Merhaba! (Hello!)
      I got an email tonight from Allie, a woman from AFS, confirming that they had received my acceptance forms!!!! I have been paranoid all weekend that they were somehow lost in the deep crevices of the internet, and that I would not be able to go, but my fears have been abated! Thank god. And we have a conference call on Wednesday, which is so exciting!! I want to get my Visa now! Until then I will still have doubts that I can actually go. I have already checked out three books on Turkey, and have TRIED to learn a few words of Turkish... I'll get there eventually :D I would post a picture of my "official" acceptance letter, (which is hanging on my wall because I just can't get enough of it) but my computer's camera doesn't work anymore, and transferring it from my camera takes WAY too much energy! To go off topic a bit here, I want to talk about something that has come to my attention in the past few days. I have heard stories quite a bit recently about girls, everywhere, but mostly in the Middle East, whose families put pressure on them to "not betray their culture." I think this is such a sad view, I mean, how can you keep a culture alive without changing it as the world develops? Modern women cannot be contained in the house and not allowed to have boyfriends or go to parties. They cannot be told what to do by the men above them who think they know best. Well, they can, but they shouldn't. Despite many people's views this puts their daughters and wives in an extremely vulnerable position of ignorance about how the world works. I will probably see this next year, and though it makes me sad, I am interested in how the girls react and how their families are. The men are not necessarily bad people, they simply have a VERY different view of the world than I do. As the wise AFS saying goes "it is not bad or good, it is just different"! So much to learn this year! Well, that's it for tonight, I have to do some homework (...yay)!
Iyi geceler (good night)
(i-yi   ge-j-eler)
  

What exactly am I doing?

I can't believe I will be in this country!!

Turkish flag!!!! 

Hey y'all!!
      I guess to begin with I could introduce exactly who and what I'm doing here! My name is Isabel de Katona. I was born in Austin, Texas, and have lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico since I was four. Last November I applied to this CRAAZZYY program called YES Abroad (Youth Exchange and Study), a full scholarship to a predominantly Muslim country for a year. A whole year, for FREE! It was too good to be true. The catch? Only sixty-five students from the entire U.S. would be accepted. I had my doubts about whether I would be accepted, but I applied for the chance. Months went by, and at the end of February (they said the end of February, and they meant THE END OF FEBRUARY) I received an email notifying me of my status as a semi-finalist, and that I would be flown to Chevy Chase, Maryland (pretty much D.C.) over the weekend of March 22-24 for the interviews. Looking back I suppose this was an accomplishment, however, at the time I did not think it was as competitive as it was. Anywho, when March 22 rolled around I was thrilled! To be able to meet all these other absolutely incredible applicants who feel the same about the world as I do, was an amazing opportunity, even if I did not get the scholarship. The weekend was everything, and more, than I expected. I made amazing friends within the first two hours, (big congrats to Emma and Sofia for being accepted to Morocco, both of their first choices :D I knew y'all would do it!) and continually met people throughout the weekend. My only worry? Everyone was amazing, how would I stand out enough to be accepted? I quieted my fear as I boarded the plane home, reminding myself that there was nothing to be done! Fast forward three weeks later! I am on spring break the week of April 8 and the other YES applicants and I have estimated that we will receive emails on that friday, April 12. I had mixed feelings about this. I wanted to know more than anything, but the longer we waited and the emails did not arrive,  I could still have hope that I might be accepted. And of course, what crazy person wants spring break to hurry up and finish? Me I guess! So thursday night rolls around, and I can't sleep, not a wink! And to make it worse, I wake up at 6:30 the next morning. Forcing myself back to sleep periodically until 12:06, I finally got myself out of bed and did the dishes to distract myself! At about 1:45 I received texts from my friends that some people had gotten their emails! I checked my email with shaking hands, and... nothing. NOTHING! My heart dropped to my toenails and kept going. BUT! We soon figured out that only the finalists being sent to Bosnia and Herzegovina had received their emails. I could breathe again! I planted myself on the couch, and stayed there. My mind could literally do nothing else! Slowly throughout the day the other countries were sent out. I will interject here how amazing iPhones are! I was able to sit on my couch, text people, check my email, and check facebook on one device!! It was brilliant!! So, anyways, I watched as each country was sent out. My heart started beating faster as my second choice was released, then my third without my getting an email. Finally, there were only two countries left! Turkey and India. And Turkey was my first choice! You can imagine me at this point. I was terrified. At 4:16 it happened. I opened up my email expecting emptiness again, and something popped up! An email from Gabriel Coleman: YES Abroad Program in Turkey. I don't clearly remember the next few moments because my eyes fogged up and my breath started coming faster and faster. I opened the email with shaking fingers, and boom!!!
Dear Isabel,
Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a Finalist for a 2013-14 Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad scholarship for study in Turkey!
I couldn't believe it! Not even a little bit!! My mom was sitting at the computer and I just said OHMYGOD. She ran over as I started crying. And I mean crying. I was deliriously happy. I was actually spending a year in Turkey!!! TURKEY!! This time last year I wanted to go to France, but Turkey is so much better!! I commenced calling, texting, and posting on facebook my news!
This was yesterday, and I still can't believe it. Looking at the Turkish language online I am struck by the fact that I will learn this language. Actually learn it! I am so grateful and fortunate to have this opportunity of a lifetime, I don't even know what to do with myself! I will leave you now! Stay tuned for more!! Hosca kalin (goodbye)!