Merhaba

So it has only been a week since I’ve been here, but it feels like I’ve been here a month. I guess you could say I’ve settled in very easily. I haven’t started my classes yet so I have been able to take my time getting myself organized. I got my student transportation card – which gives me a 50% discount to take all public transport. The bus is only a lira or 49 cents Canadian right now, yea I know super cheap. I don’t understand how their transportation system is so cheap and they have some of the highest fuel rates in the world, almost 5 lira a liter.

I also got my Museum card – I especially love this one. It is only 15 lira with a student ID card (normally it would be 85 lira). This card allows to visit almost every museum in Istanbul for free for an entire year, and I can go to each museum as many times as I want! As a nerd it doesn’t get any better than that.

On Saturday the Erasmus students got an old city tour with our own private buses. We visited Topaki palace and Museum, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, the underground Cistern with Medusa and the Hippodrome. Considering we saw all those places in a few hours it was more of speed tour, with the intention of showing us how to get there so we could go back on our to appreciate it more. I most definitely want to return to Hagia Sophia. It was built as a Christian church in 537 AD and was later converted into a mosque, and it is now a Museum. All over the building there are still Christian motifs of angels, Mary and Jesus as well as Persian and Islamic motifs. I wish I had words to describe the way I felt in that building, but there isn’t. I was completely amazed to the point of dizziness that something so old, so big and beautiful could have existed so long ago.

I also want to mention my experience across the square in the Blue Mosque, an active mosque. I am not very knowledgeable about Islam but I was curious about the mosque. Everyday the minarets have their speakers go off with the call to pray, which is quite incredible to hear, but similar in nature to the cathedral bells going off. Before entering the mosque there are signs explaining appropriate attire within the mosque. I had to wear a scarf to cover my hair and dress, and no shoes. In the mosque I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with the separation between the tourists and those attending worship. Some tourists were even mimicking the motions of those who were worshipping for the sake of a picture. I thought how odd it would be for groups of tourists to go to the cathedral or the Bethany in Antigonish and take pictures of me with my family in the pew. I guess tourism can turn anything slightly exotic into something that can be consumed and commodified. Even though I didn’t find the experience educational, I did receive a book called “Clear your doubts about Islam,” so hopefully that will add to the experience. 

Most afternoons I have taken the bus 19 or 19F to Kadikoy, a district just south west of my university about 8 kilometers. By bus it takes about 30 minutes to 2 hours to get there depending on traffic. The Kadikoy market area is very cool, it is made up of small streets with vendors, bars, fresh produce, fish, meat and musicians. Everywhere you can smell cigarettes and sheesha and you can hear Turkish vendors trying to lure customers. Kadikoy is extremely busy no matter when you go. The streets are small, barely big enough to fit a car through, so the numbers of pedestrians is always very high. Because this area is on the Asian side the number of tourists remains very low – so the experience is more ‘authentic.’ The other day I purchased a bag of strawberries, they were unbelievable. Maybe I was just starved of some nutrients, but they tasted as if I had picked them right out of a field.

One evening in Kadikoy myself and other Erasmus students went to one of the sheesha cafes. Every restaurant you go to has the option to smoke sheesha and it is very popular to smoke after dinner. Well we must have looked like quite a site to all the Turkish people in the café. First of all we were all taking pictures of each other smoking and laughing. And we were also unable to start the hookah properly, one of the very young attendants had to start it for us. I wouldn’t be surprised if the people in the café were taking pictures of us and making fun of the foolish foreigners. Personally, I found the sheesha very enjoyable, it isn’t harsh like cigarettes or dope. Its like a smoky fruity flavour sitting in your mouth that makes you light headed for a split second. However unlike dope or cigarettes once you start the hookah there is a time commitment. We probably smoked for over an hour and that made the bus ride home a nauseous ride home.   

The people in Istanbul are extremely welcoming. Canadians tend to have the stereotype for being friendly and nice, I would say Turkish people are even friendlier. Even with language barriers you can see that they are doing all that they can to make you feel at home. You ask where something is, they will take you there. You will ask for something, they will get it for you. They can’t understand you, they will find someone who will. You sneeze, everyone around you will hand you a Kleenex. Luckily I have managed to learn thank you in Turkish – Tesekkurler. Even if my pronunciation is wrong they appreciate my effort.

I still cannot believe how far from home I am – someone even called me a lost beaver. I still haven’t had any classes yet, but everyday I am learning and meeting new people. I hate to admit it, but there isn’t any time to miss home or be homesick. Hopefully next week I will be able to tell you about my classes.