September 2011
1 post
the whole story makes the end so worth it.
I’ve been putting off writing about this. Didn’t really want to deal with it and accept that it’s over and that I won’t be going back very soon. Now, I’m sitting in my dorm room after playing a rousing game of slip n slide kickball with a group of people on campus. So tired, but my mind is just going. I’m going to write this thing. Here we go. The conclusion to...
July 2011
3 posts
the world feels so much smaller...
..and yet, it’s still just as hard to get across it.
Onları çok özledim.
I’m home. As in, I’m back in Lake Jackson, Texas. I stop too much to think. And I think about Turkey. I know, DUH. It hurts. I love being with my friends and family here in Texas, but oh how I wish I could just have both… I was going to write more about my last night (which was absolutely perfect), my last morning, getting on that plane… but I guess I don’t feel like...
let today last forever.
Well, we left Bodrum around 8 pm last night and arrived in Istanbul around 9. Today. (I say this with a knot in the pit of my stomach) Today, is my last day. I have a few things to do, so I want to just stay focused. But let me just say, I really don’t like this part… Most of my clothes are already packed so it’s nice to not have to worry about that. I’m taking Yasemin...
June 2011
7 posts
10 months.
Hey, so it’s been 10 months now. My mind wanders back to the beginning of the year… heck, I’m even thinking about orientation camp to become a Rotary exchange student. And how far I’ve come.
Yasemin kindly pointed out to me that I’ve got about 11 days left. Really, it’s 10 full days, 8 of which will be spent in Bodrum. We leave Tuesday morning. You know...
last everything.
Ok, let’s do this. I’ll never be ready, so let’s just do this.
Last night was such an awesome night. I missed nights like those. My family and Laura’s first host family. We had dinner in Kuruçeşme right on the water. We laughed a lot and took funny pictures. We talked about memories from the year. Pelin read our futures in our Turkish coffee cups. We hugged and held on to...
the heart resides.
I am so, so, so so tired and I’m not quite sure why. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this (only a hundred times), but this is my last week in Istanbul. Next Tuesday, I’ll head to Bodrum with my fam and we’ll get back a day before I fly home. This was a definite shock for me. For some reason, I just thought I had more time.
There’s something so strange about...
Çeşme
We’re leaving for Çeşme today. The conference ends on the 19th, but no one really told us exactly when we would be back. Ok bye.
Okul
This is my last day at my Turkish high school. I’ll make my presentation at the end of the day, and that’s it. Leaving for Çeşme in 6 days. Tomorrow I get to spend the day with my family and Sunday are the elections. My last free weekend in İstanbul starts tonight. The next time I’m here during the weekend, I’ll be saying goodbye to Emma and Amanda. :( Then I’m off to...
Back from Kap
I will be writing a blog post soon as well as my monthly report because there’s just so darn much to tell. But right now, I’m going to see Amanda because frankly, I need her crazy awesome Brazilian hugs. As well as a good talk.
This saying goodbye stuff is new for me and I don’t like it one bit.
vague schedule for the remaining five weeks.
Cappadocia (leaving Saturday), Çeşme, Ephesus, and Bodrum
write monthly report for May
be with family
give presentation to school
write speech for sponsor club and district
smile a lot and think positively
take pictures, videos, and journal a crap ton
stand around favorite sites in istanbul
eat favorite foods
write letters to exchange students
buy gifts for friends and family back home
...
May 2011
5 posts
dokuz ay
Today marks my 9th month in İstanbul. It also happens to be my parent’s 21st wedding anniversary. Congrats and I love yall.
Nine months is quite a milestone I suppose, but the number that really stands out for me is the number six. 6 weeks left. I know that these next weeks will be the best. I’ll be with friends and family. I’ll be traveling to many different parts of Turkey,...
“Love is the answer, atleast, for most of the questions in my heart like, why...”
– Jack Johnson
iyi gidiyor.
