¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - When your time abroad is less than inspiring

Hello everyone!

Sorry for the very long absence. Final exams, make-up exams, and a 9-day beach vacation took up most of my time for the last few weeks. Getting away from Malatya was exactly what I needed after a couple weeks of empty classrooms, nervous students, and endless questions about exams.

One week from today, I will be back in the U.S., hopefully fast asleep at my parents' house with my cat. I will have one full day with my family, then I will head off to work at a summer camp until mid-August. Not much of a break, and not much time to really reflect on my time here in Turkey. So, I'll do it now in my last few days before leaving.

I came to Turkey with a sense of enchantment and childlike wonder. I knew almost nothing about Turkey before I came here save the main sites of Istanbul and the few "Turkish" dishes I had tried in the U.S. Before my arrival, I chatted excitedly with my fellow Fulbright cohort about the year to come. Some had been to Turkey before and were ecstatic to be returning. Others were like me and were quite clueless.

I had never been abroad for an extended period of time. I heard amazing stories from my friends and classmates who had studied abroad in university, and I was always so jealous of their experience. They came home as new, enlightened individuals with a sort of mysterious wisdom that they shared only with other long-term travelers.

Now that I'm coming to the end of my long period abroad, I'm beginning to wonder just how much of
their "life changing experience" was actually complete and utter bullshit.

Don't get me wrong, I've grown quite a bit over these last 9 months, but I don't think I'll leave here with overwhelming regret or sadness. Overall, Turkey has not been what people cracked it up to be. If it's not a tourist trap, it's a cookie cutter copy of the last place you visited. The locals I have befriended have largely saved my experience. If it wasn't for them, I'm not sure how this year would have panned out. I realize this is a bit vague, but there are many things I cannot talk about while still in the country. I'll share a little more when I'm back in the U.S.

So, what do you do when it seems like your time abroad has been, at best, a bit boring, or, at worst, a total disaster?

1. Facebook life vs. Real life.

Your friend from freshman year in university is spending her last year studying abroad in France. She posts photos of picturesque streets, boozy brunches, and weekend trips to the coast. WTF?! Is this chick even studying? Remember, what she didn't post was the pile of homework she put off to go on that beach trip, the wicked hangover she got from too many mimosas, and the guy who tried to snatch her wallet while she was snapping photos of the Eiffel Tower. Facebook ain't the real deal, y'all!

2. Every experience is valid.

You DON'T have to love your host country. You DON'T have to enjoy the culture. You DON'T have to have a profound moment of self discovery. Maybe the fact that you don't get along well with locals has helped you grow as a communicator. Maybe your less-than-stellar time abroad has taught you how to become more adaptable. We learn a little more every day. It doesn't always have to be obvious, and it doesn't always have to be positive.

3. Lessons learned.

Maybe you're like me and, upon arrival in your host country, you found some things that you can deal with and some that you can't. Take note! Remember these things for the next time you head out into the world. Can't deal with the climate in your host country? Try a different hemisphere. Is the culture not working for you? Head to a different continent next time. Did the food prove to be too much for you? Do more research for your next location. Everyone looks back and sees something they could have done better. Notice these things and apply them! Don't repeat your mistakes. Use them to make your next experience more enjoyable.

Have you ever had an overall disappointing experience abroad? Tell us about it!

Until next time,

Heather
xoxo

Freak Out! - When stress gets the best of you

Hey everyone, happy Wednesday!

Last week was ridiculous!  13 hours of midterm exams, and I only had to proctor them. I can only imagine how my students felt.

The last few weeks, I've been frantically applying for jobs for next year. So far, I've had 4 interviews, 2 job offers, and 2 requests for second interviews. I think I'm doing alright! Nevertheless, I'm still kind of freaking out about what I''ll be doing next school year. I'm absolutely terrified of getting trapped in a terrible contract. Reading horror stories online about English schools abroad isn't helping!

So, let's talk about stress, baby! Let's talk about you and me! (Eww, that was a really lame joke. I'm sorry.)

I'm a worrier, plain and simple. As much as I like to pretend that I'm a spontaneous, carefree butterfly, I'm really not. I reserved a hotel about a month and a half in advance to go on a weekend trip to Pamukkale (a tourist destination in Turkey) during the off season. I probably could have walked down the street the day I got there, and people would have been begging me to stay at their hotel. Even though I keep getting interviews and even offers for jobs, I'm still stressed about what I'll be doing when summer ends.

