Dolmus

I finally woke up at 2pm after going to bed at 5am. I got to see but not hear my mom on Skype. A few of us went down the hill to Sariyer on Dolmus bus for 1.45TL (Turkish for packed to capacity). The bus truly had us packed like sardines! We ate lunch with our guide/ fellow classmate Betul. Attempting to understand a menu in another language is HARD!  Betul helped us order and covered the bill.

Sunday is the main holy day in Turkey so the exchange office and many Turkcell shops were closed. I went grocery shopping were I was slightly intimidated but figured out my way. I must say going to another country heightens some senses. I needed laundry detergent and fabric softener. This is usually a rather simple task but I had to figure this out on looks and smell. On our way to a bread shop I saw a 60lb tuna carcass on the floor of a fish market. Further reiterating the fact that I dislike tuna! After that I brought a loaf of fresh bread for 1TL ($.68), purchased Nutella as to go with it. YUMMMMMM. I found Texas BBQ Sauce in a market for 6.5TL ($4.41). Now my meals will be better!

Ne kadar? (How much?)

Today was my chance to explore downtown Istanbul for its cultural aspects. I stood outside the Hagia Sophia and explored the Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayı - "Sunken Palace") and Grand Baazar. My photos will never explain how beautiful Turkey is!

The Blue Mosque is beautiful inside. Hand painted, high ceilings. I always question how civilizations were able to do such complex work ahead of time. As I was leaving two children said “Afrikan” to me. I think this was a turning point. I have looked around numerous times and realized that I was the only African American in the exchange program and often times in areas that I am in downtown. I’m truly grateful to have this opportunity and bring back lots of lessons to the States.

We went for Sis Kebap for lunch, which was delicious especially since I had some bad grilled corn for breakfast. (I knew I should have gone for the roasted chestnuts.) After lunch we visited the Basilica Cistern, which was a beautiful underground maze of pillars and ponds with lots of fish. Then I snacked on Turkish ice cream, which is very interesting to say the least. Its taffy like consistency threw me for a loop but the flavors were Neapolitan and lemon.

Shortly after I made my way to the Grand Baazar where people were amazed by my Urban Outfitters Parisian necklace. At one point in the day a man asked how much did I pay for my royal blue shirt and asked to buy it off my back. Weird. But royal blue is not common in clothing.

I toured the Grand Baazar with Lexie, Nathan, Petra, Stephanie, Michal and Damian. What blast! Men asked to take pictures with us and special pictures with me. At one point I said Damian was my husband. We went outside the Baazar where we found fake Uggs, thongs stretched out on circles and cheaper prices. I was called Shakera by a few.

A few hours later I was on campus eating dinner at Gastro. I’m so tired of that place. I would love for food to be served hot not room temperature and without fries on everything. I wish I had some bbq sauce but ketchup and mayonnaise will have to do!

Tonight the exchange program went to Taksim, which is supposed to be the party place. We got stuck at an expensive bar where drinks were about $13. Yikes. I wasn’t down for the pricing so I decided to leave with Lexie, Petra, Caroline and this CIEE kid who turned out to be a butt head in search of a good night with a girl. So we leave to meet Caroline’s friends in Taksim Square. Let me tell you I felt like a sitting duck! I am never going out without sneakers or pockets. Especially since I was walking next to a blonde all night.  So as we are waiting for Caroline’s friends a Gypsy child comes up to me and begs me like a toddler for money and food. That was hands down one of the most awkward experiences in my life, even more so when I turned around to see many people in the square watching me. I left after this encounter.

Lexie, Petra and I are walking up the strip and speed walking because it’s like 11pm and we didn’t know what time the shuttle would leave. On our way we see Michal, Nate, Tim, Dunia, Jasmine and some others at a mini mart. So we buy drinks and chill on the street. It’s getting later and Lexie and I want fries. We see Alberto from Italia and chitchat about a party that night. We get to BBQ chicken, which is like Popeye’s and order fries to go. We end up eating the fries there with BBQ sauce and Thai sweet chili sauce. We tipped him 4 lira ($2.71) and he comes back with Turkish tea and a chicken meal. So we eat and sneak out for good to meet with Petra. It’s about 11:30 now and people are heading back to the original bar. Lexie, Nate and I walk up the strip and chill with the Italians some more. We end up chillin’ for 2 hours on the street. Lexie learned a bit of Italian and Nate embarrassed his self by practicing his Spanish with the Italians.

