A few Rome pictures!

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Our group! I hope you can guess where!!!

With some great ruins in the background!!

On top of St. Peter's!

In front of Trevi Fountain! I threw in Turkish coins!! I hope the YTL work!!

Me with Elis's mom and her friend in front of the caste in Rome.

THE POPE!!

In St. Peter's Basilica...a little bright, eh? That's what I get for taking a picture with the timer from the ground! But I like it!

Me at the Vatican!

Not in Istanbul

When I got to the Amsterdam airport..I knew I wasn't in Turkey...the few reasons I could really tell are as follow:

1.) TOILETSSSS - everywhere! With toilet paper...it was a beautiful thing!
2.) No one stared at me for being foreign, Dutch people have blue eyes too! (And one cashier started speaking to me in German.)
3.) Crosses (mostly on necklaces. I haven't seen any in Istanbul except on my American friends)
4.) Drinking fountains..........I really miss them!!!!

I will post Rome pictures soon, it was so beautiful and the weather was terrific! Plus, I saw the Pope and all the sites. Being with Elisa, who is Italian is wonderful, we don't get lost and she can ask questions, and she is great company!

I am in Pisa now and saw the leaning tower tonight!!

I am going to Florence tomorrow...with Joy and the Baumholder crew!

Caddebostan Rotary Club

Mandy and me with the District Governor and his wife! and I'm a giant!!

All of the new members!

Sebnem, she was in Indiana for a Youth Exchange!! She was so welcoming! We saw the formation of their club and then the new inductees, it was really nice.

A little structure!

So, if you knew me when I was at Ball State, you would know that I love structure, I would get up at 6:30 or 7:00 everyday, workout for an hour, shower, breakfast, watch the Today Show, go to class by 9 or 10 until 12 or 1, go to meetings/clubs/organizations, do homework, have dinner with friends, some more homework, and then in bed by 10 or 10:30. I know it was strict, but I worked hard, had fun, and got really good grades. I was a good student.

Last semester, I didn't do anything of the sort. I stayed up late, didn't exercise, was with friends all the time, didn't do or prioritize homework, etc...but I felt like I deserved it in a way, after 4 years, including summers, of working. I mean I slacked...badly. I guess most people get this out of their system in college, but I didn't, I was so so good in college, I didn't do anything wrong (except eat some grapes at the wrong time.) But the thing is, although I had a ton of fun, I didn't feel like I achieved anything or gained anything from all this fun.

So now...I'm established a little more structure back into my life. Not overboard like in college, but some. I am getting up at 8 and going for a hour walk (which has been successful for the past two days, if you want to join me, let me know!!) Going to class, doing homework ahead of time, planning trips early and efficiently. Making different friends who appreciate me and will use my abilities. Anyways, I think I have made my point. I am going to behavior better this semester, more like an adult should.

To keep everyone posted, I will be in Rome from March 1st to 7th.
Then Dana is coming March 16-22nd.
Then I am going to Petra and Amman, Jordan, the last week of March (this is tentative though.)
Then April 4-6th I will be in Amsterdam for some Rotary events.
Spring Break is still unplanned...

Day with the Xchange Commission!

All these pictures are in opposite order from which they happened on Saturday!!


Jazz Club for Sevgi's birthday!

Galata Tower at night!

Two great friends, Mandy and Katie with the Istanbul sunset!!

Pierre Loti Cafe...the famous French poet would come up here and write all day with the amazing view of the Golden Horn!!

I love the Bosporus Bridge!

Me...putting my foot into the mini Pamukkale!! We went to Miniaturk where there are miniatures of all of Turkey's famous landmarks!

My really great friend Sevgi! She's from IL, probably why we get along! And it was her birthday that day!!

Old man...at Eyup Mosque

Check it out!!

http://www.troymundy.com/

Troy's website is up and running! It looks great. Plus, I love it, because I took the black and white picture on the side. =)

I know I have been depressed for the last month or so, but I really know I'm coming out of it because I just read all of my friends/families blogs...I hadn't read them for the past two months! I really think when I'm depressed I only think about myself. It's a horrible thing really. All my friends and family are great and I feel like I missed out on a lot in their lives, even silly things like Alex playing with the Cookie Jar (I'm pretty sure it's a proper noun by now) and Liz and Steven building a house, Jamie graduating soon, Kayte rocking out in China, and Ray riding elephants in Thailand...I mean, I feel good because I know I'm not in that slump anymore, but I feel badly for not paying more attention to the people that love me the most even if I'm not in the same country as them.

