Manisa Mesir Festivali

Every year, a city in Turkey called Manisa has a festival celebrating their special candy.  All of the exchange students went to the festival two weekends ago.  On Friday night, I spent the night with one of my friends staying in Izmir, then on Saturday morning, we ended up getting our hair done and getting bubble tea, before we were on our way to Manisa!  It was only about a thirty minute bus ride, and once we were in Manisa, we  had lunch with a few other students, then met up with the whole group.  We all just hung out the rest of the evening, then later in the night we went to a concert.  Apparently the artist was like Turkey's Lady Gaga.  I don't remember her name...

After the concert I went to a friend's house for the night, and we all just stayed up late talking, as we always do.  We even made popcorn.  On the stove! It was quite an adventure.  The next morning we met up with the rest of the exchange students once again, then we walked through a parade, representing Rotary and our home lands.  We sang songs, chanted "Turkiye," then we got stuck in the middle of a mosh pit where people were pushing and fighting over some free candy.  The parade was nice, after the parade wasn't so nice.  It was all made up for by a nice dinner at a Rotarian's cafe, and a chance to hang out and talk some more with my friends.  At the time, I was kind of disappointed with the weekend because it was a bit stressful and disorganized, but now, in hindsight it wasn't too bad.

Everyone in the parade

(Almost) All the American girls

Everyone!

Denizli Trip

Three weeks ago I went to Denizli with the other exchange students in the 2440 district.  I traveled to Izmir on Friday, then Saturday morning we were all off to Denizli! It was a fairly long bus ride, filled with story telling of the night before, extremely inappropriate and offensive music being listened to and laughed at, and a discussion about who would be eaten first if we got stranded in the middle of Turkey with no help or food around.  Everyone picked me. (It isn't meant to be morbid or disgusting in any way, it's just one of those things that comes up in 2440 RYE students' conversation.)

After a few hours, we made it to our first stop.  We were all tired getting off the bus and none of us were prepared for the cold rain falling down on us.  We went to an ancient Greek city called Aphrodisias.  Over the past few years, I've seen some pretty breathtaking places, but this place was definitely up near the top of my list.  There were rows and rows of ancient Greek statues, and inscriptions were found all over the city.  We ran into a beautiful gateway, and two ancient stadiums; all surrounded by the mountains and bright green fields of grass.  It was so hard to take pictures, because photos could not do justice to what I saw there.  It was so amazing.

A really nicely sculpted sculpture

Monumental gateway

Over this hill was a giant stadium.  It's one of the most well preserved in the Mediterranean region.

A friend of mine singing in one of the theaters

After visiting this city, we continued our journey to have lunch, where we had yet another wonderful Turkish meal, then we advanced to another ancient city.  On the way to the second city, we ran into something a few of the other exchange students had never experienced before. Snow.  Our little bus was overflowing with excitement.  Everyone was either happy to be seeing snow again for the first time in a long time, or happy to be seeing it for the first time.  There were even tears.  It was quite emotional, I was just so glad that my Latino friends were able to see some snow!  It was such an incredible moment.  I made a video.  (I keep avidly taking videos.  It's almost annoying.)

Everyone in the snow!

We had to rush through the second ancient city, Laodicea, because we arrived just ten minutes before the park was going to close.  It took a bit of convincing the officers, but we eventually got ourselves into the park!  We took a few pictures, but didn't really have enough time to look around the city.  Apparently the city is really important because one of the most important seven churches of Christianity is found there.  I don't really have much to say about the city because we were only there for about ten minutes.

The important church

After this city, we headed to our hotel, where we spent the evening relaxing.  We pretty much just hung out in the pool and sauna, then we ate dinner, where the huge group of retired Dutch gave us weird looks for being ornery teenagers. We later talked about our exchanges, then our lives back home and how everything seems to quickly come to an end.  Also, the shower in my hotel room didn't close completely, so I accidentally flooded the bathroom a little bit... oops...

The next morning we were up bright and early to go to Pamukkale! I was looking forward to Pamukkale so much.  The pictures I'd seen on the internet were beautiful, and I was so excited to be seeing it for myself. A few of the boys were late getting to the bus, so we thought it'd be funny to drive off a bit without them, then laugh as they chased the bus with their shoes untied and bags still open. We're sometimes terrible to each other, but it was still really funny.  In our defense, a Rotarian came up with the idea.  We walked through another ancient city, which had a lot to do with death.  I don't remember the story completely (mainly because we were told in Turkish), but I remember that there we just about a gazillion tombs and graves in the city.  People would go there for their death I guess.  There was also a neighboring city for the not dying people.  

Everyone standing around some mausoleums and tombs with our flags

I like to share my freedom.  

After we walked through the city, we were able to go swimming!  I left my swimming things on the bus, as did half of the other students, so we had to walk fifteen minutes each way to and from the bus, then we were able to meet up with the others and swim in the pools lined with ancient ruins, and heated by the thermal plates that heat Pamukkale!  We did get some strange looks because it was 50F (10C) outside, and we were a bunch of kids speaking English going out for a swim. We're always getting strange looks...

