Networking

   This post is all about networking. As you may or may not know, I can be a very pro-social person and while I value my alone time, I thrive on esteem and companionship. Both have been sorely lacking since I left Hawaii. Moving to a foreign land full of foreign people speaking a foreign language living a foreign culture may not sound like the most comfortable situation for someone that loves people but is afraid to approach them alone. Fortunatly for me--and you my reader since I am about to share the wisdom--my best friend Emily has several tips for making friends while abroad.
 
   Emily (pictured left) has been my best friend for somewhere around 7 years but I have known her for over 20. In 2008 my friend moved all the way to Chengdu, deep in the interior of China to teach English for 8 months. If the Turks are foreigners to an American girl, then the Chinese are Martians. When Emily returned from her Oriental Adventure she had a lot to tell. So she did a lot of talking and I did a lot of listening.
   She expressed her loneliness in the strange culture and her insatiable hunger for WASP companionship. What Emily began doing in order to find other Euromericans to play with was hang out at Youth Hostels (even though she wasn't staying in one) and Expat-frequented bars and cafes.

   Knowing that I would probably have a harder time attracting the attention and friendship of expats then Emily--as I am shyer and more reserved then my more flamboyant friend--I began seeking expatriate networks online several weeks ago.
   The very first network I relied on was http://www.expat-blog.com. Although you have to weed through the lonely Middle Eastern men who have no real business on an expat network to begin with a bit, through this website I have been able to connect with other expats, read blogs about food travel and live in Turkey, and even contact a Turkish Language tutor with whom I may begin lessons once I arrive. One of my contacts there linked me to another expat netword called: http://www.sublimeportal.com/forums/forum.php which is even more specialized and even sets up weekly outings for expats to meet for drinks every Thursday!

   I realize that I still have a lot to learn about Turkey and that most of it can only be learned by actually going there, still it releaves some of my obsessive need to research and know more than a native by the time my plane lands. So the moral of the lesson is: Networking, do it. The internet is amazing. And Hawaii friends: I miss you everyday with a burning pain akin to amputation.

What follows is a tribute to just some of the people I have loved. Miss yous.

Family Reunion, Kahana Bay. Remember the Parachute guy?

Divas on Goat House Deck

Just some da fam at Waimea my last night on the Island. Jumped that like a boss!

NO Reservations about Turkish Cuisine

 My alarm went off and I stumbled blearily into the living room. It was 10 pm and I had just taken a less than adequate 3hr nap, my first real sleep in 2 days. Under normal circumstances I would have stayed in bed and not risen till dawn. However, tonight there was a program airing on the Travel Channel I just couldn't miss...

Travel writer, chef, and exotic gourmet Anthony Bourdain, host of "No Reservations" Recently traveled to Istanbul on a food tour. And as I watched every culinary adventure from kahvalti (breakfast, or "before coffee") to güllaç (dessert with pomegranate seeds traditionally served during Ramadan)






I could feel my glands salivating and my stomach expanding as I imagined the grainy pilafs and savory kababs I would soon be tasting as I explore the cuisine of my strange new land.










14 days and counting. yummm.

Going Forth as an Instrument of Peace (response to <3)

Dear Bishop,
When I very first started considering and looking for a job as a Nanny, Paris or Switzerland were exactly the places I wanted to go. My only thought was to travel and improve my French. I wanted to eat a baguette at a Parisian Cafe, wear berets and become addicted to Nutella. But my two years in Hawaii changed me. The entire philosophy of the University seemed to animate the question posed by President Kennedy: "Ask not what your country can do for you, as what you can do for your country". I took classes about culture. I took classes about Peace. I took classes that help me understand myself and all people. At my graduation I was instructed to "Go forth to be an instrument of Peace Internationally". With my diploma I was accepting President McKay's challenge to all graduates of our school.
    Now I have a literal opportunity to fulfill this mission. I understand that the best way most graduates can and will fulfill this creed will be to raise righteous and god-loving families. However, for a few of us, the mission of peace must a a more literal interpretation. I don't claim that by going to Turkey I will be able to solve the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. But at this moment there is an insistent and valiant voice in my ear insisting that this is where I will be doing the most good. Peace will only be accomplished when we break the walls of fear, ignorance, and resentment. After this year, I intend for at least one Turkish family to have not only a respect for one American girl, but a love. And I will return with not only respect, but love and familiarity with a Muslim family. It is my only prayer that like a ripple in a pool, that love will cause a chain reaction of reconciliation.

I wanted to let you be one of the few--if only--people who hear my reasoning for making the decision I have. I leave my faith in God to protect me and know that whatever happens, I have made an honest and well intentioned choice. I will accept any possible consequeses be they positive, or final.

Xenophobia--"She is Muslim in her <3"

I am not afraid of hate. Hate is a product, not a cause. What I am afraid of is fear. I am afraid of the Xenophobia that is caused by ignorance.

