiredly loaded the bus with our luggage and exhausted bodies and headed out to the airport, 45 minutes away. Pulling away from the terminal at the airport filled me with excitement to see those I love back at home and also with sorrow knowing that I may not see my new friends again. The mixed emotions ran high today, and stayed with me long after our jet engines woke the steel wings North to Istanbul again. The whirring sound of the engines steadily rocked me to sleep the entire flight to Turkey. Once we landed in Istanbul around 5:45 a.m. our time and 10:45 p.m. back home, we had to say goodbye to our trip leader who was headed home to his family in a different direction. I had the honor of meeting him last year on a similar trip, and now after two weeks of him in my life, both last year and this trip now, I consider him one of my best friends and one of the best men I’m lucky enough to know. I hope to see him again. Two flights to go now, and I can almost smell the American air. We depart towards Paris at 9:05 a.m. Saturday, and 2:05 a.m. at home. This flight was also spent being rocked to sleep, and chasing jet lag in my hazy dreams. The 10-hour flight to Atlanta from Paris at 1:50 p.m. local time and 7:50 a.m. EST was a neverending one. We were fortunate enough to have our own miniature screens for movie-viewing pleasure again at our seats like we did coming over here, and we all spent our time between the land of dreams and the land of the movie Dreamgirls playing in front of us. The only thing I can recall between my thoughts of coming home and the images on the screen in front of me, was just how uncomfortable it made me feel to watch the wings out my window bend so easily in the wind over the Atlantic. So I shut my window blind faster than a Mockingbird could flitter its wings, and continued to lean on the pillow next to me, trying to speed up time to when I was safely on the ground and in the arms of those I love back home. Unfortunately, I seemed to not have packed the remote control that speeds or slows time, so I was stuck in my Air France seat that had little leg room for my tall, skinny figure, and that made me wonder if a strongly worded letter was needed to the FAA.
Day 7: Turkish Coffee-Making, Gracious Bus Driver
6:30 a.m. EST
It’s now 1:30 p.m. as we’re pulling out of the school and headed to our next destination. We were originally going to a resort area and then shopping before calling it a day early so we could pack for home, but instead our Turkish bus driver invited us to his home up in the hills to teach us all how to make Turkish coffee and tea, two drinks our team became obsessed with by the end of day 2. His family was so welcoming and adorable. I think the girls couldn’t stop their amazement of his precious little daughter and her shyness. One of them gave her a Nutter Butter cookie, and she was, I must admit, entirely adorable, as she would only eat the peanut buttery center, and throw the two cookie halves on the concrete ground outside. But it was time for the main event, Turkish coffee and all its glory. We watched with our bodies leaning forward with childish delight like a kid in the Macy’s window at Christmas time watching every detail of the polar express train gliding around the 4 x 6 ft frosted wonderland. A scoop of coffee, then another, and we would watch her swirl the silver spoon in the pot that created a whirlpool of foaming coffee, emitting a strong aroma of a scent all too familiar to our group since Istanbul. Some of the guys had already become coffee addicts, and just wanted to knock back the coffee cup like it was a shot of espresso. Our bus drivers wife had also crocheted a few scarves for the family, but gave a few of them to two girls in our group, who were overcome with gratitude of such a gift. The whole time I sat there on the couch in their home and looked at the happiness that filled the room, I couldn’t stop thinking about new found respect for this family and the love they had for each other, and for us. It was probably the highest honor we had on this trip to be invited into their home and treated exactly like extended family. But we had to leave and pack up our suitcases for home, a place we were all beginning to miss. With our things together for the night with a little more packing to go, we went to dinner at the Ambiance restaurant which sits right on the beach. It was a very fancy place and a perfect way to end our time together as a team. The food was amazing with endless bread, lamb, chicken, etc. One kebob after another, and slowly each notch in our belts were getting looser and looser to make room for the rapidly expanding stomachs we all shared. I thought it easily could’ve accompanied one of the contests at a state fair back home, measuring the biggest expanded stomach at the table. I would’ve given the biggest person a run for their money. Our bus driver and his family graciously agreed to come with us for dinner there, and it was such a warmhearted blessing to watch them at the end of the table eating together as a family, with their new found family of 19. As we left the restaurant and back to the hotel, those same mixed emotions from earlier knocked me in my gut and remained there while I walked up the stairs to finish loading all of my memories and clothes into my suitcases. Almost all of us in the group decided to have an all-nighter since we had to leave for the airport at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, or 7:45 p.m. EST Friday.
