I've been back in the States for a month now. This has probably been the longest month of my life. I miss traveling. I think about it everyday. For a while I was seeing faces of friends from Koc. As many of you know I will graduate this June. Studying abroad changed my life. It made me realize how much I want to see the world. It made me realize my place in the world is to help people.
Well, I came across an amazing opportunity to travel to 16 countries in 2 months this summer as a STA Travel Intern. Please take the time out to vote for me.
http://www.worldtravelerinternship.com/member/aquiera-halsey/
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Sunday, December 19, 2010
3 Weekends left
Thursday night I ordered a medium fry at BK to make crab fries. I offered the cashiers and manager some becuase of that the managere gave me a larger fry for free so I made more fries. They were oh so yummy! After that I went to ESN to dance the night away with the girls.
On Friday - Becca, Raven, Susannah, Emily and I all ventured to Kadikoy on the Asian side of Istanbul for a lovely Turkish lunch and jewlery. After that Emily, Raven and I visted the Spice Baazar were I tried cinnamon Turkish Delight for the first time, whic is one of my favorites. I also picked up two beautiful scarfs that called my name. lol. In the same store was shown plates that were made with moon stone and glow in the dark and the most expensive scarfs that are made in Turkey. They are called shatoos and are made out of goat beards and cost around 1000TL.
On the bus back to campus an old Turkish man sat accross from me and stared me down. After about 10 minuets he spoke in perfect English and asked me if my hair was real. I replied yes and said the steps that I take to retwist my hair.
On Friday - Becca, Raven, Susannah, Emily and I all ventured to Kadikoy on the Asian side of Istanbul for a lovely Turkish lunch and jewlery. After that Emily, Raven and I visted the Spice Baazar were I tried cinnamon Turkish Delight for the first time, whic is one of my favorites. I also picked up two beautiful scarfs that called my name. lol. In the same store was shown plates that were made with moon stone and glow in the dark and the most expensive scarfs that are made in Turkey. They are called shatoos and are made out of goat beards and cost around 1000TL.
On the bus back to campus an old Turkish man sat accross from me and stared me down. After about 10 minuets he spoke in perfect English and asked me if my hair was real. I replied yes and said the steps that I take to retwist my hair.
Customs day
I took my final Wednesday morning and immediately headed to the exchange office to meet Fernando from Spain who also had to go to customs. On the bus to Kabatas I looked out the window to see a Turkish man blowing me kisses. SMH. (Shaking My Head) I pointed this out to Fernando and we shared a good laugh. We proceeded with our conversation which was Fernando's desire to hijack to Syria with Michal from Poland. I explained to him that hijack was an off limits word to an American and that the right word was hitch hike. After that a Turkish woman shushed us. I got pretty annoyed since it seems that Turkish people only have something to say to non-Turkish people talking on the public transportation but it's completely fine for them to talk.
We reached Kabatas and took the tram to Topkappi and then headed over to customs. What a primative place. I can truly say I am thankful for the accurracy of the USPS. I started at window 1 to show my notice, window 5 to hand in another paper then window 6 for customs to go through my things. then back to window 1 and window 6 to pay. All in all my process took only 30 mins and cost 2TL. Fernando on the other hand was running arround because his mother declared his package to be 300Euros or 600TL. I sat down while Fernando was sorting things out and a few seconds later the TA, Emre that proctored my final was getting his own package out of customs. He waited around and helped out Fernando since we were heading back to campus. Thankful Emre got Fernando's charge down from 200TL to 100TL.
On the way back we took Emre's way - the Metrobus to Medickoy. Immediately on the bus Fernando and Emre conversed in Spanish and English as Emre lived two years in Spain. I on the other hand listened and snacked on some of Fernando's Haribro Gummy Bears. The real kind. Once we got back to Sariya we boared the dolmus were Fernando immediately opened a pack of his Serrano ham. He said this taste better because it's forb-i-den not forbidden. I corrected him and he laughed and said all the same at this point my ham is for me. He offered me a piece but I could not express the same love.
Later on that night, Becca cooked dinner - herbed chicken and bruschetta inspired pasta. Yummmy.
We reached Kabatas and took the tram to Topkappi and then headed over to customs. What a primative place. I can truly say I am thankful for the accurracy of the USPS. I started at window 1 to show my notice, window 5 to hand in another paper then window 6 for customs to go through my things. then back to window 1 and window 6 to pay. All in all my process took only 30 mins and cost 2TL. Fernando on the other hand was running arround because his mother declared his package to be 300Euros or 600TL. I sat down while Fernando was sorting things out and a few seconds later the TA, Emre that proctored my final was getting his own package out of customs. He waited around and helped out Fernando since we were heading back to campus. Thankful Emre got Fernando's charge down from 200TL to 100TL.