On a brighter note...I had a great day! It started with Turkish...and of course I volunteered to give my minute speech first! It was funny because we had to tell about ourselves, but I felt like it was silly to say "I'm from.....I am 22....I like Istanbul because..my hobbies are.." so at the end of mine I said "I have brown hair...blue eyes...my cell phone number is 05...." and everyone laughed...I felt like it was a dating service...I don't know if they were amused...but I was. And really that's all that matters. Plus, Troy says, if you can joke in a foreign language, it means you're really learning it. I hope he's right.

Then I went with Sevgi to get a camera for photo class in Serkici. It was funny and we were being silly and it was an adventure. Then Sevgi made dinner (I cut everything up! even the chicken!!) for lots of people. It was soo soo nice! I hope we do it again soon, because the less I cook the better. And after dinner we all chatted and laughed...and laughed....Mandy was so cute, she said I don't know what I would think if Andrea wasn't laughing, it's a constant background noise. And she's right...I'm always laughing and it's always high pitched squeaks...

For Liz.........

I am applying to Las Vegas...the high school where I went...Denver (even though I have to know Spanish), Chicago, Gary (maybe), and maybe Indy???? We'll see.....

It's not June 13th yet, but it's under the four month marker!!! Yikes! Love you.

Back in the "bul" and back to class!

Inside the synagogue.


Lovely little Russian Orthodox Church!!


The Bulgarian National Art Museum!! There were quite a few pictures of women breast feeding, I mean enough that I noticed there were a lot, and enough to comment here about it! But there was also a very impressive sculpture exhibit. Plus the building is yellow.....on the yellow brick road...yes, a real one!

Sofia was great! A visa run can be a really nice thing! It was absolutely freezing in the capital though. We were there on the coldest day of the winter! Bryce and I considered buying brandy just to keep warm and now I know why Russians drink so much. But when we were gone, it snowed in Istanbul....lots of snow...and so instead of taking 13 hours on the train to get home, it took 20! I'm glad my dad wasn't on the train, I don't think he would have taken it well.

Sofia is very proud of their acceptance/tolerance. They have a beautiful mosque, synagogue, and Romanian Orthodox Church within a block of each other. They (and Denmark) are the only country to save their Jews from Hitler. King Boris set up his own work camps for them during the war. It is also said that a train of Jews was filled and ready for deportation, but the high priest in the city lay down in front of the train and wouldn't let it leave, saying that they would have to take him too. So the train never left. None of Bulgaria's 32,000 Jews perished in the Holocaust.

I had four classes today. I was not expecting to take four classes, but I liked all of them. I am in Turkish!!! (which I love, even if it isn't the same without Troy) and History of Modern Art and Architecture, (which seems much more interesting that I thought it would be. My professor is Italian and quite nerdy!) macroeconomics, (it was wonderful...I don't know why I like it so much, but it'll help when I get back to the states and have to take classes to get certified to teach econ!) and photography!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Old school photography...I'm pretty sure I know how to do everything, but I am looking forward to it. And as my mom would say, everyone teaches things differently, so you never know what you're going to learn!

I forgot to mention, I am going to Rome from March 1st-March 7th. Also, my friend got accepted to grad school with full funding and I am SO happy for her!!! I am applying to schools to teach in the US, it's a long boring process and not easy because I not physically in the US to interview!

I feel like this is a rather long post, but things are getting better now, especially because there are other Ambassadorial Scholars here now and my friends are back from traveling!

I am in Sofia, Bulgaria with Bryce because we have to renew our visas. Bryce has probably eaten a huge pig by now...not really that much, but he's definitely been excited about the meat selection here.

The city itself is tiny compared to Istanbul, but most cities are. It's very beautiful, and absolutely freezing here right now!!

New Ambassadorial Scholars!

