Well, today marks my 1 month anniversary of arriving to Turkey. I honestly cannot believe it. How have I been here a month already? I have been fortunate to see so many amazing places already, in addition to taking my college courses. I have grown so much in the past month and I think I am finally becoming an independent human being. I'm cooking for myself! And I'm enjoying it!
I have made a few more observations about Turkey that I would like to share with you:
1) In the Turkish language, there is no "th" sound and no "w." So when Turkish people speak English, their "th" sound is more of a "d" sound while their "w" is a "v." It is still easy to understand what they say, but there are always a few things that a non-native language speaker has trouble with. It definitely goes both ways. I'm quite positive that I say Turkish words wrong the majority of the time, but people just smile and help me adjust my awkward accent to sound more Turkish.
2) Just about every day, I hear helicopters flying over Ankara. I'm not sure if they are newscasters, traffic updates, or police, but as I walk to the music building or while I'm sitting in class, I can hear the hum and thump-thump of helicopters overhead.
3) When traveling outside of Bilkent's campus, you can hear the Muslim call to prayer 5 times a day. If you pause and listen to the city below Bilkent, as it is on a hill, you can hear the chanter inviting people to come to the mosque. It is a completely different atmosphere where religion is forefront and constant every day as opposed to concealed and hushed up as it is in America. Turkey has displayed to me that Church (or Mosque) and State really can both function without stepping on each others' toes. I actually enjoy hearing the call to prayer, as it reminds me what is most important in my life. I just happen to worship someone other than Allah.
4) Turkey is larger than I thought. It is a bit larger than the state of Texas. While I am planning weekend trips to different destinations, I am surprised that so many trips take a minimum of 3 hours. It just looks so small on the map! However, the fact that the entire country of Turkey is the same size of one of the states in America reminds me how large America really is. To many people, a 12 hour drive is unheard of, but to me, that is the trip to my grandmother's house. I am not afraid of a road trip!
I am constantly reminded to take every day as a blessing as I only have a short time here. One month down, three to go!
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Monday, February 23, 2015
Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara
Saturday my friend from Germany, my friend from Denmark, and I decided to get up early, catch the 8:50 bus to the city of Ankara, and go to the main museum of Ankara, the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. During orientation, one of the archaeological professors came and gave us an overview of the history and archaeological discoveries of Turkey, especially the areas surrounding Ankara. Since then, I have been very eager to go to this museum, as it is well respected all over the world. Plus, with our museum pass that we purchased last week in Cappadocia, we were able to enter for free! We paid the 10 Turkish Lira for the audio tour though (10 Lira is about $4. No big deal. Well worth it!)
This time going into the city we hardly got lost! Every time we go to Ankara, I feel more comfortable with directions and how to get places. Even after just a month of being in Turkey, I feel like I can make my way around the general areas of Ankara. Imagine what another 3 months will do! I will know Ankara very well hopefully. We got a bit confused climbing the hilly section of Ankara, but thankfully the museum is very well known and even the locals that do not speak English were able to point us in the right direction.
Side story:
Two weeks ago, while we were searching for the bazaar and a different museum, we were standing looking like tourists with our map spread out in front of us, and a taxi driver approached us and asked if we needed help with directions. He knew a bit of English, so with a mixture of English and Turkish, we were able to get good directions not only to where we wanted to go, but where the bus stop would be for the return trip. He was so helpful and so kind! And he did it out of the goodness of his heart. No discussion of payment. He just knows the city backwards and forwards and saw three international girls trying to understand his city. Fast forward to today, Saturday, two weeks after that initial meeting. As we were walking along the same road, we saw him again! Or rather he recognized us again. But this was in a different section of this road (which is the main road in Ankara, which is of course named after Ataturk). Out of the 4 million people that live in Ankara, we run into the same taxi driver! Maybe he does the same routes along that main road, but still, we just happened to be in the same spot at the same time yet again. So we told him where we were going this week, and he was so excited for us to see this main museum in Ankara. He pointed us in the right direction and saw us off. Perhaps we will run into him again another day in Ankara!
Outside of the museum, they have statues and pottery all around the museum in a garden of history. It was very pretty with the snow on the ground as well. This museum is organized by time period, so it begins in the Paleolithic period all the way to the Roman period. There is not a museum like this in America. We just don't have the history like Turkey does. Turkey is just surrounded by history. Everywhere I go I have to remind myself that long ago, way long ago, people were still living in this area of the world and we have proof of it. As usual, I took many pictures. I will try and explain what I remember from a few of the them:
This mini statue is from the oldest period in Turkey. They believe that it is a nature/mother goddess, as she has enlarged breasts and a plump stomach, possibly she is giving birth. On either side of her chair are two leopards. She displays power with these leopards. It is surprising to archaeologists that at such an early age in civilization, there is evidence of such fine sculpting and such a complex belief in the supernatural.
This volcanic rock was smoothed and made to shine to use as a mirror. I found it fascinating and amazing that ancient people could get a rock to shine so well. I could see my reflection fairly well, even from far away from it and through a display case.
This next picture is of Hittite writing on stone. I believe they had a written language but they used a type of hieroglyphics as well. What I came to find out was that one of these stone tablets, or at least its replica, is actually displayed at the United Nations. It must have some words of wisdom or laws or words of peace that are internationally respected.
This time going into the city we hardly got lost! Every time we go to Ankara, I feel more comfortable with directions and how to get places. Even after just a month of being in Turkey, I feel like I can make my way around the general areas of Ankara. Imagine what another 3 months will do! I will know Ankara very well hopefully. We got a bit confused climbing the hilly section of Ankara, but thankfully the museum is very well known and even the locals that do not speak English were able to point us in the right direction.
Side story:
Two weeks ago, while we were searching for the bazaar and a different museum, we were standing looking like tourists with our map spread out in front of us, and a taxi driver approached us and asked if we needed help with directions. He knew a bit of English, so with a mixture of English and Turkish, we were able to get good directions not only to where we wanted to go, but where the bus stop would be for the return trip. He was so helpful and so kind! And he did it out of the goodness of his heart. No discussion of payment. He just knows the city backwards and forwards and saw three international girls trying to understand his city. Fast forward to today, Saturday, two weeks after that initial meeting. As we were walking along the same road, we saw him again! Or rather he recognized us again. But this was in a different section of this road (which is the main road in Ankara, which is of course named after Ataturk). Out of the 4 million people that live in Ankara, we run into the same taxi driver! Maybe he does the same routes along that main road, but still, we just happened to be in the same spot at the same time yet again. So we told him where we were going this week, and he was so excited for us to see this main museum in Ankara. He pointed us in the right direction and saw us off. Perhaps we will run into him again another day in Ankara!
