well it seems i lost all moviation to blog over the summer and last semester. But I'm back now. I can't help but be back as I watch the protest in Egypt.  Believe in my last post I said I would write about the anti- Israeli protests that I saw in Turkey just days before leaving for home. Guess what? I actually did write it! So I'll edit that and post before I start rambling about Egypt and senior year and all my emotions over the two. Talk soon!

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Back in Vermont!

So it's been about two weeks since I left Istanbul. It's been 8 days since I moved back to vermont. I only had four days at home with my family. I'm starting to settle in and get into a schedule, but there's still hiccups along the way.

SO I have decided I need to rewrite my post about the Israli protest in Istanbul, post my thoughts, stories and lessons from spring break, and write about my thoughts on coming home and leaving Istanbul. I think I'll keep the blogg going as this summer has already proven it's going to be a great one filled with more research, sunny days, hazy nights, hiking, and sailing and all that good stuff. If you want feel free to check back in a few days and all summer long.


As the ipod playlist, I've a added few things - the new MGMT ablum I love it, some Chiddy Bang songs as I have come to think he's a supercool undrground rapper, while abroad I discovered the glory of LDC Soundsystem. But I can't forget the classsics, I made sure to add some more Eagles as they are always good in the summer as well as more Allman Brothers and more CCR.

more in a few...

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Eurovision

First, I realize I never wrote about spring break, but I just haven't had to time sit down and truly reflect on all that I experienced and saw in that short period of time. I promise as soon as finals are done I'll post my thoughts and pictures.

Right now, I cannot believe I only have six days left here. I am stoked to go home, see my family, friends and alex, watch the Celtics beat the Lakers, and eat tons of cheese and steaks, but I am having a hard time saying goodbye to Istanbul. It has truly become a place I love. Actually I want to reflect on this later. Right now I want to talk about two things: Eurovision and the Israeli thing. I think I may write about Israel in another post a little later as the topics do not relate at all.

OK So Eurovison - the greatest show/ song contest ever. Keep in mind, I am not an american idol fan. Apparently, it has existed since the 50s. Basically, each country participating submits a song (previously unreleased). On Wednesday and Thursday night, there is a semifinals, in which, top 21 songs are picked. The Big Four - UK, France, Germany, and Spain- automatically qualify for rating purposes. On Saturday Night, there are the Finals. Each song is perform for two minutes to large productions with lights, props, video and sometimes fire or fireworks. No more then six people allowed on stage. The performances are super dramatic, its great. Some of them are truly incredible and make Lady Gaga look like a child's production, while others just down right silly.

After all the performances, there's a really long commercial break allowing viewers and judges to vote. Voting is determined by country. Each country has three judges, they pick the country's three favorites awarding them 12, 10, 8 points respectively. Then the viewers from the country pick the seven each getting 7-1 points determined by ranking. It's a crazy process but if you see it live, you just might understand it.

The best part is the judges votes because they are so political. Foe example, Greece's 12 points went to???? that's Cyprus. Who did Cyprus give first too? Greece. It was awesome to witness how forward each country was about it. No one even tried to hide their alliances. I loved it, perhaps, it's because I'm a major poli-sci dork, but whatever. I'm not the only one. Apparently, (i read it in a newspaper article) there are all types of professors and scholars that have written about it. It just one of pop culture things that completely displays the political feelings of the time.

Second best part, not all the countries in it are from Europe. Israel, anyone? I can't wait to try to watch online next year.

Here's the top three performances and some of my favorites via youtube:
1) Germany - Satellite
2) Turkey - We Could Be the Same
3) Romamia - Playing with Fire

 Greece - Opa
Azerbaijan - Drip Drop
Moldova - Run Away (this one is just funny)

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Life in Istanbul and Planning for Spring break

Between Konya and Spring Break, there were classes, midterms, an excursion to the Asian side and basic everyday life.  This where you two choices - start to settle into life in Istanbul or  decide you want to go home now. For me I settled into life. Don't get me wrong I love and miss miss miss my friends and family (the best birthday present would be to just have a night with my sisters), but I also have routine here that really works for me.

I have decided what foods I like, where I like to drink, what stand to buy my chips at. No longer are the crowded buses something that could get me completely lost and swallow me whole; now they are just crowded buses on the way to friend's apartment or night out. It's working out well. There are no real surprises anymore. I'm just comfortable here, which has led me to ponder some things. Should I be thinking about living abroad after school? What about grad school? and all those other questions that pop with those decisions.

I have come to the conclusion that I do want to have some time to explore things before I head to grad school. I'm pretty sure that I want to study international relations in some type of form. I do not know in what concentration yet. Perhaps I'll come back and work for NGO or go somewhere else. I don't know but I know none of these decisions need to be made now. I just know that this experience has given me more options and more confidence... both are good things.


I promise I'll post about my spring break in the next few days. I'm thinking one post on each country - Syria, Jordan, Egypt. For those of you that don't know, I and friends backpacked from Istanbul to Cairo and back in about 11 days. Originally, we had plans to go to Syria, Jordan, Israel and Cyprus, but two days into the trip we got word that boat ride from Israel to Cyprus would be too expensive so we went with our back up idea and loved it!!!! so check back soon

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Konya - Unexpected Kindness

When it came time to leave Cappadocia, Arielle and I were headed in different directions. With a midterm on Monday, Arielle took the night bus back to Istanbul and I headed to Konya.