Mandy and Karis arrived last week! Mandy is from Las Vegas studying Poli Sci and Karis is from LA studying history and Turkish. It is very exciting and refreshing! We went to Mandy's club meeting at the Hilton - Istanbul! And the Rotaract meeting. Tonight we're going to one more meeting. It's good that they are here, it is freshing and feels like a new start! Pictures to follow! =)

I don't know if the mail gets backed up in the US and it all comes to Turkey on the same plane, or if it comes separately and they stock pile it here for a couple weeks so they only have to make one delivery...I have been pondering this because on Friday I received six letters! One from Nelly, Josh, Martine, Peggy, my grandma, and Katie/Rick! I know they did not all send them at the same time and I am still waiting for a package my mother sent! So I continue to get all this great mail...I will post my address again. =)

Andrea Wiese
3. Aralik Sok Talıp Öztürk Apt. No. 38/3
Hisarüstü, Sariyer, Istanbul, TURKEY 34450

I am registering for classes on Wednesday...everything is easier this time around! There are also two new Ambassadorial Scholars here!! Mandie and Karis. Mandie is from Vegas and Karis is from LA. We are going to a meeting together on Tuesday in Taksim...should be exciting!

Fixed!

A friend helped me fixed my baby (computer) and Rick worked wonders as well! Needless to say...it's better!!

Uck

My computer's harddrive broke...so I am in the long process of getting it fixed...sorry for the lack of communication with everyone!

New bedroom arrangement!

 
 

Old pictures.

 
This is from when it snowed and walking up and down the hill was horrible!!
 
Troy's last great drawing from the studio.
  Gabe, Susannah, and Katie B at Ritim.

Although...I don't know how good a friend he could be because when I got home I saw that I had chocolate all over my mouth from the waffle and when I asked him he laughed and told me he thought it was lipstick....seriously...does he think I wear brown lipstick on my cheek?????????

BTW...Liz sent me a smooshed penny from Brickenridge, CO...it's awesome!!!!!!!!!! It is really awesome that she remember that I collect them. I remember making one on top of this tower in Prague...after which, I thought there was a sale...but sale meant stairs or exit or something and I was really upset about it!

New friend...

So I have a new friend. And he reads my blog..and he'll read this. So I can't be quite as honest as I normally would be. But he's a really good friend and it was perfect timing to get a new friend since my best friend left. He told me that I would be a good housewife..which I was just overjoyed to hear since that's what I have always wanted to be...but actually, it's the second time someone has told me that here, which makes me laugh, because I can't cook at all. I'm just really really good at cleaning. (sorry to all of my friends amd family who have lived with me and know the effects of my cleaning obessions first hand!) But he smokes, and it's gross.

All of my roommates are gone, but it's kind of fun to have the apartment to myself. I get to pay the bills, which is actually fun, because I never did it in America. And I paid the rent today, the first time we have ever paid it on time actually. And I bake all the time and then clean everything and put it all away where it goes.

I watched a move called Arranged today. It is about a Jewish girl and a Muslim girl in New York becoming friends. I really liked it and I would recommend watching it if you can find it.

My friend and I went to Bebek tonight, along the Bosphorus. And ate a waffle, (although they are better in Ortakoy.)It's like walking along the Intercoastal in Florida where my grandparents live, with all the boats tied up along the way, except that it is cold here. But this city really is beautiful and so diverse. And on the way up the hill (because there are hills everywhere) we passed a Muslim cemetery. It looked just like a Jewish cemetery. Interesting how things are usually more similar than different.

Something positive.

So, I know I haven't given Turkey the most shining reports lately, but yesterday something happened that was so so nice and would never happen in the US.

I was at the grocery store getting everything because I haven't been for real shopping in about two weeks. My bill was 56YTL and so I was going to use my credit card...and of course it didn't work. But I only have a 50 on me. So I was going to take something off the order. The cashier told me to go and it would be okay, just pay next time. I couldn't believe it, I was going to run to the ATM and leave my groceries and come back. But he was like "no, no, tomorrow". I was like "TOMORROW?" Because in the US, they would never let you leave with the groceries and come back later. So, even though he said tomorrow was okay, I ran to the ATM and straight back anyway! It was so nice. =)

I am glad to see that Obama won South Carolina!