Outside of the museum, they have statues and pottery all around the museum in a garden of history. It was very pretty with the snow on the ground as well. This museum is organized by time period, so it begins in the Paleolithic period all the way to the Roman period. There is not a museum like this in America. We just don't have the history like Turkey does. Turkey is just surrounded by history. Everywhere I go I have to remind myself that long ago, way long ago, people were still living in this area of the world and we have proof of it. As usual, I took many pictures. I will try and explain what I remember from a few of the them:
This volcanic rock was smoothed and made to shine to use as a mirror. I found it fascinating and amazing that ancient people could get a rock to shine so well. I could see my reflection fairly well, even from far away from it and through a display case.
This enlarged pot was used during the Hittite period (1700-1200 BC) I believe. The pictures on it display a traditional wedding, beginning at the bottom of the pot and moving to the top in a circular fashion. The pictures include a sacrifice of an animal to the gods and the performance of many musicians. You can see some tambourines on the tier second from the top. I love that there is evidence of music from the earliest of times. It really has been a part of civilization since they began. I love this pot also because the colors are so vibrant, even 3000 years later.
This next picture is of Hittite writing on stone. I believe they had a written language but they used a type of hieroglyphics as well. What I came to find out was that one of these stone tablets, or at least its replica, is actually displayed at the United Nations. It must have some words of wisdom or laws or words of peace that are internationally respected.
In the Roman section, they had many remnants of statues of the Roman gods along with pottery and glass pottery. They then had a display of coins from the entire Roman ruling period. My audio guide informed me that this one is of Augustus, thes first emperor of Rome. "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." This is the type of coin that Jesus was referring to in the Gospels! Wow! Do I love history!
In the center of the museum, they have a large area to display all of the large stone structures found in this Anatolian area. Stone carvings always amaze me, as I would have no idea where to begin on a carving of a massive piece of stone.
The cutest thing, though, was the school groups. I'm not sure why they were there on a Saturday, but, regardless, they burst through the doors all excited, not just to see the things in the museum, but the tourists too! Many of them asked to take pictures with me and some of the Asian visitors of the museum as well. Their teacher made them practice their English by saying "Thank you!" It was so precious! You can just see their eyes get big and stare at you for a while, drawing up the courage to ask to take a picture with you.
I can see why this museum is on the Top Choice list of my Lonely Planet travel book. There is so much history packed into one place. And it is displayed so nicely as well. I encourage all who come to Turkey to come to this museum. Hopefully I gave you a good sneak peak to what you will discover at the museum yourself!
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Campus Tour
Last week I had a post with a tour of my dorm room. This week I will attempt to give you a glimpse of Bilkent University through a tour with pictures.
Beginning at my dorm, if you look to the right, you will see the music building all by itself. To the left you would see a hill leading up to the countless dorm buildings. Straight ahead you would see the Architecture building. From my dorm it looks like this:
But from the academic campus side it looks like this:
This next picture I have tried to capture the overall layout of main campus. Behind us is the gorgeous Architecture building. To our left is the bookstore and work out center. If you continue down this path all the way, as we will do, you will hit the library, the ending point of this tour. As I said, this main campus area is just a very large rectangle which you have to walk the entire length just about every day.
Bilkent is set up in three campuses. There is main campus, where all of the classroom buildings are close together connected by lovely cobblestone paths and it contains many cafes in which to socialize. There is no Quad like the American universities, with a large green space between buildings. Just cobblestone paths. The green space that I know is popular is the one that I pass on my way to the music building. So far, there have only been snowmen on this green space, but I am told that once it warms up a bit, it is the place to soak up the sun and socialize. This green space, the music building, and an amphitheater make up middle campus. Past the music building, further down the road, is east campus, which I believe is just more dorms and a few faculty department buildings, but most of the dorms and buildings are on main campus. I do not know much about East campus yet, because I have not ventured that far yet.
That concludes my tour. I did not think you needed to see the music building again, as it has been included in many posts already and is not really a part of main campus. I really do enjoy main campus. It is so well organized and really is the hub of the university. Unfortunately, I only am on main campus for one class, as all of my other classes are music classes. So two days a week I come onto main campus for Turkish class. I get to mingle with all of the other students on these two days. Otherwise I take a peaceful walk from my dorm, past the green space and beautiful view of the city of Ankara, to my oasis, the music building.
Beginning at my dorm, if you look to the right, you will see the music building all by itself. To the left you would see a hill leading up to the countless dorm buildings. Straight ahead you would see the Architecture building. From my dorm it looks like this:
All of Bilkent's buildings are relatively the same design. Well, they all look like they belong together at least. You will see from my tour of campus. The main campus is one large rectangle, the top being this Architecture Faculty building, and the bottom being the Library. This entire rectangle is one gradual hill. From the dorms, you gradually go down until you get to the library.
If we continue to walk towards more of the academic buildings, we will walk past the bookstore and one of the workout centers on our left. The orange and yellow building is the work out center and the green sign is the bookstore. So far, I have only had to buy one book, which was for Turkish class. In regards to the workout center, the larger one is closer to the majority of the dorms. The larger one has 2-3 courts for basketball and volleyball along with the swimming pool. This orange and yellow building has one court and a few classrooms for workout classes. You had to sign up for them within the first week of classes, otherwise they filled up. There is of course also a room with gym equipment: treadmills, bicycles, elliptical, and a weight room.
As we travel down about 5 flights of stairs, we come to this circular fountain. This to me is the heart and hub of campus. There always seem to be people milling about, partly due to a cafe very close by with outdoor seating and partly due to this being the middle of the rectangle of main campus. Behind us is the building where we had our Turkish classes during orientation. I cannot wait for it to be warmer so I can sit around the fountain and enjoy the sunshine.
