Week Three

Going to the sea on Sunday was wonderful! We went on a boat tour on the Sea of Marmara for the entire afternoon, beating the city heat once again. There were so many AIESECers and trainees on the boat so we managed to have a great time. We sat on the shaded deck and listened to Turkish popular music and watched people dance (and occaisionally joined in). Honestly, to me, all Turkish music sounds the same and I can't figure out the traditional dancing. We stopped at two different beaches to swim for a couple of hours. The beaches were sandy AND rocky and the water was a little chilly at first, but I can't remember the last time I really went swimming in the sea. Spending time out on a boat, talking to new people from all over the world, and swimming in the sea - I can't imagine a much better day.

I also went back to the language school this week as part of my official project (called Shape the Future) and had a great discussion in an intermediate level class yesterday. I gave a short intro to the United States, culture, and who Americans are before being invited by the teacher to sit and talk with the class. They asked me some tough questions, but I think I made a good impression! Imagine a dozen students asking my thoughts on politics, unemployment, gas prices, the war in Iraq, protesting the government, and cultural differences between the U.S. and Turkey. And then we had some more lighthearted discussion about American TV shows, and they were apalled that I don't watch "Lost" or "Prison Break". The class thought it was funny that they knew more about certain American TV than I did. After yesterday, I can better understand the aim of the project and I hope the students in the language course have a different impression of Americans after grilling me on every imaginable topic.

I'm off to the office soon to do some work and then back to the language school to talk to another class!