I am leaving Minnesota for Istanbul on August 16. It’s been a satisfying summer, with some house and professional projects completed and fun times with friends and family. Since I’m straddling two wonderful cultures, it seems appropriate to make some comparisons:
What I will miss when I return to Istanbul:
-Butter in restaurants
-My huge National Geographic World Atlas that I forgot to have 3M ship to Turkey
-Ziplock bags and twisties, two perennial objects of my desire
-Flying around town in my little car. While roads here in Minnesota are not as smooth, I rarely encounter traffic jams.
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| Asphalt and underlayment on a road near the Aegean (the reason Turkish roads are smoother) |
What I won’t miss:
-The phrase “all new,” usually referring to some lame daytime television show.
-People who look at me with distaste when I talk about how fabulous Turkey is. They haven’t been within a thousand miles of the place, but my words challenge their stereotypes.
What I’m looking forward to when I return to Turkey:
-Spicy Adana kebabs
-Pide (essentially, Turkish pizza)
-Parsley in just about everything
-The national obsession with wet wipes
-Those elegant little pick-me-up cups of tea—and the hospitality that comes with them.
What I dread:
-The often-gray Istanbul winter
-AND ESPECIALLY: Having to say goodbye soon
I love it mom. Ha ha a nation obsession with wet wipes. They have a problem.
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