When the rain will not let up and you have run out of Nescafe instant coffee packets, there is really only one thing left to do. Go to the salon. I say that like this is something that I do quite often, but in reality, you have the wrong girl. Anyway, I woke up this morning, looked at the weather, and decided that Mia Farrow's picture and I were going to get pampered. I hate that word...pamper. We showed up at the mall and to our surprise, the male hairdresser actually agreed to cut off ALL of my hair. Usually, I am laughed at or talked out of the hair that I have been contemplating for weeks, months, even years. (To those who feel that looking like a little boy is never the way to go, I am sorry. You don't have to live with this hair, in this weather, and you are not my sisters. What they say, I do).
Well, the experience was an interesting one. I had the opportunity to visit the shampoo station both before and after the haircut, I had about 5 pairs of eyes on me the entire time (not ideal/very uncomfortable), and the hairstylist kept trying to tell me that he was from Las Vegas. His inability to speak English kind of gave him away. All in all, it was a 7/10 experience due to the fact that I now have "shaped" eyebrows, Mia Farrow-esque hair (of course with a Turkish twist), and Mustafa's business card.
(Note: Mustafa kept building himself up during the haircut....."Yes. Good. Perfect. Çok güzel. Yes. Nice."....I kept saying to myself, "Dude, my cousin's twins could perfect this haircut and they are one.")
Well, it is official. Turkey is weird and Emil Minty is my idol.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
From Pişmanye to the Bosphorus Bridge
When Domla first brought home what the Turks call "pişmanye," I thought that maybe Istanbul just couldn't get any better. Well, today it did. While a cotton candy-like substance stuffed into a delicious chocolate coating does have a chart-topping quality to it, walk-jogging in the Avrasya Maratonu's "Fun Run" (8k) this morning was definitely the highlight of what has become such an eye-opening study abroad experience. Starting at 9:30am, this run welcomed everyone from that woman in purple rain boots to men with MMM Migros shopping bags. Anything to be able to cross the world-famous Bosphorus Bridge as a pedestrian--something that is not allowed on a daily basis. Once the time came and the rain started to let up, what seemed like the entire population of Istanbul (probably not, however, considering that would mean 11-15 million individuals) was off and running. Cakes, flags, cameras, alcohol. You name it, they had it. As I crossed the Bosphorus, once again, it seemed as if the sky couldn't be any more spectacular. Upon returning to the United States, I am almost positive that I will hear Istanbul mentioned in daily conversation and will immediately be taken back to the unbelievable skies that I have witnessed.
So, why am I here again? Oh yes. School. Well, classes could not be any more interesting. Is that what I am supposed to say? Well, to be honest, we are dealing with a hodgepodge of emotions when I am quickly reminded that I have about 100 pages of reading to do or perhaps 2 research projects to complete. While my Turkish class is going faster than I might be used to, it is definitely my favorite class being that the professor is well, my peer. Literally. She is in my FLED 501 class. I think that this will mean a better grade in the long run, not because I will be receiving special treatment, but because I do not want to disappoint someone who I respect as a fellow teacher. Bilgen. You are very cool.
With regards to the "other" classes.....heh. Well, FLED 511 has been called off for two weeks while the professor is at a conference and this will inevitably mean an extra half hour tacked on here and there to an already lengthy 3 hours. I can deal. FLED 524. Scary. Still don't know exactly what the class is about, but even with this, I have about 90 pages to read before Wednesday. And finally, FLED 501. Research Methods. Gulcan Hanım. Love her because she loves Dr. Heather. The reading is interesting, the book has cartoons in it, and my classmates are normal. Score.
A few extra tidbits: Rebecca and I still forget that "Caddesi" is pronounced "Jaddesi." I met a Bangladeshi yesterday and had the opportunity to ask him "How are you?" in Bengali. I received a very enthusiastic "khub bhalo" that made my day, as well as a t-shirt that says "Bangladesh CS" on it. I drink way too much Coke Light. I run to Bebek a fair amount to see the sun rise on the Bosphorus. I have learned that with wearing a San Francisco Giants hat comes the possibility that the security guard will run after you because he has no idea who you are. It is me, man, it is me. I guess that I will actually have to "do" my hair from now on.
With that, this is really a special place to be for 4.5 months. While both the men and the stray cats take a few too many liberties, I am still happy. Every single day.