By now its 1:30 and we are finally walking to a house party. We get to the building to realized we have to climb 8 flights of marble stairs in the dark. We get inside to find out it cost money; we didn’t have much time to spare since we were told the shuttle would leave at 2. So we bolted back to the main bar. This trip was not short of Turkish antics “baby. Baby.” And lots of stares. We arrive at the bar to realize most people are bored out their mind and that the shuttle isn’t leaving until 330am. Lexie, Batu, Ozzy, Lenis, Fernando and I leave again and follow Batu to an amazing club on the top floor of a building. I had an amazing time after catching my breath from climbing another 8 flights of marble stairs. I danced true American style with Ozzy and a couple of Turks. All in all I had an amazing night! 

My first days in Turkey

Recap

Jet lag hit me as soon as I sat down on Turkish airlines. The plane was smaller 3 seats on the right and left of the plane. Thankfully I sat in the window seat in a row with 2 older Turks, a man and a woman presumably married. The woman’s index finger was cut off. I wonder what her story is… I fell asleep before take off. Waking up only for food (ravioli, a roll, salad and a brownie), water and ear plugs.

I arrived in Istanbul on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 4pm and went straight to the bathroom! (I should have taken stomach medicine before leaving the States.) I spent the next hour with Jasmine another Drexel student on the same flight as me trying to figure out where our driver was. Jasmine is fair skinned and Indian and presumably Turkish looking because of this people would speak to her in Turkish in the airport. I on the other hand received friendly stares as I am African American and many Turks have never seen African Americans before. I was so glad to be with Jasmine because being lost has a new meaning when you don’t speak the language, don’t have a cell phone or the currency.

Finally after an hour of waiting we got to our cab with Zach another DU student. The car was a small about the size of Jetta. There were 5 large pieces of luggage and 3 carry-ons that had to fit in the car. Needless to say we packed the car at 15:30 and Jasmine and I had the privileged of being squished in the car. Eren, (Erin) our driver told us Koc is not in Istanbul its in Sayier, which was a 2-hour ride with traffic.

Our ride was more like 3 hours long because traffic is at a stand still during rush hour. Philly, NY and DC traffic has NOTHING on the traffic in Istanbul.  We ate Simit, a sesame pretzel in the car and drank bottled water in the car. We were in Sariyer a bus town that’s nestled next to the Bosporus, when our driver Eren hit a large truck (Escalade) while attempting to light his cigarette. (The first thing one will notice upon arrival is that Turks love to smoke cigarettes!) This was absolutely hilarious as Eren got out the cab and yelled at the driver. Got back in the car said it was a scratch and lit his cigarette.  After this we were able to see large hills. Eren points to a large hill and says there is Koc (Coach).

Let me tell you a little about Eren. He is presumably 22 y.o. A senior at his college in Istanbul. The owner of a small cab company where he is the only one that speaks English. The ride w/ him was hilarious. Especially when Zach started translating his calls in English for him. Zach actually did this for a girl named Stephanie from Miami who would end up being my roommate.

We finally get to the base of Koc’s hill. Let me tell you it felt like a rollercoaster going up! Koc is a school for the well off because of this there is a gated fence and security checks photo id every time someone attempts to come in. 5 minuets later I get out the car and welcome in a beautiful campus that’s reminiscent of the South. Lots of pine trees, green grass, hills and space.

Jasmine, Zach and I get our room keys to main campus and meet my roommate, Stephanie, from UMiami and Maria, a girl from Portugal in the office.  We leave and end up carrying our suitcases up 30 stairs to only find out there was a ramp that went around the building. After struggled we met Julian a Danish, who is of Iraqi and Indian decent. He helped with our bags. Jasmine and I are both in the same dorm – G. We arrived and realized there were no elevators to the 3^rd floor. SIGH!

The time was not 10pm. I took a shower and made my way to the student center for the campus party. I first went to order food at Gastro the only 24/7 food place. I saw lunch meat and saw pepperoni. The American I am ordered Turkey. Smh Luckily a nice Turk named Berel new what I meant and ordered me a chicken wrap. Later I asked my mentor Batu if they ate Turkey here and he said yes but you have to go to the market downtown for it….

After ordering I met Julian again, Petra, Abrahaim a Singaporean and headed to the party at our campus club Odeon. The International Student Society (ISS) sold Turkish beer – Efes and wine to raise money. That night I met a boat load of people; a Canadian, a girl from Jersey, Germans, a Polak and some Turkish mentors and RAs. I called it quits at midnight. And went “home” to a bed with no pillows or blankets. What a rough night!

Thursday

I had to stretch my body today. My roommate and I went to the cafeteria and ordered a Turkish breakfast… our only option.  I had cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, a hard boiled egg, a roll with nutella and tea. All of this cost 5TL ($3.39).

