Travel the World and Return Home without a Country

by Hunter Terrell

Walking through the city with nothing showing but my hands, feet, face, and flaming red hair. You can never lose me in a crowd here, I stick out like walking fire. I smile at everything and everyone, which immediately pinpoints me as American. As if my hair didn’t do the trick. My eyes connect with the locals passing by, and I will forever be fascinated by the women in solid black abayas and burqas. It’s 117 degrees and the sun is baking my insides like a rotisserie chicken in the midst of a sandstorm. It’s hot. Here I am practically melting in leggings and a shirt.

There are more cultures on one small desert island than I would expect, yet it’s one community. The locals tend to work twelve-hour days, six days a week and all seem to be happy even when living with so little. Families will even take in those in need or housing is provided by the government, so there is absolutely zero homeless population. Islam won’t allow it.

The moment my feet touched sand, friend’s of my mother were dying to meet me and show me around the Kingdom. Every person I met was interested in where I was from and the details of my daily life. I was surprised because in America we don’t ever ask about those things, or even seem to care. We lack connection, or our curiosity is cleverly hiding within nonverbal cues. As if expressing curiosity is too much of a vulnerability for us. Through the weekends, which begins Thursday night here, everyone comes out to party. From an all day “Brunch” and blasting “Sweet Caroline”, to karaoke at the bar that night, there’s no downtime in a small island where everyone knows everyone. I spent most of my days with a wonderful Indian man and we instantly became friends. He took my mother and me to a local lunch spot, as I always insist on an authentic experience. Especially when it comes to food, which is my favorite part of any traveling.

We walk in the door and are greeted by the sweet kiss of shade and no A/C. Which isn’t the norm of modern day here, the A/C is the best I’ve seen anywhere. I step into the dining area to a cubicle-like eating arrangement. Every “table” is sectioned off by walls and a curtain entrance, so as to not expose the wives while eating. I say “table” because everything is eaten on the floor sat atop pillows. I am jumping with excitement at this point. He ordered for us and we took our shoes off before sitting. The meals are served in large family sized portions, unlike at home where everyone orders individual meals. It’s common for everyone to share meals here, like it is in most places.

When asking for the check (you have to do that, they don’t work for tips so they don’t want to rush you out of the door), our friend turned and spoke to the server in his language and we were in awe. He’s fluent in multiple languages, but in a split second he could look at the server and know which region of India he was from, and what dialect of Hindi to speak in. I am only fluent in English, and even in that I’m rubbish. As the joke goes, “Know three languages, you’re trilingual. Know two languages, you’re bilingual. Know one language, you’re American.” Oh how right they are.

After 36 hours of flying back home, including all of the layovers, the second to last stop I would know I was in America without the itinerary. The first thing that hits my senses is the noise, and chaos with some semblance of organization. It’s loud. You would think it’s expected in any airport, but quite the contrary. Of those I have traveled through they are relatively quiet, especially around the UAE where everything in the airport is almost a whisper.

I believe in the importance of travel. More importantly, I believe in the importance of travel and experiencing cultures different from your own. Growing up with a mother that works with the military, I have had the opportunity to travel around the globe and experience a way of life outside of my own. “Travel the world and return home without a country,” she will always tell me. It’s not a concept you can easily grasp until you do some traveling of your own. Globally I have come to find more openness, acceptance, love, and curiosity than my home country. As an American, I have noted that we tend to be closed minded, and even self-centered, which is impressive considering the “melting pot” that is our country. We are very solitary people, and take care of ourselves. Quite different from the community I have experienced in other cultures, or within the expatriate community. Through my travels, it has given me an open perspective and even childlike curiosity in contrast to my fellows. The Kingdom of Bahrain will forever hold a special place in my heart. With every visit I dread coming home and leaving my newly found friends. I only hope to return again in the future.

In sha’Allah