In May of 2022, I participated in a 2-week, instructor led study abroad trip to Turkey. I travelled with 3 professors and 10 other students to 4 cities in Turkey where we focused on learning more about the country's political structure and agriculture. We visited many historical sites, farms, and met with Turkish professors at our host universities to learn about Turkish politics, agriculture, and customs. At the historical sites we have formal tours and time to explore by ourselves. These sites included Ottoman empire castles, churches, tombs, and places that embodied Turkish history. At the farms and production plants, we learned about how farmers contribute to their communities and the overall economy. We would spent time every night reflected on what we had learned and how we can use that information in our lives. 

 

I had never been out of North America before this trip, so this was my first real global experience. The culture in Turkey is so interesting as it involves many Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and European customs. For two weeks, I was immersed in another culture and it was amazing. I was able to discover the culture, food, language, political system, and agriculture industry first hand. I will be forever grateful for the professors and staff at South Dakota State University that made this trip happen. 

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I learned so much from this trip, but one of the most important things I learned was understanding the importance of seeing the world through the eyes of others so you can have multiple perspectives of important issues or topics. I also learned how important it is to be respectful towards other cultures as everyone is different and does things in different ways which needs to be respected.