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…

At-a-Turk!

So, if you thought Turkey was the land of Arabian nights and harems, think again, my friend. Get Aladdin out of your head this minute, and consider one name Atatürk. Known as the father of the modern Turkey, he led the revolution and brought Turkey out of the Islamic Ottoman reign and into the present-day West (at least the present-day of 1923). Held up by the Turks as more than a founder or leader of the Republic, Atatürk is a hero, a god. Think of him as all of the US founding fathers combined…or even better, Gandhi’s relation to the Indian people.  Atatürk is more than George Washington or Abraham Lincoln; he is a way of life.  Seen on storefronts, in office buildings, homes, buttons, and even ties, the picture of Atatürk is everywhere.

Now, where, you may ask, can I get such a thing? An Atatürk tie, an Atatürk ring? Well, it’s your lucky day if you happen to find yourself near Ankara. Stop on down to the Atatürk Mausoleum and take a look. Comparable to the Gandhi monument in India, the Atatürk Mausoleum is an expansive sight. Simple, stoic, and commanding, almost embodying Atatürk himself, this sprawling monument tells the history of Turkey, from the Byzantine mosaics in turquoise above doors or gold on the ceiling, to Islamic geometric windows and courtyard arches of the Ottomans. 

  And it all accumulates into the Atatürk museum, a must see. Dioramas of WWI, nationalistic songs, and of course the ultimate in Atatürk memorabilia, the gift shop.

If you venture to Turkey, this is an essential lesson to learn. Atatürk is great, Atatürk is good, and if you happen to say anything other than that, you better be willing to fend of many offended Turks! Some heavy shackles may also appear on your wrists, so in order to keep your head, switch over to the Turkish way and get yourself an Atatürk wristlet. Who knows, after spending some time, you may even join in the fun and switch your Facebook profile pic to the almighty Atatürk. I know I will! 

Merhaba! Eskisehir! The land of gondolas and college kids!

After a week in the basement of Niza Park hotel in Ankara learning about Turkish history, politics, and language, I am FINALLY in the lovely city of Eskisehir! A city more to live in than to visit, Eskisehir is known as the University town, housing the esteemed Anadolu University. As any typical college town, it has a plethora of malls, shops, and coffee houses. Writing now from a Caribou Coffee, I feel as though I never left the states. (You have to hold on to some comforts!)

As any university town, it also has an abundance of night life fun, as all of our guides make sure to point out. I have yet to partake, and will probably wait for quite a long time.

It is also referred to as the "Little Paris." Why, I'm not too sure yet. It does have a European feel, but I wouldn't quite say Paris...there is a beautiful canal down the middle of the city with gondola rides! So come on down to Eskisehir and check it out!

Beautiful, I know!!!