Life-1, My Expectations-0

Just when you think life is slipping back into it's state of humdrum normalcy, it throws a little a dash of unexpected into the stew. Last night standing on the metro platform waiting for, well, the metro of course (duh) a woman approached me and asked me something. Unfortunately, after asking her to repeat herself I realized this was not one of those times where I could fake knowing Turkish. *sigh* "Türkçe bilmiyorum."

Upon finding out I was a foreigner, she reacted as if I was an honored guest from another galaxy. She got a great big kick out of the fact I was from America-"Ohhh! Amerika! .. Bill Clinton! .. Where is Hillary?" I don't know if she really liked the Clintman or if she has just been living under a rock for the past Bush years. Mixed among moments of awkwardness from lack of fluency in a common language, we talked about all of the places in Turkey I should see, most of which I have been fortunate enough to visit. This gave way to more talk about these places, and of course saying how wonderful they were and how great Turkey is. Before this woman's metro came, she managed to present me with a leather necklace, show me a sweater she had knitted, and even gave me a cookie for the road!

Turks really love and take pride in their country, maybe because of the republic so recently being founded or something. I've never seen a people talk about their culture, cuisine, land, history, etc. with more zeal, but at the same time not over zealous. There is a sort of child-like innocence about the excitement with which they speak, as if they just can't contain themselves and it just bubbles up and out. They just want to make sure you know about all the wonderful Turkish things, and if not love them as much as they do be aware and appreciate them. And they love to hear it, so tell them all about it! I garauntee if you flatter Turkey's many wonderous places, delectable foods, and lovely people, and do it all while displaying your knowledge of the Turkish language, you will knock their socks off!