Being stressed really sucks, and I often don't deal with it very well. I either close myself off from my friends and family, or I become a hot mess. Living in Turkey has helped me deal with stress better by learning to let things go, but I still struggle sometimes.

Recently, I've been thinking about ways to deal with stress in a more constructive or positive way. Here's what I've discovered works for me:

1. Give yourself a break.

Do you have an important deadline coming up, and you want to rip your hair out and scream? Are your coworkers getting on your very last nerve? Is your bedroom floor carpeted by all of the laundry you haven't been doing, and now you have no clothes but also no motivation to do anything about it? Well, don't! I've found that, sometimes, the best thing you can do for your mental health is just walking away for a moment. Take 5 deep breaths. Write down your stressful thoughts on a piece of paper, rip it up, and throw it away. Step away from your housework for 10 minutes and read a few pages of a book. Take a break from writing your paper and watch an episode of your favorite TV show. It's ok to take breaks! I usually feel 100 times better and ready to be productive after I give myself a breather.

2. Find somewhere to be alone.

I suffer from sensory overload when I'm stressed or anxious. Even the smallest noises get on my nerves, I can't handle bright lights, and changes in temperature make me feel like I'm crawling out of my skin. When this happens, I like to find a quiet place where I can be by myself for a few minutes. Lately, I've been eating lunch alone in our teacher's room at work, and that helps me feel recharged for my classes after lunch. Sometimes, if my office mate is not in our office, I'll sit quietly and listen to a guided meditation. This may seem contradictory, but sometimes I also like to listen to music at a low volume. I have a "chillin" playlist on Spotify that has music that isn't abrasive to my ears during rough days. Most of the songs are slower, and I think they help bring my heart rate down. I listened to it the other day just before an interview, and they offered me the job!

3. Move!

I know, you've probably heard it a  million times, but exercise really does help relieve stress. It doesn't have to be difficult exercise, and it doesn't have to be for a long time. I love taking walks after I eat lunch. I usually listen to music and wander around campus. After 10 minutes of walking and enjoying the sunshine, I find myself forgetting about work completely! If you don't have a lovely outdoor space to walk in like I do, then try doing a few gentle stretches in your office or in a quiet space. Try these or these.

4. Talk about it.

I'm really bad about talking about my stress. I either bottle it up or ramble on about it for way too long. Recently, I've been better about sharing what's bothering me with my boyfriend. Lucky for me, he's a good listener! Find someone who you trust, and let it all out. You could even find a stress buddy: someone who you talk to on a regular basis about what's stressing you out, and they share their thoughts with you. You might want to set parameters when you talk, such as, "No giving advice", or "Yes please, give me advice", or even "Just tell me I'm right and everyone else is the worst" (definitely have done this with Andrew).

Finding healthy ways of dealing with stress is an ongoing process. Maybe some of these will work for you, or maybe you have your own proven methods.Whatever the case, be kind to yourself. You only have one body and mind, so be nice to them!

 How do you deal with stress? Share in the comments!

Until next time,

Heather
xoxo

Bouncing back after going off track

Another late post, sorry everyone! There were 20-something Americans in town visiting for a Mt. Nemrut trip, and this week, I’ve been proctoring midterms. Needless to say, it’s been ridiculously busy!

Speaking of the weekend, I’ll jump right in to this week’s topic: off days (weeks...months?!)

Usually (for me anyway), traveling means all but throwing healthy eating and exercise out the window. Luckily, I’m usually out exploring a new city, so that means plenty of walking. In Turkey, it also means trying that region’s local delicacy. Mersin is known for tantuni, a sort of chicken wrap with tomatoes and spices. Adıyaman, the city we went to last weekend is know for çiğ köfte, a vegetarian meatball made from bulgur, tomato paste, garlic, and a special paprika paste. Bursa is known for Iskender kebap, meat and bread covered in tomato sauce, served with a side of yogurt, and DROWNED in butter. Gaziantep is known for, well, literally everything. Let's not even get into all the things I ate during winter break in Europe and Egypt (nah, see photos below). As you can imagine, it can be difficult to stick to your preferred eating habits when you're surrounded by delicious things to eat.

