Spice Bazaar

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while... 

Okay, anyway, last Saturday I went to a Spice Bazaar with two of the other exchange students Gabi and Laura, who are both from Brazil. Here are several photos I took of the Bazaar:

Typical Shop

Different spices for sale

Lokum aka Turkish Delight; so delicious!

Gabi eating Baklava at the Bazaar

Different teas and Lokum 

More spices

We ate so much free Lokum and dried fruits that I was about to explode. At Bazaars like this one, if you use a lot of charm with the shop owners, they are more than likely to let you have a piece or two of Lokum (or whatever sweet they are selling) for free. So I used all the Turkish I knew, and then some, to communicate with the sellers. They invited us into their shops, we chatted for a little bit then as I start I walk out, I'd ask "Ah, what's this?" and since I'd seem interested, they give all three of us a piece or two. Or if you are buying something from that store, know that the price they are asking is never the final offer. With enough charm, you might be able to knock the price down by a few liras, which is good for a poor exchange student :)

After all that sugar, we decided to go for actual lunch. We found a Pide, Turkish Pizza, resturant and ate there. The funniest part about Turkish restaurants is that they are normally 3 or 4 levels high (level 1 being where they make the food, and the rest are areas for eating) compared to only one huge dining room in the US. Once we got our food, we started for the wooden, steep, spiral staircase that leads to the seats. I was the first in line to go up, but I saw this little boy cleaning dishes out of the corner of my eye and so I stopped, looked at him, and asked, "Nasılsın?", which translates to "How are you?". He gave me the hugest smile and replied, "Ben de Iyiyim, Sen nasılsın?", which means "I am good, how are you?". I replied with "Ben de Iyiyim, sağol. Iyi günlar!" which is "I am good, thanks. Have a nice day!" I love using my Turkish whenever I get the chance to. This little boy was just so happy that someone aknowledged him enough to ask "How are you?". (Keep in mind everyone behind me was sort of angry because I was holding up the line for the stairs...)  

Once we finished lunch, we headed to a cafe for a Sahlep, which is a milk-based hot drink that has cinnamon sprinkled ontop of it. The three of us really love the cinnamon part so we ALWAYS ask for extra of it :) Here is our order at the cafe. Çok çok çok Tarçınlı = Extra extra extra Cinnamon 

After the cafe, Gabi left for home and Laura and I went to Kadiköy to meet Daffne. Once there, Laura and I walked around, drank a çay/coffee, and talked for about 3 hours. Laura is such a sweet girl and I'm so glad I had this time to hangout with her! Then Daffne met us for dinner at a resturant called "Makarna" which means "Pasta". So we got pasta, salads, and iced teas. Laura left for home around 9pm but Daffne and I stayed to talk until 11pm. We took a minibus back home afterwards. 

Folk dancing starts now every Sunday... 

Maggie

RIP Seyhan Cafe

Today was, by far, the most depressing and sad day of my entire exchange. I know I've mentioned "Seyhan Cafe" before several times here on my blog. 

This cafe is always the meeting point and hangout place for all the exchange students, but especially for Daffne and I. I can say that easily I went to this cafe at least 3 times a week. And today was it's last day open. [For any of you out there who have ever watched "Friends", it's a US tv series from 1990s-early 2000s, you'll know "Central Perk" which is the coffee place the characters always hangout at. This cafe was OUR Central Perk] *Pictures below:

For these last 6 months I've been in Turkey this cafe has always been a place for us to hangout, talk, study, eat, and most importantly, use their free wifi :) 

(( In this picture I was studying Turkish, drinking my usual Nescafé, and enjoying the gorgeous view of Kadıköy ))

** Side note, Daffne and I went here so much that they would give us discounts on our orders because we, literally, were there 3+ times a week. After a while they picked up on our orders too!

I know you are probably thinking, "It's just a cafe, you'll find another one." No, this cafe represented all the best times here with my exchange family. I can't even start to explain how many laughs, serious talks, good times, and late nights were spent there. Honestly I'm still in shock that they are closing. Oh, I forgot to mention WHY they are closing exactly. They are closing because there is a Starbucks in the building in front of it and they bought the building in order to expand their store front. Ugh, I hate franchises. I can tell you that right now I can count in Istanbul 5 Starbucks off the top of my head. In my opinion, this Starbucks is plenty big, they have two levels plus an outside area. Seyhan was 4 levels, the bottom two being an indepentent book store and the top two being a family owned and run cafe. The fact that it all had to be shut down, and for what? So Starbucks can put in more tables and bathrooms? This cafe ment the world to Daffne and I and we are completely devestated that everything had to end this way. 