I had a good cry the other night while I was skyping with my mom. I wasn’t crying because I miss her, even though I do at times. It just needed to happen. I’m stuck in this place of trying make the absolute most of my time, considering I have less than 7 weeks left. I’m still finding myself just sitting around at times, which is frustrating. I’m getting very little sleep...
may love...
This has been a very great time. Feeling confident and pushing my limits. Exploring as far as I can go. Quality time with important people in my life. I love this.
And there’s been so much to unravel in this city. Last week, some of us went to an old historic fortress right next to the second bridge on the European side. It’s called Rumeli Hisarı. We climbed a zillion steps to touch...
Anneler günü kutlu olsun!
Happy Mother’s Day to my moms. :) I love you with all my heart. And, I would not be the same person without you. The most valuable thing I’ve learned is how to love well, and I’ve learned that by watching and being loved by you. A thousand and bazillion thank yous don’t quite cover it. And neither does this blog post. But I want you to know, you deserve the best of...
April 2011
4 posts
I'm not fat, I'm an exchange student...
but with the posting of several pictures taken yesterday, I suddenly feel motivated to diet my butt off.
iyi paskalyalar
^Turkish for Happy Easter. :)
This is has been a great couple of days, I must say. Thursday, I finally met the Australian exchange students at my school. We went on a trip sponsored by Rotary to a museum in Emirgan, which is an area north of the second bridge on the European side. Then, we went to the pretty tulip gardens.
And then, Miniaturk. Miniaturk is basically a miniature version of...
tatil bitti
Well, today is the last day of my spring break. This weekend has definitely been a memorable one. Friday was a full day. I woke up early to go to Europe with Yasemin and Erim as they were on their way to school. I got on the metro and rode the entire length of it to Taksim. There, I waited in Starbucks for Laura to arrive and enjoyed a cup of earl grey tea. I just love seeing how they spell my...
spring break
Spring break for my school started on Monday. It’s been nice, but I wish my family was off school, too. Although, I’ve definitely been enjoying myself.
Yesterday, the first day of the break, I woke up a little later and caught a ride with my host dad to the European side. I met Laura in Taksim and we had lunch at a decent chinese restaurant. It was recommended to us by our Taiwanese...
March 2011
7 posts
spring forward
So, my last blog entry was the Turkish word for spring. And now this. I’ll admit, I’m very happy about the brighter, warmer weather coming up. It was gorgeous outside yesterday. I woke up around 5, went with my host dad to take my mom and Nana to the airport, went to Starbucks for a chai tea latte, and took two buses home to take a shower and a little nap. that was extraordinarily...
ilkbahar
i’m very happy to announce that yesterday was the first day of spring. now if we can just get some sunshine in this place, we’ll be all set. i forgot to check in with the groundhog on february 2nd, but i’m assuming he saw his shadow per usual. jerk.
the sun changes everything. last week, the sun came out, melted the snow away, and even stayed for a couple days. what is it about...
Turkish and Math: two foreign languages to me. I just helped Yasemin with her Turkish Math homework. Do I feel accomplished? Why yes I do.
kar var
We’re at home today. The snow has made it a little risky to venture out of our neighborhood. From what I can tell, Acarkent is the only area in Istanbul getting this much snow.
I’d call this my first snow day. Thumbs up.
“The snow doesn’t give a soft white damn whom it touches.”
– E.E. Cummings
July 7th, back to Texas
There it is. I’ve had it booked since January, but it still doesn’t feel very real. Sometimes I really wish it weren’t. Anyway. I’m weary of worrying about it. Here’s what I’ve been up to.
The past few weeks have actually been fairly quiet. I spent most of the last weekend in February with Yasemin. Just hanging around the house, but also going out. We walked...
February 2011
5 posts
wait,
today’s the last day of February? hehhh. My monthly report is going to be late again.
altı ay
Six months have come and gone far too quickly.
It’s hard not to think about the lack of time I have left. But I know I shouldn’t. After several discussions with Logan last night, I’ve been reminded of how impossible it should be to be sad here. It really should be impossible. We are only here for a year, and we are in this place. Full of beauty and history and new experiences...
to Bulgaria
I’ve been trying to decide if I wanted to write about this. I mean, of course I want to, but the question is, should I?