Pork, potato dumplings, smoked fish, and beer in Prague

Koshari in Egypt

Beer in Bratislava

As I said, we had a large group of visitors this weekend. Hosting is a whole different animal. Having visitors means showing them around the city, taking them to the best restaurants, and, of course, having a few beers. We did a fair bit of walking, but I’m not entirely convinced it offset the two large breakfasts we had this weekend or the couple bottles of wine I helped my friends finish.

So, what do you do when you’ve had a bad day or two...or 5...or 30 (guilty)

1. Most importantly: DON’T beat yourself up.

Food is not the enemy, y’all. Take it from someone who struggled with an eating disorder for years and is still working on a healthy relationship with food. Your body needs calories, and a couple of days, even a month, of not eating the best food will not set you back considerably. Accept the fact that you didn’t eat how you wanted, and move on from it.

2. Try to remember what you were doing while eating that food.

Were you spending time with your family over the holidays eating cookies and talking? Were you out with your friends dancing the night away and sipping on a drink (or 2)? Were you exploring a new city with a special dish that you may never get to eat again? Again, food is NOT the enemy. It’s ok to indulge, even if it’s a little more than you wanted or planned. I ate and drank SO much more in Europe and Egypt than I do when I'm at home, and I regret none of it. Why? Well, when am I going to be able to eat fresh falafel in Luxor again? When am I going to be able drink cheap, amazing beer brewed by monks in Prague again? When am I going to be able to eat fancy desserts in Vienna again? Live it up, and remember, your vacation eating habits are not the norm!

3. DON’T go to extremes.

You get back home from your vacation. Your visitors have gone home. Now what? I know many people, including myself, have the tendency to want to starve ourselves or exercise ourselves into exhaustion. This is NOT healthy, and this will NOT do you any good. Starving yourself will only lead to overeating later, and overworking yourself could lead to injury, pushing you further off track.

4. Get back on track

Instead of restricting calories or running for 2 hours, get back into your normal eating and exercise habits. Fill that fridge up with protein and fiber, and drink plenty of water. When it comes to exercise, if it’s been more than a few weeks since you last did a work out, go easy on yourself. If you lift weights, drop your weights a couple of pounds. If you run, reduce your speed or distance the first time you get back on the road or the treadmill. If it’s only been a few days, you should have no problems jumping right back into your workout routine. Just be sure to notice if you are working too hard, and back off if you feel any considerable pain.

Swaying off your health and fitness path doesn’t have to be the end of the world. You can get back whenever you want, you just have to start! Call a friend, look online for support, reach out! There are plenty of people (including me) who would love to be there for you and give you encouragement :)

How do you get back to your healthy lifestyle after an off-period? Let us know in the comments.

Until next time,

Heather

xoxo

Culture Clash - Dealing with intercultural (mis)communication

Hello everyone!

Sorry this post is late. I had a whirlwind weekend getaway and didn't get home until after 3am on Monday! Andrew and I visited Kizkalesi. It was a quick but much needed vacation.

Now, moving on!

I've been in Turkey for 8 months now. I've learned enough Turkish to get by and even have a short conversation (even though I sound like a 5 year old). I've learned some of the customs, like taking your shoes off before entering someone's home, the Turkish "no" (lift your eyebrows and click your tongue...what?!), and saying thank you to mean yes or no (it's an art, really).

I think I've adjusted pretty well. I've mostly come to accept that buses, or people for that matter, are rarely on time, I can practically cross the street with my eyes closed, and I hardly even notice the call to prayer anymore.

However, there are still some days where I find myself saying, "WTF, why?!" It can be frustrating navigating life in a culture that is much different from your own. Sometimes, I want to get on the first plane home. I want to scream and stomp my feet like a toddler. I want to curse at whoever it is that, according to my Western standards, inconvenienced me that day.

Luckily, I have figured out a few ways of dealing with these annoyances!

1. Accept that you cannot change the culture you are living in in order to convenience yourself.

Cultures and customs develop over hundreds and thousands of years. A foreigner losing their marbles over someone cutting them in line or a bus being late is not going to make anything better. Sometimes it's best to remind yourself that a.) it is unlikely that anyone is acting in such a way to purposefully make your day worse, b.) someone from your host country would likely have just as hard of a time in your home country, and c.) difficult times are often our best teachers. As travelers and expats, we are not in our host countries to experience our home culture. We left in order to experience something new, and sometimes, that means rough patches. Learn from it, and move on!

