Buradayım! (I am here!)

I made it. Safely and Soundly. Thank you all for your many thoughts and prayers that kept me the entire way from Phoenix to Detroit to Paris to Istanbul. This is the longest journey I have ever made alone and it was definitely an adventure...

Once in Detroit, I connected to my international flight to Paris via Air France. I was fortunate enough to be assigned an emergency exit row seat, so that I had a lot of leg room. I sat next to a sweet lady from Dublin, Ireland. She was good company. As for resting, even though I had a sleep mask and ear plugs, I hardly slept at all. One interesting thing I noticed is that every single one of the flight attendants (all of them French) was extremely attractive! I recall my mother telling me a few days ago that when she and my dad were in Paris, she noted that most of the Parisians were fashionable and attractive. Maybe something in the French water?

Once in Paris, I experienced the craziness and complications of the Charles De Gaulle airport while only having about an hour to make my connection to Istanbul. I was on an airport shuttle for almost 45 minutes total! I had to be taken from my plane to the complete other side of the airport to reach my new terminal. Then I wandered a bit until I found my gate. Once there, the plane was delayed 45 min. Then, our entire flight had to be taken from the terminal to our new plane via shuttle. I think that the driver was a new guy---because we drove for about 30 min while he tried to find our plane! I guess it didn't help that there are a gagillion Air France planes in Paris. Once on the way to Istanbul, I grew very hungry as I had not eaten since dinner towards the beginning of my previous flight. I could not wait to get to Istanbul so I could get something to eat, since I did not care much for the fish they served on the plane.

Then, to my relief and joy, I arrived to Istanbul at about 3:30pm Sunday afternoon. All I could see from the plan window were scores upon scores of high rise apartments! Such a dense and large city. It has also been shock to see signs only in Turkish. It has been good practice to figure out what they say. After getting my luggage (which is sooo heavy) and exchanging my dollars for lira, I took a Havaş airport ötöbus for a 15 min commute to Bakırköy (a neighborhood on the European side of Istanbul). From there, I took the denizi ötöbus (sea bus/boat) across the Bosphorous strait to Bostancı (on the Asian side of Istanbul). Meanwhile, I received several odd stares as I lug my heavy bags around town. When I arrived in Bostancı, my dad's lovely friends, John and Mel Kittrell, graciously picked me up and took me to their place about 10 min away by car. I must say, I applaud John for his amazing Istanbul-driving skills!! You have got to be nearly insane to want to drive in the city...it is pure madness. As John said, "the Turks believe that if there is ever a space available on the road--no matter how small--they will try and fit into it!" This mindset resulted in several close calls, complete disregard for traffic lights and laws, and an exciting ride! Also, I have heard my dad say that a taxi driver once told him that the traffic lane lines were only there for the foreigners! It is going to be a fun summer, transportation-wise...

The Kittrells have been such a blessing to me--wonderful hosts. They fed me, told me great stories, encouraged me, and let me sleep as long as I wanted! I found out that John was involved in InterVarsity when he was a student in the 50s. That was neat. He and Mel have also visited Bear Trap Ranch in Colorado where I recently attended IV chapter camp. He was also president of his chapter like me! God must have a reason for us being able to meet...so cool! Last night I slept for a total of 14 hours (a record for me) and woke up at about noon. I was exhausted and slept so heavily that the hustle and bustle of the street outside my window and the crazy rooster down the street didn't even wake me!

All today I am relaxing and trying to review some Turkish...I have been out of practice for so long. The Kittrells are wonderful company. Tomorrow morning I will pack my things again and set out for the boat again which will take me to Kabataş on the European side. Our awesome tour-guide friend, Gurkan, will pick me up and take me to Boğaziçi (the university) by taxi. Inşallah (hopefully), I will make it by 11pm so I can meet Chelsea and Jessica in front of our dorm! I cannot wait to see their faces...it will be such a relief. I am so grateful they are spending this summer with me. They should be arriving around 11 am Monday night and staying in the airport hotel for the night.

Well, this is about it! Jessica, Chelsea, or I will update you all when we are all reunited and hopefully I will have pictures. May you all be blessed back home...

PHRASE of the DAY: Iyi Yolculuklar!! = Bon Voyage/Happy Traveling!

with love from Istanbul,
Anneliese