This post picks up with Thursday morning, when I slept until almost noon, until Selcuk’s mom came in to make sure I was still alive (I had gone to bed around 11:30). I got up and had an awesome breakfast, and then Selçuk and I went off to try and find a shipping company and maybe a plane ticket back to the states. We weren’t super lucky when it came to the plane ticket, but we were SUPER lucky to find out from Serkan that Turkish Airlines has a commercial cargo service that sometimes ships personal belongings. We got an extremely reasonable quote from them, and I was so relieved. Finally, a solution! Woooo

After that, we met Erah (Selçuk’s sister’s husband) and had a quick coffee with Serkan at the university. I can’t get over the view from the Son Durek cafe at the university – it’s so gorgeous.

Then we went to this super cute university faculty-only restaurant down by the lake. Unfortunately it was closed, but I got to check out the Çukurova University rowing team launching a few 4xs and 2xs!! Perfect, flat water, the sun blazing orange as it set, and the city skyline in the background… Simply gorgeous. Actually made me miss crew for a minute!

And a quick shot with Emrah and Selçuk:

Since the restaurant was closed, we decided to find a village restaurant and get ayran and sikma. We watched the rest of the sunset and the first twinkles of lights shine on as night came swiftly. Perfect peace, with good friends and good food. Multeşem.

Thursday evening I spent repacking my things so that I would be ready to ship them the next day and then leave on Saturday. While I was packing, I found all my Turkish cookbooks. It came out that I wanted to learn a bunch more things, such as muhammara/cevizle bieber, or a spicy walnut-pepper meze. Selçuk’s mom popped up and said sure – muhammara isn’t hard so let’s do it.

We mixed a handful of garlic cloves (14!), walnuts, acı (spicy) ground red pepper (a water glass full!), juice from a half a lemon, a big spoonful of cumin, 2 big spoonfuls of black pepper, a medium spoonful of salt, 3 spoonfuls of tahini, and some olive oil (to consistency), and then ground it all up in a food processor. 10 minutes prep, and absolutely incredible results. I was first introduced to this meze by Angela last summer, and my mom loves it. My favorite way to eat this dip is on bread with some beyaz peynir (Turkish white cheese somewhat similar to feta but not as strong). Selçuk’s mom thoughtfully packaged up some for me to take home to my parents. She said it would be even better in a few days after the flavors had time to meld together. She also packed a small bag of zatar (?), a mix of spices that you put on bread after dipping it in olive oil. Sooo yummy.

Friday morning, Selçuk slept in while I hung out with Elif and their mom. Elif showed me pictures of some of their trips around Turkey. I now have a list of a bunch more places I want to go.

When Selçuk got up, we had a big breakfast with everyone and then headed out to ship my stuff! The process was easy and simple and when it was done, I was so utterly relieved. Afterwards, we went to Real (the shopping mall) and I got a ton of spices, different kinds of bulgur and rice, nar ekşişe, and Turkish coffee. Did I mention that Selçuk was giving me Turkish coffee lessons? That morning I had finally passed my final exam, five Turkish coffees at one time with perfect foam in all of them. Ok, truthfully the foam was perfect but the coffee could have used another few minutes to cook. Oh well, I have plenty of time to practice back in the states.

After the grocery store, we went back for lunch and I got to try the sarimsakli köfte we had made several days prior. It was awesome!!!

Friday evening, I helped to roll out the dough for sikma using a technique Selçuk’s mom taught me. They told me I had done it perfectly, and then told me I couldn’t leave because I still had so much to learn. Of course I got chocked up and Elif had to dry my face off because my hands were covered in flour.

Selçuk’s cousin Melike is ADORABLE:

That evening, we went to a special dinner in honor of Urfa, a city in eastern Turkey that I’m dying to go to. Afterwards, Selçuk and I met up with some of his friends at the university. After a short visit, we went to Anemon and met up with Serkan and his brother and two polish Erasmus students. It was a great evening and we celebrated Selçuk’s birthday, which is actually tomorrow but since I won’t be there, we had to celebrate early 🙂

We headed home around midnight and I showered, finished packing, and said goodbye. I cried (a lot) with Selçuk’s mom and sister, two of the most wonderful people I’ve been fortunate enough to meet in my time in Turkey. I can’t wait til I can visit again, or perhaps they’ll be visiting me first, as Selçuk’s older sister lives in Rochester! Either way, I am so lucky to have had the chance to meet such wonderful and welcoming people, and if I had to leave Turkey early, I feel so lucky that I got to do almost everything I wanted before I left and that I have a family to go back to when I have a chance.

We decided to go to the airport where we had coffee and tea. Selçuk stayed with me til I had to go through security at which point I only cried a little bit 🙂

And now, here I am… home. I’m sad but I’m so grateful I got to be there and I am excited to go back. Irem’s wedding is in the fall; fingers crossed Neil and I can go back for it.

I am so lucky for such an amazing experience. Yes, there were some low lows and some high highs, but overall I am so thankful for the entire time and I know I’m so lucky to have a mishmash Turkish family. I know that even if we’re far away, I have made some ties for life and I will miss my Turkish brothers and sisters until we meet again.

And until the next meeting, I have three Turkish cookbooks, an entire bag of Turkish foodstuffs, and a lot more language and history to keep me busy!!! Ben amerikalı ve türküm. Çok çok güzel. 🙂

Next up: my Aunt Blee arrived last night from Paris and I start scuba diving classes next week! 10k this weekend with Elise! Hopefully I don’t die… Haha

Also, Ankara post coming soon. It’s mostly written, just need to finish it up and then I’ll actually be up to date with my blog! Woo!