So, why am I here again? Oh yes. School. Well, classes could not be any more interesting. Is that what I am supposed to say? Well, to be honest, we are dealing with a hodgepodge of emotions when I am quickly reminded that I have about 100 pages of reading to do or perhaps 2 research projects to complete. While my Turkish class is going faster than I might be used to, it is definitely my favorite class being that the professor is well, my peer. Literally. She is in my FLED 501 class. I think that this will mean a better grade in the long run, not because I will be receiving special treatment, but because I do not want to disappoint someone who I respect as a fellow teacher. Bilgen. You are very cool.
With regards to the "other" classes.....heh. Well, FLED 511 has been called off for two weeks while the professor is at a conference and this will inevitably mean an extra half hour tacked on here and there to an already lengthy 3 hours. I can deal. FLED 524. Scary. Still don't know exactly what the class is about, but even with this, I have about 90 pages to read before Wednesday. And finally, FLED 501. Research Methods. Gulcan Hanım. Love her because she loves Dr. Heather. The reading is interesting, the book has cartoons in it, and my classmates are normal. Score.
A few extra tidbits: Rebecca and I still forget that "Caddesi" is pronounced "Jaddesi." I met a Bangladeshi yesterday and had the opportunity to ask him "How are you?" in Bengali. I received a very enthusiastic "khub bhalo" that made my day, as well as a t-shirt that says "Bangladesh CS" on it. I drink way too much Coke Light. I run to Bebek a fair amount to see the sun rise on the Bosphorus. I have learned that with wearing a San Francisco Giants hat comes the possibility that the security guard will run after you because he has no idea who you are. It is me, man, it is me. I guess that I will actually have to "do" my hair from now on.
With that, this is really a special place to be for 4.5 months. While both the men and the stray cats take a few too many liberties, I am still happy. Every single day.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
That is so Turkey
It is finally that time. Classes at Boğaziçi start tomorrow! No more Project Runway marathons, no more sleeping in until 11am, and no more day trips with restaurant owners to perfect little fishing villages on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. At least not Monday-Thursday. So, on tap for tomorrow is Second Language Acquisition......a class that is considered to be one of the more challenging classes in the TESOL program. Or is it considered the most boring? I forget. Anyway, the professor has not released the location of the class as of late, and well, this was to be expected. Hopefully, we will be given at least one hour to find the room considering Boğaziçi is spread out over 4 campuses (ok, ok...2 of the campuses are not that heavily used) and the South Campus is quite a hike away. Ahh, that is so Turkey.
I have another roommate! A Turk! While I had a little bit of trouble figuring out which female standing in front of me was my roommate-Domla or her mother-it turns out that I have scored once again! Another stylish and very friendly young lady. My only complaint--I just throw my silverware in a drawer and/or use plastic utensils, while she has her knives, forks, and spoons neatly organized in a little cup with a doily beneath them. In addition, she is probably an excellent cook. Oh no. Whatever shall we do?
TuRkEy Difference of the Day: The light switch is on the outside of the bathroom. Problem #1. I always forget this fact and have to exit, turn on the light, and enter once again. Problem #2. Mean people can turn off the light while you are using the tuvalet. Problem #3. I don't like this.
I have another roommate! A Turk! While I had a little bit of trouble figuring out which female standing in front of me was my roommate-Domla or her mother-it turns out that I have scored once again! Another stylish and very friendly young lady. My only complaint--I just throw my silverware in a drawer and/or use plastic utensils, while she has her knives, forks, and spoons neatly organized in a little cup with a doily beneath them. In addition, she is probably an excellent cook. Oh no. Whatever shall we do?
TuRkEy Difference of the Day: The light switch is on the outside of the bathroom. Problem #1. I always forget this fact and have to exit, turn on the light, and enter once again. Problem #2. Mean people can turn off the light while you are using the tuvalet. Problem #3. I don't like this.
