Cultural differences

When one first arrives at an international school, the clashing of cultures and traditions is blatant and obvious. But over the years, slowly, one begins to notice these things less and less until one gets to a point that they can barely notice any tension. One becomes numb to the differences that races and ethnicity have.

I could be considered doubly blessed: i attend an international school in a foreign country. So, not only is there cultural differences between my peers and I, but also between me and anyone else that walks the street.

Therefore, it is pretty easy for me to not notice much tension between races or differences of cultures but when i do notice something, it strikes me as a blatant difference. 

The major difference i view, between Turks and Americans is a relationship difference. In Turkey it is a loyalty based society, where as in the States it is a time, effort and personal opinion based relationship.

For example, i could meet someone on the streets here and immediately become best friends or mortal enemies, just depending on the mood that we are both in at the time. In the states, i don't even have friends because i haven't been there long enough to have the time to make any. 

There are strengths and weaknesses to both sides, in a relationship here, i can always trust someone to have my back in a fight or to watch out for me and hang out to play basketball, but they aren't someone you would ever talk to about anything.  The relationship is shallow in that area. A western relationship with a friend, or a buddy, is slightly easier to manage. It takes longer to form, but in the end you have a closer friend and you know more things about each-other and can talk about all sorts of things, such as opinions and life issues. The drawback is that in a western relationship, as i am calling it, it can take years to build a friendship and seconds to end it. To the point that it was almost not worth the effort in the first place.  

For some people this would be an issue, they would begin to expect loyalty from where it isn't always found or expect discussion where it isn't found interesting. I believe, that one can arrive at a place where you can learn from both cultures and both styles of friendship. It also is great in understanding the human mindset. We just all need to remember to try to understand relationship differences and all other differences and then eventually we might all end up oblivious to differences or at least not caring that someone isn't the same as you. Looking at the world today, that simple ability could solve so much.