After maybe 3 more flights of stairs (remember, this campus is hilly), you come to another large open space with a statue honoring the founder of Bilkent University. Behind me is the library and behind the statue is the gradual uphill towards the dorms.
This next building is I believe the Computer and Engineering building. Bilkent is famous for its engineering department. It is just such a picturesque building. This building is directly to the right of the statue. All I did was turn to the right from taking the last picture to capture this building.
Continuing on in our original direction, downhill, and crossing a street, we come to the library. It has three stories above ground and two below ground. It is divided into two sections, A and B, and you can cross to the other section by means of a walkway on the second floor or by traveling through the tunnel below ground. It is another picturesque building that I constantly admire. To the right of the library is the dining center that I normally go to as it is the cheapest place to eat on campus.
That concludes my tour. I did not think you needed to see the music building again, as it has been included in many posts already and is not really a part of main campus. I really do enjoy main campus. It is so well organized and really is the hub of the university. Unfortunately, I only am on main campus for one class, as all of my other classes are music classes. So two days a week I come onto main campus for Turkish class. I get to mingle with all of the other students on these two days. Otherwise I take a peaceful walk from my dorm, past the green space and beautiful view of the city of Ankara, to my oasis, the music building.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Cappadocia
This past weekend I traveled to Cappadocia with the other international students. Cappadocia is an area of Turkey that is famous for rock formations created by the wind. They are often referred to as fairy chimneys. For centuries, people have lived in these rocks, because the rock is a softer rock made from volcanic ash and can be easily carved. This area of the world has been ruled by the Hittites, Phrygians, Persians, Alexander the Great, and the Romans. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Christians hid in cave dwellings because they were being persecuted. Cappadocia also is famous for its pottery and carpet weaving. It is also a place for horseback riding, as displayed in its name. The Assyrians named Katpatuka, or Cappadocia. It means land of beautiful horses. All of the information was given to us by a professional guide on our Saturday tour.
But here is an overview of the entire trip:
We left Friday morning. Along the way to Cappadocia, we got to see the diverse countryside of Turkey. When we left Ankara, there was snow on the ground. About 1-2 hours away, there were green pastures with snow-topped mountains in the background. It was breathtaking. We stopped at Lake Tuz, the second largest lake in Turkey which is also the saltiest lake in Turkey. It seems to be quite shallow. D
uring the summer, much of the lake evaporates, leaving large expanses of salt. I did taste the water (don't worry mom. I had anti-diarrhea medicine with me just in case!) and I wanted to see if the lake was salty enough for something to float in it. However, the water was too shallow, so it did not work. I will just have to go to the Dead Sea someday and float in it.
We made many stops along the way, for food, bathrooms, and smoking. And then, all of a sudden, we saw the rocks emerging out of the earth with the houses carved into them. It really felt like you were in a science fiction movie, exploring another planet. We stopped at a panoramic view just as sunset was coming. I, of course, took many pictures. The closest thing I can relate it to is Utah with its many national parks dedicated to arched rocks and other amazingly shaped rocks. There are hardly any tall trees in Cappadocia, just like in Utah. Instead, the ground is covered with small shrubs and many apricot trees. The Cappadocia area produces 40% of all the apricots grown in Turkey. Yes, apricots are very important in Turkish culture. There are a few tall, but they are all very skinny. The growing season must not be very long in Cappadocia
That evening was a Turkish dinner and traditional dances from all across Turkey, including the whirling dervishes, Black Sea coastal dances, and a traditional Turkish wedding. It was definitely geared towards tourists, complete with unlimited wine, beer, and raki, which is a very popular drink in Turkey. It is mixed with water as it is very alcoholic. But the food and the dancing were very good.
Saturday a few people woke up at 5:30 am to ride in a hot air balloon and watch the sun rise over the landscape, which is a very popular thing to do in Cappadocia. I plan to do it later when my family comes to visit me, so I got extra sleep instead. I cannot wait to go in a hot air balloon though. It will be breathtaking.
Our hotels had wonderful dinners and breakfasts with traditional Turkish food served at both. During breakfast, they serve at least 10 different kinds of jams and honey. It is so yummy! It is like unlimited Kehe family orchard!
Our tour guide then joined us and led us around Goreme, one of the cities in the Cappadocia area. We again went to the panoramic overlook, but this time with the sun shining brightly and with other tourist groups. The line of buses at every major stop in Cappadocia is funny to me. We just follow one another from one site to the next. At almost every stop there was an ice cream stand. What is it with tourists and ice cream? Even in winter time. But Turkish ice cream is a bit different. The shop keepers will play around with it for a while, making it a game for you to try and grab the ice cream cone. There was also a stand selling freshly squeezed orange juice and pomegranate juice. Pomegranates are also very important in Turkish culture like the apricot, although I'm not sure they are as massively produced in Turkey as apricots are.
Next we traveled to the Goreme open air museum, comprised of houses and churches built by Christians as hideouts from persecution. The caves of Cappadocia are a wonderful place to live, as year round the temperature inside is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also easy to conceal a large living area with only one door showing. It amazed me how large the rooms were for the houses and how tall the ceilings were for the churches. Every church had the domed ceilings similar to every church or cathedral built during the 12th-13th century. It really does not feel like a cave whatsoever. The colors on the wall paintings are still very vibrant. Some have started to chip away, but the majority of the artwork is still intact. You just stop and think what it would have been like to live during that time in history, hiding in a cave surrounded by beautiful artwork praising the One True God. There was one church that had especially tall ceilings, at least 20 feet tall, with arches and domes everywhere covered in amazing paintings depicting the Bible stories of Jesus' life. It was definitely the most spectacular thing I have seen thus far. I was not allowed to take pictures inside though. I wish I could bring it back and show all of you, but I guess you will just have to come to Cappadocia instead.
We next went to a pottery demonstration using the traditional Turkish way to make pottery. Seriously, these pottery makers are unbelievable. He first made the top of a teapot. Then, without any measurement tools, he crafted the teapot to fit exactly with the lid. The craftsmanship to use a pottery wheel to shape clay is amazing to watch. I wish I could do it I feel so honored to be in the same room as this master pottery maker and artist.