2. Ask yourself why you are bothered.

Are you thinking to yourself, "This would NEVER happen in the U.S./Canada/Germany/UK/etc."? Well, my friend, that is what we call Eurocentric thinking, and there's a whole lot of ingrained racism and classism there. Perhaps you have gotten used to the pleasures and conveniences of the "Western" world. Reliable internet and electricity, safe roads, and punctual public transportation are all a luxury. Let's face it: we have it pretty damn good in North America and Western Europe. Other people in SE Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America aren't so lucky. Instead of flying off the handle, why not count your blessings or make the most of the situation instead? Your internet stopped working? At least you have internet in your own home! Why not go for a walk and explore your host city? Your bus is late? Lucky you, you have access to cheap transportation! Why not bring a book you enjoy just in case it happens again?

3. Talk about it with a local friend.

Does something keep happening that has you stumped? Did you say something to your neighbor or colleague and now they won't speak to you? Did someone say something to you that completely shocked you? Ask a local! Maybe you are missing a cultural cue that you couldn't possibly know because you're a foreigner. Usually, they can clue you in on what happened and why. For example, a few weeks ago, some of my students blatantly asked me if I had gained weight, in the middle of class! I was quite upset, especially because I was already having a low self esteem day. Turns out, talking about weight is no big deal in Turkey. It's even a compliment if you are a married man. It means your wife is a good cook (benevolent sexism, eww.)

Intercultural communication isn't easy. It's even a college major! It takes time, patience, and a whole lot of looking like a complete fool. If you can get through those hard days, you'll come out more confident and informed.

Do you have any tips on dealing with cultural differences? Leave them in the comments!

Until next time,

Heather
xoxo

Work It! - Incorporating healthy activity into your routine

Hello again!

I can't believe how fast last week flew by! I leave Turkey in less than two months. It doesn't feel real! Andrew and I have been applying for jobs for next year. No word back yet, but wish us luck!

Now, on to the good stuff: working out!

We hear it over and over again: at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. It doesn't sound like much, but when you actually make yourself do it, it certainly feels that way. I'm a 20-something, not married, no kids, and only working part-time, so I can only imagine what it's like for people who have families and full-time jobs.

When I first got to Turkey, I had a plan. I was going to find a gym, train for a 15K, and keep improving my fitness level. Needless to say, that didn't really happen. The gyms here in Malatya were mediocre at best, and women here don't really lift weights. Security concerns curtailed my efforts to seriously train for the Istanbul Marathon/Half Marathon/15K race, and I had to cover up more than I'm used to while running. Regardless, I was still doing at-home workouts and running a few days a week. But by November, my desire to workout was next to none. It was starting to get dark earlier, the nights were getting cold, and my students were difficult to deal with. I was stressed, tired, and experiencing major culture shock.

No shorts and tank tops here in Malatya, even in 80+ degree weather :(

On a good week, I would do maybe two at-home workouts, run twice a week, and walk to and from work. On a bad week, I'd go to work, come home, and sit on my butt watching TV or scrolling through Facebook looking at people's holiday celebration photos. Winter in Turkey really got me down.

After my winter break shenanigans in Eastern Europe and Egypt, I suddenly felt more motivated. I think getting out and seeing somewhere new helped spring me from my funk. The weather getting nicer certainly helped. I started by setting a goal for myself: run 3 days a week, do yoga 4 nights a week, and do 3 body weight workouts a week. For the last two months, I have consistently run at least 3 days a week and done yoga 4 nights a week. The body weight workouts have proved a bit more difficult, but I'm working on it! Slowly but surely.

Many people say, "I don't have time to work out. I'm too busy." Well, when was the last time you picked up your phone and scrolled through Instagram for 30 minutes? Today? Yesterday? The day before? I'm totally guilty too. Those 30 minutes could have been a walk, some push ups and squats, or even a video from YouTube! Fitness doesn't have to mean 3 hours at the gym. It's as simple as putting your phone on Airplane mode and getting sweaty for less time than it takes to stalk your best friend's enemy on Facebook (also guilty!).

Last week, I told you all about the app I use to keep my routine on track. This week, I'll show you the running and workout apps and YouTube videos I use.

For running, I use Runtastic. I have it on my phone. It tracks distance, calories burned, average pace, duration, elevation change, and more. You can use it for running, walking, hiking, and many other fitness activities, although I can't verify the accuracy of the calories burned feature. The distance accuracy is great! You can connect it with fitness trackers too.

