Saturday, November 28, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Antioch, Home, and Off Again
Returning from a five day program retreat last Sunday night, I felt the same rush of "home sweet home" that I feel when returning to my home in America as we pull in the driveway. This time, however, I was squeezing myself and my luggage into the tiny elevator in my apartment building and riding up nine floors to a family I only met two and a half months ago, but which has now become my family.
I had just returned from the three-month NSLI retreat. The camp was really an unforgettable experience, some parts in good ways and some in not-so-good ways. We spent the first few days in a small, desolate, and rather dirty town an hour or so away from Adana, where we spent long hours discussing our problems, issues, changes, shocks, joys, frustrations, and pretty much anything else you can think of relating to our experiences here in Turkey. The three counselors, who came in from other parts of Turkey, were very helpful and knowledgeable about our experiences, and it was great to be able to talk with them. The third day of camp, I got pretty sick with a terrible cough and fever, so I had to spend that day in the room, but the next day I felt better and we traveled by bus as a group to Antakya, an absolutely wonderful place.
Antakya, probably better known as the ancient city of Antioch, is a fascinating city with a long and rich history. It is located in the tiny strip of land right on the westernmost Turkish border with Syria. It has a blend of religious history that I found especially interesting. Nowhere else in Turkey have I seen such an attempt to promote cross-religious awareness and acceptance. We visited three different churches - one Orthodox, one Catholic, and one Protestant, as well as several mosques. All over the town, which was full of small, winding roads, old and beautiful crumbling buildings, and large markets, we saw posters with the Star of David, a cross, and a crescent moon representing Islam interlinked. The whole town seemed in a state of such peaceful co-existence between religions that I have not observed in Turkey before. It's not that I have seen any ill-will here, it is just that Islam seems to be the only religion I observe in most places. Antakya was the exception, though. In the Orthodox church we visited, services are conducted in both Turkish and Arabic. The Protestant church was founded by Koreans and has signs in Korean. One of the most beautiful views I saw was from the roof of the Catholic church where a giant stone cross stood right beside a towering minaret on the mosque adjacent.
I enjoyed my brief overnight stay in Antakya greatly, getting a marvelous walking exploration of the city. I hope to return sometime, as it is only two hours' drive from Adana. Once I figure out the train system later on in the year, I hope to be able to explore even more. There is so much to see in this country! I know I have said that many times, but I am reminded of it all the time. Tomorrow morning my NSLI group is heading to Cappadocia (this will be my second time) to visit some sights up there and stay overnight. I can't wait to see it again - I'm not sure I could ever be tired of that place.
This week the whole NSLI group and I didn't go to school again, because our program leader here in Adana was afraid we were all sick. Because of this sickness, my respiratory cold, I was carted off to the hospital, where I was hooked up to an IV and pumped chock-full of vitamins, fluids, and who-knows-what. Subequently, I was subscribed some pills and a syrup, which my host family has made me take religiously. At any rate, I am feeling better now and am excited for my trip tomorrow. And I've just heard that the whole city of Adana will have school off next week because of swine flu or something? I'm not really sure...but we shall see! Everyday living here is an adventure - I'm never sure what will happen next, but I've grown to love that.
I had just returned from the three-month NSLI retreat. The camp was really an unforgettable experience, some parts in good ways and some in not-so-good ways. We spent the first few days in a small, desolate, and rather dirty town an hour or so away from Adana, where we spent long hours discussing our problems, issues, changes, shocks, joys, frustrations, and pretty much anything else you can think of relating to our experiences here in Turkey. The three counselors, who came in from other parts of Turkey, were very helpful and knowledgeable about our experiences, and it was great to be able to talk with them. The third day of camp, I got pretty sick with a terrible cough and fever, so I had to spend that day in the room, but the next day I felt better and we traveled by bus as a group to Antakya, an absolutely wonderful place.
Antakya, probably better known as the ancient city of Antioch, is a fascinating city with a long and rich history. It is located in the tiny strip of land right on the westernmost Turkish border with Syria. It has a blend of religious history that I found especially interesting. Nowhere else in Turkey have I seen such an attempt to promote cross-religious awareness and acceptance. We visited three different churches - one Orthodox, one Catholic, and one Protestant, as well as several mosques. All over the town, which was full of small, winding roads, old and beautiful crumbling buildings, and large markets, we saw posters with the Star of David, a cross, and a crescent moon representing Islam interlinked. The whole town seemed in a state of such peaceful co-existence between religions that I have not observed in Turkey before. It's not that I have seen any ill-will here, it is just that Islam seems to be the only religion I observe in most places. Antakya was the exception, though. In the Orthodox church we visited, services are conducted in both Turkish and Arabic. The Protestant church was founded by Koreans and has signs in Korean. One of the most beautiful views I saw was from the roof of the Catholic church where a giant stone cross stood right beside a towering minaret on the mosque adjacent.