Everyone in the pool

After swimming, we were able to go to walk through the thermal pools at Pamukkale!  It was really neat, but also a little slippery.  I didn't fall, but I had a few close calls.

Me and Pamukkale

Everyone standing in one of the pools

After going through the pools at Pamukkale, we headed back to Izmir.  We first had lunch and ice cream (because we're exchange students and always need ice cream), then the rest of our bus ride home was mostly dedicated to catching up on some sleep.  It was a really nice trip, and I was able to witness yet another thing that a year ago I had no idea existed on this planet, and share the time with some of my closest friends.

Long Distance Hugs

About a week ago my mom was able to give me a long distance hug through Skype.  I haven't seen my mom in seven months, and as a young adult, I sometimes need my mom to be around in my life.  It's been hard not having my mom and closest friends around this year, and trying to balance my life over multiple continents has been becoming quite difficult, but my mom was able to sit me down and talk me through everything as best as she could.  I'm glad my mom and a few of my other friends have been able to stay "by my side" this year.  As I've said before, being an exchange student isn't always easy (nor is being a teenage girl), and sometimes it's these long distance hugs that get me through the day.  Thanks for always being around, I love you guys!

This is a negative distance hug.  It's definitely one of the best things ever. 

Challenge Failed

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry I quit doing the Slice of Life Challenge halfway through March.  I made it half way, but then I became really busy with Rotary events and school and was only home about three days a week.  I promise to update you with all of the things I've done over the past two weeks, and post a bunch of pictures as well! Maybe I'll even update Flickr... just maybe.  

I've missed you dearly and I'm sorry I've neglected you.  I will make it up to you by blogging about my Rotary trips!

Love,

Your Blogger Who is Bad at Undertaking Challenges

x

Being an Exchange Student is Fun SOLC2013#17

Today I spent the day with the other exchange students in Pamukkale, a place in Turkey with thermal baths.  It was unlike anything I've ever seen before, and we even got to swim in a pool that was heated by the thermal baths with ancient ruins at the bottom of it.  All of us exchange students were getting ready to go swimming, but a few of us forgot our swimming gear in the bus, so we had to walk like 20 minutes to go get it, then we were able to join the others in the pool.  My friend and I were getting ready to go, and she was waiting for me at the locker while I was changing (the way the place was set up was like, in a row there were changing rooms, the lockers, then the pool,) and as I finished changing, I realized that it was 50F/10C and that I don't have a towel or anything to keep me warm.  I think I broke a few American laws by then trying to cover myself up with my American flag, and I thought I was doing okay until this man looks at me, nudges his friend, then says "Look! An American tourist!" I didn't really know what to do.  I just chuckled and said, "Yeah, I'm American."  It was so awkward, but also really funny.  My Canadian friend laughed at me and my awkward reaction.  Anyways, we locked our stuff up then I then was able to go hang out and laugh with my friends, while all the other tourists stared at the crazy exchange students who went swimming with ancient ruins in the 50 degree weather.  Being an exchange student is such an adventure!

Americaaaaaaaaaa

Firsts SOLC2013#16

Life is full of firsts.  When we're little, our parents record our first words, steps, and days of school.  As we grow up, our firsts don't occur as frequently, and sometimes they can be a little scary.  First time driving a car, first time failing a test, and first time interviewing for a job.  Now that I'm in Turkey, I've come across a lot of firsts.  This is my first time in Asia, my first time leaving my family for an extended period of time, and I've had like a gazillion other firsts here it feels like.  Today I got to watch a few of my friends have a first.

Today, as we were driving (all of the exchange students together in a mini bus) we came across some rain.  Rain is rain.  Later, as we were driving higher up the mountain, the rain turned into sleet.  We continue driving, talking to the Brazilian kids about how they'll be able to come to Bursa and see snow on Uludag, where there is two meters of snow.  Then, all of a sudden, the sleet turned to snow.  Everyone was so excited, only Riad and I have seen snow this year, and all of the North Americans were excited to be seeing snow again, then the Brazilians were excited to be seeing snow for the first time.  I realized how strange it is that these kids are 17 and 18 years old, and they're just now seeing snow for the first time.  I've been seeing snow my whole life, and at this point, it's just cold and wet, but luckily it sometimes gets us out of school. This experience just opened my eyes once again to the world around me, and showed me that even though my fellow exchangers and I are great friends, we come from different parts of the world, with completely different cultures, but when we're together we can forget our differences, and just learn more about the world together.

Bus Rides SOLC2013#15

If you've been reading my blog, you know I'm an exchange student staying in a city called Bursa with one other exchange student, and my other exchange friends live in Izmir.  Whenever Riad and I have a Rotary event, we always have to go to Izmir by bus for about five and a half hours.  Today we're on our way to Izmir because tomorrow we'll be on our way to Denizli (Pamukkale).  It's kind of annoying that I have to sit on the bus so much, but travel is one of the things I really miss about the United States.  I really like sitting on a bus and being able to just sit, listen to music, stare out a window and think.  It's very relaxing and I love it.  Also, we get free drinks and snacks... I really like that too.

