Back in Grinnell!

I don’t know if anyone reads this anymore but I just wanted to give an update. I am back in Grinnell for the summer.

My plane ride home was long and somewhat uncomfortable due to my sunburn. But my long ride from Amsterdam to Detroit wasn’t too bad as I had a TV in front of me so I watched several movies to pass the time. I was very overwhelmed when I landed in Detroit. The biggest thing was that I heard English all around me which I haven’t heard in more then four months. It was also weird being welcomed to the US. Everything hit me while getting my baggage and I started to cry. But I got it together and took my baggage through customs and re-checked it so it would get to Des Moines. I went through more security in Detroit then any other airport. This is when I realized, my whole legs were blistered and were popping and getting my jeans and shoes wet. I was miserable and just ready to get home. We get on the plane to head to Des Moines but there was a mechanical problem so we had to get off the plane. Thankfully, there was another one available so we were just delayed about one and a half hours. I finally got into the Des Moines airport and ran to hug my dad. It was so great to see him. We drove home and I stayed up to talk with them and Mark but then I headed to bed.

The next day, my legs still looked horrible. I met up with my friend Molly at Dari Barn and I had my cookie dough cyclone I had been looking forward to. That night, my family goes to Pizza Ranch and everyone gave me sympathetic looks as I was wearing a dress and my back was really burnt. Mom and I then headed to the ER for my legs. Turned out I had second degree burns. I had to put ointment on them and keep them wrapped and was suppose to stay out of the sun. Well I was flying to Florida the next day to be with Darrell and his family. But it all turned out fine. I spent a week in Florida with them and even though I stayed inside most of the time, it was still a lot of fun. My legs look so much better. No more blisters and scabs. They are just pink looking but that will heal with time.

So now I am back in Grinnell until I head back to Beloit in mid August. It was great going to church yesterday morning and welcomed with lots of smiles and hugs. I am still processing my experience and just coming back home. I smile when I say home because home has so many meanings. Grinnell will always be home but sometimes it is weird to be in my room because I am just gone so much. Beloit is also home and Istanbul will also always be home. But for now, I am home in good ol’ Grinnell IA.

I am hoping to post later when I process more about my experience and how my summer is going. Thank you for all your prayers and support. You all are awesome!

Back in Istanbul But Leaving Tomorrow for America

I am back from Greece and what a trip! I had a wonderful with Melissa and Autumn but it is nice to be back home for a bit. Home being Istanbul. I will back up and tell you about the rest of my trip.

Our last day in Greece was really chill. We walked to the government building where we were told that some riots have taken place there due to the Euro crisis. We also went to the stadium where some events from the 2004 Summer Olympics were held. We had another delicious gyro and walked around and shopped. We then had to wake up very early to catch our seven am ferry to Santorini which is one of the Greek Islands. I was in and out of sleep the whole trip there. The hostel picked us up from the port and took us to the hostel which was really nice. It was much cheaper then Athens and nicer. We had our own little place with two rooms, little kitchen area and a bathroom.

Santorini was a real relaxing time. We went to the beach and just chilled. The water was so very blue and clear. When we were in the water, we could see the bottom very clearly. The beach where we were had black sand. It was really cool but not actually cool as it was super hot in the sun! It was much different from white sand as it was lots of little pebbles basically. I was in the sun quite a bit and it felt so good until I started seeing and feeling that I was burnt. So I spent the last day in lots of pain and applying lots of aloe. The trip home yesterday was pretty miserable. We were on the ferry from ten pm the day before until about 7:30 yesterday morning. Then I went straight to the airport with a bus while the other two went back to the old hostel as Autumn forgot some things. I was so out of it as I was tired, irritable and in so much pain. I really couldn’t walk much, more like gliding. Then we finally got on the plane which wasn’t too bad but still not fun. The worst was getting from the airport to my flat. I was wearing shorts to let the sunburn breathe. We got on a tram and then a metro bus and it was so bad as people kept brushing against my leg or my bag would touch it and it was so painful. It also was very hot and I was so sweaty. By the time we got of the bus by Kadikoy, I decide to take a taxi home would be the best opinion and it was. I was so happy to get back to my flat and relax and take some Tylenol!

