Settled in

It's hard for me to believe that we have been in Istanbul almost 3 weeks now. This is the 3rd time here for the girls and me. We've honestly lost track of how many times Ozayr has been here... It's a little bit like coming home, but at the same time a whole other world. That is the charm and ease of Turkey for me, and what makes it a great study abroad for students. Istanbul, of all Turkish cities, has all the amenities of modern North American life - a great transit system, wireless internet, even Starbucks! Our apartment and the student residences are equipped with just about everything you need to feel as if you were at home. And yet, Istanbul is different enough to make you feel, on occasion, that you are somewhere truly exotic... The food is different, the commerce is different, the demographic of the people here is different. This makes coming here feel new and exciting, but also perfectly manageable. Most Turks in the hospitality industry speak some degree of english (many perfectly). Even among those who do not, it is in the nature of the Turkish people to be friendly and helpful to strangers. Last year I got lost in the streets outside the Grand Bazaar and had someone come up and offer me directions. Turkish people love children and shopkeepers have been known to give away little trinkets just because they found delight in something your kid did or said. This is a big change from the "keep-to-yourself/don't take candy from strangers" outlook we keep back home. It is quite an extroverted and friendly culture, and despite it's massive size (it is the third largest city in the world), it is easy to be comfortable here. We are looking forward to 2 more months, and hosting lots of friends and family!