Ben var!

Really, this is mostly an entry to assure you that I actually did come to Turkey. I'm not sure how much more new information I am going to update you with - I just need to let Jessica and Anneliese off the hook for once.

Perhaps the most "shocking" effect of any culture shock I've experienced is learning how similar Turkey actually is to the world I know. Istanbul, at least. There are key (and sometimes blaring) differences, but really, this is just another neighborhood in the global community. Traffic is terrible, teenagers huddle together wearing black eyeliner and t-shirts of their favorite melodramatic bands, and students gossip between classes. However...

Differences:
Lira. YTL is the currency in Turkey, into which all of us have changed at least some of our money. It honestly took us about a week to stop treating lira like tokens or monopoly money and truly grasp that we were spending real cash, and need to respect it as such.

Time. We are a little under half a day ahead of most of our friends and family, and though most of the time that fact doens't really affect us, communication via Skype, etc. has been surprisingly complicated to arrange.

Language. Did you know they speak a whole different language here?! Just kidding. :)

PDA. Yes, that's right, public displays of affection. But maybe not the difference you'd expect. I actually really like this difference: it is totally socially acceptable for men to touch eachother here. I have seen lots of guys walking down the street with one arm around the other's shoulder. Everyone kisses, too; one on each cheek. It's beautiful.

Worship. We went to a Turkish church on Sunday. It was very similar to what I'm used to in many ways, but during worship people waved flags! Just silk scarves fastened to wooden poles, but they are as integrated into the worship as clapping or tapping feet. It, also, was beautiful.

...

Enough for now I think, now that I've proven I know how to write an entry. I hope they will improve with time, for your sake...