I am doing better today. My body is still very sore but I can actually walk normal. The only bad thing is my right leg now has blisters. I have been putting wet towels on my legs which relives the pain. I am now basically done with packing. I have two large suitcases and according to my scale, they are about forty-five pounds each and I really hope it is right! I also have my carry on and my coat that has several sweatshirts inside of it. I am taking a taxi to the airport as there is no way I could take public transportation. My flight leaves around 5 am tomorrow so I am leaving my flat about eleven.

It hasn’t really hit me yet. I have been saying goodbye to people for a while now and slowly been packing also. I was just at an airport yesterday but this time, I am going home home. I say home home because Istanbul has been home for the past four and a half months. I will always have a place in my heart for Turkey. I will miss Turkey very much but I am ready to go home. I can’t wait until I walk out of the plane in Des Moines and see one or both of my parents there! I have missed them so much!

So I believe this will be my last post in Turkey. The next time you will hear from me I will be in America. It is a long journey as I leave from Istanbul then go to Amsterdam, them Detroit and then finally Des Moines. I will definitely post when I get back home so don’t go anywhere! 

In front of the olympic stadium

My view for most of the trip :)

Autumn and I enjoying the water

Bad sunburn!

Hello Athens!

Well, I am in Athens!! It has been so cool walking around all the ruins and the streets of Athens. It was a long day on Monday as it started with a one and a half hour bus ride just to get to Kadikoy. Then it was a ferry, trans and then a metro to get to the airport. Everything went smoothly in the airport and we arrived in Athens about three. After taking a bus to the main square, we ran into two girls who were heading to the same hostel as us which was nice. We are staying in a six person room with three bunk beds. I feel like I am camp! We relaxed and went to the top of the roof which was so cool as we had a great view of the Acropolis.

Yesterday we had a free breakfast at the hostel which was bread and egg and then we headed to the Acropolis Museum which was so cool.  There were loots of ancient artifacts and statues. Then we went to the actual Acropolis which was awesome. It was a hike up the hill to get to the top but it was totally worth it. There were different temples and ancient buildings on the top. It was just amazing walking through the old ruins. We then walked around to find a travel agency to find tickets for the ferry as we are heading to Santorini on Friday. We then came across a Mexican restaurant it and was so tasty. We have all really missed Mexican!

Speaking of food, we have been enjoying lots of types of food. Yesterday we had this ham and bacon pizza cone. It looked like an ice cream cone but filled with cheese, meat and peppers and it was so good. We also have been eating lots of gelato as it is so delicious. We found one shop where you can get two different flavors in one cup for 1.5 euro. I should mention that I am here with two friends, Melissa and Autumn.

Today we went to the Agora and saw lots of ruins and also to the Church of the Holy Apostles. It was really neat going through this small church, knowing this is where Apostles had walked. We then ate a pork gyro which was so tasty. We are going to go an outdoor movie theater tonight which should be fun. I have been having such a great time on this vacation!

The view from our roof

The first olive tree

Autumn, Melissa and I in front of the Parthenon

Hanging Out and Saying Goodbye

So these past few days have been filled with hanging out with people and having to say goodbye. It all started after a very good afternoon on Thursday as I finished my last final!! I am DONE!!! Anyway, I then went to my church for English Club. We talked about travel and vacation which was fun. Then Judith and I went over to the pastor’s house along with Jim who also goes to the church. We ordered pizza and just joked around with each other. We watched “We Bought a Zoo” which was much better then I thought I would be. I stayed up past three just talking which is a big deal as I usually go to bed around eleven. The next morning Clover, the pastor’s wife and a wonderful women, made us an egg casserole and it felt like I was at a church potluck! It was nice sitting around a table eating together and talking. Then in the early afternoon, I headed home and stopped at a mall and bought a cute green dress. I then mostly chilled and went to bed early.

