October and November

So I have officially been in Turkey for over 10 weeks. I am now more comfortable here. My host family and I are getting along really well, I am starting to carve out my niche at school, I am learning more of the layout of the city and can navigate with public transportation, and even feel comfortable venting about Istanbul’s TERRIBLE traffic! I have been told that my Turkish is good, but communication continues to have barriers. I am still working on building my vocabulary, and mastering the suffixes, but people seem to appreciate my effort. My host Rotary club loved that I made my short introductory speech in Turkish! I am also complimented often on my pronunciation- some people do not realize I am not Turkish until they say something to me that I don’t understand. My Turkish friends like it when I speak Turkish- especially when I get the verb tense and suffix right! Many of them speak to me in English. I would prefer people to speak to me in Turkish, but I know that it can be frustrating to get me to understand and many of them like to practice their English as well! I REALLY appreciate those people at school who try to speak to me in Turkish. I know for certain that if I want to establish stronger relationships with my Turkish friends (and be able to laugh at the lunch table!) I HAVE to get better at Turkish.

Before I continue with my report, however, I want to apologize for the long gap between my entries. I was very busy with college applications, and it was consuming a lot of my time. I am really thankful for my host family’s patience, especially my host mom because she tried to be as understanding and accommodating as she could, even though she only vaguely understood the process of U.S. admissions. I realized how radically different the admissions process is in the U.S. compared with other parts of the world. In Turkey, an exam, the OSS, determines your admission to University. Prep work for the exam starts in high school, and then senior year students enroll in classes after school and do intense studying to prepare for the exam, which is in the spring of their senior year.
So, because so much time has passed since my last entry, I am going to list some events that have happened since then.

September 11th – 13th: Rotary Youth Exchange Orientation
All the exchange students spent a weekend at a hotel playing games and going over Rotary rules. It was the first time we all met each other! We had a tour of the historical city on our last day. We went to the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Topkapi Palace, and a Cistern. To conclude the weekend was a host family dinner, where the exchange students put on a very entertaining talent show. I was really happy that I also had a chance to meet Irem’s parents, the exchange student who is currently in Rochester.

September 14th – September 30th: Turkish Language Course
All the students on the Asian side and all the students on the European side split into two groups and attended Turkish classes for two weeks, then were sent off to start school on November 1st!
September 26: Day trip to Buyuk Ada (one of Istanbul’s Islands) with my host parents and our family friends!

October Events:

Ataturk Lecture sponsored by one of the Roteract clubs.
All the exchange students met in Taksim on the European side of Istanbul and attended a lecture about the history of Ataturk, given by one of Turkey’s premier historians and University professors!

Exchange Student Trip to Buyuk Ada sponsored by Rotex
I got to go to Buyuk Ada for the 2nd time! It is beautiful there. If you climb up the island a little, you can see an AMAZING view of Istanbul and the Marmara Sea. My favorite view was looking out to the Marmara Sea. You can see the greenery and forest trees on the island, then it is just crystal blue water all the way to the horizon! You look at that view and forget all your troubles. We had a great time, except for the bikes that we rented to bike up the island were complete trash! So many of them broke, or were just barely working. The only transportation options on the Island are bikes, walking, or horse carriges. There are no cars!

International IB Theory of Knowledge Conference at Eyuboglu High School
Every year, my Turkish high school hosts IB students from different countries for a weekend IB conference. Students and teachers present on a variety of different topics. Schools from places like Norway, Sweden, Jordan, Dubai, Ankara (capital of Turkey) came and were hosted by some of my classmates for the weekend. I was actually assigned to do a presentation as well. During my first Theory of Knowledge class, my teacher assigned me to a group and told me to prepare my part of the presentation using the “Theory of Knowledge” principals. I said “Sure, but what ARE the Theory of Knowledge principals?”
My group’s presentation went well, but we presented it to our friends from school, so there was a lot of fun, laughing, and jokes. On the last day, we all went on a historical tour to the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Grand Bazaar.

Ankara Trip (November)
All the exchange students went to Ankara (the capital of Turkey) for a Rotary-sponsored day trip to visit the Ataturk Mausoleum, the modern Parliament house, and the old Parliament house. We tagged along with over 1000 other Turkish elementary school students from schools from all parts of Istanbul. The Ataturk Mausoleum was the most beautiful monument I have seen in my life. Set on a hill overlooking the city, the mausoleum had a stunning view of Ankara; and its wide open square seemed to be soaking up all the sunlight. It was really beautiful. We got to watch a small parade of soldiers march up the Mausoleum steps and lay flowers on Ataturk’s tomb—the entire square of students, teachers, and Rotarians were all respectfully silent. After that we went to the museum part. I think the younger students were just as interested if not more interested in us exchange students as they were in the museum. Some would ask us to take pictures with them, and others would just do it paparazzi style and try to take pictures of us when we weren’t looking. Our Rotary blazers, with their myriad assortment of jingling pins, flags, and other decorations, which we were wearing were definitely an object of fascination for the younger students as well. After spending the whole day touring these historical places in Ankara, we slept the whole evening bus ride back to Ankara. In all, the trip was a lot of fun!


