The End?

This is probably the end of the story about our time in Turkey. We will visit Turkey again when we can. The Turks were kind and very hospitable, even to Americans. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed our blog site.

Home Again

Well, the summer had to come to a close eventually. I have just moved into my new apartment and started my fall semester of university. I was sad when I boarded the plane for Chicago. I had such a great time in Turkey this summer that I wished that school started later so I could travel more. Oh well, just another reason to come back. Over the summer I met some wonderful friends that I will miss now that I am in the States. But I have come away with some great memories, experiences, and friendships that I will cherish forever. Now.........on to school!!!

Leaving Turkey Soon!

This summer has gone by so fast. Only four days until we return to the US. On August 14th we fly from Izmir to Chicago, then to Houston. Before we return, we got an extra day off work to enjoy. Sarah and I are going to a place called Grand Blue Sky hotel in Kusadasi for two days, Saturday and Sunday.

Pre-circumcision celebration: for young boy on front of camel 

Downtown Balikesir with our friends 

Balıkesir

This past Saturday Tom, Matt, and I went to visit some former students in their town of Balıkesir. It was a fun trip. We left Izmir at 9am and arrived around 11:30. The girls met us at the bus station and we headed for town. On the way we stopped at their school because they wanted to show us around. Their school is very nice. Next we went to the town center where they lived. We went to one of the girls house for lunch. Her mom cooked us a great lunch. There was alot of food. First we had mashed potatoes with some sauteed beef. The meat was so tender. Along with that there was green beans, salad, stuffed peppers, another type of salad, cheese stuffed eggplant, and rice. After we filled up on that there was more!! Fruit, pudding, and a cake type thing was brought out for dessert. There were peaches(şeftali), grapes, pears, and figs. By the time we were done we were stuffed!!! we couldn't move so we payed cards for a while before going out to see the town. Around three we headed out and walked around. We saw the clocktower, museum, and the town. After a couple of hours we were hot and decided to get ice cream. We went to a nice ice cream paror and all ordered sundaes. Tom, Matt, and I decided that we were going to pay for everybody because up until this point they had been paying for us, like bus tickets for example. Matt went up to pay when they weren't looking, but he was caught.

He came back and said, "They caught me."

"What??" I asked

"They caught me." Matt reinforced

"What do you mean?" Tom said

"They saw me tring to pay and stopped me. The cashier had my card and everything when they came up and they said something in Turkish and the cashier gave me back my card and said 'NO'!" Matt said

One of the girls then said that it is Turkish custom for the guest not to pay. That if the guest pays it is impolite. We finally relented after some more discussion. We then continued around town for a few more hours, and then returned to the house for more cards and dinner. dinner was not a fancy as lunch thank goodness, because we were still quite full. We had chicken, french fries, eggplant, and salad. For dessert there was watermelon. By now it was 10pm and we had to get going to the bus station for out 11pm departure back to Izmir. We said goodbye to each other at the station and left for Izmir. It was a really nice day. The girls were super nice to us and we were sad to leave. But we have been invited to come back whenever we want. Maybe we will.......

New Recipe of the week!

Stuffed eggplants are great and served often here.

AWOL

Mothers were kissing their little boys and girls goodbye as they checked in to SpaceCamp Turkey. The new campers turned there cash into space camp credit cards and recieved their t-shirts. It was the start of a new week. At 4 pm it was time to officially start the weekly program with "Program-O" or program orientation. We waitied for about ten minutes for the person responsible for giving the opening ceremony, but Connie did not show. I was "volunteered" to be the one who give the lecture since I have no fear of doing so. I gave the opening rules and introductions to camp, then we sent the kids off with their teams. Connie was missing, but we did not stop and wonder where she was. The supervisors on duty, however, saw it differently. They told me I should have let them know when she did not show up to program-o. I just said, "I gave the lecture then took my team. That's it." I did not care where she was, I just went on. But I have forgotten to tell the story before the story. The night before Connie was missing, Connie and her highly codependant lover, Darren approached some of us in the television/counselor room. They confided in us that they were going to leave camp that night. This is weeks before they were supposed to leave according to verbal contracts, etc. So, they went AWOL! Darren and Connie got their bags and headed for the bus stop. Some of us walked them to the bus stop since we were going to buy some snack at a gas station beyond the bus stop. We said our goodbyes and watched them get into a Dolmush and leave. That's it. They wanted to leave and they are gone. Now we have to fill in their positions and are stuck with their jobs.