60 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2026 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL As I waited for my ride in the parking lot, a young man politely asked me to photograph him and his friends. By the time Osman arrived, I had joined their lively picnic and invited Osman to do the same. NOAH ROSE When I asked one picnicker whether he liked America, he grinned and replied, “Only when I’m drunk.” Fortunately for me, he was. By the time Osman arrived, I had joined their festivities and invited him to do the same. Flying back to Ankara, I reflected on this first foray outside the capital. A little local language and a lot of local hospitality had transformed what I expected to be a simple weekend outing into an adventure that got me hooked on exploring cultures I hadn’t dreamed of. I decided to seek those conditions whenever possible for the rest of my tour—and, I hope, for the rest of my career. n
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