I have to say that I am happy in Turkey. I have a really nice host family, and we have got to the point where I am no longer a guest, but becoming part of the family. I am even sternly told by my host mom what chores I have to do! (And of course I do them. ) I am sometimes called “Chiaracim” (pronounced Chiara-jim) by my host mom and her best friend/family/neighbor, Layla. It is a sort of nickname that means “My Chiara”. I feel more relaxed and more of myself around my host family now. It feels good!

When I first arrived in Turkey, I thought to myself, “Turks are really not that different from us!” Well, in part that is true, but now I am beginning to notice more and more differences that suggest to me just how different Turkish culture and society is. For one thing, the family unit seems a lot stronger here. A lot of time is spent with family, and this also includes extended family members and close family friends. And a lot less time is spent “catching up”, because they see and talk to each other so much that they know how one another are and what has been going on. When I first arrived, I sometimes wished for some more time with just my host family…but now have really started to love how “family time” for the Turks includes many members outside of the nuclear family. I realize that this is very similar to Italy, but I guess I never spent enough time in a Mediterranean culture to actually feel the difference. Another thing I like is not seeing one thousand commercials about diet pills, exercise machines, and fit women in bikinis after they’ve been on Jenny Craig when I watch TV! I just noticed that a few days ago, and I thought “I am going to be so aggravated when I go back to watching TV in the U.S.”

So for now….I am starting to get a little more homesick (it’s a curve that all exchange students follow), but continue to enjoy life with my host family, to make an effort at school, and to try to soak in new things every day. (Yesterday, my host mom was teaching me how to iron collared shirts!) I am not going to say that it is always easy, because is most definitely is not. My three month benchmark is coming up soon, and I have realized that I have given up everything to come here. I have left behind everything that I love and am familiar with- my family, friends, dance, school, body (direct hint at my weight gain!)- all to live a year in a different country. At times it does not seem like such a big deal- I am only living a normal, every day life here. But then it strikes me how brave I am to have chosen this, what a big thing I am doing, and what a monumental life experience it will turn out to be. I stop and think, “Hey! I am really living life in a different culture!” So the times where I am missing home the most, when it starts to hurt the most, I think of how much perspective and personal strength I’ve gained by being here just 10 weeks. And I think how that will be times a thousand or more by the end of the year. And then I take a deep breath and say to myself “Yup, I still want this.” And as long as I know I can make it until tomorrow, I’m good….because there’s always a tomorrow after that! Thanks to my Grandpa Bob for those words of wisdom. And that, is how I can say that, in spite of everything, I am happy and I LOVE BEING IN TURKEY!!!

Happy Thanksgiving, and love to all,
Chiara

September's Entry

I am doing well in Istanbul. Other then the usual frustrations of language barriers, cultural differences, etc. I am extremely happy. Actually, I am happy regardless of my frustrations and am having a really good time.

For the past 2 weeks, I have been attending Turkish language classes on the Asian side of Istanbul. These classes will end this coming Wednesday, and I will return to school on October 1st. We are learning a lot of Turkish in a short amount of time, but I try to immediately put to use all the Turkish that I have learned that class day. One of the most useful phrases I have learned is quite basic: "Bu ne?" ("what is that?"). The words istiyorum and istemiyorum (I would like and I would not like) are also pretty useful. Usually, I study Turkish on my 1 hour ride home on the public bus from my Turkish course. I can now take public transportation home from my Turkish course alone!

I have finally learned what classes I will be taking at school. These are IB Math 2, IB English 2, Theory of Knowledge (philosophy/psychology type course), Italian III, and Art. I am especially happy to be taking Italian and Art. Italian because I have lost much of my Italian since moving to the states (I was born in Rome, my father is Italian, and I regularly travel to Italy to visit my family). I welcome this opportunity to improve my Italian, since I used to be bi-lingual but have lost much of my fluency and my Italian grammar is also not as strong as I would like it to be. I am also excited to take Art, even though I have never considered myself a visual artist. This is because I come from an Arts School in Rochester, and really miss the fact that the arts does not have much of a presence in my school in Turkey. Sometimes, I miss little things like walking into school and hearing the band rehearsing, or seeing the drama majors rehearse their scenes in the hallway. However, I am happy at my Turkish school. The people are very nice and with effort on my part, I feel I will be able to make friends there. There is one other exchange student at my school. Her name is Tiffany and she is from Florida. We are not in the same class though.

