Talking Turkey

Nilgun, a Turkish student participating in an exchange program for nursing school, came looking for me in the OT/PT office. Her instructor suggested that she learn about rehabilitation techniques and highlighted an outing for community reintegration that evening – an outing in which patients with quadriplegia learn to utilize adaptive equipment in preparation for their re-entry back into the ‘real world’. This was her first visit to America, yet she exuded a quiet confidence as she told me that she would be going with me. Without even thinking, and in the spirit of interdisciplinary collaboration, I exclaimed, “That will be wonderful.” Her response was ‘Harika, harika.’ My first lesson in Turkish was wonderful; quite literally. As we made our way to meet the patients who would be training her that evening, she said, “Oh, I almost forgot, ‘May my fiancé, Zubeyir, meet us there?’” I turned to her and said, ‘Harika, Nilgun.’

Upon our arrival at the newly opened Dave and Buster’s, we were greeted by Zubeyir who was grinning from ear to ear. Nilgun introduced Zubeyir and explained the purposes of our outing. Immediately, we were enveloped by the sights and sounds of the bowling alley, ‘karaoke corner,’ and the cacophony of bells, whistles and zany beeps of various arcade games. Wow, talk about total immersion in a different world! Nilgun and Zubeyir had not experienced anything quite like this den of amusements.

Considering it was the Monday night of Thanksgiving week, the discussion came around to the origins of our national holiday. Although the interpretations included something of Native Americans and the Mayflower, the focus was on stuffing ourselves silly and watching hours of football. No one in our group articulated that the holiday actually creates a dedicated space for gratitude and community rather than just loads of food and 22 men running around the gridiron. Although this provided fodder and much laughter, I couldn’t believe that out of 15 educated Americans, no one even knew the real story. Our story!

Upon returning to the hospital, I explained that my family would be hosting a dinner party on Thanksgiving – that the main dish would be turkey, of all things – and invited them to join us for the festivities. I come from a family of four who love adding people to the mix, so I was incredibly pleased when they eagerly accepted.

Twenty-nine people of diverse backgrounds joined my family to share a feast and celebrate life together on Thanksgiving. Our dinner party exhibited a blend of amazing cultures and faiths – Jewish, Muslim, Christian – among fabulous folks from India, Israel and Turkey. This proved to be an amazing bounty of friendship, for which I was exceedingly grateful.

A night of many firsts for Nilgun & Zubeyir – Boisterous Texans hosting the quintessential American holiday, homes on a ‘cul-de-sac’, U.S. politics, immersion into the English language - Thanksgiving would be the event that established the foundation for their journey into an unknown culture.