On my way to beating March's activity level!

For workouts, I use Daily Workout. You can choose different workouts, including abs, arms, legs, cardio, and full body. You can also choose the duration, from 5 to 20 minutes. It has a timer and videos that show you how to do the moves. Many of them use little to no equipment. I have resistance bands that I use instead of dumbbells, but you can use water bottles, rocks, whatever! One downside about this app is that you have to use it for I think 2 hours before you can unlock different workouts. However, it's good motivation to keep using the app!

Arms workout #1

I've been using YouTube for my yoga videos, and I started looking for workout videos here too. 

My favorite yogis on YouTube are Adriene and Candace. Adriene is really silly and down to earth. She makes funny comments during her practice, and it doesn't feel super serious or hippy-dippy to me. She has a 30 days of yoga challenge as well as yoga for certain situations. Candace is more subdued and straight to business. Again, she isn't a "open your 3rd chakra and awaken your inner goddess" type (what does that even mean?!!??!). She has videos based on the amount of time you have or the part of your body you want to work on. 

For workouts, I recently found Fitness Blender. They're a husband and wife team that have created over 500 free workout videos based on time, difficulty level, muscle group focus, and more. I did a HIIT (high intensity interval training) video on Thursday, and Monday morning, my calves are still sore!

Do you have any apps or YouTube videos that you like to use for running and working out? Share them with us in the comments!

Until next time,

Heather

xoxo

Routines - How to make one and stick with it!

Happy Monday everyone!

My boyfriend, my friend Sarolta and I spent the weekend in Cappadocia, an amazing historic site in central Turkey. It's known for its rock formations often referred to as "fairy chimneys". We joined a tour run by a local man named Önder. It was all in Turkish, and almost none of our fellow tour takers spoke English, but it was good listening and speaking practice!

Such a cool place!

Anyway, on to the real stuff!

Routines: some people love them, and some people HATE them. Personally, I'm a big fan. There is a ton of research that suggests students learn best when they have some kind of routine to follow, whether that's a warm-up activity, an actual schedule, or even 5 minutes of quiet time before class starts. Anyway, I accidentally fell into my own routine when I started college, and it has carried over here in Turkey.

On mornings when I have to work, I get up at 6:30. I make coffee, get ready, make breakfast, and play games or read the news on my phone for a few minutes. I'm ready to leave my house between 8:00 and 8:10, and off to work I go. 

This may seem like a no-brainer to many of you, but it makes such a huge difference for me. By carving out this relatively short amount of time everyday to do something in a methodical way, it helps give my life some illusion of order in an otherwise hectic country. 

For many of us living abroad, culture shock affects us more than we may care to admit. There are days when I can handle the bus being an hour late or people pushing in front of me to buy their groceries, but there are other days where I want to fly off the handle for someone bumping into me or even looking at me the wrong way.

Having this routine in the morning helps me start my day in a stress-free way. There are some mornings where I forget I'm in Turkey until I walk outside. While everything around me outside may be different from my life in Oregon, I still have that little piece of America in my apartment when I drink coffee and check my phone.

For those of us that hate routines or have trouble sticking to them, fear not! All it takes is a little effort and initiative, and maybe a little help from an app.

I use an app called Fabulous. It's basically a habit-creation helper. You begin by choosing your first "journey", be it weight loss, sleeping better, better focus and concentration, or feeling energized. The first one I chose was the weight loss and healthy eating journey. Then, you choose which habits you'd like to create for your morning, afternoon, and evening ritual. You can then set reminders for your habits and see your progress. Some of the habits I already did everyday, but there have been some new ones that I've taken on. For example, I now do yoga 4-5 nights a week. If I don't do it, I can feel a difference in my body and stress levels. Right now they only have it for Android, but they're working on the version for iOS. 

Do you have a routine? How do you stick with it? Share in the comments!

Until next time,

Heather

Obligatory Long Welcome/Intro Post!

Hello, dear readers! Thank you for stumbling across my blog. I promise that all of my posts won't be this long!

My name is Heather, and I'm a recent gradate of Portland State University. I studied Applied Linguistics and TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language), and now, I'm living abroad teaching English!