Family life is also good. My host family is kind. I am still trying to adapt to life in their family, as it is much different from life in my family back home. I am currently trying to get my host family to help me enroll in a belly-dancing class. I have told them how much I would like to dance while in Turkey, but not much action has been taken on this issue. I am frustrated with this, but expect to ask Rotex for help.

I am starting to notice cultural differences as well. The one that strikes me as the most different is how the Turks plan and treat their time. Time is always in flux. Time is not always dedicated to a task, the time to complete a task comes of its own accord. This is a lot different then our culture where if you have an important thing on your agenda to do, you usually make a plan of when it will get done and do not feel at ease until it has been accomplished. I also never know what the plan is for that day. My host parents and other adults make plans, and usually I am not informed until the last minute. For example, I found out that I was going on a day sight-seeing trip with my host family and their friends 15 minutes before it was time to go. Another time, I met my host mother's cousin at my host mother's cafe and woke up the next morning to find her at our house. It turns out she was going to be staying with us for a couple days. Usually something that you would be given advanced notice about in our culture....Turks also dont always tell you when the plans have changed. Sometimes, I have been ready or waiting to go, only to find out that we are not leaving until 1 hour later or not leaving at all. My fellow exchange students and I like to share our stories about this, and we enjoy laughing it off.

I am also busily working at my college applications. I have an application due this Wednesday!!!! It is a special application called Questbridge that if you are accepted, you receive full tuition scholarship to one of America's top schools. I am interested in Amherst, Haverford, Williams, Brown, and Wesleyan, but have not made my final ranking yet. I have been making final edits of my essays and emailing my mother, guidance counselor, and teachers in the States to make sure everything is in order. Doing college applications while abroad is quite challenging and draining. Another obstacle that is quite difficult to navigate: my host family does not have internet at their house. In order to use the internet, I have to bring my computer to my host mother's cafe. This is hard because I have things I need to do (like college correspondence, blog updates, and sending my Rotary counselor a monthly update), but can not always do these when it would be most convenient for me- like before I go to bed or when there is down time at home. Using the internet is hard ball to juggle: I do not want to be all the time on the computer while at my host mother's cafe, but I also have things on the computer that I want and need to do. At my Orientation Weekend final dinner with the host families, I asked my exchange chair to help explain to my host parents that I was applying to college and needed to be on the computer more often. At least I can be thankful that my college situation has been explained to my host parents so they know the reason for my increased time on the computer. I am also trying to study for 2 SAT II subject tests that I will be taking on October 10th in the midst of all other things.I have never been the one to not be busy with 1 million things.

Next month, I will go to my first Rotary meeting. My Rotary counselor is in Spain until the end of the month and has requested that I wait until he returns to go to my first meeting. My Rotary club is on the the European side of Istanbul. Even though the travel time will not be short, I am glad that Rotary meeting will also give me the chance to spend time on the European side. I am anxious to get to know European Istanbul more, since I live on the Asain side and spend most of my time here. I have expressed to my host family that I would like to attend my Rotary club meetings every week. I enjoy being active and would like to become involved in some of the volunteering and projects that my Rotary club does. This earned me a taken aback reaction from my host sister and host family. "Why? You only have to go one a month.", they replied. I feel frustrated sometimes with the fact that my host family does not always seem happy that I want to get involved (dance and Rotary meetings). I understand that we are different though, and have to adapt and be flexible with each other.

Sightseeing I have done: Hagia Sophia, The Blue Mosque, Galata Tower, Buyukada (one of Istanbul's Islands). All beautiful and stunning.

I also enjoy taking note of all the handsome Turkish men I come across. My friend Mathilda (English exchange student from France) enjoy spotting them out together when we are walking to the bus from out Turkish course. We have agreed that the best place to find them is at cafes, because most waiters are male and are usually quite attractive. Maybe to attract tourists....In any case, they are good looking! My first taxi ride was with a handsome young Turkish driver who was driving rigorously on the highway (100 kmh!) on the highway and through the maize of Istanbul streets. I felt like I was in a movie. It was a little nerve-racking, but very sexy.

Once I am less busy with college stuff, I will work on learning to cook some of the dishes in Turkish cuisine. Borek, Lorlu kurabiye, and various other are on my list. I am lucky that my host mother has a cafe. A wonderful place to learn how to cook! My friend Selcan (who works at my host mother's cafe) and my host mother have told me that they would teach me how to make Turkish dishes! I am very excited for this!!!

And now....back to studying at my host mother's cafe....

Take care everyone!!! Gorusuruz!

~Chiara