If this year has taught me anything, it is that no matter what a person's beliefs are, no matter which political party they support, generosity and kindness can come from anyone. I have been on the receiving end of an unbelievable amount of kindness this year, and I look around everyday in awe that I am able to experience it.
Last weekend my German teacher took my to a small village outside of Aydin to eat a pre-wedding lunch. Twelve years ago she taught in the village, and the groom was the school's principal's son. The food we ate is explained below, I will just say now that it was DELICIOUS. I love food of all kinds, and Turkish food made in the villages is to die for. We unfortunately were forced to choose between the food and the celebrations later that night, and we decided to eat the food. My teacher's reasoning was that I had seen dancing before, but the food was a one time opportunity. I happily agreed!
During the meal my teacher recognized one of her old students, and she began to speak with him and his family. When they found out I was an American exchange student they insisted on dressing me up in the pants and the head scarf that the middle aged and older women wear for comfort. Before we left they gave me the clothes as a gift as a way to remember them. Below are some of the pictures we took. The well water shown was beautiful and clear, and it made me miss the well we had when I was little. I was also able to hold a ten day old puppy who fell asleep against my chest. It's little paws, the eyes that had still not opened, and the little snuffing sounds it made melted my heart straight through. After the puppy I visited an old lady in the magnificent garden she had planted by hand and spoke to her about her life. She came from Austria during the second world war, and has lived in Turkey since then. Turkey is like the U.S.A. of Europe and the Middle East. There are people from almost every country who have moved here, or whose family moved here, and who now call themselves Turkish. With their pattern of passivity in wars, Turkey has continuously been a safe haven for those escaping dangerous countries. The interesting thing is that no one asks Turkish people where their families are from. If they say they are Turkish, they are Turkish. But when I say that I am American, one of the first questions I get is "where is your family from?" Due to the widely known fact that America is the mixing pot of cultures, simply saying I am American is not enough. This topic has no connection with my day in the village, but I thought it was interesting.
The people I met in the village were some of the nicest I have experienced. I hope I can visit them again some day, but if not, they will always have a place in my heart, and my memory.
Xoxo, Isabel
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| Pumping water |
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| The food I ate in the village; Yuvarlama - meat and flour rolled into ovals and cooked. A tomato based broth is poured over it, and yogurt/ yogurt with garlic is served with it., Soup - A tomato based broth (again) with thin, dough pieces in it. Semolina helva - A desert made from semolina. It is slightly grainy, but sweet. Keskek - Wheat and sometimes chicken mixed together into a mush type mixture. While slightly odd at first, it is delicious. Usually served with rice. Kuru fasulye - White beans and vegetables in a tomato based brother. Meat - Lamb Kizartma - Potatoes and vegetables baked in olive oil. |
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| A ten day old puppy |
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