Next we went to see the fairy chimneys. Some things are better described with pictures, so here you go:
How does wind create something like this? I have no idea. It is incredible. It is like no place on earth. There are also rocks shaped like penguins, with a small rock on top of a large rock.
But here is an overview of the entire trip:
We left Friday morning. Along the way to Cappadocia, we got to see the diverse countryside of Turkey. When we left Ankara, there was snow on the ground. About 1-2 hours away, there were green pastures with snow-topped mountains in the background. It was breathtaking. We stopped at Lake Tuz, the second largest lake in Turkey which is also the saltiest lake in Turkey. It seems to be quite shallow. D
uring the summer, much of the lake evaporates, leaving large expanses of salt. I did taste the water (don't worry mom. I had anti-diarrhea medicine with me just in case!) and I wanted to see if the lake was salty enough for something to float in it. However, the water was too shallow, so it did not work. I will just have to go to the Dead Sea someday and float in it.
We made many stops along the way, for food, bathrooms, and smoking. And then, all of a sudden, we saw the rocks emerging out of the earth with the houses carved into them. It really felt like you were in a science fiction movie, exploring another planet. We stopped at a panoramic view just as sunset was coming. I, of course, took many pictures. The closest thing I can relate it to is Utah with its many national parks dedicated to arched rocks and other amazingly shaped rocks. There are hardly any tall trees in Cappadocia, just like in Utah. Instead, the ground is covered with small shrubs and many apricot trees. The Cappadocia area produces 40% of all the apricots grown in Turkey. Yes, apricots are very important in Turkish culture. There are a few tall, but they are all very skinny. The growing season must not be very long in Cappadocia
Saturday a few people woke up at 5:30 am to ride in a hot air balloon and watch the sun rise over the landscape, which is a very popular thing to do in Cappadocia. I plan to do it later when my family comes to visit me, so I got extra sleep instead. I cannot wait to go in a hot air balloon though. It will be breathtaking.
Our hotels had wonderful dinners and breakfasts with traditional Turkish food served at both. During breakfast, they serve at least 10 different kinds of jams and honey. It is so yummy! It is like unlimited Kehe family orchard!
Our tour guide then joined us and led us around Goreme, one of the cities in the Cappadocia area. We again went to the panoramic overlook, but this time with the sun shining brightly and with other tourist groups. The line of buses at every major stop in Cappadocia is funny to me. We just follow one another from one site to the next. At almost every stop there was an ice cream stand. What is it with tourists and ice cream? Even in winter time. But Turkish ice cream is a bit different. The shop keepers will play around with it for a while, making it a game for you to try and grab the ice cream cone. There was also a stand selling freshly squeezed orange juice and pomegranate juice. Pomegranates are also very important in Turkish culture like the apricot, although I'm not sure they are as massively produced in Turkey as apricots are.
Next we traveled to the Goreme open air museum, comprised of houses and churches built by Christians as hideouts from persecution. The caves of Cappadocia are a wonderful place to live, as year round the temperature inside is around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also easy to conceal a large living area with only one door showing. It amazed me how large the rooms were for the houses and how tall the ceilings were for the churches. Every church had the domed ceilings similar to every church or cathedral built during the 12th-13th century. It really does not feel like a cave whatsoever. The colors on the wall paintings are still very vibrant. Some have started to chip away, but the majority of the artwork is still intact. You just stop and think what it would have been like to live during that time in history, hiding in a cave surrounded by beautiful artwork praising the One True God. There was one church that had especially tall ceilings, at least 20 feet tall, with arches and domes everywhere covered in amazing paintings depicting the Bible stories of Jesus' life. It was definitely the most spectacular thing I have seen thus far. I was not allowed to take pictures inside though. I wish I could bring it back and show all of you, but I guess you will just have to come to Cappadocia instead.
We next went to a pottery demonstration using the traditional Turkish way to make pottery. Seriously, these pottery makers are unbelievable. He first made the top of a teapot. Then, without any measurement tools, he crafted the teapot to fit exactly with the lid. The craftsmanship to use a pottery wheel to shape clay is amazing to watch. I wish I could do it I feel so honored to be in the same room as this master pottery maker and artist.
Next we went to see the fairy chimneys. Some things are better described with pictures, so here you go:
What is interesting is that other parts of Cappadocia look green with pastures, farms, and rolling hills, which reminds me of South Dakota, with its Black Hills looming. So I guess the best way I can describe Cappadocia is a mixture of South Dakota and Utah. What an interesting combination.....
Sunday we stayed at a thermal hotel, meaning they had traditional Turkish baths available. The Turkish bath includes a extremely heated mineral water pool (think hot tub but about 10-20 degrees hotter) that you stay in for a maximum of 10 minutes, otherwise you basically overheat. Then you go to the marble looking room and pour cold water over your body. You are to do this combination a few times, which will improve your circulation and overall health. For me, I cannot stay in normal hot tubs for more than 10 minutes at a time, so in this one, my maximum was about 2 minutes. Then I would go pour cold water over myself and sit in the marble room, sweating due to heat and humidity, which is also supposed to be healthy for you. At any rate, the entire process made me sleepy, and so I slept for a while on the ride home from Cappadocia. The drive is about 4 hours without stops.
That was my experience in Cappadocia this weekend. It is always amazing to look at pictures of places for so long and wishing you could see them. Then while you are at these places, you cannot believe that you are actually there. Now that I have seen Cappadocia in person, I cannot look at pictures the same anymore, because I think "wow. I was actually there." I have to constantly remind myself that I have been to Cappadocia and seen it with my own eyes. These "wow" moments are incredible, and I know I will keep having while touring Turkey.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Dorm room tour
After talking to my mother, I realized that I have not posted any pictures of my dorm room or of Bilkent, except for the music department building. So this post will give you pictures and descriptions of my dorm and it amenities.
This first picture is of my room. I have two roommates, so three beds, three desks, and three wardrobes. The wardrobe size is a good size for me, but if I had my normal amount of clothing for college, I'm pretty sure it would not all fit. But one can store things under the bed as well as in the wardrobe. We also have a fridge in the room which we all share.
Once you exit the room, there is a common area that four rooms share, so 12 women. This is a picture from my doorway. On the right you can see a different doorway which leads into the bathroom. It is nice to have this extra living space, however, no one seems to use it.