I haven't even gotten to Turkey, but already I have found myself having to defend Turkey, and even Islam. When the Hell did we start lumping all Muslim countries into one turbulent pot of terrorists? In an argument with my mom she started quoting a court case that was happening in Malaysia. I know my geography. Malaysia is over 4,000 miles from Turkey. So what they both have high Muslim populations? With well over a billion people (1/5 of Earths total population) on earth being Muslim, that is hardly a surprise. Malaysia and Turkey are VERY different places.

The truth is, Islam is a beautiful religion. The central tenet of the faith is to submit oneself to God's will. It doesn't matter if one is saying God in English or Arabic--we are seeking the guidance of our one creating, loving being. It breaks my heart that an infinitesimal percent of extremist zealots have turned what seems every Westerner I've run into here in Michigan into Islam haters (ignorants).

In counterpoint, Christianity is a beautiful religion. The central tenet of the faith is to accept the atonement of the Son of God and use the free will that is a gift of that sacrifice to make righteous choices so that we can return into his presence. It breaks my heart that the well intentioned actions of ignorant westerners in the past may have tainted the Christian faith in the eyes of Muslims.

We are all children of Abraham. Muslims through Ishmael, Judeo-Christian through Issac.We are brothers.

A good friend of mine was recently in the Holy Land. While trying to gain admittance to the Dome of the Rock, a guard asked if my friend was Muslim. The Palestinian woman accompanying my friend responded in Arabic: "She is Muslim in her Heart". <3

I submit to you that the Bible's idea of what it means to be "Christian" and the Koran's definition of what it means to be "Muslim" are the same thing: Show your love for God, by showing your love for his precious children.

Am I scared about moving to Turkey? Somewhat.
Is there a remote corner of my mind that fears terrorism? Definatly
Do I think that I can change the course of a war? Hell No.
Do I believe that I can change the course of my heart? Certainly.
Do I intend to do my damnedest to overcome ignorance? Yes.
Do I think--nay, know--that this is what God desires?  To my last dying breath.

Do you?

I hope that makes me Muslim in my heart too. <3

Taken!

I watched a movie about human trafficking on Lifetime Movie Network this week called "Human-Trafficking" (In a crazy world its nice to know that you can always count on LMN to come up with brilliant names for every film full of B list actors and exaggerated 'real-life' drama).

Worst. Idea. Ever.

Now I am having nightmares about being stolen from the Ataturk airport and sold into involuntary--voluntary?--sex slavery. Never to be heard from again.

Great, just what I needed. Moral of the story? Turn off the TV and pick up a book. Your nerves will thank you.

My New Theme Song

ISTANBUL (Not Constantiople) 

by: The Four Lads

Istanbul was Constantinople

Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople

Been a long time gone, Constantinople

Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople

Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople

So if you've a date in Constantinople

She'll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam

Why they changed it I can't say

People just liked it better that way

So take me back to Constantinople

No, you can't go back to Constantinople

Been a long time gone, Constantinople

Why did Constantinople get the works

That's nobody's business but the Turks

Istanbul!

Istanbul!

<3 Vada

P.S. My entire family is pissed, but this song is now stuck in EVERYONE'S heads. What can I say? It's catchy!

Plane Ticket = BOUGHT!

I did it, its official! Feb 2nd I land in Turkey!

After skyping the family  I didn't hear from Sebnem for over a week --> I started to worry hard core. All the typical doubts and worries were running through my mind. Did they not like me? Did I say something wrong? Am I too fat? To ugly? To poor? Are they just being nice and don't know how to politely tell me they are no longer interested???

I emailed them twice, then the day before New Years Ever I finally got the response I had been seeking: They were looking for a ticket for me and needed my information! i was ecstatic and SO relieved. Then today I get an email from the father letting me know they were concidering at a ticked from Chicago to Istanbul for $650 they wanted me to look at. "Hey wait", I though, "I'm sure I can beat that price". So did a little shopping around and managed to find one for $466 that was out of Grand Rapids with very short layovers in Chicago and Frankfurt. Using my shiny new Discover Card I booked the ticket, for which the family will compensate me when I get there.

Done.

So here is my Flight Itinerary:

United Airlines
Flight ****
Dep. Grand Rapids (GRR) 01:28pm -01Feb
Arr. Chicago OHare (ORD) 01:30pm -01Feb

United Airlines
Flight *** ***
Dep. Chicago (ORD) 02:34pm -01Feb
Arr. Frankfurt (FRA) 05:45am -02Feb

United Airlines
Flight **** ***
Dep. Frankfurt (FRA) 09:05am -02Feb, Tue
Arrive Istanbul Ataturk (IST) 12:50pm -02Feb

Total Trip Time: 16hr 22min
Total Cost: $466.53