So, today is the last day on the ship. I cannot believe that this trip is over. It flew by! I was looking forward to it for so long, and it really was one of the best summers of my life. I have learned so much and made some really great friends. I have also grown so much, and I think I am officially a world traveler. I’m pretty sure I am addicted to having new adventures and experiencing different cultures.
I know reflecting is a little lame to write about in a blog, but I feel like it is necessary with a trip like this. I don’t know if I have really figured out everything that I have gained from this trip yet. I don’t really think I will know until I get home. I have learned a lot though. That is for sure. Especially about the countries we have visited. Spain and Italy were probably the most similar to the U.S. Not to mention the fact that the areas we visited were super touristy. The riots we saw in Spain showed how they are having problems with their economy. Yet, we saw also that even though they were having these problems, they were still proud of their country just like anyone else. Bulgaria was a serious look at what communism can do to a country and how long the effects of it can last. Yet, the thing I think I learned the most about was the Muslim religion. Well, not only the religion but the Arab world in general. Turkey and Morocco (and maybe Global Studies) showed me how similar the Muslim religion is to Christianity and Judaism. I really had no idea that it basically sprang from the same roots. I also learned that dressing conservatively and wearing a burka doesn’t make you completely foreign. I’m not really sure what I though before, but I feel like the media in the U.S. makes it seem like the Muslim religion is one that breeds terrorists which is completely ridiculous and untrue. Islamaphobia is a very real problem, and I hope that I can spread the idea that the terms Muslim, Islamic, and Middle Eastern don’t mean terrorism. The seriousness in which they practiced Ramadan was also eye opening. August is obviously one of the hottest months in most of these countries, and these people were not eating or drinking ANYTHING all day. Nothing. Not even gum! It was definitely an interesting thing to experience, even though it made me feel terrible to eat and drink in front of them.
Secondly, I have gained a greater faith in people. I have met some of the nicest people while traveling through these foreign countries. Just about everyone we encountered (there are always a few exceptions) was kind, helpful, and generous to us. Yes, I know that most people were trying to get us to buy stuff, but the people we asked for recommendations or directions were just as helpful and kind. Hamid was the best example of us. He literally put his whole life on hold for 3 days to tour us around his city. He wanted us to have a great experience in Morocco and really appreciate his hometown. He succeeded too. I have a feeling that without him, I wouldn’t have enjoyed Morocco as much as I did. It may have even been my favorite because of him. It definitely showed me that I need to be more open to helping people, and that Americans should be more welcoming to foreigners.
I also think that a lifelong effect of this trip will hopefully be a global perspective. When I do things or think of things, I feel like I may think of the effect of my actions on a larger scale than just who and what I am. I realized also how insignificant I am in this world. Not in a bad way, but just that there is so much to learn from others that I need to be open to. This trip has also inspired me. I hope that I can turn this experience into more travel and a continued effort to learn about the world.
Another thing that I realized was that everyone speaks English. Well, just about everyone. So, that means just about everyone is bilingual. At least! We met a bunch of people who knew three or more languages. I really hope I can learn more than one language too. I felt so behind! I really think learning a language should be started at a younger age in the public schooling system. It is so much easier to learn when you are younger. I really would love to continue learning Spanish even though I know it will be a struggle with all of my engineering classes. The language barrier was definitely the biggest struggle in all of these countries.
I also learned how lucky I am to have the freedoms I do as a woman in the U.S. Women in the Muslim world have very few choices. It is all about getting married, having children, etc. They have been given more opportunities and things are changing, but it is nothing like the U.S. I have so many choices, and I am so lucky that I do.
I also learned how fortunate I am. People in the U.S., including myself, have way more than they need. I am so blessed to have been able to go on trip and see all of these places. It has been the experience of a lifetime, and I wouldn’t change a moment of it. Adding on to that, I have finally realized how blessed and lucky I am to be an American. Not that I didn’t love America before or have pride in my country but seeing how children in other countries are growing up in comparison to my childhood is really eye opening. I had a big backyard with grass, and everything I could ever ask for. I saw kids playing soccer on the patio of a government building in Morocco because it was the only place big enough. Not to mention what I have learned about the governments and the legal systems.
I also learned a lot of things about the U.S. I learned how we are perceived in other countries. Mostly, people would yell famous movie and pop star’s names at us. We are definitely known through the media. I also learned that the U.S. isn’t the center of the world. It is definitely an influence piece of the puzzle, but I feel like we need to have more of a global outlook considering the way technology is shrinking the globe. Yet, in the end, I am so happy and lucky to call the U.S. home. I should have figured, but my dad was right. The best place in the world is home sweet home, the good old U.S. of A.
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