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!

Three Weeks!

In three weeks, I will be packed and ready to head the airport in the evening. My plane leaves the 13^th but very early in the morning so I am getting there the night before.

I am doing well with everything. I see that Isabelle got onto my blog so I hoped you all enjoyed that! I had my first final yesterday, Ottoman Empire, and I was happy about how it went. I have my History final on Friday and then my two Sociology classes next Thursday and Friday. I am so pumped for this weekend as I get to go to Ephesus and Pergamum! But since I still have my finals to worry about, I will be studying on the bus rides. Then in two weeks, I will be in Greece!!

I have many emotions and it is starting to become real that I am leaving soon. This week has been very chill. I haven’t had much motivation to study but I still have a little bit. Since Trista moved out, I am the only one in my flat and it can get lonely. Also since classes are basically over (last one is tomorrow as the professor missed so many classes this semester, she needed to make one up), I don’t get to see my friends as often. I am having a late lunch in about an hour with Judith which will be wonderful. I will really miss all my friends here but will be happy to see all of you when I return!

It's Me, Isabelle

Hey Guys! This is Isabelle, Abigail’s pillow pet. I have seen Abigail blog the whole time we have been here and she has never let me blog even one entry. Well, I thought it was about time that I get to write one so here I go!

We have now been in Turkey for about three and a half months. My how time flies! It feels like I was just let out of Abigail’s suitcase onto the bed in the dorm. I am much happier with the bed in our flat. It has a nice wall that I can lean on when Abigail is gone. There is a window by my bed which is nice. Lately the weather has been weird. One day it is super sunny and warm and then all of a sudden it will storm. The temperature varies a lot but lately, Abigail has left the window open a bit for some fresh air to come into the room.

I spend most of time on Abigail’s bed. I wake up usually somewhere on the bed as Abigail moves a lot and I never know will I will end up! Anyway, Abigail gets ready for class and I just chill on the bed. She goes to class and if she leaves her ipod on the table, I will listen to it for a while. She sometimes takes it with her as she likes to listen to music as she is walking to class or if she has time to kill between classes. But I like when she leaves it as I love listening to Taylor Swift and I am a huge RENT fame so I listen to the soundtrack a lot. I snicker to myself when Abigail returns and wonders why her ipod is always low on battery!

Abigail keeps her room pretty clean so I don’t have to worry about that. Though the stupid ants think they own the place. I hate when ants decide to make their home in our room. Thankfully they haven’t been too bad recently. I like when Abigail gets back from class because she usually goes on Maddie (her laptop) and starts listening to music. She loves Christian music and country. Though she does have this Other playlist with a mixed variety of pop/Disney songs. Yeah, weird combination. She usually Skypes with Darrell every night. She gets so happy when she talks with him. Well they don’t talk, they message chat as video doesn’t usually work. I sometimes say hi to him but since my nose is so big, I can’t type very well (I am typing this with my horn and it is taking a long time!). But she also Skypes with other people like Debbie, Val or her family.  She misses them all. Anyway, she loves to talk but you all already know that!

She usually heads to bed about 11 depending on when she has class. I enjoy cuddling with her as she turn off her light. She usually prays for a while and then she curls up and sleeps.

Yeah, so I haven’t experience Turkey like Abigail has but it has been a nice change of scenery. I did get to go to Cappadocia a few months ago which was fun! I might go to Ephesus/ Pergamum next weekend but I don’t know.

Oh, Abigail is back! Take care all you wonderful people!

Surprise Visit In Class

I had a very strange experience in my Gender class yesterday. We were all sitting listening to our professor talk about sex workers when all of a sudden, the door flies open and a guy comes running in. A guy that looked like a ninja and who dropped a huge plant right at our professors feet and runs back out!  I had the angle that I could see a guy outside the door recording it. We were all so surprised and I almost had a heart attack! There was a note attached. It said basically sorry to take up a moment of your time but every minute soil is getting destroyed. Please plant this plant. It was something I would kind of expect at Beloit but not really here. But we all had a good laugh. Lets just say, it took a few minutes to focus our attention back to our discussion! 

See You Later Trista!

Last night, I had to say “see you later” to my wonderful flatmate Trista. She is heading to travel for about a month starting with Greece. She was going to take all her stuff in her old apartment and only take one backpack for her trip. People get on my case for a lot of stuff but she had lots of stuff! I will give her a break as she has been here since last September. Since she had so much stuff, I had to go with her to Kadikoy. We hugged several times and said how much we love each other. While I was on the bus home, I started to tear up and cried when I got home. She has been one of my closest friends here and I will really miss her. I will have to get use to having the house all to myself. I will miss coming home and having her to talk to but we will for sure stay in touch and will see each other someday.