5 Unusual Reasons to be a Global citizen
It was around 11:30 pm in the mid-night. I was standing in the metrobus station that I have never been before, holding with one hand heavy luggage, my heavy backpack and was waiting for the bus to come.. alone. When finally bus came, I got into the bus which was very crowded, despite the late time. I couldn’t find a free seat, and continued standing while holding all my possessions. It was almost 20 hours since I left home. I was watching the moon through the window of the bus, and all I could think during that late 2 hours bus ride being extremely tired after all day long traveling, was my cozy room, and comfortable bed back home. I didn’t know which home I’m going to stay for the next 6 weeks, who is the girl that was supposed to meet me, and my inner voice was screaming: “What in the God sake are you doing here? Why did you choose to come here after all?! “. I had no answer then…
#1. Hakuna Matata
Have you ever felt that feeling of not worrying about any single thing? When I say no worries, I exclude thinking about what to eat in the morning, dinner and lunch, which monument or city to see from the list and where to party? J Well, that was all I worried every day during 6 weeks and I couldn’t have enough of it! I was far from depressing responsibilities I had back home: related with my work, my education etc. It was like living in another planet. Nobody would judge, or tell you what to do. You decide it.
#2. Double or more nationality (change)
Let me tell the biggest difference and advantage of AIESEC Internship from usual travel tours: you get to absorb culture through everyday life. You become Turk, Pakistani, Indian, Chinese, Russian, Arab and many more during those few weeks. Since you get to interact not only with the country you visit, but also with international friends you make. You live in a local family that would unintentionally teach you all about their culture day by day, and let you practice it. And the family you stay with will cook all the national food, celebrate national holidays that you will be part of, teach the language for free and go out to their favorite places taking you along with themselves. You literally become part of the family and I realize how I miss my Turkish family while writing it.
#3. Go Backpacker!
Are you a traveler in heart? If you are, you would know how travelers use every opportunity to explore new places, cities, countries and wonders around the world. Internship in foreign countries gives you amazing platform to see the country cheaper, faster and lighter. Almost every weekend I was in some new city curiously exploring, making memories and of course, taking incredible photos. Travelling with foreign friends is much more fun, safe and unforgettable.
#4. Inside Out
When you are abroad, you learn to share. You share not only your food, money, time but most importantly your feelings, experiences, dreams, knowledge, and so forth. And it’s not only you sharing, but everybody that surrounds you. You learn to value people not based on their look or appearance, but based on their behavior, experience and heart. You realize that there are so much common between all of us, and people are so beautiful inside out.
#5. Confidence (Change to better)
When you travel, you solve all your problems with the help of your friends but mainly alone, whether it is language barrier, culture difference, laundry, food, getting sick, lost possessions, safety, and so forth. You fear less of the outside world, and get the confidence that there is nothing you cannot do, after overcoming so many challenges by yourself. If you had dreams before traveling that seemed impossible to achieve, you don’t take those obstacles as serious anymore.
#5.
Next few weeks absolutely changed my perspective, of course in a good way. I would care nor about 5 hours bus ride everyday back and forth to home and school I was teaching, neither about limited time for sleep. I cared to meet my new friends and students, spend time, laugh, make memories and take selfies J There are lots of beautiful moments I shared with them that I would love to share.