On the way back we took Emre's way - the Metrobus to Medickoy. Immediately on the bus Fernando and Emre conversed in Spanish and English as Emre lived two years in Spain. I on the other hand listened and snacked on some of Fernando's Haribro Gummy Bears. The real kind. Once we got back to Sariya we boared the dolmus were Fernando immediately opened a pack of his Serrano ham. He said this taste better because it's forb-i-den not forbidden. I corrected him and he laughed and said all the same at this point my ham is for me. He offered me a piece but I could not express the same love.
Later on that night, Becca cooked dinner - herbed chicken and bruschetta inspired pasta. Yummmy.
I want to go home!
Tuesday, I received an email notification that my package finally arrived. (USPS Express mail still takes 2 weeks in Turkey.) So I run to the PTT Office before class and I'm given a form in Turkish to read. I look at the guy and ask for an English verison and he laughs. I waited about a minuet before a Koc student came in. The PTT guy asked the Turkish student for help and the student proceeded to laugh and then roughly translate that I needed to go to the customs location 2 hours away. I was so mad when I left. (That is part of the reason I've waited to post this.)
I arrive to class with customs heavy on my brain. My least favorite professor Canir Bakir who teaches International Political Economy arrives late and decides to finally take care of house keeping items. He started talking about the midterm and I replied when can I see it since we took it three weeks ago and I am taking my final tomorrow morning. The professor seemed to have a bit of an attitude and continued on with the class. A few minuets later he takes out a Turkish newspaper to read to the class. The only thing he translates is the header. I got annoyed and speak with Lexie as the professor has conducted atleast 25% of every class in Turkish. He turns to me and asks if I have a question I say no. Then I reply to Lexie why would I ask a question when he told a guy during midterm review not to ask questions in class. The professor turns to me again and asks me what he just said. I replied I understand what you are saying when you speak in English but not in Turkish. I'm pretty sure this made him angry as he cut me off numerous times while I recited his words.
After class I headed to his office with two other exchange students to see my midterm grade. I wasn't thrilled about the grade but I expected it since he's still of test was theory based and I'm not good at it. So any way the professor turns to me, looks me in the eyes and asks is it higher or lower than I expected. At that point I was fed up and had decided to write a letter to the Dean of Academics.
I left the professors office for the exchange office and I was told that I had to go across town to pick up my package and to bring 100TL with me in case I had to pay a huge amount for my package.
Overall this day was one of two bad days at Koc. As I felt a weight on my shoulders and my patience thining.
I arrive to class with customs heavy on my brain. My least favorite professor Canir Bakir who teaches International Political Economy arrives late and decides to finally take care of house keeping items. He started talking about the midterm and I replied when can I see it since we took it three weeks ago and I am taking my final tomorrow morning. The professor seemed to have a bit of an attitude and continued on with the class. A few minuets later he takes out a Turkish newspaper to read to the class. The only thing he translates is the header. I got annoyed and speak with Lexie as the professor has conducted atleast 25% of every class in Turkish. He turns to me and asks if I have a question I say no. Then I reply to Lexie why would I ask a question when he told a guy during midterm review not to ask questions in class. The professor turns to me again and asks me what he just said. I replied I understand what you are saying when you speak in English but not in Turkish. I'm pretty sure this made him angry as he cut me off numerous times while I recited his words.
After class I headed to his office with two other exchange students to see my midterm grade. I wasn't thrilled about the grade but I expected it since he's still of test was theory based and I'm not good at it. So any way the professor turns to me, looks me in the eyes and asks is it higher or lower than I expected. At that point I was fed up and had decided to write a letter to the Dean of Academics.
I left the professors office for the exchange office and I was told that I had to go across town to pick up my package and to bring 100TL with me in case I had to pay a huge amount for my package.
Overall this day was one of two bad days at Koc. As I felt a weight on my shoulders and my patience thining.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Phone Home
I finally spoke with my friend Tameeka today. We spent a couple of hours on the phone talking about my experience in Egypt and Ethiopia. I love talking with her because she challenges my thinking and overall is a very knowledgeable person.
While on Facebook I decided to see if my brothers were on and they were. My 15 y.o. brothers are no longer my babies. I just hope they stay focused in high school. I spoke with my mom about my Serenity. I've had a hard time speaking with her while in Turkey. I hope things will change when I come back. I love Serenity as if she were my own child. Serenity has helped me change in so many ways and it would be heart breaking not to be able to see her like I used to when I get back.