The next picture is the bathroom. As you can see, there are 4 sinks and 3 toilets. However, only one toilet is a western toilet. The other two are squatting toilets. Another note on the bathroom: for some reason, the bathroom is always at least 10-15 degrees colder than the rest of the dorm. The common area is then about 5 degrees colder than my room, and my room is quite warm, maybe 70-75 degrees all the time. I generally am in a t-shirt while in the room. Otherwise I would overheat!
Next is the showers. There are three showers. Amazingly, even with 12 women sharing three showers, I have never seen any other person shower! We must have different schedules. The showers are so warm! But the floor gets very slick when it gets wet, and flip flogs have no traction, so there's a chance for a wipe out. But, so far, I have stayed on my feet.
Right outside the common space is the staircase that leads down to the kitchen, which you can see in the picture. Also lower is the main lobby and below that is laundry and a game room, complete with a ping-pong table! Up the stairs leads to more dorm rooms. I am on the 1st floor. In Turkey, they call the main floor the ground floor and what we would call the second floor they call the first floor. So I go up one flight of stairs to get to my room. This produces a problem when you look at your class schedule and your class says room 247, and you think to yourself, "oh! only 1 flight of stairs." You are so wrong. You have to go up two flights. They are giving me a secret workout.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Bazaar, Museum, and Church
Well, I am glad I that I woke up each day this weekend. Two more blessed days in Ankara! So many amazing new experiences. Saturday, myself and two other girls, one from Germany and one from Denmark, wanted to go downtown Ankara to 1) find a bazaar/open air market that is not a supermarket, and 2) find one of the many museums that are mentioned in my Lonely Planet guidebook for Turkey. Many of the museums are free or very cheap to enter, so we wanted to begin to take advantage of this.
We took the bus to town and walked the long way through town to enjoy it a little more. We bought some of the local bread because it smelled so good! Their bread is wonderful. And they give you a lot of bread for a reasonable price. We think it was about a 2 km walk from our bus stop to the museum area of town. As we were walking, we kept checking our map to see if we could find where we were. As we passed a mosque being built, we saw behind it one of the museums mentioned in my Lonely Planet book. Hooray! This area of Ankara is called Ulus. It is the older part of the city. As it was still daylight and a warm day, we decided to wait on exploring the museum and instead continue our quest for the Bazaar and, by now, some lunch.
We then came across an area of town with uniform housing selling predominately Muslim prayer mats. It seemed to be a more conservative area of Ankara. We found a local restaurant where we ordered Pide, Turkish pizza made on long, thin bread. We were escorted to the upstairs area, where we noticed that many women were sitting. The only time men came upstairs was if they were with their family. The downstairs was for men and the upstairs was for women. At this restaurant we found yet another Turkish person who spoke basic German, so my German friend was able to communicate and exchange friendly conversation. After lunch, we continued through this conservative area for a while longer, taking pictures of the beautiful view of the Ankara castle, which is what Ataturk faces in his tomb in order to see the Turkish flag waving every day.
This area led straight into the Bazaar. We found it! Hooray! This place was incredible. On one side was the most fresh looking fruits and vegetables I have ever seen, and on the other side was every type of meat imaginable, along with a few dessert shops. I think the produce was a bit cheaper here than in the supermarkets, but you have to enjoy this kind of shopping, where the vendors are advertising their product at the top of their lungs. This then led to a spice market. I wish I could capture smells as well as sights. It is so neat to be in an area where there are more pounds of spices than the weight of the people shopping. Imagine how that aroma would smell - all of the flavors mixing together in this concoction of smells. It was at this point that I really felt like I had arrived in Turkey. This was what I was expecting it to be like everywhere: locals selling their various products, bartering with the owners, out in the open. What I have now realized is that yes, Turkey has this, but it is so much more than its Bazaars. It is urban, modern, diverse, and above all, friendly. However, finding a Bazaar was still incredibly cool!
Continuing through this Bazaar of food leads to a Bazaar like area selling everything else imaginable, including refrigerators, washers and dryers, H-Vac systems, pottery, clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. Exiting the stuff Bazaar, we bought Turkish Delight at one of the local shops. It has the consistency of something between a marshmallow and jello. We tried a few that were covered in coconut flakes and a few fruit flavored ones. It is yummy, but not as good as the kind in Narnia, you know, because it was special Turkish Delight made by the white witch so that you always want more. Ours had no magic spell on it. At least, I don't think it did.....
We then returned to the museum, called Vakif Eserleri Muzesi, which is also called, in my guidebook, Ankara Museum of Religious Foundation Works. It mainly displayed carpets that had previously been in mosques from all over Turkey. Unfortunately, the descriptions were in Turkish, so I'm not sure how old these carpets are. But, regardless, Turkey is famous for its carpets, so, fittingly, they have a museum dedicated to their carpets. I noticed almost all of them had the color red in them. I'm not sure if red is a holy color in Islam, but either way, they like red. This museum also displayed pottery, metalwork, woodwork, and books. It was neat to see and appreciate artifacts even when we don't know much about them. This museum is free, so extra bonus!
Sunday I decided to have an adventure and try to find the church that I had been in contact with for many weeks. I called for a taxi from my dorm, showed him the address given to me by my contact, and he took me directly there! I was so thrilled! There was no complication, no language barrier. He took me exactly where I wanted to go! The church is held on the US Air Force base area. It's not technically an Air Force base, because, instead of being stationed here, you are deployed to this outpost. It seems to be a shared space between Turkish Air Force and American Air Force. This church, however, serves all those working for the US Embassy in Ankara, the international schools, and any military personnel. First there is a traditional Lutheran service, complete with LSB hymnal, followed by a more contemporary Protestant service. I believe an army chaplain gave the sermon for the Protestant service, while a Lutheran pastor lead the first service. Both the chaplain and the Lutheran pastor are relatively new to Turkey. I think both have moved here in the last two months. It is encouraging for me to see others who are having language barrier issues and having to adjust to a new, exciting life while they serve in Turkey.