Next I went on a campus tour with mentor Serhat (Sah-hot). Our campus is beautiful and filled with lots of stairs. The stairs alone will whip my body in shape. After the tour we had our welcome to Koc class and went to the gym for a club fair. I signed up for the Traditional Turkish dance and signing club, the sailing club, the marketing club, the acting club thanks to Abrahaim the Singaporean who thinks all Americans like to act, a volunteer club and an arts club.

After this I had lunch in the cafeteria with my mentor Batu, Alber (Albert, the T is silent) from Florence and Tim from Canada. Alber and I had lamb and rice and salad. Batu and Tim had pasta from upstairs. At lunch I found out I could get a free pillow and blanket. I went to the building where the bedding was located and figured out how to say thanks in Turkish.

Later on I went to a museum to see the remnants off the Ottoman Empire… AMAZING! Then I went grocery shopping where I purchased chocolate hazelnut pudding, haagan daz macadamia nut brittle ice cream and other snacks. My failed attempt with talking to the cashier was the first time I said ugh being an American is not convenient. I applied for a discount card with the help of a Turk. Melissa from Rutgers, the Turk and I walked to the dorms together. Melissa went to her dorm and I continued as my dorm is in the back. The Turk said I miss my wife and son. And ran away like I did something wrong. Go figure.

Tonight was Jennifer Lee’s 21^st birthday. Jenn was one of my very first residents 3 years ago. Jenn celebrated by going on the group trip to Karaoke for 25TL ($17). What a blast! I karaoke, had Raki the traditional drink and snacked on bar snacks... I danced on couches and talked on the rooftop while looking at the bridge connecting Istanbul in Europe and Asia. At the end of the night 2:30 am I decided to go to the bathroom. My attempt to flush the toilet resulted in me being squirted by a jet of water. I guess water to clean my butt since there was only paper towel in the bathroom…

Friday

My roommate and I partied to hard and slept through our alarm clock. We woke up at 1pm. My roommate was suppose to leave at 1pm to apply for her residence permit… Yikes! I on the other hand Turkish survival class but couldn’t find out the time or location because my computer wouldn’t turn on! I found Zach in the student center who showed me the location. I was about 15 minuets late. Such a good first impression… Turkish is a bit complicated as there are 8 vowels and 21 consonants.

After class I had lunch in the student center with Dunya a Palestinian studying at American University in DC. We went up to our campus clock tower and had a panoramic view of campus, the Bosporus and landscape.

I came back to my room attempted to fix my computer and slept the day away because I was sad about my computer. I also checked out our free laundry room in the basement and the kitchen on the left side of the fourth floor. I slept past the exchange dinner, which was 42TL ($29). I’ve been spending a lot of Lira. L I finally figured out my computer and got on to blog these 3 pages.

Enjoy! 

Hello from Geneva

Good morning, 

It's 10:37am and I'm in Geneva airport looking at the Swiss Alps. Geneva seems to be a small sleepy little city. 

Yesterday, I scrambled around to re-pack and prepare for this flight. I arrived at the airport around 5 and said my goodbyes to my mother and neighbor. My suitcase was over packed by 10lbs but I was able to work something out. Unfortunately, I had to eat dinner in the airport. Sadly enough it was McDonalds. I had about an hour and a half before departure. 

I boarded a Swiss aircraft that sat 2 by the windows and four seats in the middle. I of course asked for the window seat. I fell asleep before the plane even took off. I woke up to a nice snack of pretzels and then shortly after about 9pm EST a dinner of chicken, pearl onions, some sort of broccoli pasta, a slice of cheese and a brownie was served. After dinner was finished I was asked if I would like a 1 or 2 bottles of Baileys. I surely accepted the offer and relaxed! Every seat on the plane was equipped with a TV that you could use to listen to albums, movies, and shows and play games. I watched The Losers with Idris Elba, Dexter and Mad Men. The consul also had a way to see the flights altitude, 39,125 ft, the speed 596 mph and how long we had in our trip. As well as a map to see where exactly we were. 

Again I feel asleep and this time I woke up to warm croissants, yogurt and juice. I listened to music as we flew past Paris. Now I'm in the airport where I met a Turk named Cavat (Jovan), paid 15 Swiss Francs equivalent to $15 to use 3 hours of Internet and have the pleasure of watching people drink wine for breakfast.  

My journey will soon begin

I can't get over the fact that the past 6 months have flown by. Co-op is thankfully over. I now have the pleasure of being a broke college student until June 11, 2011.

My suitcases are overpacked... Thinking about re-packing.

Anywho I'm a tad bit nervous about my adventure. Especially, after reading that toilet tissue is not mandated in bathrooms.