SAMSUN!

My last few days in Izmir were nothing but fun. Friday night we had a goodbye party, which was a great way to finish the program. Our host families, buddies, and teachers came and it pretty much wrapped up CLS Izmir 2012. We sang and danced for hours until the party finished, but then the Americans, buddies and some teachers came out after. It was a party after the party :).

my class with our teacher :)

me and my host mom

me and my buddy!!

 I did not leave with the other Americans to go back to the US, but instead I flew by myself to Samsun, to visit my host family and friends there. I had been waiting for this for pretty much the whole year. I was debating going to Samsun for a weekend earlier in the summer, but I am glad I waited until the program was over because I got to spend the whole week there without leaving and going back.

Ramadan in Izmir is not really noticed; there are still a lot of street food vendors and everyone is out eating. In Samsun however, it is noticeable that people are fasting because no one is really eating or even drinking water on the street, and the streets are pretty empty during the day but get extremely busy in the evening. I fasted one of the last days I was there, which was very rewarding. I fasted one day in Samsun when I first got there 2 years ago, but this time it was great because I understood everything about it and understood why I was doing it.

Seeing my host family was one of the best feelings I have had in a while. As my plane descended into Samsun I realized how much things have changed and it made me a little emotional, but I quickly felt good about the changes and was happy to be back. My host family picked me up from the airport and I don’t think I stopped smiling for hours :). We went home and it honestly felt like no time had passed because I knew how everything was at home and it was very comfortable. It is so much better staying at a house instead of staying at a hotel and I really felt loved this week because my host mom made all of my favorite Turkish foods… I also gained weight but I’m completely over it. (It is my first day back and my exercising starts in a few hours :P)

my host sisters :)

The second day I was in Samsun I got together with my class from the year I was in Samsun to break our fast, since about half of my class was fasting. I don’t really show my emotions around other people, but I had to keep myself from crying because I was so happy to be with everyone. I lost my voice for a while because I was so happy to be with everyone again. All of the boys look older and everyone has matured tremendously, but their personalities are the same and we got along great. I met up with some classmates at different points in the week, but this night was the only time we were all together.

friends :)

girls!

in front of my Turkish high school :)

I got to rest a lot, but at the same time the week was very tiring because we had relatives over constantly and I went to see friends and neighbors every day. My trip back to Samsun proved to me how I have family in Turkey. I really do miss my friends and family and it is unfortunate that we live so far, but luckily we have internet!!

relatives :)

This summer has been fantastic and maybe one of my best. I am really happy to be back in the US now (I got back last night). I missed my family and I am excited to get back to DC to see my friends and start classes, but I will really miss Turkey. I love the culture, the food, the music, the people, but I’m not worried because I bring a little bit of Turkey back with me every time I go… and I will go back sometime in the future and will see everyone again :).