Yesterday was really great as I got to hang out with a friend who used to go to Beloit who I hadn’t seen in about two and a half years. We went to the Prince Islands together with about five of his friends. It was just so crazy that we were hanging out in Istanbul! We rented bikes which didn’t go the way we planned. First the bikes were really horrible and when we tried to go up hills, most of our bikes would shift gears and do other weird things by themselves. The end result, we walked the bikes most of the way. Though we all enjoyed the nice ride down hill. It was also confusing where we were as the map wasn’t the greatest. I also realized how out of shape I am! So we didn’t get too far and headed back to town and had some delicious pide. We took a ferry bus back which was super fast but didn’t stop in Kadikoy but drove past it. So then I had to take another ferry back to Kadikoy but it was no big deal. It was so great catching up with Brian.

Today, I went to my last Sunday at Nation’s Church. I will really miss everyone in that church. They all have been so wonderful and welcoming. The prayed for me in service which I was really touch by. They said that Judith and I have been such a blessing but they have been the really blessing! We went out for lunch for Iskander which is what Judith and I wanted. I also had to say goodbye to Judith. We rode the bus back to Kadikoy and then parted ways. She has become such a great friend and I will really miss her!

Currently, I have been packing! I am going to Greece tomorrow which will be awesome!!!! So I am basically packed for that but then I will only have about a day when I return before I head home so I am trying to pack most of my stuff before I leave tomorrow.

Judith and I

Brian and I on the ferry

On our bike ride

Clover, I, Peyton and Judith

Me, Doug and Ruth

I’m From America But I Live in Istanbul

I said this many times over the past few days. Since I went by myself on my trip, I met a lot of awesome people and usually the first question was, “Where are you from?”.  I loved how excited and happy people were when I told I am currently studying abroad in Istanbul. Everyone thought it was so cool and a great experience. I totally agree!

It was really great how I got to teach people about Turkey and tell them more about Istanbul. Mostly everyone I met had been to Istanbul for at least a few days. It was fun swapping stories and hearing about what they think of Istanbul. It is much different to visit for a few days then to live there for several months. I also got to teach Turkish to them which was funny as I don’t know that much. But I felt proud that I could teach them some key words and phrases.

It was such a neat experience going to Ephesus and Pergamom. Knowing that it was where Paul was and where the book of Ephesians was written which is one of my favorite books of the Bible was amazing. I will never forget my trip and like my dad says, I can now point at travel posters and say I have been there!

Side note: Just got done with my Gender final which I think went well. One more final tomorrow and then I am done!!!!

Another side note: There are many more pictures of my trip on Facebook, over 300 hundred. Enjoy :)

Ephesus and Pergamom

What an amazing trip! I saw so many amazing places in just a few days! There is no way I can describe and tell you all about what I saw but I will try! Warning, this is long but I put pictures after I talk about them to break up the reading a bit.

After having a little trouble finding the hotel where I was suppose to meet a shuttle, I got there and had about an hour and half to kill before the shuttle came. I talked with the guy at the desk which was nice. He spoke English well. Finally the shuttle came but since it was rush hour, it took so long to get to the bus station. But I made some friends on the shuttle so it was fine. Most of them ended up being on the bus to Ephesus with me. This bus was pretty nice. More leg room then I figured and I ended up having empty seat by which was wonderful though I still didn’t sleep the best.

I was very happy waking up and being close to Ephesus. After almost getting off at the wrong stop, I got to the correct bus station where my guide was waiting for me. I was the first of the fifteen to be picked up. I really wished I could have changed and freshened up before the tour but no luck. Though when the driver and guide wasn’t looking, I changed shirts as I had a white tank top underneath and put my hair up.

First stop was the Isa Bey Mosque which is one of the few rectangle mosques. It was very pretty especially with the trees in the middle. We didn’t spend to much time here but it was a nice day to start the day. It was a beautiful sunny morning.

Then off to the House of Virgin Mary. It was at the very top of a giant hill. We were thankfully there early so there were not too many people but by the time we left there was. There was a house where people say that the Virgin Mary spent her last days. Ephesus, for those who do not know, is important for Christianity. Paul lived in Ephesus and wrote 1 Corinthians in Ephesus.