Finally I spoke with my God Mom Esther and God Brother Bernard today. Speaking with them was a reminder of how home is where the heart is. Every year I have Thanksgiving dinner with them. This year I called in for dinner from Rome but things were not the same. (Man I miss the food and falling asleep at the dinner table.)I say that to say this. I have become a young adult and ventured off into the world to find and create myself. Along the way I have lost many friends and family which often times have left me feeling lonely. Speaking with them made me realize that I am not alone. That my family is proud and I am doing the right thing.
I don't know about your family and friends but mine are real 24/7 or as they say in Turkey 7/24. They never beat around the bush and they do not stroke egos. They are anything but phony. They do not judge me based on assumptions because they take the time out to ask questions. Lately, I have been feeling as though people have jumped to conclusions because I am in the simplest of terms complex. I speak when I have to. I ask questions when I need to. Lastly, I am blessed to have the opportunity to go abroad on the weekends and see other countries. My eyes are not only soaking in knowledge for myself but information for all the people I know from home who have not been able to see what I have.
Remaining humble.
Salaam
While on Facebook I decided to see if my brothers were on and they were. My 15 y.o. brothers are no longer my babies. I just hope they stay focused in high school. I spoke with my mom about my Serenity. I've had a hard time speaking with her while in Turkey. I hope things will change when I come back. I love Serenity as if she were my own child. Serenity has helped me change in so many ways and it would be heart breaking not to be able to see her like I used to when I get back.
Finally I spoke with my God Mom Esther and God Brother Bernard today. Speaking with them was a reminder of how home is where the heart is. Every year I have Thanksgiving dinner with them. This year I called in for dinner from Rome but things were not the same. (Man I miss the food and falling asleep at the dinner table.)I say that to say this. I have become a young adult and ventured off into the world to find and create myself. Along the way I have lost many friends and family which often times have left me feeling lonely. Speaking with them made me realize that I am not alone. That my family is proud and I am doing the right thing.
I don't know about your family and friends but mine are real 24/7 or as they say in Turkey 7/24. They never beat around the bush and they do not stroke egos. They are anything but phony. They do not judge me based on assumptions because they take the time out to ask questions. Lately, I have been feeling as though people have jumped to conclusions because I am in the simplest of terms complex. I speak when I have to. I ask questions when I need to. Lastly, I am blessed to have the opportunity to go abroad on the weekends and see other countries. My eyes are not only soaking in knowledge for myself but information for all the people I know from home who have not been able to see what I have.
Remaining humble.
Salaam
7 weekends later
This weekend was my first time being in Istanbul since Halloween weekend. On Thursday night I cooked dinner - chicken, tomatoe, spinach and pasta soup. I invited a few people over because I didn't want leftovers. After dinner we headed to Besitas for "the best nargile in town". I beg to differ especially since the service was so sucky. After about an hour the 9 of us headed to the main road to find a cab to take 4 and 5 of us to Taksim. One cab driver had the nerve to say to me that he would get a ticket if he had 5 people in his cab. I told him I had be living in the country for 3 months and witnessed drivers driving up the wrong side of the road and many other things...
Our first stop in Taksim was BBQ Chicken (the restaurant name) for seasoned french fries. The store had been closed for an hour when we arrived but Lexie went in and flaunted her blonde hair and magically the fryers were on. 10 minuets later 7 of us had patatas. We left to find a good place to dance. We did find one place Club Purple, where men were throwing napkins in the air for our group to dance. Weird I know. The other weird thing was how many times I was called Beyonce or how many times people tried to convince me to get my friends to come into their club.
The night was wrapping up and we were waiting for Jasmine to come out of the bathroom of a Kumpir (baked poatatoe) shop. While waiting I saw a polis pick up a beer mug in the middle of the street. He looked at me with disdain and hand it over. Score! Another souvenir was added to my collection. We walked up Istakkal St. for a cab for the 11 of us. Before hopping in a cab a few people decided to try wet burgers. Yuck! After that we split into two cabs. (Ha! Remember the cab driver earlier said that wasn't possible.)
The next morning I headed out to Sultanahmet area to buy my train ticket to Sophia, Bulgaria for New Years with Lexie, Melissa, Becca and Raven. It began to snow for the first time while I was waiting on the dolmus. I was not thrilled as I thought I would miss the snow in Turkey. On the way to Sultanahmet we decide to stop in Taksim for 2 hours. Melissa, Lexie and I decided to go to BBQ for food. Our favorite person, the manager Mehmet was there. Mehmet has a crush on Lexie, so he purchased a bracelet for her while we were there, taught us some Turkish, gave us free food and drinks and mugs.(I call that a successful trip.)
In Sultanahmet we went to the Spice Baazar or Egyptian Baazar. There Lexie and I picked up match shirts, some jewlery and some tea. While in the Baazar the group of us were referred as Spice Girls and I was called Obama on atleast 6 occassions. After purchasing my ticket with Becca and Raven we headed out to the Mosaic museum and then the baazar (open market) that was there. I finally purchased my nargile, a pretty ceramic one with bronze accents.