Pi Day SOLC2013#14

Okay, so I wrote this post last night, but then my internet went out at my house, so I'm just now posting my blog from yesterday....

Happy Pi Day everyone! Today we had a little Pi Day celebration, so we didn't have any lessons, which was obviously nice.  Only two of my classmates showed up to school, so the three of us hung out and bought matching pi t-shirts then took a ton of pictures together with them. Also, the 9th graders had a bake sale, so we were able to hang out and eat yummy foods together. It was a nice and easy day. After school I went to the book fair with my host mom and Riad, then we went out to dinner. Tomorrow I'm headed to Izmir and then on Saturday I'll go to Pamukkale with all the exchange students! I'm really looking forward to our trip. :) Goodnight everyone

My Dream

Last night I had a dream that my exchange had finished and I returned to the US. It was one of the worse dreams ever. I was so upset and I was crying the whole time. I was so relieved to wake up in Bursa. :)

My Bag SOLC2013#13

So... I decided to dump out my bag and show you what I like to carry around with me!

1.  My wallet. I've had that clutch FOREVER,  at least two years, and now the clutchy part doesn't even close.  Especially when I'm rich and have a  lot of money.  Which isn't very often.  Anyways, my wallet holds a lot of stuff. Money, IDs from two different countries, copies of my visa and passport, insurance card, Rotary Youth Exchange card, my public transport card, and random other things, like my house key from back home and my pressed 5 euro coins from Spain. 

2.  My American cell phone.  This little baby has been through a lot with me.  I mainly just use my phone for Whatsapp, but now my phone won't connect to the internet, nor can I see the bottom inch or so of the screen because I've dropped it so much the screen partly went out. We definitely have a love-hate relationship.  I love that it lets me talk to my friends; it hates that I constantly drop him on the ground.  

3.  My Turkish cell phone.  Yeah... I play Sudoku on this phone a lot.  That's about it.  Maybe the occasional phone call or text message, but usually it's just if I need to get a hold of my host parents, or a friend if WiFi isn't available. 

4.  A ton of bobby pins.  You never know when you'll need a few! Also, I usually take them out, put them in my purse and then never put them away in my room, so I have an unnecessarily high amount of bobby pins in my purse. 

5.  My flash drive.  I had this in my purse because I had to give a presentation to a Rotary club a few weeks ago, I just forgot to take it out.  That little thing has 32GB! WOW!

6.  My house key.  I always have my house key on me.  I don't think I shared this earlier, but the day I moved in with this host family, my host dad gave me my keys and said, "This is your house key forever.  Even after your exchange, if you ever want to come over, this is always your home." How sweet is that?!

7.  Pencils.  The mechanical pencil is broken, and no longer serves a purpose. The green pencil I got from a University in Istanbul that came to my school.  I always feel important when someone says, "Who has a pen? I need a pen!" And I'm like, "Oh, here's a pencil," then they say, "Oh, thanks so much!" I like to think I saved their day a little bit.

8.  That's a magnet from a taxi I was in last weekend.  In Turkey, nearly all of the take out restaurants (and there are a lot of them) have magnets with their phone number so you can call them when you want them to deliver you food. I think in Ohio, we only have pizza magnets, but here there are so many different kinds of restaurants with magnets, so I always take a magnet (though I'll never call) if one is available.  I have a lot of magnets now. I'm trying to collect them. 

9.  Chap Stick.  I think it just makes sense to carry chap stick. I don't really have much of an explanation for this one...

10. Dramamine. I went to the mountain last weekend, and brought this in fear of car sickness.  Luckily, I was fine.  And I was sitting in the back seat, so I figured I'd want it but I didn't.  I was very proud of myself.  I was also glad I didn't take any, because I'd just immediately fall asleep, but I guess I ended up falling asleep once we got to the top of the mountain anyways.

11. Hand Sanitizer.  This is hand sanitizer from Ohio.  It's just another one of those things that I carry around with me just because.  It makes me feel clean.  And it smells good. 

12.  Headphones.  Headphones are great for many reasons.  First, they let me listen to music, and that's always a nice thing.  Also, they allow me to listen to music or a computer when it should be quiet time... but for me it doesn't have to be quiet time.  When I wear headphones people are less likely to ask me questions, and I know that sounds kind of terrible, but like, my Turkish isn't good, and it's always awkward when people ask me where a certain thing is, and I'm taking a long time to think, then they're like, "alright.. you're foreign..." Another funny thing about headphones is that when I'm wearing them, people think I'm listening to something, but sometimes I'm not actually listening, and I'm attempting to listen to them talk about me or other gossip.  I don't do that last one a lot, but there have been times where I try to listen, but then it's too hard to try to listen, so I go back to listening to my music. 

Soo... yeah.  Those are the things I keep in my purse.  I also have some lose change, but that's really unusual. I tend to spend my change rather quickly (the 1 lira is in coin form, not note form).  I always have my key, wallet and Turkish phone on me when I go to school, but that's all what I have when I go out! I feel like I also usually have chocolate... but yeah, that's out now. Later I can tell you about something I always keep on me... But for now, goodnight world!