There’s No Place Like Home

Eskişehir, the land of apartments.

Alright, this post is for all the folks back home who still believe I’m living in either some Arabian castle, or a mud hut on the side of a gravel road. Well, I hate to prove you wrong, but BAM, here it is.  While people in other parts of Turkey, I’m sure, live in houses much like we have in the States or in Europe, those in cities, including Eskişehir inhabit apartments. It’s the city life, folks! Ankara is pretty much the same as well.

Most of the students at Anadolu, if you havn’t guessed this is my university, live off campus in apartments such as those seen above. There is one dormitory, but who knows who gets those. As lucky as the girls and I are, we get to stay in the guest   housing, reserved for the highly esteemed guests, I suppose. Right on campus, these guest houses, or apartments, come equipped with water, electricity, gas….etc. You name it, we have it! And all for one low price split between 3 is a keeper!

Our apartment building (with Caitlin striking a pose):

                Because our apartment was vacant all summer, as we assumed after our first viewing, it was dusty and smelled a little wonky. So, Saturday was cleaning day. Armed with a mop, bucket, sponges, and cleaners, we rolled up our sleaves, put our Cinderella hats on, and spent a good five hours or so cleaning house. After such excruciating work, we have a sparkling, not to mention sweet-smelling home J.

                Now for the grand tour: (Dah, da, da, daaaaaaaa! BRRRRRRRrrrrrr!)

Our entry way (please take off your shoes)

Small bath (without a bath, ironically)

Our great room (living room and dining, not to mention our huge balcony!)

Kitchen (look, Mom, we have a stove and a fridge, not to mention ANOTHER balcony!)

Our long hallway, branching off into the bathroom and three bedrooms

Bathroom (looks a lot like home, huh?)

My room

My study desk (complete with pictures of friends and many Turkish post-its!)

Well, now you have the grand tour and hopefully still don’t believe I’m living in a hole in the middle of a pine tree park. All the luxuries of Western living can be found even in Turkey, who would have guessed! (yes that is sarcasm) I have a comfy place to rest my head, go to bed, and wake up in the morning…