By this time the weather is hailing, sleeting and mighty cold. The group split up to buy specific things in the area and met again on the tram. While on the tram we met an American man who moved to Istanbul 18 years ago to teach and was moving back to the States in January.It's funny that we met him because last week we were questioning where would we live outside of the US. The group split again and this time I went with Raven and Becca to try kumpir (baked potatoe) on Kumpir Sokak (baked potatoe street). I had a kumpir butter, cheese, corn, red cabbage and cabbage mayo. But there were lots of other toppings to pick - hot dogs, american salad, bulgar, olives, olive paste and more.
We arrived back to campus around 8pm and I was exhausted. I cancelled on hanging out in Taksim with the girls and the 57km/hr winds. Instead I opted to catch up things and ask Becca, my roommate 30 questions. She's quite interesting.
The next morning I woke up at noon when I was suppose to be up at 10 to make brunch with Becca and Raven. Becca was the star today. Last night she told me she could not successfully cook eggs. So I taught her and she made amazing scrambled eggs with cheese, spinach and tomatoes. I'm so proud. My stomach is too!
Our first stop in Taksim was BBQ Chicken (the restaurant name) for seasoned french fries. The store had been closed for an hour when we arrived but Lexie went in and flaunted her blonde hair and magically the fryers were on. 10 minuets later 7 of us had patatas. We left to find a good place to dance. We did find one place Club Purple, where men were throwing napkins in the air for our group to dance. Weird I know. The other weird thing was how many times I was called Beyonce or how many times people tried to convince me to get my friends to come into their club.
The night was wrapping up and we were waiting for Jasmine to come out of the bathroom of a Kumpir (baked poatatoe) shop. While waiting I saw a polis pick up a beer mug in the middle of the street. He looked at me with disdain and hand it over. Score! Another souvenir was added to my collection. We walked up Istakkal St. for a cab for the 11 of us. Before hopping in a cab a few people decided to try wet burgers. Yuck! After that we split into two cabs. (Ha! Remember the cab driver earlier said that wasn't possible.)
The next morning I headed out to Sultanahmet area to buy my train ticket to Sophia, Bulgaria for New Years with Lexie, Melissa, Becca and Raven. It began to snow for the first time while I was waiting on the dolmus. I was not thrilled as I thought I would miss the snow in Turkey. On the way to Sultanahmet we decide to stop in Taksim for 2 hours. Melissa, Lexie and I decided to go to BBQ for food. Our favorite person, the manager Mehmet was there. Mehmet has a crush on Lexie, so he purchased a bracelet for her while we were there, taught us some Turkish, gave us free food and drinks and mugs.(I call that a successful trip.)
In Sultanahmet we went to the Spice Baazar or Egyptian Baazar. There Lexie and I picked up match shirts, some jewlery and some tea. While in the Baazar the group of us were referred as Spice Girls and I was called Obama on atleast 6 occassions. After purchasing my ticket with Becca and Raven we headed out to the Mosaic museum and then the baazar (open market) that was there. I finally purchased my nargile, a pretty ceramic one with bronze accents.
By this time the weather is hailing, sleeting and mighty cold. The group split up to buy specific things in the area and met again on the tram. While on the tram we met an American man who moved to Istanbul 18 years ago to teach and was moving back to the States in January.It's funny that we met him because last week we were questioning where would we live outside of the US. The group split again and this time I went with Raven and Becca to try kumpir (baked potatoe) on Kumpir Sokak (baked potatoe street). I had a kumpir butter, cheese, corn, red cabbage and cabbage mayo. But there were lots of other toppings to pick - hot dogs, american salad, bulgar, olives, olive paste and more.
We arrived back to campus around 8pm and I was exhausted. I cancelled on hanging out in Taksim with the girls and the 57km/hr winds. Instead I opted to catch up things and ask Becca, my roommate 30 questions. She's quite interesting.
The next morning I woke up at noon when I was suppose to be up at 10 to make brunch with Becca and Raven. Becca was the star today. Last night she told me she could not successfully cook eggs. So I taught her and she made amazing scrambled eggs with cheese, spinach and tomatoes. I'm so proud. My stomach is too!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
My skin
I went to the nail salon on campus a few minuets ago for a color change. The older woman that was there last week when I went for a manicure painted my nails today. Before painting my nails, she put my hand next to hers and said "very beautiful. In the summer I get darker."
Two months ago, I would have had mixed emotions about that statement. Now I'm just happy that she saw me as a person and not an object to stare at.
Two months ago, I would have had mixed emotions about that statement. Now I'm just happy that she saw me as a person and not an object to stare at.
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