So tonight, Gabi, Arthur, Laura, Luis, Hana, Daffne, and I met to have a final "Send off" dinner and coffee. We all ate our favorite things. For me it was the Club sandwich and fries but Daffne always eats my fries, so basically just the sandwich :) After we all finished eating, we went out on the 4th floor/roof level of the cafe. The cold air felt so great while I was drinking my last Nescafé :( We all talked while enjoying the spectacular view and familiar sounds of our beloved Kadıköy from the roof for the last time... This cafe and all the memories I made there will always have a special place in my heart. 

Daffne and I walking out of Seyhan for the last time...

I can't believe this chapter of my exchange is over. And to think I have only 4 months left until I return to the US. I am so not ready for all of this change.

Maggie

Western Tour

Hello again, 

Sorry it's been almost a month since I've posted, but everything has been really busy around here... So let's get to it. 

We just completed our first Rotary organized trip, which was January 29- Febuary 6. The trip covered cities such as, Pamukkale, Anatolia, Izmir, Bodrum, Fetiye, Kaş, and a few others. We took this medium-sized charter bus and we drove around seeing all these archeology sites, museums, and famous landmarks then stopping at hotels along the way. I'll try and do an over view of the trip otherwise this post would be too long :) 

So the first two days of the trip happened to be Daffne and Luis' birthdays! We bought them little cakes, sang them "Happy Birthday!" on the bus, and finished with the Mexican tradition of smashing the cake on the face of the Birthday person.

Here they are after we smashed the cakes on them! (Daffne's face was a lot worse, but she accidentally cleaned her face before the picture) 

After we woke up on the morning of our second day, we visited the first of many archeology sites. Here are some pictures:

Hana, Julia, and I

Daffne and I

Then, fast forward to the second night we were in Anatolia, Luis and I had a tea party in the hotel. The reason was, since the hotel gives a water heater, bottled water, an tea for free with each room, Luis didn't want to waste the free tea, in Turkish it's çay. So we each had about 6 or 7 glasses of tea before I'd had enough. Such funny memories! In the hotels at night we would all pick a room to go to and we'd talk, drink tea or coffee, and watch turkish movies. I really love this group of exchange students. 

Then another day, we went on a boat tour in Kekova! So beautiful. It looked like one of those places you see in a travel magazine! Here we are tanning on top of the boat:

The next day we took another boat tour, and we got this really cute Americans picture:

Then another time we were visiting the ruins of an old theatre. Gabi asked me to move so she could get her picture taken. I was too lazy to stand up, so I tried to hide the best I could but as you can tell, I still managed to photobomb her picture! Haha

Here is a group picture from a site:

Girl picture from a skii lift type thing we had to take to reach a site we were seeing:

Another girls picture from a theatre in Pamukkale

Group picture at the same theatre 

Group waterfall picture in Anatolia 

Such a great trip! These exchange students are like my family and I am so happy to have them in my life. I really hope I'll be able to go on the second one in May :) 

Maggie

Weekend recap

Hey again. 

Here is a "recap" of my last weekend :) I hope this post won't be too long..

Friday: 

I didn't go to school today because all of us exchange students went to the Airport to say goodbye to Charlène, the exchange student from France, because she chose to end her exchange early. It was a very sad day for all of us since this is the third student to leave early (either by force or choice). 

After the airport, Daffne, Hana, Julia, Gabo, Luis, Hailey, and I took a metro to Yenıkapı and we ate lunch at a local resturant there. The picture below is a selfie Daffne took with our "Garçon". 

After lunch, we walked from Yenıkapı to Eminönü (which is roughly 35 minutes). And once in Eminönü, Hana and Daffne left us because they had to return to Hana's house for a change of clothes since they were meeting friends later, Hailey went home, and Julia, Luis, Gabo, and I took the ferry to Kadiköy to meet some of the Brazilians. We met Gabi and Arthur in Seyhan Cafe. 

From Seyhan Cafe

Gabo with all the coffees

At the cafe, Luis and Arthur shared some "Çikolata Pasta".

Later, Hana and Daffne joined us again to collect Gabi and they all left to join other friends. Julia went home because she didn't feel like hanging out. That left Arthur, Luis, and I. So we decided to have "Ladies Night"! Haha the night went better than expected. We sat by the seaside, told funny stories, and drank hot chocolate since it was so cold. 

Saturday:

I met a small group of exchange students to have a small celebration for Gabo's birthday! Then I went home and helped my host cousin, Esma, host sister, İrem, and my host mom make dinner!

What we made

Us making it!

After dinner, we had "Family Game Night" and played this game. It was so fun that I'll definitely bring one home with me to play with my brothers. 

Sunday:

I went to Ümraniye to hangout with my friend, Luis from Mexico. We walked around the square, went to a craft store, then we went to his house. At his house we drank çay, had some çikolata ve müz pasta (chocolate and banana cake), and we talked. I had never been to Ümraniye before and I'm so glad I got the chance to go today. 