It was so wonderful to be surrounded by Christians again. The joy within me has been bursting all day. I am so thankful for these faithful people who are serving God and their country while abroad. They were so welcoming. I feel so honored and blessed to have this encouragement while studying abroad. The Lord really is caring for me in unfathomable ways. Praise Jesus Always. They served lunch and then had a Bible Study time where they are currently watching a video series on marriage and how to love, honor, and respect your spouse.
So, yes, I had an amazing weekend. Two more fabulous days in Turkey!
I encourage you all to read Isaiah 40 when you get the chance. Here is the ending verse, which is one of my favorite verses:
Isaiah 40:31:
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
We took the bus to town and walked the long way through town to enjoy it a little more. We bought some of the local bread because it smelled so good! Their bread is wonderful. And they give you a lot of bread for a reasonable price. We think it was about a 2 km walk from our bus stop to the museum area of town. As we were walking, we kept checking our map to see if we could find where we were. As we passed a mosque being built, we saw behind it one of the museums mentioned in my Lonely Planet book. Hooray! This area of Ankara is called Ulus. It is the older part of the city. As it was still daylight and a warm day, we decided to wait on exploring the museum and instead continue our quest for the Bazaar and, by now, some lunch.
We then came across an area of town with uniform housing selling predominately Muslim prayer mats. It seemed to be a more conservative area of Ankara. We found a local restaurant where we ordered Pide, Turkish pizza made on long, thin bread. We were escorted to the upstairs area, where we noticed that many women were sitting. The only time men came upstairs was if they were with their family. The downstairs was for men and the upstairs was for women. At this restaurant we found yet another Turkish person who spoke basic German, so my German friend was able to communicate and exchange friendly conversation. After lunch, we continued through this conservative area for a while longer, taking pictures of the beautiful view of the Ankara castle, which is what Ataturk faces in his tomb in order to see the Turkish flag waving every day.
This area led straight into the Bazaar. We found it! Hooray! This place was incredible. On one side was the most fresh looking fruits and vegetables I have ever seen, and on the other side was every type of meat imaginable, along with a few dessert shops. I think the produce was a bit cheaper here than in the supermarkets, but you have to enjoy this kind of shopping, where the vendors are advertising their product at the top of their lungs. This then led to a spice market. I wish I could capture smells as well as sights. It is so neat to be in an area where there are more pounds of spices than the weight of the people shopping. Imagine how that aroma would smell - all of the flavors mixing together in this concoction of smells. It was at this point that I really felt like I had arrived in Turkey. This was what I was expecting it to be like everywhere: locals selling their various products, bartering with the owners, out in the open. What I have now realized is that yes, Turkey has this, but it is so much more than its Bazaars. It is urban, modern, diverse, and above all, friendly. However, finding a Bazaar was still incredibly cool!
Continuing through this Bazaar of food leads to a Bazaar like area selling everything else imaginable, including refrigerators, washers and dryers, H-Vac systems, pottery, clothes, shoes, jewelry, etc. Exiting the stuff Bazaar, we bought Turkish Delight at one of the local shops. It has the consistency of something between a marshmallow and jello. We tried a few that were covered in coconut flakes and a few fruit flavored ones. It is yummy, but not as good as the kind in Narnia, you know, because it was special Turkish Delight made by the white witch so that you always want more. Ours had no magic spell on it. At least, I don't think it did.....
We then returned to the museum, called Vakif Eserleri Muzesi, which is also called, in my guidebook, Ankara Museum of Religious Foundation Works. It mainly displayed carpets that had previously been in mosques from all over Turkey. Unfortunately, the descriptions were in Turkish, so I'm not sure how old these carpets are. But, regardless, Turkey is famous for its carpets, so, fittingly, they have a museum dedicated to their carpets. I noticed almost all of them had the color red in them. I'm not sure if red is a holy color in Islam, but either way, they like red. This museum also displayed pottery, metalwork, woodwork, and books. It was neat to see and appreciate artifacts even when we don't know much about them. This museum is free, so extra bonus!
Sunday I decided to have an adventure and try to find the church that I had been in contact with for many weeks. I called for a taxi from my dorm, showed him the address given to me by my contact, and he took me directly there! I was so thrilled! There was no complication, no language barrier. He took me exactly where I wanted to go! The church is held on the US Air Force base area. It's not technically an Air Force base, because, instead of being stationed here, you are deployed to this outpost. It seems to be a shared space between Turkish Air Force and American Air Force. This church, however, serves all those working for the US Embassy in Ankara, the international schools, and any military personnel. First there is a traditional Lutheran service, complete with LSB hymnal, followed by a more contemporary Protestant service. I believe an army chaplain gave the sermon for the Protestant service, while a Lutheran pastor lead the first service. Both the chaplain and the Lutheran pastor are relatively new to Turkey. I think both have moved here in the last two months. It is encouraging for me to see others who are having language barrier issues and having to adjust to a new, exciting life while they serve in Turkey.
It was so wonderful to be surrounded by Christians again. The joy within me has been bursting all day. I am so thankful for these faithful people who are serving God and their country while abroad. They were so welcoming. I feel so honored and blessed to have this encouragement while studying abroad. The Lord really is caring for me in unfathomable ways. Praise Jesus Always. They served lunch and then had a Bible Study time where they are currently watching a video series on marriage and how to love, honor, and respect your spouse.
So, yes, I had an amazing weekend. Two more fabulous days in Turkey!
I encourage you all to read Isaiah 40 when you get the chance. Here is the ending verse, which is one of my favorite verses:
Isaiah 40:31:
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Pictures are on Shutterfly website: https://experienceturkey2015.shutterfly.com/
Friday, February 6, 2015
Food Blog Entry 1
Well, since I love food so much, I will try and do many posts about the food here in Turkey. These posts will include descriptions and, of course, pictures. So, here is my first food blog entry. I have 2 weeks of experience with Turkish food. Here's what I have found about Turkish food:
Turkish meals usually have meat, cheese, yogurt, and bread. They love carbohydrates. Bread or rice is served with just about every meal, and in large portions. For cheese, it is primarily white cheese. I never knew there could be such variety in cheese in the world. I guess if I lived in Wisconsin I would know the differences between cheeses, but to me, cheese it cheese. In the supermarket, there is an entire aisle dedicated to white cheese. It is incredible. Cheese heaven. With the meat I haven't quite figured out what the most common meat is in Turkey. The cheapest is chicken, like America, and then I think the next common is beef. There is no pork or anything from a pig, since it is a predominately Muslim nation, and Muslims do not eat pig. There are many more sausages at the supermarket than in America. Yogurt is sometimes served on the side of a meal as a palate cleanser and sometimes served over a broth with rice.
