Are We REALLY That Different?

As I explore Istanbul and the Muslim faith that prevails here, I am constantly struck by a familiarity. It’s not just one thing, but a whole bunch of different things, that I recognize from past experiences. Partly, this feeling stems from the multitude of influences Turkey has had throughout history. I see Greek influences in the worry beads I see locals clanging about.

My Taxi driver’s collection of worry beads

I was also reminded of Greece influences in the business owners’ pushy attitudes as they try to entice you to stop and check out their store or restaurant. Even a simple “hello” or “good morning” morphs into, “you look hungry; you should eat here.” And even if you come up with an excuse, “sorry, I just ate,” they will counter with some fresh offers, “We have delicious baklava for dessert; you need to try it.” Yet despite this seemingly constant guilty assault, the Turks are some of the most friendly people I have encountered. Their desire to help is so genuine, I had a hard time accepting it at first. In fact, one of the best experiences I had thus far was getting a free, insiders tour around the Blue Mosque from an area shopkeeper who also proceeded to offer me free tea and sweets after I stopped in asking for directions to the famous landmark.

taken by my gracious “guide”

More familiarity strikes me as I learn more about the Muslim faith. A religion often misunderstood and marginalized in America, but even with open eyes and an open mind, I am surprised by how similar many Muslim rituals are similar to Christianity and Judaism. The most surprising is the seemingly universal celebration of Christmas here; despite the large muslim population, all Turks seem to LOVE their non-secular Russian-style Christmas, exchanging gifts around the tree on New Years Day. It’s like I’ve been reliving the pre-Christmas excitement as shops are decorated to the hilt and American Christmas songs play everywhere. I was even informed by a local teacher that the children LOVE to sing Christmas songs in English leading up the big day!

A Turkish Christmas

While I am by NO means a religious expert, I have noticed other similarities between the three major religions: belief in one God with different “prophets” setting slightly different rules, the idea of daily prayer, a call to prayer loudly echoing through the city much like church bells, ritualist washing to cleanse yourself before God, and the underlying message of charity by helping the less fortunate. These is also the common thread of ritualistic circumcision of babies, a pork-free diet, and segregation between men & women at religious services between the more conservative believers of the Jewish and Muslim faiths. Head coverings for men and conservative dress for women are seen in both. Sure I am over simplifying and all of this knowledge can be gathered from a basic Google search, but seeing these practices carried out in person really solidified the commonality between the Islamic laws here and the conservative Jewish practices I witnessed during my time at Brandeis.

A man washes his hands and feet before prayer at the mosque

Enjoying some Turkish “pizza” after visiting several Istanbul mosques

Then there is the mixed symbolism I see in the various mosques throughout the city. The most famous of which is Haga Sophia, formerly a Byzantine church, it was re-made into a mosque but now serves as a museum, with the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus on the wall next to Muslim scriptures.

Beauty comes in many forms at the unique Haga Sophia

Yet in other mosques, amongst all the blue tiled patterns, I saw many blue 6-pointed stars, much like the Star of David. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but I have no doubt that Dan Brown’s famous symbolist, Robert Langdon, could raise more questions than answers.

6-pointed star

There are other familiarities here, too: the Mediterranean passion for “discussion” (which looks and sounds more like argument); the universality that all cab drivers are CRAZY drivers; a passion for shopping; and of course, the crowded, slow above ground “metro” that locals HATE (Green Line anyone?).

The crowded spice market

Grand Bizaar

Sure, there are plenty of differences: the language, which sounds almost like that made-up language you created as a kid that had too many vowels (ex. Güllüoğlu, pronounced GOO-LOO-O-LOO), the politics, their love for hookah, and of course the food. Yet sometimes even in the differences, you find sameness. Take for example, two classic turkish foods – “salep,” a winter-drink made from warmed cream, vanilla and cinnamon which reminded me of the warm milk I drank nightly, as part of my favorite pre-bedtime childhood ritual; and “künefe,” a warm dessert, made from wheat grains, cheese and pistachios sweetened with honey and crisped up in the oven which reminded me a big bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats.

A lovely end to evening

Yum!

