Being in Turkey, has jerked me back to reality. Life in Dubai, pales in comparison. It is here, how real, normal, people live everyday. Joy, sadness, happiness, hopes and desires reflected in every word and gesture.
The touristy European part of Istanbul reminded me very much of Thailand, where there are people who struggle to make ends meet, so desperate to try to make sales that they take out every trick in the book to entice you to purchase their products. Yet, despite all these, warm, humane emotions are as real as the sun which shines steadfastly every morning.
People greet each other with sincerity; embrace friends and strangers with tight, loving, hugs; smile with a warmth that melts freezing hearts; walk with a gaiety that livens up the streets. With the rhythm of the pedlars, pedestrians, strawberry flavoured shisha permeating your nostrils, you could almost imagine a song springing up any moment. It's spontaneous. This, is what I call - real life.
After living in Dubai for 3 months, I have been accustomed to receptionists who speak so fast like robots, as if they have a memory script engrained in them, or how people always seem to say 'yes' to everything, but they never seem to deliver what you want. What may have seemed surreal initially, now transgresses into reality. It is as if I have been here all this while.
Yet, one can have all the luxuries in the whole wide world, and still feel that something is missing. Something is not quite right. What is it? I've been wondering for the past twelve weeks. I seeked and searched every corner, but I could not pin point the missing element.
Visiting Turkey, I finally know what it is - Connecting to people on a deeper level!
No doubt we do meet up from time to time with mates and colleagues. But after that, we disappear into our cocoons, engaged in a lot of alone time before emerging out in the open again. When Dubai-ans meet, we greet each other with an air of formality, that's hard to dismiss, no matter how much we wish it'd vanish.
And so, I've decided. I will maintain my sanity and humanity by being joyful, caring and giving at all times. Perhaps, I may learn a thing or two about strategic thinking in business, economics and war, but I will stick to my roots, values, principles and beliefs. For without these, we are but empty shells without a soul.
Thank you Turkey, for giving me a reason to live again!
(Before) (After)
My Life: Before and After Istanbul
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