Also, here are some pictures of the craft store we went to:

Zippers in every color

Thread

Tons of crafting material

String

More odds and ends

Such beautiful colors

Thread

Beads and Ribbon

Maggie

Things I miss

Recently, I was talking to my mom over Skype and I was telling her how I wasn't homesick, but I still missed certain things from home. And as you can tell from my blog, I have never posted about me having a bad day before. After hearing what I had to say, my mom suggested that I make a post about the random little things I miss from home just so everyone who reads this blog will know how normal it is to feel sad and have some occasional bad days while on exchange. 

So, I decided to make a top 20 list (like I always do) of the things I miss that I never thought I would: 

1) My American bed

2) Driving 

3) Filtered coffee and creamer

4) Talking to my brothers, especially Brian. 

5) Taco Bell (okay I don't even like Taco Bell, but I miss it.)

6) Working

7) Sleeping in late

8) Being able to call my Mom on the phone whenever I want

9) Ice in drinks

10) The couches in my living room

11) Watching "The Great Gatsby" with my brother Eric while we eat coconut Popsicles

12) Petting my dog

13) Meeting my mom at work for lunch

14) Asking my brothers "What did you do at school today?" with them responding "Nothing."

15) How I feel when I'm at the lake  

16) My mom's Thai food

17) Corn on the cob

18) My Grandma's salad dressing

19) Going to school plays/musicals that my brothers are in

20) Eric's laugh, Steven's smile, and Brian's sarcastic comments 

This list could go on and on but I think you get the point. Note to all the exchange students for next year: Please don't take ANYTHING for granted while you are at home. I can guarentee that once you are in the middle of your exchange, those things you took for granted will be the only things you miss.

Maggie 

Ps- here is my month 4 Top Ten from a few weeks ago:

Lipstick, French Toast, & Pink Bowling Shoes

Hello again! 

So last week, my host sister had her "Promise Party" which is like the party before the "Engagement Party". Basically, this party is only for Family and very close friends, because it's filled with very formal traditions. (My favorite tradition that I hope to carry on for when I get married is that the "Bride to be", in this case it's my host sister İrem, makes Turkish coffee for the "Husband to be", in this case her fiancé Emre, and both of their parents. But, she will add a ton of salt to the one meant for the Fiancé. He will drink the entire coffee anyway to show that no matter what she does, he'll be able to put up with her). Later, at the actual Engagement Party, it will be more relaxed and celebratory. 

Here are all the plates of food for the guests. 

Here is how I looked for the party. I had to dress up because this party is meant to be very formal and traditional. Plus, my host sister told me the day before "It wouldn't hurt if you wore makeup sometimes." Ouch.

Also, I bought my host sister flowers for her big day. Yeah, they are a sad excuse for a bouquet, but she really seemed to like them anyway! :)

Then, on one of our 3 snow days we had this week ((Yes, it does get cold enough to snow. No, I do wish it was warmer.)) Daffne and I went to the cinema to see a movie. We went into the wrong theatre because the numbering is kind of confusing. We ended up seeing this French movie with Turkish subtitles. ((Title translation: The Chance of my Life)) I really enjoyed it, but Daffne fell asleep on my shoulder! Granted, it was a two hour movie. 

Then on Friday, our second day of school this week, we built a snowman at school! It was Daffne's first time building a snowman and she said it wasn't as easy as it looks in the movies. 

Now today. My host sister made an "American/Turkish" breakfast for us all today (I forgot to mention that my host Grandma and host cousin have been staying with us for a while since they live on the Eastern coast of Turkey and are here for medical treatment for my host grandma). She made French Toast with honey and bananas paired with the usual things we always have for breakfast. ((And yes, that is chocolate cake on the breakfast table.))

Then later, I met up with some exchange students to hangout downtown. 

Our group was Daffne (Mexico), Arthur (Brazil), Gabo (Mexico), Mario (Italy), and Luis (Mexico). In this picture all the guys are modeling their pink bowling shoes! So funny :) I had such a great day with all of them. Hope we can hangout again soon! 

Maggie 

New Years

Happy New Year everyone! 

Okay, so Daffne and I's school had a Retro themed "New Years Party" for all the High School students last Tuesday. Also, it was the first day of snow!

Even though it's not a lot of snow, it still made it feel like winter!

At the party. Daffne, İrem, Hazal, and I

But for the actual day of New Years, I spent it with my friend Charlène, who is an exchange student from France. In the morning we took a ferry and a very long bus ride so we could so shopping at the Yeşilköy Pazar. It's pretty far from where we both live, but it's well worth the drive. Later, we ate dinner at her host parent's cafe (they own a cafe in Besiktas called "Café Cake House"). All the food there is homemade by her host mom. Everything we had was so delicious, especially the Coffee Cheesecake! 

I hope everyone has a great 2015 :)

Maggie