Ultimately, I think that it’s all a matter of perspective. We could constantly be pointing out how we are unique and different, yet I think there is much more value in understanding how similar we really are. In similarity we can find compassion for others and maybe then, many many years into the future can we achieve the ever illusive ideal of “Peace on Earth.” And I can’t help but wonder, maybe that’s the ultimate test we as humans need to pass in order to truly understand the greater workings of the universe? I can just see a divine being looking down, laughing at us as we bicker over differences, when really we are all just human’s struggling to survive and be happy… What will you choose for 2014?

A journey begins

Watching a never ending sunset from the sky as I set off on this adventure seemed fitting…

Overcoming Fears

Despite my outward appearances, I am terrified about my trip to the other side of the globe and spending so long away from home. Although I often have pre-trip anxieties, this trip is beyond anything I have experienced before. Often my pre-trip jitters consist of some mild anxiety surrounding the cost of the trip or what to pack. This trip, because of the magnitude and nature of the destinations, is more overwhelming. A constant litany of questions assaults me on a daily basis: How will I manage to be without income for 3 months? If I find New York City’s Chinatown “overwhelming,” what will India be like? Will I make all of my many connections? Does my stomach have what it takes to enjoy rich Indian food everyday for 2 months? Unfortunately, not all of these questions can be answered before I leave and so I am forced to leap without fully knowing what lies on the other side. Yet isn’t that half the fun of it? Still the pre-trip stress can make you second guess your choice to venture outside your comfort zone.

This around the world trip, started out small enough – applying to study yoga with my guru, Sharath Jois, at the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore, India. Introduced to Ashtanga yoga over 4 years ago, my desire to study “at the source” slowly began to blossom over the years. Two years ago, I was able to study for one week in New York City during one of Sharath’s tours. Practicing with him was a joy (not a word I usually use to describe my daily 1.5 hour yoga practice). His presence fills the room with light and made the practice seem infinitely “easier” than it ever had before. Studying with him again for a week earlier this year solidified my desires to make the pilgrimage to India and helped me shed my fears, catapulting me to leave my full time job which had slowly become unsatisfying. Taking on several “per diem” jobs allowed me to more or less, make my own schedule and thus take as much time away as I can manage. Thus, I could finally take the time needed to make the required 1+ month trip to Mysore.

After getting “accepted to study” with Sharath, I began researching flights and discovered it was staggering 16 hours of traveling to get from Boston to India, not including any layovers! Unable to grasp the concept of traveling for 2/3rds of a day, I decided to employee my favorite trip planning strategy: using layovers to explore new cities. So, where to? Looking at a map and doing preliminary flight searches on Kayak.com and indie.bootsnall.com Europe and the Middle East were obvious choices, but how to narrow it down? General travel-related books (eg. 1,000 Things to See Before You Die, Around the World in 80 Treasures) and videos helped me finally pick: Istanbul & Dubai for the trip to India and Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong & Hawaii for the trip home. Planning a 3 month world tour from my “gut” by choosing new and interesting “off the beaten path” places was the easy part. Listening to the fearful and anxious chatter in my head afterwards was a real challenge.

Fortunately carving out daily meditation and calm during my yoga practice helped immensely. I found that time on my mat helped me find peace and understanding that my travels were a desire to learn and grow. To experience the fear and confront it head on, to have faith in something beyond myself, to let go of the comfortable and trust that something better was just on the other side; these lessons were clearly part of my next steps when I was able to calm the “monkey mind.”

The other thing that helped was reminding myself that now is ALWAYS the time to travel. Who knows where I will be next year, or in 5 years? I hear so many people say, “I’m going to travel more when I retire” or “I don’t have the time/money/ability right now.” But honestly who knows if you will live to see retirement? We hear tragic stories of people too young to be dying everyday; cancer, hiking accidents, the flu, all capable of claiming children anyone of any age. And although you hope to be making more money/time for travel next year, will that be a reality? How many people lose their jobs everyday? Or have other debts (a new car, a new roof, etc) crop up and ruin even the best laid plans? This idea is solidified every time I visit my Grandfather who tells me “do it now while you are young.” He waited to retire before traveling, only to watch cancer claim his mobility. Life is way too short to postpone the things that are important to you; whether it be spending more time with family and friends or taking that trip to the Grand Canyon. Do it and do it now!

Fortunately, the other cure for overcoming fear is jumping in… Somehow, once I landed here in Istanbul, all the fears melted away and I KNEW I was embarking on the time of my life, excitement and challenge mixing to create a reality I was capable of meeting head on 🙂 and so are you! So get out there and explore, take the leap! “Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.”