Day 6/7 | 05/06.05.2016: Guests Among Strangers Who Became Friends

On the day the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul was closed to all rally participants — an event you’ll probably never witness again — the team was not in Istanbul. It was just outside Istanbul. As if it were nothing, it missed out on that highlight, and worse still, it was up at 3:30 in the morning anyway.

Team Judo goes Orient had actually been very keen not to miss this event in Istanbul. The reason for their absence wasn’t the aftermath of the car accident from two days before, but rather an invitation from Saideen, a Turkish worker, on the morning before. While repairs were being made to the car after the accident, he had invited us to his home. To eat, shower, and sleep. We accepted. So in a way it was indeed a consequence of the car accident.

Above all because we appreciate this kind of hospitality and we’re curious. But also because we felt the night could be spent more comfortably than cramped in cars with all the charm of sardine tins. For example, in an authentic Turkish household. After the obligation, the reward with our hosts. A cooked meal instead of snacks, a spacious bed instead of cramped quarters, a shower instead of wet wipes and perfume.

Before our trip we often said that cross-cultural understanding and getting to know other cultures was just as important as the driving itself. The moment we stepped into the Turkish living room and sat down in front of the television, unable to exchange a single word with our Turkish hosts, we looked at each other, each hoping someone would break the silence. And because everyone was thinking the same thing, it stayed quiet.

In the meantime — we had already sat down to dinner with the two hosts — the grandparents, Uncle Mehmet and cousin Mehmet also arrived. We were twelve people in the living room. And it was entertaining, despite the language barrier. At 10:30 pm we went to sleep. And since we normally drive and sleep in pairs, Saideen and Hanifee each set up a room with beds for us without a second thought. And so it came about that a pair from our team spent the night in the marital bed, while the hosts slept on the sofa in the living room. At 3:30 we said our goodbyes. Even the 80-year-old grandfather got up to shake our hands.

The next morning we would say: “We had a wonderful evening that we won’t forget in a hurry. With friends who were actually strangers.”