Up to now...

Hey, 

So here's an update of the past few weeks: 

District Conference in Antalya!

So tired after our 12 hour over night bus ride.

Our jackets

Hotel we stayed at

When they left for the trip and I returned to Istanbul with 3 other exchange students. (The hand is Luana's. We were holding our hands out to each other as they drove off)

Beautiful beach day

More beach

Boat ride with Gabo and Hailey

Americans 

My 3 sleeping babies on the bus ride home to Istanbul 

Back in Istanbul 

Lunch with friends

Luis and I

My German twin, Fiona

Went to my last Rotary Meeting

Rotary Dessert 

Host Family's cat, Cookie

Hair braiding in the park pt.1

Pt. 2

Gabi couldn't get all the braids out! 

Baked apple bread and skyped Daffne (even though we only didn't see each other for 1 day, we still had a lot to talk about :) Plus, she made her bruise into a planet! Hahaha)

Picnic in Moda seaside today

It says, "You are my world"

Mari from Italy

Derin, our Turkish friend

In the Metro station:

It says, "And now"

Anyway, Tuesday at 6am the first of our group leaves to go back home. The first one to complete his/her exchange... Wow. I never thought this day would come. Only 4 weeks until I come back to US, I can't believe how fast this year went! I love this group of exchange students so much, they have become my family. I love them all so much and I am dreading the day when I leave them all for a while. I can't be more thankful for the life I lived here in Istanbul. It has changed me and made me such a better person. Plus, I know that all the friends I made here are for life, not just a year. Love you all so much XOXOXO

Thanks for Reading, 

Maggie

New Family

So last Wednesday I changed families! Now I live in Europe (so officially I've lived on two continents during one exchange. Pretty cool, huh?). I really love my new family! They actually own a cafe, which I think is amazing since I don't cook... Also, my host sister was on exchange last year in Cental States (my rotary region), specifically Illinois, so I got to meet her last summer at the end of the year conference. She is such a nice girl :) Here are some pictures of the cafe: 

    

   

    

   

    

    

   

   

And here is an article written about my host parents and their cafe called "Cafe Cakehouse" (sorry, it's in Turkish) 

I love the cafe, it just feels like I'm sitting at home, rather than at a cafe somewhere. 

Also, it was a little weird because on Mothers Day I had only been here with this family for 5 days so I wasn't sure about what to do for my host mom... I decided on buying her flowers. She absolutely loved them! Here is a picture: 

((And for my USA mom, I skyped her and posted this beautiful picture of the two of us...))

I have my district conference this weekend so I am getting pretty excited! It's being held in my second favorite city in Turkey (behind Istanbul) called Anatolia. It's a seaside city in the south western part of the country. I can't wait to go again! 

Anyway, 

Until next time.

Maggie 

Mom's Visit

Hey again! 

So I'll now do a quick post about all things I got to do with my mom while she was visiting me here in Turkey. 

Daffne and I made a sign for her at the airport 

We were getting tired of waiting... Haha

Went to Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and  the palace 

At the palace

Arthur, Daffne, and I at the Blue Mosque

Mom and I 

Tulips and Mosque

Inside the Hagia Sophia

Eating street oysters 

Grand Bazaar 

Taksim with my friends

Luis and Mario love my mom (they both called her "Mother" while she was here)

Büyükada island 

We decided to be basic tourists and buy the flower crowns so we could fit in with the billions of vacationers 

At Büyükada island

Mom gave in and bought a cat shirt! (Cat print things are really in style here. I have a dress, skirt, and necklace) She even wore it on the plane ride home. 

I had such a great 10 days with my mom. I can't thank her enough for visiting and seeing my side of the world! :) 

Maggie