For breakfast, I sometimes have Tost, which is basically a panini, with cheese and sometimes a sausage-type meat. Otherwise I have yogurt and cereal in my room. This picture is a typical meal at the dining center. For 4 lira, ~ $2, I have my choice of three dishes. Usually they have the options of a soup - lentil soup is very popular in Turkey, but the dining center commonly has tomato soup as well - a bowl of rice, and bowl with meat and a sauce, a salad or pickled salad (they seem to pickle anything in Turkey), and dessert. Some days they offer everything and sometimes they have only a few of these options. The picture here shows how they put the yogurt right on top of the meat and sauce. It makes it creamier and gives the food the tangy taste that comes with yogurt. Yogurt seems to be the most common way to get the calcium you need. I have bought both milk and yogurt. Milk is not served in the dining center. Only sodas, tea, and water.
At the dining center, they generally have two kinds of desserts, depending on the day. Here is a picture of the first. It is a pudding/custard in which they then add flavors to. This one was cinnamon, one of my favorite spices. The texture is relatively similar to ice cream, which makes me very happy. I LOVE ice cream!
This sandwich I got at one of the malls in Ankara. Ankara is famous for its malls. They are everywhere and they are huge. This sandwich has meat, onions, tomatoes, and pickles (see? they love pickles). Turkish people believe that you cannot cook unless you have onions, so onions are a part of just about every meal, raw or cooked. The bread is very good here if you search for it in the supermarkets. Again, I think this sandwich was only 4 lira, ~ $2. You cannot get anything for $2 in an American mall.
Of course, some meals are more expensive. In general, I thought the food would be cheaper than it actually is. The supermarket prices for food is at least the same price as it is in America. Some things are more expensive. But, when you go out to eat, you can get a nice meal for 10-20 Lira, ~$5-10. This is still cheap compared to America's restaurants. This picture is of the Kebab, or Kebap, in Turkish. I think kebabs can come with any meat, but this one was like a hot dog. I also had one with chicken another time. Notice that there is a salad too. In Turkey, the salad is eaten right along with the main meal. It is not an appetizer. The typical Turkish salad has tomatoes and cucumbers in it as well as the lettuce. This one has corn too, but corn is not in the traditional salad. In Turkey, the dressing that I most commonly see is a pomegranate salad dressing. It is very good. Maybe I will bring some home if I can find it in the supermarket!
Probably my favorite dish so far has been Iskender. It is meat over bread with yogurt on the side. The waiters then come around and add oil and tomato sauce on top of the meat.The oil then soaks into the bread and so after eating the meat you get to enjoy this wonderful bread. It tastes amazing!
I try to write down the names of foods anytime I know what I am eating. But even when I don't know the name of something, it still tastes wonderful. I have liked everything I have tried so far. Turkish food is not spicy at all, which is wonderful for my sensitive taste buds. It still has flavor, but just not the intense spices. Hope you got a taste of Turkey!
Turkish meals usually have meat, cheese, yogurt, and bread. They love carbohydrates. Bread or rice is served with just about every meal, and in large portions. For cheese, it is primarily white cheese. I never knew there could be such variety in cheese in the world. I guess if I lived in Wisconsin I would know the differences between cheeses, but to me, cheese it cheese. In the supermarket, there is an entire aisle dedicated to white cheese. It is incredible. Cheese heaven. With the meat I haven't quite figured out what the most common meat is in Turkey. The cheapest is chicken, like America, and then I think the next common is beef. There is no pork or anything from a pig, since it is a predominately Muslim nation, and Muslims do not eat pig. There are many more sausages at the supermarket than in America. Yogurt is sometimes served on the side of a meal as a palate cleanser and sometimes served over a broth with rice.
At the dining center, they generally have two kinds of desserts, depending on the day. Here is a picture of the first. It is a pudding/custard in which they then add flavors to. This one was cinnamon, one of my favorite spices. The texture is relatively similar to ice cream, which makes me very happy. I LOVE ice cream!This sandwich I got at one of the malls in Ankara. Ankara is famous for its malls. They are everywhere and they are huge. This sandwich has meat, onions, tomatoes, and pickles (see? they love pickles). Turkish people believe that you cannot cook unless you have onions, so onions are a part of just about every meal, raw or cooked. The bread is very good here if you search for it in the supermarkets. Again, I think this sandwich was only 4 lira, ~ $2. You cannot get anything for $2 in an American mall.Probably my favorite dish so far has been Iskender. It is meat over bread with yogurt on the side. The waiters then come around and add oil and tomato sauce on top of the meat.The oil then soaks into the bread and so after eating the meat you get to enjoy this wonderful bread. It tastes amazing!I try to write down the names of foods anytime I know what I am eating. But even when I don't know the name of something, it still tastes wonderful. I have liked everything I have tried so far. Turkish food is not spicy at all, which is wonderful for my sensitive taste buds. It still has flavor, but just not the intense spices. Hope you got a taste of Turkey!
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
First days of class
Today I had the realization that I went from a large, public university in a small town (Illinois State University) to a small, private university in a large city (Bilkent University). I am so blessed to be able to experience both atmospheres while in college. And from my first few days of classes here at Bilkent, I can tell you that the two are different!.
My first class at Bilkent was music theory. I did not know where the classroom was in the music building, because the information was not given on my student webpage. So I left my dorm about 30 minutes early to make sure I had time to find the classroom. It is about a 10 minute walk from my dorm to the music department building. It is a lovely walk with a beautiful view of the city, but for some reason there are abnormal high winds. I think I brought them with me from central Illinois! So when I arrived at the music building, I tried to ask a few people how to find out where my class would be taught. One person said they did not speak any English. Then one of the secretaries was able to look up the information on her computer and told me which room. I still arrived 10 minutes early. Phew!
