101 Things I Will Miss About Turkey

I have been in Turkey for nearly one and a half years. Here is a shortened list of the things I will be missing!! I linked some of these with a few of my past posts, if you want to read/browse and learn some more! :D

1. Izmir
2. Turkish Coffee
3. Hadise
4. Turkish Airlines
5. Nargile (Hookah)
6. Skiing In Uludag
7. Bayram
8. Yaprak Sarmasi
9. Manti
10. Turkish Language
11. Taxi Dolmus
12. Recis
13. Alsancak Night life
14. Cheap Travel
15. Bios Rock Bar
16. Movie Nights
17. O Ses Turkiye
18. Bazaar
19. Sahika / / "Avrupa Yakisi"
20. Gulsen
21. School Friends
22. Bufe & Pastavilla (School Lunch Time)
23. Turkish Hand Gestures
24. Turkish Superstitions
25. Bar Street
26. Cesme (The sea has 4 tones of blue)
27. Foca
28. Raki Balik (Fish and Traditional Turkish Liquor)
29. Brick Roads
30. Crazy Turkish Drivers
31. Istanbul
32. Tavla (Backgammon)
33. Taksim
34. Ferry Boat
35. Simit (Turkish Bread)
36. Fresh Tomatoes
37. Delivery Service for every and any food vendor
38. Cheap Cell phone bill (15$/Month, unlimited everything)
39. Mesir Macunu Paste
40. Sushi Sundays
41. Late Night Cafes
42. Trivial Pursuit
43. Scrabble
44. Smoking Area at School (Everyone's hang out spot)
45. Last minute decisions
46. Trip to Istanbul for one night
47. Turkish Coffee Fortune
48. Throwing your arms up like you are flying and snapping during an oriental song
49. Team Hadise
50. Birthday Celebrations
51. Hidirellez
52. Soda Water
53. Karisik Ayvalik Tost
54. The Belief in the Turkish Eye
55. Twitter Parties! :P
56. The Eyzan (The call to prayer)
57. The Sunset from my home
58. The Turkish Barber Shop
59. Turkish Shave
60. Hospitality
61. The Sea
62. Water Sports in Marmaris
63. Sun Bathing
64. Turkish Tea
65. The Markets
66. Driving in Craziness
67. Showing Chest Hair! ;)
68. The Exchange Rate (More for your money)
69. English in a Turkish accent
70. Walking on the sea side on a bad day
71. Mavisehir (The district I live in)
72. Karsiyaka, Always better than Goztepe! ;)
73. Yasar University's International Office Staff (Love Them!)
74. Marmaris
75. Deciding to go out at 2AM
76. Efes (Turkey's Fresh Beer)
77. Taking off your shoes as entering the house
78. Kissing each other on the cheek
79. No Homework
80. The way a Turkish will tell you if you look tired, bad, or fat.
81. Karaoke Sessions in the Kitchen with Burak
82. Drinking Tomato Soup at Kircicegi after every clubbing night! (Tradition for Turks)
83. The Belief in Energies
84. Baklava
85. Open-Mindedness of my friends
86. The Love of Ataturk
87. The Confusing Mapping of the City Streets
88. Turkish Proverbs
89. Hanging your clothes to dry
90. Hamams (Turkish Baths)
91. Turkish Concerts
92. Learning something new every single day
93. Sunshine at least 300 days out of the year
94. The weekly cleaning lady
95. Turkish Rice
96. Our pet rabbit, Noel
97. Virgin Mary's home / Ephesus / Syrince "Wine Tasting Village" (All one tour)
98. My AMAZING host family
99. Iskender Kebab
100. Not drinking from the faucet but water dispensers
101. Turkish Flag and its Colors

Turkish Newspaper Interview - Fresh Off the Press

This week I was asked to prepare a newspaper interview as an international student in Turkey. The link to the article is located at the bottom. Here are the questions and how I responded to them!


