Likes and Longings

This is kind of a spin off the Pros & Cons I had when I was Blogging in Jena.

Likes:

• I can walk down the street and see a man throwing crumbs on the sidewalk for the ants. Yes, literally feeding the ants! It's amazing to see that kind of respect for all creatures.


• The fruit vendors on the street. Especially now because of the season...mmmm.


• Simit..especially cheese-filled..especially Tulumlu Simit..mmm.


• Walking through any pazar, even if I don't want to shop or buy anything. It's like playtime for your senses-it's incredibly visually stimulating!


• Locals' ready and willingness to help. Today I had just begun making a circle around a building to look for an entrance, and some kindly old man wearing a cap stopped, turned around, started leading me in the completely opposite direction he was going, and stayed with me until we found the place. Turned out the place was closed on Saturday's anyway..eh, it's Turkey.

Longings:

• Cilantro


• The ability to communicate with all of those wonderful people who just want to help.


• Being able to walk down the street and smile at people, and most of them will smile back, maybe even throw in a "hello". It's not that they're mean here or that it never happens, it's just not a regualar part of their culture, I suppose. You kind of just focus on where you're going, and it is definitely not a good idea for a girl to smile at guys when walking down the street. If you do, it's not like you'll endanger yourself, but you could be asking for some hoots and whistles; not so out of the ordinary really. Mostly it's the eye contact and smiling and people to do it back, that's what I want most. Today some girl returned my eye contact and smile, and I've been feeling on top of the world all day.

Also, something you might find interesting. On long bus trips, not the local city buses, a man and woman who don't know each other will NOT sit next to each other. It is highly irregular, and this type of situation will be avoided if at all possible.