Monday, September 21, 2009
A perfect Day to Live in Istanbul
It is amazing how much a city can shine when the light is just right. It was a good day for Istanbul. Rebecca and I chose today to be the day when we would venture out on the much-anticipated Bosphorus Cruise. While we had originally planned to take the ferry that stops at multiple locations on both the European and Asian sides of Turkey, we ended up on the boat that just went up the Bosphorus and then came back.....no stops. This turned out to be a completely adequate option for we both took some nice pictures (the light was absolutely perfect) and had a very relaxing afternoon among Turks and foreigners alike. Lasting just an hour and a half, we decided to stretch out our day and hit "The Blue Mosque." We had only seen it from the outside and today was the day that we would take off our shoes and wear those scarves on our heads with pride. After waiting an hour or so until the "prayer time" was finished, we entered into what has now become my favorite part of Istanbul. The lights, the blue tiles, the stained-glass windows.....just incredible. The mosque itself was separated into a section for visitors, and two separate sections for those praying (center of the mosque for men, outskirts for the women). I just loved being in a place that is still used today for its original purpose. Added bonus: When we walked out of the mosque, the light on Hagia Sofia was absolutely incredible. Props to the light. Props to the light.
On the docket for tomorrow: TopKapı PalAce.
Oh, and a word to the wise--Never visit Eminönü if you do not have to. The pit of hell.
On the docket for tomorrow: TopKapı PalAce.
Oh, and a word to the wise--Never visit Eminönü if you do not have to. The pit of hell.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
An Outing Centered Around the Nargile?
Orientation Day! It had finally arrived. On the schedule: Orientation from 3-5, Campus Tour from 5-6, Dinner from 6-7:30, and finally, the City Tour to Tophane from 7:30-to whenever.
Orientation: The "Intro to Boğaziçi" was .....short. Lasting about 30 minutes, this presentation was a bit of a let-down. Every exchange, special and erasmus student in the Theater Hall wanted information on how to get the necessary residence permit and of course, the usual "you will find the information needed in an email sent out later" was the outcome. Things definitely move a bit slower here in Turkey and it may take a few weeks to really get used to this. However, I know that John Doe (the guy who loves when people read extremely quietly off of their powerpoint slides and never look at the audience) had an awesome time at the orientation!
Campus Tour: 3 groups of about 40-50 students. Each group led by one Turkish student. We "toured" about 1% of one of three campuses. Not really a huge success.
Dinner: Cost-15 Lira or about $10. Not cheap. Although I basically inhaled the buffet-style dinner (I seem to be hungy all of the time:)), the quality of the food was not what the Turks are capable of. The dessert was great however! And.....I tried the salt-yogurt drink (Ayran) that is so popular around here! It was .....interesting.
City Tour of Tophane: As the buses fill up, the anticipation grows. What will this city tour consist of? A mosque visit? A lovely view of the Bosphorus? Nope. None of the above. We walk two minutes, sit down at some bar/cafe/a place with bean bag chairs, and here we are offered tea or the opportunity to smoke some "Turkish tobacco." Of course, as we soon find out, if you don't want to smoke the "nargile", you are kicked out. End of evening. A large group of us ended up taking public transportation back to the Superdorm.
Positive aspects to the evening: Meeting some new faces, getting a bit more familiar with the Turkish way of life, getting more familiar with the public transportation system, trying apple tea (just like apple cider and a new favorite), and in general, being in Istanbul.
Orientation: The "Intro to Boğaziçi" was .....short. Lasting about 30 minutes, this presentation was a bit of a let-down. Every exchange, special and erasmus student in the Theater Hall wanted information on how to get the necessary residence permit and of course, the usual "you will find the information needed in an email sent out later" was the outcome. Things definitely move a bit slower here in Turkey and it may take a few weeks to really get used to this. However, I know that John Doe (the guy who loves when people read extremely quietly off of their powerpoint slides and never look at the audience) had an awesome time at the orientation!
Campus Tour: 3 groups of about 40-50 students. Each group led by one Turkish student. We "toured" about 1% of one of three campuses. Not really a huge success.
Dinner: Cost-15 Lira or about $10. Not cheap. Although I basically inhaled the buffet-style dinner (I seem to be hungy all of the time:)), the quality of the food was not what the Turks are capable of. The dessert was great however! And.....I tried the salt-yogurt drink (Ayran) that is so popular around here! It was .....interesting.
City Tour of Tophane: As the buses fill up, the anticipation grows. What will this city tour consist of? A mosque visit? A lovely view of the Bosphorus? Nope. None of the above. We walk two minutes, sit down at some bar/cafe/a place with bean bag chairs, and here we are offered tea or the opportunity to smoke some "Turkish tobacco." Of course, as we soon find out, if you don't want to smoke the "nargile", you are kicked out. End of evening. A large group of us ended up taking public transportation back to the Superdorm.
