Welcome to Ankara, where every day is trash day!!!!

not my photo...by the by, ill upload some soon tho.

So we have completed a week in Ankara and much has happened already!

there have been numerous elevator incidents, confused stares, stray dogs barking, and ignorant american activities, but it has all been very exciting!

we made our way to Kizilay, the downtown area, a few times now. However, because we are silly americans, we just decided to get on a random bus and hope it takes us to somewhere interesting. Apparently you need tickets to ride the bus, but we have taken to the approach of displaying a handful of change and motioning to all of us, in which they usually reply by rolling their eyes and just telling us to get on.

Kizilay is a really cool area, there are a ton of shops, cafes, and who knows what else. We managed to wander our way into a mosque which was also really cool, because I had never been near one before (not for any personal reason, i just have never had the chance).

Periodically throughout every day you can hear the call to prayer broadcasted throughout the city, its then when it always hits me that i'm living in such a different nation, with unique traditions, morals, and a wholly different culture.

we started work this past week. All the americans have recieved much attention. They call us "natives" as in native speakers. Well, by all of us, i mean mostly everyone else. Alot of the students and teachers have not really known what to do with me or approached me because they usually think i am also turkish. Even in the city, they will speak to me in turkish as if i am showing the americans around. I have learned a few turkish phrases, and they say my accent is good, so i'm going to learn just enough to say "these are my american friends, but they are practicing turkish so i can not help them translate." boom, im in. god i love being ethnically ambiguous.

the food here is delicious, and we still have alot to explore and understand (including dubbed french....films..lol) but its been a blast so far!!!!!!

gule gule

Annie G