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.

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

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