Positive aspects to the evening: Meeting some new faces, getting a bit more familiar with the Turkish way of life, getting more familiar with the public transportation system, trying apple tea (just like apple cider and a new favorite), and in general, being in Istanbul.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday in Istanbul
Almost six days have gone by here in Istanbul. While it has been filled with new words, new food, and a new language, it has been a very nice transition. I now have a lovely roomate from Germany (I was getting a little lonely in the dorm), have become familiar with a couple Turkish words, and know where the grocery store is. I have a phone, know where I can get internet access, and have completed the pre-registration process. Now onto the important stuff.
Istanbul: Lovely. While it is packed with cars and more apartment buildings than I have ever seen, it seems to all just flow very nicely together. We have an incredible view of the Bosphorus from our university campus (Boğaziçi) and what I have seen from the bus rides that I have taken, this just might be one perfect place to live for five months.
People: The Turkish people are so wonderful. Friendly, caring, hospitable, and just plain beautiful. I have met such lovely individuals and cannot wait to meet more! I am here at Boğaziçi University with a fellow CSUS classmate (Rebecca Adler) and am so very grateful to have someone to bounce things off of. She is living in a swanky apartment about 30 minutes away from the campus and the bus ride to her area is so easy/relaxing. She also lives right next to Europe's largest shopping mall (Cevahir)which is an added bonus! In addition, my first roomie showed up today from Germany! She is friendly, fashionable, and well, awesome. Very grateful for her as well!
Food: So far, I have tried a very small percentage of what Turkey has to offer, but it has been quite delicious if I may say so myself. A little meat, a little chicken, some nice salads, and some amazing desserts. I have made a pact with myself to try anything and everything, and so far, it has been a very good thing. Along with the food choices, there are also a wide variety of drink options: tea, tea and some more tea. I love çay! (I tried the Turkish kahve....not for me).
Turkish Language: I really, really, really want to pick up a decent amount of Turkish!! I have been working hard to study up and master the -uh and -ew sounds found so often in Turkish, and hopefully, I will soon recognize a few words here and there. For now, it is "hello", "thank you" and "one tea please."
The sights of Istanbul: Rebecca and I had the opportunity to visit Hagia Sofia the other day and just as would be imagined, it was quite spectacular. The history here is unbelievable and we have only begun to skim the surface. Next on the list: Sultanahmet. Topkapı Palace.
I am so very excited for the months to come here in Istanbul. What a wonderful place to study the English language! A big "THANK YOU!" goes out to Kristina Kellermann for all of the tips, cool stuff, and friendly support!
Istanbul: Lovely. While it is packed with cars and more apartment buildings than I have ever seen, it seems to all just flow very nicely together. We have an incredible view of the Bosphorus from our university campus (Boğaziçi) and what I have seen from the bus rides that I have taken, this just might be one perfect place to live for five months.
People: The Turkish people are so wonderful. Friendly, caring, hospitable, and just plain beautiful. I have met such lovely individuals and cannot wait to meet more! I am here at Boğaziçi University with a fellow CSUS classmate (Rebecca Adler) and am so very grateful to have someone to bounce things off of. She is living in a swanky apartment about 30 minutes away from the campus and the bus ride to her area is so easy/relaxing. She also lives right next to Europe's largest shopping mall (Cevahir)which is an added bonus! In addition, my first roomie showed up today from Germany! She is friendly, fashionable, and well, awesome. Very grateful for her as well!
Food: So far, I have tried a very small percentage of what Turkey has to offer, but it has been quite delicious if I may say so myself. A little meat, a little chicken, some nice salads, and some amazing desserts. I have made a pact with myself to try anything and everything, and so far, it has been a very good thing. Along with the food choices, there are also a wide variety of drink options: tea, tea and some more tea. I love çay! (I tried the Turkish kahve....not for me).
Turkish Language: I really, really, really want to pick up a decent amount of Turkish!! I have been working hard to study up and master the -uh and -ew sounds found so often in Turkish, and hopefully, I will soon recognize a few words here and there. For now, it is "hello", "thank you" and "one tea please."
The sights of Istanbul: Rebecca and I had the opportunity to visit Hagia Sofia the other day and just as would be imagined, it was quite spectacular. The history here is unbelievable and we have only begun to skim the surface. Next on the list: Sultanahmet. Topkapı Palace.
I am so very excited for the months to come here in Istanbul. What a wonderful place to study the English language! A big "THANK YOU!" goes out to Kristina Kellermann for all of the tips, cool stuff, and friendly support!
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