1. What country are you from?
I am from Columbus, Ohio, America.

2. Advantages/Disadvantages of being a student in Turkey?
Studying at Yasar University has been a blessing to say the least. The staff is very helpful, nice, and willing to help you with your future as an adult. The class sizes are small with many students that are willing to bridge the language barrier. The education system is different. You attend classes and are tested twice: midterms and final exams. Rarely do I see homework, projects, or presentations, which in America helps supplement your grade. While I understand this may be a European style, it puts more stress during exam time. Studying at Yasar University has helped bring additional perspectives to my learning, forcing me to look outside the box and try new thinking methods and business techniques. It is much cheaper to study in Turkey than in America; however in america it is easier to select any department and change departments as you wish. After travelling to other universities that I could have studied at, I can happily and proudly say that I made a good choice in choosing Yasar University, there is something special that can't be described unless you experience it.

3. How you imagined Turkey before you came here, how it matched with reality?
To be honest, most of Americans have not been abroad, nor are surrounded by the vast majority of countries like that of Europe. As a whole I could say we also tend to focus on national news rather than international news. I imagined Turkey much more conservative, with a quiet attitude. I imagined much more repression, but still developed. With its geographical location I wondered whether it would have a more western or middle eastern style. How I can now describe Turkey is that it is a country full of pride, outspokenness, diversity, and warm people; like a sister country to America.

4. What sort of difficulties have you encountered?
The language barrier between English and Turkish has been my only major difficulty. While at Yasar University, however, I have made it a point to surround myself with Turkish friends to slowly but certainly learn. The students at Yasar University and general society have really been receptive and helpful; I have made many lifelong friendships in Turkey. Another main difficulty has been keeping in contact with my family and friends back in America. There is a 7 hour time difference which speaks for itself. The internet has been a major help to prevent any disconnections.

5. What would you put for a list of what you loved most about Turkey?
If being around the sea and one of the best sunsets in the world isn’t enough, there are plenty more reasons. I can go to the barber for an hour and be treated like a prince for only 10TL. One is always greeted with a smile, kiss on the cheek, and possibly a plate of food; meaning the countries hospitality is like none that I have ever seen. Even strangers treat you like family in Turkey. The bazaar offers many food items, clothing, and odds and ends for a great price. There is never a boundary while travelling in Turkey. The public transportation can be late sometimes, but I can travel as far as from Mavisehir to Alsancak for less than 2TL or from Izmir to Marmaris for 30TL; these are great as a foreigner, there is no need for a car in Turkey. The living style is very modern, staying up to date with the most recent fashion and technology. Turkey also has such a great presence of culture and history that makes it intriguing. I also love Turkish music, with just a few of my favorites being Hadise, Gulsen,  Sila, Athena, Sertab Erener, and Sebnem Ferah.

6. Compared with your country what sort of differences would you list?
America is more organized and structured. The food in Turkey is fresh, always prepared, and not filled with chemicals or hormones. The Turkish family will offer you more food than you can imagine, but you can still stay very healthy here. Electronics are much more expensive in Turkey but travelling and getting around the cities is much cheaper and available. The café scene filled with conversation, tavla, and Turkish coffee is much more present in Turkey than in America. It is typical for an American student to work while studying starting in their teens, but in Turkey most students rely on their families to support them. Americans are typically knowledgeable in their own politics and society; however Turks are more aware of the world’s geography and politics. I have really enjoyed learning the differences; it has helped influence my love and respect for Turkey!

**The link to my article as is appears in the newspaper**

http://haber.yasar.edu.tr/2011/12/16/dunyanin-dort-bir-yanindan-geldiler-turkiyeyi-cok-sevdiler/

Swirling Dervishes & Mevlana

While sitting in a cafe in Turkey, sipping on Turkish coffee and soda mineral water, possibly playing tavla (backgammon), dama (checkers), or having a conversation you will sometimes be approached by people. I say people in general, because there are so many different kinds. Firstly you have the people asking for a lighter. Then there are the older men selling lottery tickets and scratch-offs (one of my favorites). There are also the young boys trying to sell roses to you for the girl sitting next to you. The men carrying around a tower of balloons, and the ones selling light-up toys. If you are hungry, there are men selling roasted and cold nuts, and the "cig-kofte" a raw meat that is delicious. You will also have beggars and children giving you a fortune card with hopes you will give them money. Lastly there is a group of people that work with organizations asking for money to support health groups, political groups and so on.