It’s now 1:30 p.m. as we’re pulling out of the school and headed to our next destination. We were originally going to a resort area and then shopping before calling it a day early so we could pack for home, but instead our Turkish bus driver invited us to his home up in the hills to teach us all how to make Turkish coffee and tea, two drinks our team became obsessed with by the end of day 2. His family was so welcoming and adorable. I think the girls couldn’t stop their amazement of his precious little daughter and her shyness. One of them gave her a Nutter Butter cookie, and she was, I must admit, entirely adorable, as she would only eat the peanut buttery center, and throw the two cookie halves on the concrete ground outside. But it was time for the main event, Turkish coffee and all its glory. We watched with our bodies leaning forward with childish delight like a kid in the Macy’s window at Christmas time watching every detail of the polar express train gliding around the 4 x 6 ft frosted wonderland. A scoop of coffee, then another, and we would watch her swirl the silver spoon in the pot that created a whirlpool of foaming coffee, emitting a strong aroma of a scent all too familiar to our group since Istanbul. Some of the guys had already become coffee addicts, and just wanted to knock back the coffee cup like it was a shot of espresso. Our bus drivers wife had also crocheted a few scarves for the family, but gave a few of them to two girls in our group, who were overcome with gratitude of such a gift. The whole time I sat there on the couch in their home and looked at the happiness that filled the room, I couldn’t stop thinking about new found respect for this family and the love they had for each other, and for us. It was probably the highest honor we had on this trip to be invited into their home and treated exactly like extended family. But we had to leave and pack up our suitcases for home, a place we were all beginning to miss. With our things together for the night with a little more packing to go, we went to dinner at the Ambiance restaurant which sits right on the beach. It was a very fancy place and a perfect way to end our time together as a team. The food was amazing with endless bread, lamb, chicken, etc. One kebob after another, and slowly each notch in our belts were getting looser and looser to make room for the rapidly expanding stomachs we all shared. I thought it easily could’ve accompanied one of the contests at a state fair back home, measuring the biggest expanded stomach at the table. I would’ve given the biggest person a run for their money. Our bus driver and his family graciously agreed to come with us for dinner there, and it was such a warmhearted blessing to watch them at the end of the table eating together as a family, with their new found family of 19. As we left the restaurant and back to the hotel, those same mixed emotions from earlier knocked me in my gut and remained there while I walked up the stairs to finish loading all of my memories and clothes into my suitcases. Almost all of us in the group decided to have an all-nighter since we had to leave for the airport at 2:45 a.m. Saturday, or 7:45 p.m. EST Friday.
Day 7: Beginning the Long Last Day, Girne American University
Friday, March 9, 2007
2:30 a.m. EST
Our last morning of the trip is met with both happiness and sadness at the same time. It’s not your typical mixed emotions, but while all of us are happy for another day of island living and mingling with locals, we’re also happy that we get to go home very soon but sad the trip is coming to a fast and untimely end. We left our hotel and headed to our third and final university of the trip, Girne American University. They are located in the same city we were staying in right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. When we arrived, some of us went out and met more students, and even found some of the students we had met in the city earlier, while our leader and some other students met with some of the head administrators to talk about our two schools, in hopes of one day forming a partnership between us and being able to exchange students between campuses for the summer or regular school year semesters. They were very hospitable giving us free information on their school and even a free lunch in their cafeteria, which was surprisingly very good to see a cafeteria that actually serves food. The school has about 5,000 students with the hopes of educating 10,000 students by the year 2010. It went very well on that campus, exchanging information with high interest of joining together one day. It is the same school two of my friends attend, but we called them when we were there and they didn’t have classes today. We left the university with high anticipation with the thoughts of what might become of our two schools future together, and the future of so many friends we met on that campus. The e-mail conversations when we get home are going to be great!
