Year TWO in Turkey

Last year's 8th grade class

Wow, I am officially the worst blogger ever! I would promise I am going to get better, but even I doubt my own promise based off my track record.  All I can say is I will try to be better, not out of guilt mind you , but because I really do feel I have been blessed this last year during this crazy thing called life. So, of course I want to share it with you all! Here are three of the big one; more to follow (hopefully!)

Some of my 10th grade girls- Amazing students!!! 

Homeroom class last year- LOVE THEM! 

  1.     My students this past school year at OIS were truly amazing. Where else would I get to meet and be part of students’ lives from literally all over the world? Honestly students are great anywhere- especially ones in there middle school, early high school years! I say this in all seriousness- these kids are truly remarkable. And my job is to teach them - what a blessing!  They have taught me so much. When I have doubts about anything and everything else in this world, my students remind me what is important.  I know this next school year- which starts very soon!- the same students that are coming back to  our school in addition to my new students will continue to remind me that my purpose is to encourage and support them in seeking and following their own purposes. To me it is such a humbling honor that brings me an indescribable joy on good and bad days.

Friend's birthday at a Turkish restuarant

Picnic with gracious Turkish hosts

2.     2.  I am so blessed by the Turkish people and their hospitality. It is a true gift the Turkish culture embraces which I am amazed by and looking forward to embracing once again in this next year of teaching in Ankara. Whether it is the stranger at the gas station who drops everything he is doing to drives us to our hotel when we are lost, the family who invites us to picnic with them when we are hiking by and feeds us until we are about to burst, or the man at restaurant who goes to the bakery next door and brings back a cake when he overhears us talking about it being our friend’s birthday- no agenda or schedule is more important than people are in this culture.   I know my American independent self  still has a lot to learn about this gift and how to graciously extend it as it has been extended to me, and I look forward to the opportunities to do exactly that this next year.

Beautiful friends on a beautiful hike

Hiking in Idaho!!!

Palisades 

Huckleberries I picked with my dad. Yum!!

Kayaking the Snake with Fawn and Sara

Pocatello sunset

Mountain meadow on our hike

3.      3.  Lastly, I have been blessed by these weeks back in the states surrounded by friends, family, mountains, rivers, lakes, Mexican food, and Costco (There is nothing like buying in bulk) !J  My cup is filled and overflowing.

Year number TWO in Turkey is going to be great, stressful, fulfilling, frustrating, joyful, lonely, and every other emotion I can imagine, but I know in every situation I am never alone, and it is exactly where I am supposed to be! Blessings to you all!

This is Turkey!

Beautiful Mcall, Idaho!

Well, I missed all of December and January, so I will catch you all up really quick on my last couple of  months and then on to February!  I was so blessed to be able to go home spend time with family and friends. I loved seeing all of you that I could, and I will definitely make sure to see the rest of you next trip back. Also to see the wonderful Idaho wilderness was such a breath of fresh air! I didn’t know I was such a country/outdoorsy person until I moved to a city of 4 million people!  Also just being able to jump in a car and drive was so wonderful and freeing! Wow the silly things like that I have missed!

My brother Josh  and nephew Isaiah 

Birthday baklava for Jill and fun times with friends for all! Enjoy looking up Sara and my nostrils! 

My mother and I snowshoeing

  After the energizing trip to the states I was refreshed and rejuvenated to come back to Turkey and my life here. January was full of finals, end of the semester, new classes, spirit week, basketball games… all sorts of school activities that have been fun, but definitely made life very busy. I feel like I have been in a whirlwind since I got back- a fun whirlwind, but still a whirlwind.  

Mountains in Bolu, Turkey

In the midst of the whirlwind I was able to go to a little cabin up in the woods a few hours away from the city for a weekend with a couple of friends. While I was trekking through the woods, I was hit by the realization of how diverse Turkey is in scenery, but also how diverse the people are. People back in the states always ask me what it is like here in Turkey, but it is such a difficult question to answer. What Turkey is like all depends on the place I am, the people I am around, the day, the hour. It is really hard to explain, but hopefully the pictures below give you a little glimpse of what I mean. This truly is Turkey to me. All of its diversity.  All of its confusion.  All of its beauty. All of it. Imagine- I have barely even scratched the surface of all the amazing people and places in the 6 months I have been here. I can’t wait to see all the other facets of it in the future! Enjoy the glimpse of Turkey on these pages!  Thank you for all your thoughts and love.

Street shopping in Ulus

Cabins at Sakintepe in Bolu

Mountain air in Turkey puts a smile on my face! 

Doner in Amasra! Yum!!!!!!! Doner is everywhere which is a delicious part of Turkey!

Locked in "jail" out in a fort we found in the woods in Bolu

Booths in Beypazari  right before it snowed

Ankara woman cleaning wool

One of the many street vendors found all over Turkey

Cappadocia's Dr. Seuss Rocks (At least that is what I call them!)

Hostel's "garden" 

View of Ankara from my neighborhood

Men hard at work in Amasra on the Black Sea

Swimming in Amasra

The castle in Ulus in the heart of Ankara