So I walk into the classroom and meet my teacher. I had emailed him earlier so he knew that there would be an international student in his class. We chatted for about 15 minutes without anyone else showing up for class. It was now about 10 minutes after class was supposed to start. So I asked him is this a preparation/planning hour for him and he said no we will start when the other students arrive. Then one more student showed up to class about 15 minutes late. Another student poked her head in and said something along the lines of she will not be in class due to a prior performance commitment. She said all of this in Turkish and it was translated by the professor to me. There are only 4 students registered for this class, and for the first day, only myself and one more student came to class. It seems that the teachers and students speak Turkish in class unless there is an international student attending the course. I think I am the first international student to come for music, so this is all very different for them. My theory professor tried to teach the whole class in English and the one Turkish student tried to answer in English, but sometimes it was easier for him to describe something in Turkish. It is a two hour class, so after the first hour we took a break. Then my teacher got a phone call from the kindergarten where his son is enrolled and he needed to leave to go meet the teacher for something, so class was over after the first hour. It is a very relaxed atmosphere.
The other student in the class then showed me around the music building and I got to see where my other music classes will be held along with the practice rooms and where I can store my instrument while in class. The practice rooms are huge! ISU take notice. Look how the piano fits in here and there is still room to have a small ensemble rehearsal without hitting the walls. And a huge mirror that is positioned correctly. Wow! And a window with a beautiful view of the city! I am going to love practicing here! And, there are at least 50 practice rooms. I will count one day, but I think every music student here could be practicing at the same time in a different practice room. Come on ISU. Let's get bigger, and better, practice rooms.
My second class was Ear Training. I did not get to email this professor beforehand. But I did arrive early and introduce myself. She was very surprised to hear that an international student would be at Bilkent for music. She told me that this class is only for vocal music majors. I explained to her that at my university it is required for me to take this class. We chatted a bit while other music students arrived. This class had 5 students in the class, including me. This professor spoke mainly Turkish throughout the class and only spoke English to me when I needed to know something. She went around the room with a few exercises but skipped over me as a kind gesture, because I think I looked overwhelmed to her. But she was always speaking Turkish, so I had trouble keeping up with what exactly was going on the in the class! Then we all sang a few songs together, which I did participate in and did not feel confused anymore. At the end of class, she sat down with me and said that this class will be a good fit for me and that I have a very beautiful voice. I was so touched to hear that from one of the vocal professors at this university! So now I get to learn the German solfege so that I can fully participate in the class. This class also got out about 30 minutes early. She also changed the class time, so now I have no class on Friday! More travel time!
Tuesday normally would have orchestra in the morning, but it was cancelled. Maybe these early releases and cancellations are just due to it being the first week of class, but I'm not sure. The professors are so relaxed about start times and end times. In the afternoon I had my beginning Turkish class with my instructor from orientation week, which now feels right at home for me.
That has been my week so far. I promised a photo of the music building, but it is hard to grasp with one picture, but I tried. It is 4 levels and has the beautiful tile floor with bright paint colors and that grand entry staircase. I will post a picture of the performance hall too.
The link below the name of the blog, the Shutterfly web address, is my shutterfly account, where I am trying to post pictures in addition to the blog. Check it out!
My first class at Bilkent was music theory. I did not know where the classroom was in the music building, because the information was not given on my student webpage. So I left my dorm about 30 minutes early to make sure I had time to find the classroom. It is about a 10 minute walk from my dorm to the music department building. It is a lovely walk with a beautiful view of the city, but for some reason there are abnormal high winds. I think I brought them with me from central Illinois! So when I arrived at the music building, I tried to ask a few people how to find out where my class would be taught. One person said they did not speak any English. Then one of the secretaries was able to look up the information on her computer and told me which room. I still arrived 10 minutes early. Phew!So I walk into the classroom and meet my teacher. I had emailed him earlier so he knew that there would be an international student in his class. We chatted for about 15 minutes without anyone else showing up for class. It was now about 10 minutes after class was supposed to start. So I asked him is this a preparation/planning hour for him and he said no we will start when the other students arrive. Then one more student showed up to class about 15 minutes late. Another student poked her head in and said something along the lines of she will not be in class due to a prior performance commitment. She said all of this in Turkish and it was translated by the professor to me. There are only 4 students registered for this class, and for the first day, only myself and one more student came to class. It seems that the teachers and students speak Turkish in class unless there is an international student attending the course. I think I am the first international student to come for music, so this is all very different for them. My theory professor tried to teach the whole class in English and the one Turkish student tried to answer in English, but sometimes it was easier for him to describe something in Turkish. It is a two hour class, so after the first hour we took a break. Then my teacher got a phone call from the kindergarten where his son is enrolled and he needed to leave to go meet the teacher for something, so class was over after the first hour. It is a very relaxed atmosphere.
My second class was Ear Training. I did not get to email this professor beforehand. But I did arrive early and introduce myself. She was very surprised to hear that an international student would be at Bilkent for music. She told me that this class is only for vocal music majors. I explained to her that at my university it is required for me to take this class. We chatted a bit while other music students arrived. This class had 5 students in the class, including me. This professor spoke mainly Turkish throughout the class and only spoke English to me when I needed to know something. She went around the room with a few exercises but skipped over me as a kind gesture, because I think I looked overwhelmed to her. But she was always speaking Turkish, so I had trouble keeping up with what exactly was going on the in the class! Then we all sang a few songs together, which I did participate in and did not feel confused anymore. At the end of class, she sat down with me and said that this class will be a good fit for me and that I have a very beautiful voice. I was so touched to hear that from one of the vocal professors at this university! So now I get to learn the German solfege so that I can fully participate in the class. This class also got out about 30 minutes early. She also changed the class time, so now I have no class on Friday! More travel time!
Tuesday normally would have orchestra in the morning, but it was cancelled. Maybe these early releases and cancellations are just due to it being the first week of class, but I'm not sure. The professors are so relaxed about start times and end times. In the afternoon I had my beginning Turkish class with my instructor from orientation week, which now feels right at home for me.
That has been my week so far. I promised a photo of the music building, but it is hard to grasp with one picture, but I tried. It is 4 levels and has the beautiful tile floor with bright paint colors and that grand entry staircase. I will post a picture of the performance hall too.The link below the name of the blog, the Shutterfly web address, is my shutterfly account, where I am trying to post pictures in addition to the blog. Check it out!
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