One month until Izmir!

In one month I will be returning to Turkey, but this time I will be going to Izmir! I received the Critical Language Scholarship from the US Department of State, which is a program for undergraduate and graduate college students to intensely study critical foreign languages fully immersed in the language and culture. Izmir is the third largest city in Turkey and is on the Aegean Coast in the south west of Turkey. Last time I was in Turkey, I was with the high school version of the program for a gap year of 10 months in Samsun, so this time I am fully prepared for what I am getting myself into. I will be studying advanced Turkish at the same language institute that I studied at last year, Ankara Üniversitesi TÖMER. I really like how the language institute sets up its language classes and the method it uses. This allowed me to know exactly which level I will be in, but at the same time I have to review a lot of what I learned while in Samsun because I have not used a lot of it this year and it is in the back of my brain. This month, before I go to Turkey, I will spend time reviewing and studying all of the grammar in the beginner and intermediate levels so that I can hit the ground running when I get to Izmir. I am extremely excited to be back in a country that I love surrounded by a wonderful culture and delicious food, but I have a lot of studying to do before then. After my two month program in Izmir, I will spend a few days in Istanbul and about a week in Samsun visiting my former host family and friends. I miss them so much, so this will be a great way to end the summer. Maybe I can visit them one weekend before then, but if not I will see everyone in August!


For those of you who do not know the geography of Turkey I have attached a map for you to see where I talk about. Samsun is in the north on the Black Sea Coast. Izmir is in the west on the Aegean Coast.