At 2:30 I ventured outside my jail for lunch in the S building. No dinning experience on campus ever goes smooth. Of course I think I’m doing myself a favor by bring my ID card to pay for lunch but the card machine was broken. Thankfully I had 5TL on me and Jenn covered the other 2TL. During dinner Jenn told me that a few exchange students were going down to Taksim to watch the Germany Vs. Turkey futbol match. Now I have never watched soccer a day in my life. So naturally, I declined a few times. Then a few hours later I thought it would be a good idea since the skies finally cleared up.
The plan was to leave at 6:45 for a game that started at 9:45. I knocked on Jenn’s door knowing deep down that she had probably left already. I was surely right. (Jenn’s good for doing this. I still don’t know why I follow her on some trips.) So I meet up with Lexie and Zack to go downtown. Now there is no such thing as a dull trip. We talked about my ex-roommate purchasing a room by herself instead of getting the Turkish roommate she always wanted. It’s funny how people can lie to one person’s face and then tell the truth to another. What’s done in the dark always comes to the light. Then we laughed on the first minibus about Zack going to the free belly dancing class to pick up girls. On the second minibus we laughed at Lexie when she attempted to talk to a Turkish toddler in Turkish. Seems like they both had a good time laughing with each other.
We got Taksim Square a few minuets before the other exchange students and decided amongst the three of us that we wanted American influenced food. A few minuets later I heard someone call my name. We chatted with the other exchange to see if they knew where they were going. I started talking to Abara (from Pakistan) while Lexie and Zach were figuring out the details. He said, "I hope you don't mind if I ask this question but is your hair real or a weave?" I answered real. I am locing my hair. Abara continued with questions "How do you do that? Can I touch it? Is this like cornrows?” It’s funny that he asked me this because I've seen young and old Turks and Italians with locs. Nevertheless, I am glad that I can answer people’s questions and debunk a "mystery".
Eventually we asked again about the game but no one knew what pub they would go to. So Lexie, Zack and I decided to get some food at BBQ chicken. Needless to say the manager remembered us and we ended up with great service and free food. Lexie texted a few people to see where we should go while we were still eating dinner. Of course no one knew the alleys they took to get there. So Lexie went around showing her text message to any Turk that would help. Finally we ended up in a small bar with a crappy TV and not enough seats to the three of us. That was kind of crappy since people knew we were coming back but not surprising because a lot of people here say one thing and do another. I think Lexie and I both thought that exchange students would try to stick together when exploring town. Unfortunately, so many cliques have been formed that the atmosphere has turned into a high school drama.
Anyways we ended up going to a family style restaurant a few doors down and drank cay (tea) while we watched the game. A few people left to go to another pub and planned to regroup later. When we were about to head out Maryann and Jenn came in. we stayed and drank more cay and then went next door to watch the last 10 minuets of the game. (By the way Germany won 3-0.) The pub was still packed but we managed to squeeze in. I ended up sitting next to a Turk who had picked up a British accent and explored NYC only 10 days ago. One can come to the conclusion that he dominated the conversation with talks of his NY adventures. The game finally ended and all of the sudden people wanted to stay in Taksim. I knew this was going to happen. But I was determined to get back to my warm cozy room. So Lexie and I headed out to the bus stop, which was about 10 minuets away in the rain. We waited at the stop a few minuets before we realized the bus was down the street and had no intention on coming up to the actual stop. Luckily, we got on in the nick of time and head back to Sariyer on the night owl night bus.
During the ride the rain came down pretty hard and started flooding the streets. I don’t think Istanbul has good sewers in place. Lexie was up to her usual antics of practicing Turkish on the bus. So many people were laughing at her. When she finally sat down she began to ask me about my hair. Lexie was my resident two years ago so she has seen me with a shaved head, relaxed hair (straightened), bleached hair, in an afro and now locs. Talking with her made me realize how typical it is to see African Americans with relaxed hair. To each there own but I must say I feel more liberated and intellectually stimulated with locs.
We made it to Sariyer in about 50 minuets and caught a cab to campus. All in all I think this was a decent night but I could have stayed out of the downpour that occurred while commuting back.
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