I enjoyed my brief overnight stay in Antakya greatly, getting a marvelous walking exploration of the city. I hope to return sometime, as it is only two hours' drive from Adana. Once I figure out the train system later on in the year, I hope to be able to explore even more. There is so much to see in this country! I know I have said that many times, but I am reminded of it all the time. Tomorrow morning my NSLI group is heading to Cappadocia (this will be my second time) to visit some sights up there and stay overnight. I can't wait to see it again - I'm not sure I could ever be tired of that place.
This week the whole NSLI group and I didn't go to school again, because our program leader here in Adana was afraid we were all sick. Because of this sickness, my respiratory cold, I was carted off to the hospital, where I was hooked up to an IV and pumped chock-full of vitamins, fluids, and who-knows-what. Subequently, I was subscribed some pills and a syrup, which my host family has made me take religiously. At any rate, I am feeling better now and am excited for my trip tomorrow. And I've just heard that the whole city of Adana will have school off next week because of swine flu or something? I'm not really sure...but we shall see! Everyday living here is an adventure - I'm never sure what will happen next, but I've grown to love that.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Winter Has Come!
That is what is proclaimed on the news (alongside constant updates on the "domuz gribi" , or swine flu) - "Kış geldi" - Winter has come! And the actual date of the beginning of winter aside, winter truly has come here, in a very rapid way, bypassing autumn for the rainy and cold winters I have been promised ever since I first complained of the summer heat. While only a week ago I was sweating in my tank top as I walked down the street, today I was bundled up in sweater, jacket, and scarf, with an umbrella, feeling legitimately cold.
With the cold has come a change in people's mindsets, and some changes in daily routine. Showers are now an adventure, as I have to go outside on the porch and light some sort of pilot light for the gas that heats the water before having a shower. This means that the showers are finally quite pleasantly hot, though they are less frequent now that we have to turn on the gas (and now that we don't sweat as much). We appear to be drinking even more tea (though I did not realize this was possible), and in the house, which is not heated, we wear several layers of clothes. The winter wool blankets are on my bed. The normally open windows are now kept closed.
I am enjoying this change in weather, but I am sad to have bypassed the autumn season - one of my very favorite times of year. Where are my reds and yellows and oranges? How will my Thanksgiving be without those? We did have a very sweetly planned Halloween party with our host families on Saturday night. In Turkish Halloween is called Cadılar Bayramı, which literally translates to Witches' Holiday. All of us exchange students dressed up (I was a cowgirl) and got together for some Halloween festivities. It's great to share American traditions with our host families, while we are learning so many Turkish traditions. Still, it didn't quite feel like Halloween without any trick-or-treaters or, for that matter, any candy at all.
Next week we take a program trip to Antakya, the ancient city of Antioch. It looks like an interesting and historical place, and I have been told by every Turkish person I speak to about it that the food there is wonderful. It sounds like a wonderful trip, and I look forward exploring a different city. Do any of you have any places in Turkey you're curious about? I've already been doing lots of research for places I want to go later on in the year potentially when I have independent travel time. I can't believe how much there is to see in this country!
With the cold has come a change in people's mindsets, and some changes in daily routine. Showers are now an adventure, as I have to go outside on the porch and light some sort of pilot light for the gas that heats the water before having a shower. This means that the showers are finally quite pleasantly hot, though they are less frequent now that we have to turn on the gas (and now that we don't sweat as much). We appear to be drinking even more tea (though I did not realize this was possible), and in the house, which is not heated, we wear several layers of clothes. The winter wool blankets are on my bed. The normally open windows are now kept closed.
I am enjoying this change in weather, but I am sad to have bypassed the autumn season - one of my very favorite times of year. Where are my reds and yellows and oranges? How will my Thanksgiving be without those? We did have a very sweetly planned Halloween party with our host families on Saturday night. In Turkish Halloween is called Cadılar Bayramı, which literally translates to Witches' Holiday. All of us exchange students dressed up (I was a cowgirl) and got together for some Halloween festivities. It's great to share American traditions with our host families, while we are learning so many Turkish traditions. Still, it didn't quite feel like Halloween without any trick-or-treaters or, for that matter, any candy at all.
Next week we take a program trip to Antakya, the ancient city of Antioch. It looks like an interesting and historical place, and I have been told by every Turkish person I speak to about it that the food there is wonderful. It sounds like a wonderful trip, and I look forward exploring a different city. Do any of you have any places in Turkey you're curious about? I've already been doing lots of research for places I want to go later on in the year potentially when I have independent travel time. I can't believe how much there is to see in this country!
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