Other news...I saw my best friend tonight for the last time before I go to visit him in Australia sometime. I am quite sad about it really. He has been a huge part of my Istanbul experience so far and has been there for the ups and downs...mostly downs. But that's what real friends do, they are always there, good or bad. And I must say, no matter what, he has always been there for me this semester. Since we are real friends I know we will see each other, but it will be very different living here without him. He has helped balance me and keep me rational. The point is, I will miss him.

I know I have been rather critical of Istanbul and Turks recently. But I most be honest that I haven't been so impressed lately. I'm sure a lot is that I have been an emotional wreck these past couple of weeks, which is part of the reason I haven't been writing. So things that normally don't bother me, really rub me the wrong way. But no matter what, what I write here is my opinion only and no one else's.

And I was mean to my mom today when I talked to her on Skype and I am still sorry for it. Because really I was mad at myself and took it out on her. Never an okay thing to do.

Still alive

Yes, still alive. Things were a little crazy for awhile, but everything is slowly going back to normal. Friends leaving, new roommates, finals and papers are done.

The Packers lost to the Giants, so they won't be in the Super Bowl. I went to NFL.com and watched the play by plays, but I had to go to bed with 10 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, it was 4am. Even in Turkey, I'll always be my father's daughter. =)

Presidential test my mom sent me.

76% Chris Dodd
71% Mike Gravel
71% Dennis Kucinich
70% Bill Richardson
69% Barack Obama
66% John Edwards
65% Hillary Clinton
64% Joe Biden
43% John McCain
39% Ron Paul
39% Rudy Giuliani
36% Mike Huckabee
31% Mitt Romney
28% Tom Tancredo
23% Fred Thompson

2008 Presidential Candidate Matching Quiz

one of my really really great friends here is mad/upset/disappointed/something with me, but he won't tell me why and it is driving me nuts. I really feel like he's being disrespectful by not telling me what is wrong. and when i asked, he told me we can talk next week...do you know how long a week is in a friendship? especially when you normally talk to that person everyday?? if he doesn't tell me what is wrong, neither one of us can move on and fix the problem. plus, since he is one of my best friends, it's really really hurting me. and I hate to think that i really did something wrong or that i hurt him. because if it's going to take a week for him to get over, it must had been really really horrible whatever i did. but now my hurt is turning to resentment and if i resent him i think i might have a hard time moving on with the friendship when this is all over with. which i would hate, because i really do cherish our friendship. because now i feel like if he tries to talk to me about it, i might just be like..okay...f-off, you've hurt me too much for me to just forget the pain. only time will tell...

plus, he decided to stop talking to me on the day my parents left, when i was already depressed and lonely...great timing.

Yesterday Rick and Katie called my cell phone! It was the best surprise, it was for a bad reason, but I was still really excited.

Now mom and dad and Troy and Tanju and I are in a tea house playing backgammon, drinkig tea and smoking nargile (hooka). I love it!!

Parents and still no internet.

At the airport!!!!!!!!

Dogukan! My landlord's grandson!!!

Mom's painting!!

With Mustafa!!

Blue Mosque.

Dressed up at Culture Night!

Mom and dad on Galata Bridge.

My parents inside Aya Sofya.

My parents got here on Christmas, it was soooo great to see them! It was probably the best Christmas present I could have received! (Except of course the shoes they brought me from Katie and Rick.) We had a couple of relaxing days at first because I had to go to university still have a couple of classes. We went to Istanbul Modern and saw the Cihat Burat exhibit and the next day to Sultanahmet. We went to the Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya, the cisterns, the Grand Bazaar, the Egyptian Bazaar, walked across Galata Bridge...

Then we tried to go to temple in Ortakoy. The guard did not want to let us in, and when he finally did and after our body search and finally sat down, the service was over. It was very disappointing, but actually very funny.

On Saturday we painted with Mustafa and he made up dinner of chicken and rice. I got sick and my mom and I went to the doctor and got medicine. On Sunday we went to Tanju's home with Volkan and she made us an awesome dinner. Dad would be a great Turk!!!

