Allez! I have no idea what that means but it seems like such a powerful beginning I felt exponentially inclined to start with it. Start. Beginning. That is all here..well, technically in 7 days "it" will be here but semantics, semantics. In 7 days I leave for the grand ol' land of Turkey. And I must say it took me a while to be as excited for it as I am currently (I'm serious my hands are shaking with every letter I type because I am just so overwhelmed with excitement) but I am here. My shpiel is quite simple. I have been awarded a full scholarship by the U.S. government to go to one of 12 countries to learn one of 7 rarely taught but extremely critical langagues (Turkish, Russian, Farsi, Arabic, Korean, Hindi, and (of course, sheesh) Chinese). And winner winner chicken dinner to the first person to guess my home for the next 6 weeks...Yes that's right, Istanbul, Turkey! It initially was Egypt to learn Arabic (my first choice) but because I was in Israel last year the American Foreign Service program (thatI am travelling with) in Egypt began "fear for my safety" or some sissy thing like that. No no just joking. I appreciate them looking out. This whole program is supposedly intended to "foster a desire for cultures outside the United States" and create a "multi-lingual American youth". But you know what I think, shssh dont tell anyone, but I think they are secretly training us to be spies and work for the CIA. I mean Arabic, Korean, Farsi?? Hmmn Hmmn? Look a little spish anyone? It does to me. But thats enough about my suspicions concerning not-so-undercover governmental conspiracies and whatnot. This is about Turkey and my passion for her people and tongue.
They say 6 weeks "is not enough time". I think that's just an excuse for a sub-par showing. I mean I must admit my current Turkish level is far worse than abysmal but place me in the enriching motherland that is Turkey (who said it had to be MY mother) and I feel her warmth will fill me (hopefully that will translate to Turkish fluency. we shall see). And indeed I have been in touch with my new family. I have a 17 year old sister (exactly 10 months younger than me) and a little brother! Oh Ezgi and Emre how I long to tuck you under my arms and spread my pearls of wisdom onto your oh so eager younger-sibling ears. Too bad those pearls will be a bit rusty because they have to be in Turkish...so I guess they aren't pearls, huh? More like cardboard marbles...but whatever.Hopefully they shall still love me. I talked to my father today on fb chat. Talk about LOST IN TRANSLATION! Whoo! That was one rough convo! But maybe, hopefully, tomorrow shall be better.
:D
