10. Turkish treats
It has been really fun discovering and trying all kinds of Turkish food this year. Food varies so much from region to region, so that is always a must do when visiting a different part of Turkey. My favorite Turkish food though has to be baklava. Thanks to my dear friend Kerry, I have tried more kinds of baklava this year than I ever thought I would. Chocolate baklava (aka choclova), baklava with kaymak, and then of course the traditional kind ooozing with honey and pistachios. The best baklava comes fresh and hot from the pan, so gooey that you need a handful of napkins afterwards. Best baklava I had this year: the choclova pictured, found in Istanbul.
9. Relaxing at Kiskalesi
Kiskalesi is a beach area about an hour and a half from Tarsus. It is a fun beach with amazing views of the castle, which is a swimmable distance away from the shore. I went a few times last fall when I first arrived and then this spring stayed overnight at a hotel ran by an American guy. Relaxing and enjoying the sea breeze, taking a dip to cool off, and of course ice cold drinks delivered to your beach chair....Kiskalesi is a trip I will be making many times next year as well.
8. TAC/SEV Parties
This year, we had two big school parties, filled with excellent food, drinks, music, and of course dancing. The first one was for teacher appreciation night, and then recently an end of the year party. It is really fun to see all of the high school and elementary school teachers dressed up. The spread is always fantastic. And it doesn't take long once the music starts for everyone to get up and dance. Watch a video that is shared on my Facebook wall to see for yourself how fun these parties are.
7. Long weekend in Antalya
In May, I went to Antalya, a resort town on the southern coast of Turkey, for a three day weekend. It is a short flight from Adana, and I was relaxing in the sun by noon. The water and coast is beautiful, and it was amazing to be able to jump right into the water at the private beach we stayed at. Historical Antalya is very nice and well-maintained, with a lot of history and character. I look forward to going back to Antalya at least one more time to enjoy the beautiful beaches and charming old town.
6. Antakya road trip
This spring, Donna, Kerry, Stacey, and I went on a road trip to the historical city of Antakya. Although the mosaic museum ended up being a little disappointing because of renovations, it was a really fun trip filled with lots of laughter, fun, and a few wrong turns here and there. I wrote a more comprehensive blog entry about Antakya earlier. It was very satisfying to know that we could travel to a less-touristic part of Turkey and be able to communicate, get around, and have a successful trip.
5. Cappadochia
Cappadochia is definitely a must-see place to visit in Turkey and I will definitely be going back next year. The landscape is just something you have to see to really appreciate. I loved staying in Goreme at our hotel built into the rock. It was also in Cappadochia where I found my patchwork rug, which will be a Turkish souvenir that I intend to enjoy for many years. Very cool place indeed!
4. Turquoise Coast Blue Cruise
Everything about this trip was fun, fun, fun and absolutely beautiful. The best way to see the beautiful southern Turkish coast is by boat. Kerry spent the first few weeks of school organizing our 4 day, 3 night blue cruise from Olympos to Fethiye. Every day was filled with beautiful sights, relaxing in the sun, and stops at picturesque coastal towns. I loved everything about the cruise and would definitely recommend it to anyone travelling in Turkey.
3. Istanbul
When it comes to history and sightseeing, Istanbul takes the cake. If it isn't on your list of cities to visit, add it and put it towards the top! I went to Istanbul several times this year. One time for the teacher's orientation, another time in December with friends, and then again took Nate in April during the beautiful tulip season. And I have not seen everything there is to see in the city! I loved the Aya Sofya, Blue Mosque, and Bosphorous boat cruises (see photos). Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar, and the Underground Cisterns are other awesome places to see. I will definitely be going back next year.
2. SEV Third Graders
Based on what I share on this blog, it can probably seem like I am not actually doing any teaching or working here. Of course, that is the reason that I came all the way to Turkey in the first place. I was so lucky this year to teach this group of third grade students. They are a sweet, caring, fun, and eager bunch. It has been so awesome to see and hear how their language skills in English have progressed over the year. Every day, I would get hugs, smiles, little compliments from my students. We had a lot of fun in our lessons. It's because of them that I woke up feeling positive and ready for work each day. It was truly a joy to teach them, and I look forward to seeing them next school year...hopefully as their fourth grade English teacher :)
1. SEV English Department Teachers
To top off the list....the BEST part of my first year in Turkey has been working with and getting to know the teachers in the SEV English department. I love all of the foreign faculty that arrived at the same time as me. I will miss Kerry next year so much, both as a co-worker and a friend. The foreign faculty in the SEV English Department have all supported me and one another throughout this year. And of course, the Turkish faculty are in a class of their own. I don't have words to express the level and depth of their support and hospitality. It boggles my mind that year after year, they welcome us foreign teachers, knowing that we will be saying good bye after a few years. My teaching partner, Gulcan (see bottom picture), was the most amazing person to work with. Without her, I know would have made mistakes or run into problems when it comes to dealing with student behavior, communicating with parents, doing report cards, etc. All of these aspects of teaching are so intertwined with the culture, of which I was just learning. Our Turkish co-workers help all of us to be culturally sensitive and appropriate. They are always willing to listen and answer our questions. Without them, I feel like my first year would have been a disaster. When Gulcan went on her maternity leave, her substitute Aylin stepped in and did an amazing job from day one. It is an honor to work with all of the teachers in the top photos. I will miss Kerry, Stef, Christy, and Nurhan, who will not be returning next year. But I look forward to one more year with the rest of the team. Living in a foreign country that is so different from your home has it's difficulties, but when you have wonderful people around you, it makes all the difference.
I am excited beyond words to be going home for the summer....and while I know it will be hard to say good bye again and it's always hard coming back after being home, at least this year I know that I will be returning back to an amazing group of people.