On Monday we went to Asia and did a little shopping and had lunch. Then we went to Kanyon in Levent and saw Two Days in Paris which was cute, but nothing great. Mom and dad got the full sinema experience in Turkey. Then we went to Mados and ate lots of icecream.

Today, I am studying for my Turkish test and then going to Mustafa's for dinner and then nargile in Tophane or Taksim.

It's Christmas today!

It is 50 degrees in Istanbul...there are a few Christmas lights scattered around the city, but it hardly feels like a holiday. There are even exams and tests....BUT my parents will be here in just a few hours, so I am absolutely excited!

We haven't had Internet at home, so I've been a little behind in the blogging, but here are a few pictures from last week.


My friend Denis went back to the US, it was sad and made me not want to think about leaving!


For the "slaughter" holiday...you visit families and they feed you the fresh meat. There were veggies though too and chocolate...so I was okay!


My Greek friend Sotaris...it's his first time bowling!!

I painted Nelly! (and another naked girl!)

Another naked girl...she was suppose to be laying down, but it really looks like she is flying and I kind of like it that way.

This is Nelly...if you couldn't tell, or if you couldn't tell by the title of the post. I love and miss her so much!

Probably the worst "holiday" ever...

The red is blood...and you can see the cows in the back ground waiting for their death.

Yes, this is hanging cow, freshly slaughtered.

So in Islam, they celebrate the angel coming to stop Abraham from killing Isaac. They do this by sacrificing cows and lambs in the streets, then eating it. I saw little girls this morning carrying bags of meat to their family members...Nothing like giving dead animal to someone you love!

I can't be completely sarcastic, although I do find it disgusting and barbaric. A lot of the meat is also given to the poor, so there are good intentions behind all the killing. But aren't there supposively good intentions behind war too?

sorry for the absence.

Tanju's two little cousins and me. His mom gave me a head scarf from Mecca. (which I'm wearing) The girls were adorable. We played cat's cradle with string. It's universal I suppose! I can't wait to go back!

Tanju's awesome parents and me! I love his parents! They made me so many great meals. And his mom kept saying "Eat eat eat" but in Turkish, of course!! It was so funny. I definitely felt at home!

The boat/yatch! My friend Deniz has this boat that we went out on the Bosphorus on. It was great, but so so cold. Reminded my of walking down Michigan Avenue when it's 10 below zero...

Freezing! Even below deck!!

The captain!

Latkes!

Katie, Jason, and Bryce grating potatos and onions!

Gabe forming the latkes......

Everyone is sooo full after latkes!!!!! Edie gave me the best recipe!!!

O

I still love Oprah, even on the campaign trail.

First night of Hanukkah (and third!)

Martine and I lighted the candles! Well, she did it and I sang the prayers. I think it was her first Jewish experience! Really, it was quite lovely. (I changed the picture because Martine is a lot cuter than what the first one looked like!! This is actually the third night, many people were over and it was good Jewish times!)

All the Jewish boys want me to make latkes, so in the next 8 days sometime we'll be frying up some potatoes! YUM!

(Now we made plans to make them on Sunday at one of the girl's place!!!!!!!!!)

Saturday painting.

I think I have already mentioned that my best friend lives with an artist and there is a studio in the apartment. We were both drawing with pastels, but then Mustafa (the owner/painter) graduated us to paints. So I have painted two pictures now. I really love it, it's relaxing for me. Although I have used water colors when I was little, I have never actually painted. And yes, my mom is an art teacher, but we always did different things like ceramics, print making, photography, paper marbling. But for some reason, we never really just painted.


This was my first painting. I like it, she's so happy!

I painted this one yesterday. I like her too. My friend teases me about another naked girl. But I think bodies are so beautiful and vulnerable when they're naked that you can really see the emotion more than if it's covered in clothing.

This is Troy's first painting, it's not done though. And he really was challenged because I drew on the canvas first and then used the other one so he had to cover up the lines that I left. It's funny when we paint together because I do mine really really fast and he is so slow and intricate. He has many details and thinks about what he is doing a lot. Where I just paint what feels right....but I think Troy is very good and more importantly, unique.

Mustafa asked me yesterday if I would still come over and paint when Troy left in January and of course I said yes. So I am excited that I can still spend time with Mustafa and still be able to paint.