Turkey is a proud country whose culture and historic treasures combined wıth its friendliness and grand hospitality have made this trip an unforgettable experience for me.

Our Group Study Exchange  Team has been very busy durıng our month long stay here. We have visited and toured many plants in the automotive, agricultural, textile and food industries. Turkey is home of the second largest hand blown glass exporter ın the world (Lennox, Pottery Barn, Williams Sonoma, etc.)  They are also known for their home and fashion textiles that are sold worldwide in stores such as Macy’s, Calvin Klein, Victoria Secret, Tommy Hilfiger, etc…Turkey has a very robust agriculture that produces the finest olive groves for olives and olive oil.  They also have plentiful vineyards that produce raisins and some of the best wine I have ever tasted!

Our GSE team has visited many municipalities throughout several citıes that we have passed through.  We have meet several officials from local government here and have learned alot about Turkish politics and procedure.  We have also visited several Chamber of Commerce Offices within different  cities and exchanged our ways of practicing business development. We have toured several hospital and pharmacies and have met many healthcare provıders in Turkey to learn about the differences and siımilarities in our healthcare systems. In addition, our team has visited both private and public schools as well as attended an event for handicapped  children.

Most of the 65 million people leaving in Turkey are Muslim.  However, because the Turkısh Republic is founded on secular principals,  religion does not seem to hold the significance in government matters that is does in other Muslim counties.  We have visited many Mosques since we have been here but I have yet to meet one Turkish person who attends the services provided by the Mosque on a daily basis.

I have stayed with eight different host families so far and I have two more cities and families to visit before my return home.  The Turkish people and communities have opened up their hearts and homes to me with so much love, compassion, kindness and non-judgment.  I would ask from each and every person that reads this message that anytime we encounter an opportunity to provide a helping hand to a friend or stranger passing through (whether it be from another city OR another country) that we pause from our own busy life and do like the Turkish people do.  Stop. Help. Enjoy the company of another and…have some tea  - of course!