I<3Turks

Let me just say that the hospitality here is amazing, and the people are so friendly and warm. I'm having an amazing time enjoying myself in this culture, and even though silly religious people and war make a sad Meaghan, those are only small aspects of my time in this culture. Everyone with whom we're staying and everyone whom we've met at the university have been more than nice. I'm particularly lucky to be living with Gözde, who offers me water (you can't drink the water here, she says, and I'm not about to test that), her coffee, and all manner of food from the kitchen, as well as just here knowledge of the area, like shopping and dining.

We (Gözde, Dilek, and I) went out to dinner earlier, and because it's Sunday and places are closed, we ended up at the mall, which is apparently the fourth largest in the world. We went up about seven escalators to find the food court, and then I had pide, which is sort of like pizza. He said that if I didn't like it, then I don't pay a thing (but why on earth would I not like pizza, especially with that cheese--kaşar--on it that I loved in those wraps the other day!?). I paid 9,95YTL for it, and because there's no 5 kuruş coin, the guy offered me çay or kahve if I wanted it, which I politely refused, mostly to be polite. We got baklava on our way out, which we had seen on our way in, and I said that I was paying, but they wouldn't let me. I don't mean that I politely offered, I mean that stubborn Meaghan decided that she was paying for the damn sweets, and I was legit denied being allowed to pay. I want to cook a big meal and buy some water or coffee or something for them before I leave, or take them shopping and buy a cute dress or whatever, but I don't even know if I'll be able to pull that off. Mostly, I wish that they would come stay with me in the US sometime, which would be wonderful.

We ate baklava whilst watching Son Osmanli (The Last Ottoman) in Turkish! It was a very nice film, which I enjoyed quite a bit. I even had a bottle of fruity mineral water stuff that was like a way not-sweetened with high fructose corn syrup soda, and it was delicious.

All in all, everybody offers everything everywhere. We're going to bed soon, and waking up a smidgen early so that I can collect myself and Gözde can finish her drawings, which I can't help but think that I may have caused to be unfinished...

I can also totally officially speak very broken Turkish. =D