Konya is known as a very conservative and religious city in Turkey. Some consider it to be the most conservative city* So I had some preconceived notions before I arrived. Some were right and some were wrong.

First, I went to the Whirling Dervishes museum. The Whirling Dervishes (Mawlawi Order) are a sect of Sufi order of Islam. The order started in Konya in the 13th century. They are known for their elaborate dances, which are in remembrance of God. The museum is pretty cool. You have to treat it like a Mosque. You must take off your shoes and wear a headscarf a well. Many people go to the Museum to pray at the tomb of the founder of the order. Konya is the type of place that attracts Turkish tourists rather then international tourist.

Then I got lost. The guidebook makes things look so easy sometimes and sometimes they just aren't. I was looking for a certain street that had many of the other tourıst attractions on it, but I was failing miserably. I tried to ask two police officers where the street was. They understood what İ was askıng but didn't know how to give directions that I would understand. Eventually this led to these two people who barely spoke english taking me to the street I was looking. In fact they called another friend spoke a little bit more English and spent the rest of the day showing me Konya.


They became my Konya tour guides making sure I eat the things ( aka meatbread) Konya was famous. They took me to all the parks in the city. It was awesome. We were able have to conversations about Turkey, America and family. They showed me all the cities I should visit and the places I should see around Turkey. Sometimes people are so nice especially in Turkey!

I have come to love traveling because of moments like that. I was lost, asked for directions, and out of nowhere I made friends. I got a taste of Konya that I wouldn't have otherwise. I had a not met my new friends I would gone to some museums and left Konya no problems. Instead I got to see the city for what it really is, rather then just saying yea its a conservative city in Turkey. Of course it is an religious center and you can see that upon your arrival, but it also filled with beautiful parks, great food and wicked cool people.

more to come on spring break and all....

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New Posts to Come Soon

I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted! I just got back from backpacking through Syrıa and Jordan to Ciaro. I will post about that and life in Istanbul over the next few days...Stay Tuned!

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Cappadocia


What a weekend! Once again, I left Istanbul to travel through Turkey.  This time I travel to Cappadocia in central Turkey.  With caves, incredible geology, and an interesting history, Cappadocia is a beautiful region. First, the location of region (between two techtonic plates) has left it vulnerable to volcano eruptions in the past. The left over ash combined with caves, mountains, and dry weather have created incredible rock formations. Check out these pictures.


Historically, the region was actually Christian and Greek. Between the 6th and 12th century, the town of Grome (where I stayed) was home to a cave dwelling order of  monks. Now you may think that sounds like no fun, but I assure you it was much cooler then Fraggle Rock. They actually had caves that were churches with domes that housed mosaics and paintings. Some of this has been recovered and can viewed at the open air- museum.

Today, the region is both beautiful and corny. The formations take your breathe away, while it is clear that tourism is the region's only source of income. We stayed in cave hotel called Bedrock. Cave hotels are everywhere. Ours was actually a hostel, but it was pretty sweet, and we had our own bathroom and shower. Our hosts were very accomdaating, they sat us down with a map and gave us a full explanation of the area. What cave cities were worth seeing and which weren’t, what attractions we would enjoy. They understood that we had a short time there and helped us make the most of it. After an 11 hour over night bus trip, it was a relief to have the information right in front of us.

We headed to the open air museum in which we could see the remenants of the monks. It was pretty cool, surely impressive. On the walk over there, we ran into a guy offering camel rides, as this was one of my goal, how could I say no? So I got to ride a camel along a mountain path. Once on the camel, I couldn’t believe how high up I was or how bumpy the ride was. All in all, it was great time.

Next we opted for an atv tour of the scenery. I think this was the highlight of trip for me (other then my camel ride). For the tour, we were able to ride an ATV through the sand and mountains seeing views no hotel could offer. We were able to stop and  take pictures whenever we wanted. As a part of it, we were allowed to see a cave home. Literally, this family lived in cave with a living room, kitchen, dining room, and bedrooms. The rooms were small, the floors, ceilings, and sometimes walls were all rock. The appeal is they're warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Many of them have been in their families for generations.

Touring from sight to sight meant riding through Grome, which was very interesting. It definitely was a poorer area that only knew tourism as a source of income. It played up the caves, traditional Turkish this and that even the town bar was called the Flinstone cave. Some parts were abandoned or very run down. It was sad to see the steep comparison between overpriced hotel and rundown/ abandon home.
 
Later that night, we attended a traditional Turkish dinner in a cave. It had traditional folk dancers, belly dancers, and whirling dervishes. It was definitely a super tourist thing to attend but it was really, really fun.

The next morning we successly navigated our way from Grome to an underground city by way of minibuses and then to Nevshir to some museums. The underground city was cool, but for someone of my height it was not very fun and  quickly I was over it. After that, we spent day museum hopping. At the end of the afternoon, we had to catch our bus to the next destination.... more to follow on Konya tomorrow.

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