I started this blog because, after a bit of searching, I couldn't find any resources on maintaining healthy eating habits and exercise while living abroad (super shoutout to my boyfriend, Andrew, who suggested I start writing!). I hope I can help like-minded individuals who find themselves in a similar pickle.

Now, for a little about me and my health journey!

I grew up as a chubby kid. I ate my fruits and vegetables, but I also ate plenty of ice cream and Pop Tarts. I also wasn't the most athletic kid in class. I was more of a "read books and occasionally ride my bike through the neighborhood" type. Once I got into high school, my weight got out of control. At 15 years old and a height of 5'7"(170 cm for my metric system using friends) I weighed 190 lbs (86 kg). I was in complete shock. I always knew I was chubby, but now it was getting serious. In tears, I began researching ways to lose weight.

Me in 8th grade (pink shirt), yikes.

At first I started with reducing portion sizes. I began reading nutrition labels, measuring portion sizes, and keeping a food journal. I also exercised about 30 minutes everyday. My mom had a stair step machine that I would use while watching TV. Before I knew it, I had lost 10 lbs! I started talking to friends who had lost weight, and one of them had lost 30 lbs by becoming a vegetarian. I thought about it, talked to my parents about it, and read up on meat substitutes. On August 7th, 2007, I became a vegetarian myself.

At first, it was pretty rough. I was the only one in the family who changed their diet, so I had to do a lot of cooking for myself. Going out to restaurants turned into a "find food for Heather" menu scavenger hunt. My family often forgot to make a meatless dish during holiday gatherings, so I'd be stuck with a random assortment of side dishes for dinner. The worst part was my dad's constant teasing: "There's meat in that." Oh, in this fruit salad? Thanks, dad. *720 degree eye-roll*

By the time school started at the end of September, I had lost almost 30 lbs. All of my teachers from the year before noticed and complimented me on my changes. Boys started noticing me too, which was certainly a first! I relished in this newly received attention and kept pushing myself to lose even more. I began to cut calories even more, reducing portion sizes and buying sugar-free everything. By January, I lost a total of 60 lbs, putting me at 130 lbs (58 kg).

At this point, however, my obsession with calorie counting and measuring food was becoming a problem. I wouldn't eat something if it didn't have a nutrition label, and if I did, I would feel guilty about it for days. At my lowest, I was eating about 1200 calories a day. I had chronic headaches and fatigue, mood swings, and depression. My attempt at being healthy had turned into an eating disorder.

~ 130 lbs. Spring Formal 2008 Where are my quads and calves :(

After high school, my weight yo-yoed. I gained and lost the Freshman 15, gained the "Move to the Beer and Street Cart Capital of the World" 10, and then gained what I will call the "Senior Summer Shenanigans" 7. My relationship with food and my body has also yo-yoed. Sometimes I'd be the supreme goddess of salads and smoothies. Other times I'd eat pizza for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. At my best, I was going to the gym 4 days a week. I lifted heavy, but I also ate heavy. I like to hope that muscle played some part in my Senior Summer Shenanigans weight gain.

~ 130 lbs in Cambodia 2013. Getting a bit bony in the chest area in this photo.

I also reluctantly started running when my boyfriend signed up for a half marathon. I told him he was crazy, but I'd at least go with him on his training runs. In an unexpected twist of events, I signed up for the race, completed the race, and went on to run a 10k the next month. I haven't run a race since then, but I still run about 3 days a week.

~ 145 lbs at the Helvetia Half Marathon 2015. The quads and calves are back!

Right now I'm at around 145 lbs (65 kg). I keep going back and forth between wanting to lose weight and wanting to simply try to maintain 140-145 lbs. I'll certainly touch on this subject more in future posts!

Now, how about some travel!

Before moving abroad, I had traveled for fun in college. I spend 3 months traveling through Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, and I spent 3 weeks in Costa Rica.

I currently live in Malatya, Turkey. Malatya is a mid-sized city (~ 600,000 people) in southeastern Turkey.

Don't worry, I didn't know where it was either!

During my time here, I've traveled all over the country. Istanbul, Izmir, Ankara, Antalya, Trabzon, Gaziantep, etc. etc. I also got to visit Egypt, Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary during my winter break. I'll be in Turkey until mid-June. Then, I'll head back to the States for the summer to see my parents, and then off to the next location. Right now, I'm considering Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, or Saudi Arabia.

Thank you again for sticking with me through this long post. Stay tuned for my first real post!

xoxo,

Heather