Then off to the main site of the ancient city of Ephesus. It was so awesome! I was talking with this guy and we just could not believe we were walking around the ruins. Only about 25% of the ruins have been discovered as it takes so much time. It makes you think what else is there. I saw many temples, columns, theaters and of course, the Library of Celsus. We spent lots of time learning about the city and though I don’t remember it all, it was such a wonderful experience.

First look!

Good view of whole city!

The Library of Celsus

After an okay lunch, we had the great pleasure of seeing how carpets are made (sarcasm). It wasn’t that bad as I had a nice conversation with a women from Australia. We then went to the Ephesus Archeological Museum and saw lots of Ephesus excavations. By this time, all of us were really tired due to all the walking and heat!

We then went to the Temple of Artemis. It wasn’t what I was expecting as there was not much left but it was still cool. It is one of the Seven Wonder of the Ancient World.

By this point, we were all ready to be done with tour but then the guide said there was a gathering to end the tour. We were all suspicious and it turned out to be this weird fashion show of jackets. There were about four young people showing of jackets and usually four of the same moves the whole time. And then we had to walk through all the jackets to get out and also through some jewelry. We finally got out and we all laughing about how ridiculous it was!

I was then dropped of at my hotel and it was such a nice hotel. I told a shower and then chilled by the pool until dinner. Dinner was good and it had more selection of dessert then the main course. I crashed about 8:30 and thoroughly enjoyed my bed all night as I knew I had a overnight bus the next night as well!

I woke up a little after eight and had a decent breakfast at the hotel. I was surprised that I wasn’t getting picked up until 9:40 as my itinerary said 8. Thankfully I found out through a fax they gave me the night before. A small van picked me up and I discovered it was just six people on the tour. It did not start well though as we had to pick up a couple at the airport and their plane was late. There was an Italian couple who were very upset while a man from California who is currently working in Poland and I were just annoyed. We still had about two hours to travel before we would arrive in Pergamom.

We finally get to Pergamom! We saw lots of ruins some more intact then others. We saw the Sanctuary of Trahan, Athena and Dionysus, just naming a few. The Library of Pergamom is the second best in the ancient but there wasn’t much left of it. It was very windy but once again, it was really cool. We then had a super late lunch (3:30) and then we headed to an ancient medical center of physician and scholars. It was only for the mentally ill.  They said that death could not enter so they basically wouldn’t let anyone in that could die, like pregnant mothers and old people. The mentally ill would go into the hallways and pray to the gods through an opening the roof. Then the people in charge would talk back to them, telling them they would be okay. Of course, the patients thought the gods were talking.

It was VERY windy!

Statue of Trajan

Theater

After that, we drove three hours back to Ephesus, was dropped off at my hotel, then picked up by another shuttle and taken to a bus station to get my ticket and waited in another place for the bus. The overnight bus smelled but I was so exhausted I didn’t care. I thankfully slept mostly all the way and was woken up at six this morning saying we had arrived in Istanbul. A guy helped me figure out how to get to the ferry and then got on it and then my good ol bus 19 back home. It was so wonderful to arrive back to my flat. It was such an amazing adventure, one that I will never forget!

It Is Becoming More Real

I usually like countdowns but I am starting to not like this one. I have many emotions about the whole situation. Part of me wants to stay here. This has been my life for four and a half months. I have grown to love Turkey so much. But another part of me wants to go home, to see my family and friends and all my comforts.

Honestly, I am nervous to come back home. I do not know how I will deal with reverse culture shock . Each of my friends from Senegal experienced it and still experiencing it differently. I know some things will have changed. Time didn’t just stand still when I left. I am trying to keep my mind open but there is only so much I can do before hand.

I also am stressed due to these emotions and of course, finals. I am so ready to be done. I had my second one today and it went fine. Now it is onto my two hardest ones. I know I need to study and I am going to go to the coffee shop I enjoy studying at soon, but I have little motivation. This whole week has been like that. I think it is because my schedule has been changed. I no longer have classes and my days are different. I like to have a schedule. But it has a chill week which also has been nice.

I head to Ephesus tomorrow night with an overnight bus. Hopefully I can actually sleep. I am really excited to see all the amazing places! I would appreciate prayers for peace over the next few weeks. Thank you!