2:30 a.m. EST
Our last morning of the trip is met with both happiness and sadness at the same time. It’s not your typical mixed emotions, but while all of us are happy for another day of island living and mingling with locals, we’re also happy that we get to go home very soon but sad the trip is coming to a fast and untimely end. We left our hotel and headed to our third and final university of the trip, Girne American University. They are located in the same city we were staying in right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. When we arrived, some of us went out and met more students, and even found some of the students we had met in the city earlier, while our leader and some other students met with some of the head administrators to talk about our two schools, in hopes of one day forming a partnership between us and being able to exchange students between campuses for the summer or regular school year semesters. They were very hospitable giving us free information on their school and even a free lunch in their cafeteria, which was surprisingly very good to see a cafeteria that actually serves food. The school has about 5,000 students with the hopes of educating 10,000 students by the year 2010. It went very well on that campus, exchanging information with high interest of joining together one day. It is the same school two of my friends attend, but we called them when we were there and they didn’t have classes today. We left the university with high anticipation with the thoughts of what might become of our two schools future together, and the future of so many friends we met on that campus. The e-mail conversations when we get home are going to be great!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Day 6: Busting Stereotypes, Departing Our Home away from Home
Day 6 Thursday 03-08-07
2:30 a.m. EST
Its another 9:30 a.m. morning for us here in Cyprus. This morning we're going to see some more sights up in the mountains. Our first stop was St. Hilarion Castle high on the peaks overlooking the city of Girne. We were told not to take pictures until we got up there, because we passed a military base halfway up and if the soldiers saw us with our cameras, they would aim their weapons at us and possibly fire and ask questions later. The photographer/journalist inside me wanted to risk it for the sake of a good story with a picture, but my conscience put extreme weight in my arm and I was unable to get out my camera. We arrived at the castle and were able to have an English-speaking guide give us a complete tour. The tour had amazing views and information, including that some people say Walt Disney was inspired by the castle and used it in Snow White. Many of us in the group were determined to climb the 300 and some stone stairs all the way up to the highest watch tower and to the highest peak, which rests high over the island at 732 meters, or about 2,200 feet. We made it with aching bodies and sore legs, and with our monthly workout checked off our list … for the next 3 months. Once we left the castle, our next stop was at another ancient ruin that used to be somewhat of a base for Crusaders in the 12th century. We only saw it from the outside and left to go towards the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, and to Near East University. We ate lunch in their cafeteria, mixing in groups with some of the students as we have tried to do all week here. Three girls in our group and I met one man from Jordan who is studying Civil Engineering and he was incredibly nice the entire time. We spoke about our homes and school as well as family. He is one of 12 siblings, with 3 brothers and 8 sisters! I thought being one of five myself is big. He also brought up 9-11 and wanted us to sincerely know that his country wept with us on that day, and I could hear his heart almost beating for us on that issue there at that table. We were able to speak of the different stereotypes about Americans and Middle Easterners and how what we see on the news of both cultures doesn't speak for the entire region of how each of us act. It was a very wonderful talk with my new friend, and I look forward to speaking with all of my new friends soon from home.
6:00 a.m. EST
After the university we spent our afternoon in downtown Nicosia and were able to see the UN-controlled border, as well as play with some kids on the playground. It was a very surreal moment to see this country so divided, and yet so open and friendly. We're all very saddened that tomorrow will be our final day on this island. It has most definitely become a home away from home, if only for a little time. I will be posting more information and photos when I get back to the USA.
2:30 a.m. EST
Its another 9:30 a.m. morning for us here in Cyprus. This morning we're going to see some more sights up in the mountains. Our first stop was St. Hilarion Castle high on the peaks overlooking the city of Girne. We were told not to take pictures until we got up there, because we passed a military base halfway up and if the soldiers saw us with our cameras, they would aim their weapons at us and possibly fire and ask questions later. The photographer/journalist inside me wanted to risk it for the sake of a good story with a picture, but my conscience put extreme weight in my arm and I was unable to get out my camera. We arrived at the castle and were able to have an English-speaking guide give us a complete tour. The tour had amazing views and information, including that some people say Walt Disney was inspired by the castle and used it in Snow White. Many of us in the group were determined to climb the 300 and some stone stairs all the way up to the highest watch tower and to the highest peak, which rests high over the island at 732 meters, or about 2,200 feet. We made it with aching bodies and sore legs, and with our monthly workout checked off our list … for the next 3 months. Once we left the castle, our next stop was at another ancient ruin that used to be somewhat of a base for Crusaders in the 12th century. We only saw it from the outside and left to go towards the capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, and to Near East University. We ate lunch in their cafeteria, mixing in groups with some of the students as we have tried to do all week here. Three girls in our group and I met one man from Jordan who is studying Civil Engineering and he was incredibly nice the entire time. We spoke about our homes and school as well as family. He is one of 12 siblings, with 3 brothers and 8 sisters! I thought being one of five myself is big. He also brought up 9-11 and wanted us to sincerely know that his country wept with us on that day, and I could hear his heart almost beating for us on that issue there at that table. We were able to speak of the different stereotypes about Americans and Middle Easterners and how what we see on the news of both cultures doesn't speak for the entire region of how each of us act. It was a very wonderful talk with my new friend, and I look forward to speaking with all of my new friends soon from home.
