I haven't been faithful to this blog. I have been here for more than 5 months and I haven't written much about my life here.
The idea that this AIESEC Turkey experience will be over soon moves and hastens me to write something sensible regularly.
With this, I hope to write even short snippets of my daily life and of what has been happening in this enriching and culturally-awakening experience of mine.
I will keep this blog posted. Insallah.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
4 Months
In less than 4 months I will be back home in the Philippines. It feels too soon. I didn't even notice that I have been here for more than 4 months now. It feels like the fun is just starting. I have found a very good company in the form of my co-trainees, my host family and their friends are just amazing, the kids in school are all lovely, I have been somehow accustomed to the food, weather and what-have-yous here and then in a short while all of these will end. It's quite tragic for me just thinking about it now.
But then again that's just how it goes. I have to make the most of every single day that I will be here because in one blink I ma back in the plane to bring me home in the Philippines.
But then again that's just how it goes. I have to make the most of every single day that I will be here because in one blink I ma back in the plane to bring me home in the Philippines.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Earthquake
4 :00 AM
There was a strong earthquake a few minutes ago.
I was awakened from sleep because it felt like somebody was rocking my bed. The initial feeling was not fear or terror but confusion. After a few seconds it sank on me. That was a strong earthquake. I sat on my bed trying to make sense of the situation and was thinking if I will just dismiss it and go back to sleep. Then Baris, my host father, knocked on my door and asked if I was ok. That was the confirmation. It really was an earthquake.
I heard movements from the tenants of the other apartments. Baris and Dilber, my host family, then called and told me that we will go outside. I got a little panicky and was heading straight out the door with no coat or protection from the cold when Baris told me I should get dressed. All I have on were my pyjamas. I composed myself and grabbed my jacket, some identification card just in case I will need it, my phones, and then I was outside. We were not the first one to think of the idea, though. Many apartment tenants were already outside. Some are on their phones, others are getting in their cars to get some warmth probably since it is freezing.
Dilber doesn't look good. She looks shaken. It seems like she is scared and has been crying. Baris told me that in 1998, there was a strong earthquake in Izmit which killed 20,000 people.
We went for a short drive just to appease my host mother a little. She is 6 months pregnant and must really be feeling terrible about the situation.
I don't know how to make of the experience. Before coming to Turkey, I googled Izmit and found a lot of hits on the strong earthquake a few years ago. I was scared then, to say the least, knowing the place I will be living for 8 months for this exchange program experienced such a terrible calamity.
Now I have been living here for more than 3 months and it is only now that I feel a little scared for my life. It is double worrisome because I am far from my family. I can only think of the possible scenarios but would not want to detail it here lest I give it life.
Now, we are inside the apartment again. Other people are still in their cars, maybe until their fear subsides. I am not sure if I can go back to sleep though or go to work today. My host family is in the living room talking.
But I feel interesting. After the initial fear, I am calm. It's good because I don't need to deal with a whole lot of emotions now. It is not helpful in this situation.
I hope and pray that this will be the last earthquake I will experience here up until I go back home this June. Or better yet, I hope no strong earthquake happens in Izmit ever again.
Bless us God.
There was a strong earthquake a few minutes ago.
I was awakened from sleep because it felt like somebody was rocking my bed. The initial feeling was not fear or terror but confusion. After a few seconds it sank on me. That was a strong earthquake. I sat on my bed trying to make sense of the situation and was thinking if I will just dismiss it and go back to sleep. Then Baris, my host father, knocked on my door and asked if I was ok. That was the confirmation. It really was an earthquake.
I heard movements from the tenants of the other apartments. Baris and Dilber, my host family, then called and told me that we will go outside. I got a little panicky and was heading straight out the door with no coat or protection from the cold when Baris told me I should get dressed. All I have on were my pyjamas. I composed myself and grabbed my jacket, some identification card just in case I will need it, my phones, and then I was outside. We were not the first one to think of the idea, though. Many apartment tenants were already outside. Some are on their phones, others are getting in their cars to get some warmth probably since it is freezing.
Dilber doesn't look good. She looks shaken. It seems like she is scared and has been crying. Baris told me that in 1998, there was a strong earthquake in Izmit which killed 20,000 people.
We went for a short drive just to appease my host mother a little. She is 6 months pregnant and must really be feeling terrible about the situation.
I don't know how to make of the experience. Before coming to Turkey, I googled Izmit and found a lot of hits on the strong earthquake a few years ago. I was scared then, to say the least, knowing the place I will be living for 8 months for this exchange program experienced such a terrible calamity.
Now I have been living here for more than 3 months and it is only now that I feel a little scared for my life. It is double worrisome because I am far from my family. I can only think of the possible scenarios but would not want to detail it here lest I give it life.
Now, we are inside the apartment again. Other people are still in their cars, maybe until their fear subsides. I am not sure if I can go back to sleep though or go to work today. My host family is in the living room talking.
