On my first full day in Turkey, I...
-Got stuck in an elevator. The doors didn't open automatically. How was I supposed to know to simply "push" it open. "Get a sign for stupid tourists, people."
- Tried not to be labeled as "That American" or "uugh, English speakers" during breakfast". I didn't pile my plate up a mile high nor did smother my pancakes in syrup. Instead, I dipped them in the syrup. I opted out of a bowl of cereal, and drank my coffee after, not during, breakfast. It almost worked. Then, the waiter asked me a question. I answered in perfect my native tongue. Two tables next to me, who were European, went silent and stared at me! It was like I wasn't in the room until I spoke English!
-Burned my bangs. Yes, I remembered to bring my converter which was the problem. I didn't need that many volts on my hair!! I can barely get my little bang swoop thing going again.
-Was driven to the Fulbright meeting by A MANIAC taxi driver!!! I should have taken of my plane pills. My heart was beating fast for about 30 minutes in the car with that man!
-Almost got stuck in the elevator again at the Fulbright place. I remembered to "push" after waiting a couple seconds for the door to open automatically!
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Dear Alexis and Yasma:
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoyed reading about your time in Turkey! As a project manager at the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA), it gives me great pleasure to see MSU Office represented in Istanbul. TCA – an educational nonprofit established in 2007 in Washington, DC to foster a better understanding of US-Turkish relations - administers scholarship programs that award 100 scholarships per year to African American, Hispanic American and Native American students and 100 scholarships to American students of Armenian heritage who choose Turkey as their study abroad destination. To learn more about TCA and our scholarship programs, please visit us at www.tc-america.org.
In fact, I was in Turkey in November 2009 with academicians from the US to promote educational exchanges and to attend the annual CIEE conference in Istanbul. I wonder if our paths may have crossed back then.
I would love to get a chance to discuss MSU’s international programs and learn more about your time in Turkey. I hope that your positive experience in Turkey and TCA’s scholarship programs can pave the way for MSU students to experience Turkey’s unique and dynamic atmosphere.
Best wishes,
Zeynep Guven
zguven@tc-america.org