Well, obviously I’ve decided to write, so I guess we’ll find out.
There have been some issues regarding my legal status here in Turkey. Not only mine, but 7 other exchange students as well. Paper work wasn’t filed on time, miscommunication occurred, and...
i'm a big kid now
When I was a little kid, I always wanted to be an adult. I might as well have been one the way I bossed people around. Family and friends I grew up with never get tired of telling those stories. I don’t mind though. It helps me realize how much I’ve learned and grown. For a while, I just covered up my strong, determined, occasionally bossy characteristics. I considered them negative....
January 2011
12 posts
Kapalı Çarşı'ya Alara'yla gideceğim. Grand Bazaar...
city love.
My journal has been constantly in my hands, on my lap, and in front of my face for the past couple of weeks. I’ve written countless pages in just the past few days. That’s more than I’ve written all year. So I have to wonder why I’ve just now begun to really write. Every feeling that passes, good and bad, I want to account for it.
Right now, as inspired by my friend...
I'd like to opt out of going back home.
It’s stressing me out. Can’t leave this family. So, my people in Texas… you gotta come over here to Turkey. Good? K thanks yall. :)
left my pants at the waffle shop.
Last Monday, I spent some time with our friend from South Africa, Layinah. It was her last day. We went shopping in Taksim and I bought some black jeans from Mango. Later, sat down at a waffle shop and had a waffle. The ladies working there were so nice. We told them we were learning Turkish and they smiled and we helped each other understand. We had our waffles, said good bye to Layinah, and got...
ordinary days
there’s a new normal for my life. today was one of those days. a normal day. school, grandparents’ house, dinner, family, öyle bir geçer zaman ki, back home, sleep.
iyi geceler.
“There’s a reason for everything. And there’s a reason you’re...”
– Zeynep Ellialtıoğlu, my host mom
yağmur.
We’ve been going birthday crazy lately.
Yasemin’s was on January 6th. She woke up to breakfast in bed and had her favorite food for dinner: lasagna. Yumm. On Friday night, we celebrated Laura’s birthday. A bunch of friends in Taksim at a karaoke club. It was really fun. Lots of funny stories and more… haha. Ya good times.
Saturday, we went to a family friend’s house...
güle güle 2010, hoşgeldin 2011
This is part of my monthly report for the month of December. It pretty much sums everything up. :)
Happy New Year everyone. In Turkish, Mutlu Yıllar, Yeni Yıliniz Kutlu Olsun, Iyi Yıllar, and many more. It’s hard to believe that it is actually 2011; the start of a new decade. For the exchange students of 2010-2011, it means the end of our “year of a lifetime.” That’s a scary thought. However, this...
December 2010
3 posts
noeliniz kutlu olsun
That^ (according to the internet) is how Merry Christmas is said in Turkish. Well, I’m not sure how accurate it is because it’s not really said too often… since Turks don’t celebrate Christmas. New Years is on the way! Mutlu Yillar, Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun, all of that. :)
Today, is Christmas. And it doesn’t matter that it is different. Not for me. The feeling is...
warmer.
I’m worried that if I wait any longer to post, I’ll have gone a month without an update. And that is simply not acceptable.
I’ve written several starts but as soon as I get going, something else comes up and I close my laptop.
It’s been a while. Lots has happened. Lots of feelings felt. But however I find myself feeling, I can always say I’m thankful. And I try to....
November 2010
6 posts
chili and a christmas tree.
Mmm. Thanksgiving is an American holiday. So obviously, I missed out on any sort of feasting or celebration. But, I certainly participated in the “giving thanks.” I try to give thanks every day anyway. I just feel so blessed. And it’s important for me to stop and thank God for well… everything. My list goes on. Prayer is strange to some people. It can be a really foreign...
“compassion goes beyond being concerned.”
– Randy Dane, Equipping Pastor at Brazospointe Fellowship