A lady from a leukemia support group arrived at our table asking for money. Of course I get out my wallet, especially since I knew she was official. She then gave me a pamphlet on their group and what they did. On it had an "advice" list from a famous philosopher, Mevlana, or better known as Rumi (Listed below). I was then interested to find out more about this philosopher and his influence.

Come to find out, he is the inspiration to the swirling dervishes(name of the people) participating in the dance known as "Sema." If you ever see a commercial or something about Turkish culture, people always seem to recognize the men twirling in a type of white costume. The traditional reasoning is that these 'twirlers' will spin to perfection. It is a journey through the spirit, mind, and love. It is said that after his 'journey' he will come back as a grown, more mature soul/person. He will have left his egos, his hatred, and his lies, coming to love life, and human nature.

Mevlana or Rumi, is well known for his poetry and teachings about love, peace, and harmony. He was a Muslim man, but looked at every religion with respect. He believed that every man should have his or her own faith, and to prosper through it, not to disturb others. Mevlana died in 1273, but left a legacy of teachings and is honored every year on the day of his death with a celebration of his teachings. There is also a museum in Konya where he is also laid to rest.

After reading some of his translated poetry and writings I find even more of a blessing to be here. To be able to walk the same streets as many ancient philosophers did is somehow amazing to me. The history of Turkey is deep and mystical, and each step I walk while in Turkey, I find something new, even as simple as a pamphlet!

Seven advice of Mevlana (Rumi)

1. In generosity and helping others, be like a river
Comertlik ve yardim etmede akarsu gibi ol

2. In compassion and grace be like the sun

Sefkat ve merhamette gunes gibi ol

3. In concealing others faults be like the night

Baskalarinin kusurunu ortmede gece gibi ol

4. In anger and furry be like the dead

Hiddet ve asabiyette olu gibi ol

5. In modesty and humility be like the earth.

Tevazu ve alcak gonullulukte toprak gibi ol

6. In tolerance be like a sea

Hosgorude deniz gibi ol

7. Either exist as you are or be as you look

Ya oldugun gibi gorun ya da gorundugun gibi ol


*Note: I do not own the copyrights of these photos*

Roll The Dice & Break It! - Tavla - Backgammon

You may find it nearly impossible to sit in a cafe drinking tea and playing a board game for 5 hours straight non-stop, while still enjoying every minute of it, but I am here to prove you wrong!

My friend and I decided to meet at a cafe before she left for Istanbul permanently. While talking and talking, she ended up saying, "Why are we not playing tavla?" I said "I have no clue, but I think we should start." So that was the start. Normally you play until one person wins five times, but we happened to never count, and we must have played over 20 games. After we realized how much time we had spent playing and talking about life, we decided to play until one person reached five.

Backgammon, or Tavla in Turkish is a game that is associated with the leaders and aristocracy of the ancient civilizations. Many variations being passed from Persia, Greece, and Rome, then moving over to the Asian areas, it made its move to the U.S. in about the 1930's where the rules were formalized and practiced today world-wide.

Backgammon is a widely played game by many Turkish people, older men in particular. In fact they have many cafes where only men are typically allowed in(socially, not legally), where they will sit there, hunched over, drinking tea and playing for hours. I always find it funny when walking pass these cafes, where its quiet and low mumblings and words about life and such.

Its not a game like checkers or chess. In those games you can ponder your opponents next move, however in tavla(Backgammon) your moves depend purely on the luck of your dice roll. This is makes it less stressing in the fact that you dont have to think about your opponents next move, but makes it stressful when deciding whether to leave your pieces open in fear of being broken.

I have been playing for quite some time now, and its a really fun game. Thinking fast and moving the checker pieces rapidly is what makes the game entertaining. The sound of the dice rolling and the sound when you slam a piece down and breaking someone like you had just won a football match. 

So go ahead, let the time pass, enjoy a few glasses of tea, strike up a conversation, all while playing a mad game of tavla.

How to play Backgammon (tavla):

Play Some Backgammon!

Note: I do not own the copyrights to the images on this post.