One thing I have become addicted to is ketchup and mayonnaise with the fries...it is so good...hence the reason I use ketchup and not [catch up]. ...but yes, once again, I fail to post blogs regularly. At this point...I have four days left here in Istanbul...so my plan is to fill you in [very briefly] about the past few weeks....and then I'll post again after I return!
...Christmas in Crailsheim [Germany]
It was wonderful to be with family over the holidays. Svenni and her family are basically a second family to me, always making me feel so welcome there! I had such a great time....we were basically snowed in with about 3.5 feet of snow but it was a lot of fun anyway! We went to snow walks and played games of Phase 10 and other board games. I got to see some of my other friends [Svenni's friends] that I went to Rome with way back in '06. I went to the classiest birthday party EVER....it was basically a personal "Mongolian Grill" atmosphere for everyone to choice what they want to eat and cook it right there on the hot grill on the table. It was delicious. Then everyone went on another snow walk and came back for desserts and drinks. It was great fun! I got to see Dani again and Thomas hung out alot because now him and Svenni are dating [[so cute]]
Perhaps this shouldn't be put in a blog--but I continue to gain respect for how Svenni survived a YEAR in highschool....now that I have been abroad for a semester, I know the struggles and I am impressed she was able to do it when she was 16 years old. Another thing...I feel like I could have been such a better friend. Meaning, I should have made more effort to take her places and hang out, etc. I guess I have some "ketchup" in that regard as well for the future when we meet up in random countries!
Anyway--it was great to be with her and her family for Christmas. In Germany, they open presents on Dec 24....and then the 25th is filled with family and food. Perfect if you ask me!
A Bulgarian New Years!
WOW...Sofia is crazy....and perhaps it only seemed empty because I am used to the bustling city of 17 million in Istanbul but it seemed deserted. It was a 15 hour train ride to Sofia....we spent about 30 hours in the city....and it was a 15 hour train ride back to Istanbul. Was it worth it? MOST DEFINITELY...but I am a bit exhausted now!
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| Asking the Police where the Hostel Mostel was...ha |
To be honest, it was a tense trip. Perhaps I am so ready to be home that I was tense and thus, every little thing that bothered me was magnified but...we survived. We arrived, got ripped off when buying our return tickets...had trouble finding our hostel because no one took down the address....and then it was freakin' cold... [-9C]. Finally we found the hostel. We settled into the "apartment" and ventured out and about in the desolate city.
We found a Bulgarian cuisine restaurant, which was a lot like Turkish food...but with the addition of PORK! We were so hungry and we all ordered so much. We had Bulgarian Champagne and at least 3 courses each!
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| Zucchini with yogurt sauce |
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| Basically all pork!--I did not order this! |
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| Winter Salad--delicious eggplant |
We continued to walk around and went into a few churches and wandered around the markets, making note to return the next day. We bought some champagne for our New Year's celebrations. After 3 hours of wandering and freezing, we went back to the hostel and a few of us took a nap while the others went to the central hostel hangout and had dinner.
In the evening, we played a card game and when it was closer to midnight, we went to the hostel's bar and counted down together! I went to sleep after that...who knows what the others did! :-D
In the morning, we set out to explore a little more, shop a little, and take it easy. Well, no problem there--NOTHING WAS OPEN because of the holiday. We did stumble upon the flee market and then the outdoor market. We really wanted to find a place to eat before boarding the train...we have limited success. After walking around aimlessly looking for a restaurant, we went into a hotel and asked if they had a restaurant. They did but it didn't open until later...but they were nice enough to prepare us some cheese and ham toast with tea....we hung out there to get warm until we walked to the train station...and let the return journey begin.
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| The gang on New Years Eve... |
It was a long 15 hours in a cubicle no larger than 6ft wide and 7ft long--3 beds stacked on each other. It was miserable...but I took some cough medicine and went to sleep. That whole idea of getting homedown? Yeah...that didn't really happen. At the border, everyone has to get out of the train and go to passport control. It wasn't too bad of a wait but it was just inconvenient. Nonetheless....I got a train stamp in my passport! WOOT!
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Now I am back on campus. I have completed 3 classes and have TWO finals left. One is tomorrow and one is Wednesday. I need to study a little more but I only need a "C."
I am 90% packed and ready to go.
My flight leaves early Saturday January 8th. I am thinking I won't sleep because I leave campus as 5am. I'll pull an all nighter and just sleep the entire flight home. I am so ready to get back to the states...I have loved my experience more than I thought I would or could but its time...
and with that....I will post again state's side!
