PSC 201 Field Study Trip

Hello from Istanbul, Turkey

Saturday May 18, started very well. The rather was great, the sun was shinning, the smell of flowers in the air was  inviting, and the excitement, of knowing that in a few hours we would be in Turkey; was unbelievable. Everyone got to to the airport on time. The check in and security went like a breeze, and before you can spell Turkey...  13 very eager and happy people were boarding the plane. For, and to my knowledge, 11 hours flew so fast ( no pun intended) hahaaa! Some of slept, others watched a movies, or read and before long we were landing in Istanbul. Got off and headed to the area in the airport where every person entering Turkey can be found standing holding a $20 bill in his/her hand and their passport. You walk up to the window, hand your money and passport and boom get a visa stamp on your passport.  We then proceed  to the customs ' s area, where you get another stamp  on your passport coupled with a simile and a welcome to Turkey from the immigration officer. Them its off to claim your baggage.

At this point are group is all together, everyone gets their bags, and are almost ready to to leave the airport. Just one more quick stop at the currency exchange whereupon each one of exchanges their dollars for Turkish liars. We head to the exit  happy, laughing, and looking forward to meeting our host and guid throughout this trip. Once we are are out I quickly spot Aysenur who is waiting in the crowds holding a sign saying " Oakton ".
She greats everyone and and asks for their names, then we all follow her outside to board a bus that is waiting for us. Once on the bus we all in one voice scream hooray! We are in Turkey. I'm joining in while assuring myself that I'm not in a dream, I'm actually in Turkey.  With everyone excited and in very good spirits, Aysenur tells us we are on our way to dinner first before we head for our hotel.

Once at the restaurant, we entire into a private room prepared for us. On the table is a variety of mouth watering small dishes known in Turkey as " meza" , kinds of appetizers. We dig in ( we are all very hungry). While enjoying these dishes, we begin to introduce our selfs to Aysenur. A few minutes later our main dish of delicious looking kebabs are served with our choice of drinks. Some of us ask for soft drinks, or water, while the more daring ones choose a famous yogurt drink known in Turkey as " ayrum".  Everyone is eating, talking to the person on his/her side, and smiling while enjoying this fabulous meal

. After dessert, we leave head outside, take group picture, and get on the bus heading for our hotel. The sights of Istanbul by night are magnificent. Aysenur tells us that we had just dined in the Asia section of Turkey ( Turkey lies between Asia and Europe) and that by crossing this bridge we were on, we would be heading toward the Europe section.  We arrive at our hotel, check in, get our keys and head for our rooms. Wow! What a surprise awaits us. The rooms are just incredibly beautiful, modern, and big. A few of the group decide to go out and explore. I for one am exhausted.

I go into my fabulous room, shower, do some writing ( for my my blog followers) and finally fall on the bed. Tomorrow we will be meeting in the lobby at 8:30 ( after breakfast) to begin the our first cultural excursions. We are all soooooo looking forward to it!!!

Stay tuned..

Dr. Sherbini