But I feel interesting. After the initial fear, I am calm. It's good because I don't need to deal with a whole lot of emotions now. It is not helpful in this situation.
I hope and pray that this will be the last earthquake I will experience here up until I go back home this June. Or better yet, I hope no strong earthquake happens in Izmit ever again.
Bless us God.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
And so it began to snow
Today marked the day of the very first time I experienced snow.
I am not really so giddy about the idea of it but it is always nice to view something new.
Since winter has officially started, my host family accompanied me to buy my very first winter boots. Having no need for that in the Philippines, I am at a loss on how to find a good one. We went to Ozdelik, a shopping mall here in Kocaeli and did rounds to find the one for me. In less than 5 minutes I found my boots. It is not smashing but it looks sturdy and is cheap.
Afterwards, we had dinner somewhere. This feels like my first real restaurant experience in Turkey and I am happy that my host family paid the bill. They said I can always pick the tab next time. Yikes.
It has always been the case that we meet up with their very close friends Ahmet and Sevim. We meet them almost twice or thrice a week. Tonight, it was Ahmet and Sevim's turn to host in their house.
We had baked potatoes. This food is called Kumpir in Turkey. We put salt, ketchup and butter into it. I had my first Kumpir in Istanbul and there were so much stuff going on inside. I liked the simpler one of just salt and ketchup.
Tomorrow, my host family and Ahmet's family will get together again for a breakfast buffet at Ozdilek. Weekend is equivalent to eating. I am not complaining though.
I expect to see white when I wake up tomorrow.
 |
| The first snow this year |
I am not really so giddy about the idea of it but it is always nice to view something new.
Since winter has officially started, my host family accompanied me to buy my very first winter boots. Having no need for that in the Philippines, I am at a loss on how to find a good one. We went to Ozdelik, a shopping mall here in Kocaeli and did rounds to find the one for me. In less than 5 minutes I found my boots. It is not smashing but it looks sturdy and is cheap.
Afterwards, we had dinner somewhere. This feels like my first real restaurant experience in Turkey and I am happy that my host family paid the bill. They said I can always pick the tab next time. Yikes.
 |
| aji... Hot pepper na kinakain nilang parang mani |
 |
| With Dilber... my host mother |
 |
| My meal that I wasn't able to finish, Cok buyuk... |
 |
| My host family... Guess who's lucky? :) |
It has always been the case that we meet up with their very close friends Ahmet and Sevim. We meet them almost twice or thrice a week. Tonight, it was Ahmet and Sevim's turn to host in their house.
We had baked potatoes. This food is called Kumpir in Turkey. We put salt, ketchup and butter into it. I had my first Kumpir in Istanbul and there were so much stuff going on inside. I liked the simpler one of just salt and ketchup.
 |
| The traditional Turkish heater which is also used as an oven |
 |
| Ahmet checking if the potatoes are ready |
 |
| The girls enjoying their Kumpir |
 |
| Yemek yemek yemek... |
Tomorrow, my host family and Ahmet's family will get together again for a breakfast buffet at Ozdilek. Weekend is equivalent to eating. I am not complaining though.
 |
| 1.5 degrees Celsius... the temperature on our way home |
I expect to see white when I wake up tomorrow.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Filipino Meal
My new host family is super. To somehow show my appreciation, I attempted to cook a Filipino meal for them and their friends.
Last Saturday, I cooked Adobo, Pancit Canton, Lumpiang Shanghai and Turon. They ate all of them but they liked the Lumpiang Shanghai the most.
Thanks to Youtube, I was able to tide through the ordeal.
One thing I realized when I was preparing for the meal is that meat is SUPER EXPENSIVE in Turkey. One whole chicken costed me around Php330. I think in the Philippines, chicken is only half the price. Beef was also outrageous. A quarter of a kilo costed me Php300. I think you can buy almost a kilo of beef already in the Philippines with that money.
Nevertheless, I am just so happy that I was able to feed Turkish people with our food. People here are known to be picky and not so adventurous with different cuisines. They might have been too polite to eat what I cooked but I am happy to whip a meal for them again but hopefull not very soon. :)
Last Saturday, I cooked Adobo, Pancit Canton, Lumpiang Shanghai and Turon. They ate all of them but they liked the Lumpiang Shanghai the most.
 |
| Ahmet, Baris, Dilber and Seda (The two in the middle are my host family. Yey!) |
Thanks to Youtube, I was able to tide through the ordeal.
One thing I realized when I was preparing for the meal is that meat is SUPER EXPENSIVE in Turkey. One whole chicken costed me around Php330. I think in the Philippines, chicken is only half the price. Beef was also outrageous. A quarter of a kilo costed me Php300. I think you can buy almost a kilo of beef already in the Philippines with that money.
Nevertheless, I am just so happy that I was able to feed Turkish people with our food. People here are known to be picky and not so adventurous with different cuisines. They might have been too polite to eat what I cooked but I am happy to whip a meal for them again but hopefull not very soon. :)
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