6:00 a.m. EST
After the university we spent our afternoon in downtown Nicosia and were able to see the UN-controlled border, as well as play with some kids on the playground. It was a very surreal moment to see this country so divided, and yet so open and friendly. We're all very saddened that tomorrow will be our final day on this island. It has most definitely become a home away from home, if only for a little time. I will be posting more information and photos when I get back to the USA.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Day 5: Eastern Mediterranean University, Beach Time
Day 5 Wednesday 03-07-07
2:30 a.m.
These long days are beginning to take their toll on us as we get up early in the morning for another day on the island of Cyprus. But we can't complain, and haven't yet, because we all feel so fortunate and extremely thankful to be here and learn and exchange so many things about our cultures. Today we went to the city of Famagusta and visited Eastern Mediterranean University, the largest university on the island with about 20,000 students. We split up into groups around the campus to mingle with other students. There are many students from all over the world studying here. Some from Nigeria, Turkey, Sweden, China and America and probably many other cultures on this campus. Almost everyone we met was surprised that we chose to come to Cyprus, and even more so for the purpose of just meeting people. One of the girls from our group and I met three girls who were from Turkey. They barely spoke English, and it took us probably 10 minutes for us to grasp that their vacation to go home is in April. But despite the calendar hurdle, we were able to share some laughs about us, our families and our studies. We were able to exchange e-mails with the three girls and some photos before going to lunch for some pizza and chicken across campus.
6:15 a.m.
Our next stop was the ruins of Salamis where Paul and Barnabas landed on the first missionary journey from the book of Acts chapters 12 and 13. The ruins were beautiful with the high columns in the courtyard and the original tiling on the floors at our feet. We gathered in the ancient theater coliseum and had time together as a group. Before we boarded back on the bus, we were able to walk along the sandy beaches, jump in the Mediterranean, play frisbee on the shore and view the amazing horizon across the clear blue sea, glistening and shining from the hot sun above. We loaded back on the bus towards our hotel with a short stop at St. Barnabas Church where the tomb of Barnabas is. The sun was setting smoothly and bright behind the bell tower of the church, emitting pastel colors across the Western Cyprus sky. Tomorrow will be spent in Nicosia, which is the capital of Cyprus that is now split to separate Greeks to the south and Turks to the north with a UN-controlled wall to guard the two sides, which stretches the entire island. Sure to be a long day that will be met with more amazement and thankfulness without a hint of a tired and drowsy complaint.
2:30 a.m.
These long days are beginning to take their toll on us as we get up early in the morning for another day on the island of Cyprus. But we can't complain, and haven't yet, because we all feel so fortunate and extremely thankful to be here and learn and exchange so many things about our cultures. Today we went to the city of Famagusta and visited Eastern Mediterranean University, the largest university on the island with about 20,000 students. We split up into groups around the campus to mingle with other students. There are many students from all over the world studying here. Some from Nigeria, Turkey, Sweden, China and America and probably many other cultures on this campus. Almost everyone we met was surprised that we chose to come to Cyprus, and even more so for the purpose of just meeting people. One of the girls from our group and I met three girls who were from Turkey. They barely spoke English, and it took us probably 10 minutes for us to grasp that their vacation to go home is in April. But despite the calendar hurdle, we were able to share some laughs about us, our families and our studies. We were able to exchange e-mails with the three girls and some photos before going to lunch for some pizza and chicken across campus.
6:15 a.m.
Our next stop was the ruins of Salamis where Paul and Barnabas landed on the first missionary journey from the book of Acts chapters 12 and 13. The ruins were beautiful with the high columns in the courtyard and the original tiling on the floors at our feet. We gathered in the ancient theater coliseum and had time together as a group. Before we boarded back on the bus, we were able to walk along the sandy beaches, jump in the Mediterranean, play frisbee on the shore and view the amazing horizon across the clear blue sea, glistening and shining from the hot sun above. We loaded back on the bus towards our hotel with a short stop at St. Barnabas Church where the tomb of Barnabas is. The sun was setting smoothly and bright behind the bell tower of the church, emitting pastel colors across the Western Cyprus sky. Tomorrow will be spent in Nicosia, which is the capital of Cyprus that is now split to separate Greeks to the south and Turks to the north with a UN-controlled wall to guard the two sides, which stretches the entire island. Sure to be a long day that will be met with more amazement and thankfulness without a hint of a tired and drowsy complaint.
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