Hey Everyone!

This past 6 months has been an adventure of a lifetime! It is so cliche but it is more than true. I have meet so many amazing people and experienced a culture so different than my own. I have taken some time to travel around on breaks and weekends so I have seen much of Turkey and have had the amazing opportunity to travel with friends to Budapest, Hungry and Amman and Aquaba, Jordan. In my wildest dreams I would not have imagined the time I am having here. I have learned so much about myself and even thought I have so many thoughts about my future and who I want to be, I think I am a lot closer to figuring it out because of this journey. When I think about how I will describe this experience to my friends and family the only way is to say unbelievable. It has been nothing I expected but in the best way. The people here are so friendly sometimes to a fault. There is a saying here that if you have to ask for directions, ask at least 3 people because even if someone does not know they will tell you something because they want to help. Many if not most things are very different here. The food for example, everything here is pretty much fresh serve no microwave meals or canned foods; which is amazing but sometimes I just want a fast meal I can heat up and be on my way. The other main thing I have had to get used to is the gender differences. Even though places like Jordan and much of the Middle East are much strict on this, Istanbul has been an adjustment from that aspect as well. I went to my friend's college campus on the asian side yesterday and it was the first time it really stuck me. Friendships between men and women are rare. Even if they bump into each other no one says anything they just keep walking. This demeanor towards each other reminds me a lot of high school. The girls have their clicks and gossip about boys they like but will never talk to and boys do the exact same thing. Sometimes it is uncomfortable to walk to school and sit and hangout between classes with my guy friends because the looks we get are so surreal. Many women have asked me why I have so many guy friends and what it is like. This part of my experience has not tainted my experience in any way, it is just something I had to get used to.

Gosh this place is beautiful! It is kind of like a Middle Eastern New York in a sense. Istanbul is a bustling city full of rapid passed life. From 8 am classes to midnight parties, this city never sleeps. It journey has been absolutely incredible and surreal. I can't wait to see my friends and family again, but I have been here for 6 months and have settled into a routine that will be difficult to leave. I can't believe there is only 4 months left, but that just means I get to tell my story soon. :D

Love you all and hope everyone is doing well!

XOXO,

M

MERHABA!!!
HELLO!!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post but I have been extremely busy! After a lot of running around and long days I have gotten my school schedule straightened out and everything in order for this next year in this breathtaking place I get to call home! It is absolutely unreal here! There are no words to describe how beautiful it is so bare with me:). I live about 15 minutes (walking) away from my school's main campus that overlooks the Bosphorus. Across the Bosphorus is Istanbul's asian side which you can get to by taking a beautiful ferry ride. I am surprised to find myself not becoming homesick yet. They say the honeymoon phase lasts from 2 weeks to a month and I find myself calling this place home more and more. All of us in the USAC program went to a couple of different cities within Turkey this weekend as a group and it was such an amazing trip but it made me realize that my apartment in Istanbul is really becoming home. I am someone who has always loved adventure and new opportunities and I have always adapted to my situations very well and I think this will help me call Istanbul home.

My goal for the next year is to pick up as much Turkish as I can! Right now I am şöyle böyle (so-so) but I aim to be as good as I can by the time I leave.

I hope everyone is well and I'll post again as soon as I can!

-M