During the past few months I have experienced auspicious holidays and visited holy sites for five of the worlds most prominent religions. For example, I was in Turkey for Ramadan, and visited Vatican City and Jerusalem. Now I can say I have been to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha. In Buddhism there are actually five Buddha's, and last week I visited three of their birthplaces. The three birthplaces I saw are marked with stone pillars. The fourth Buddha is who we know as Lord Buddha or Siddhartha, and the fifth Buddha has yet to come into existence. Surrounding the stone that marks Lord Buddha's birthplace, there are many monasteries, which have been built by different countries. Each monastery is architecturally unique and some mark holly sites. For example, Sri Lanka's monastery houses the tree that Buddha sat under to meditate.
While the main religion in Nepal is Hinduism, Buddhism is also very prominent. There are also a few Muslim and Christian populations here. As soon as I arrived in Lumbini and settled into my hotel I heard the Call to Prayer. Although Lumbini is a place that Buddhists pilgrim to from around the world, there was as mosque in the middle of town. The sound of the Call to Prayer was a nice reminder of my life in Turkey. It was almost calming to hear what I had grown accustom to hearing five times a day. However, it was also a bit ironic that this is where I would find a large Muslim population in Nepal.
The sound of religion in Nepal is different from that in Turkey. Instead of hearing a voice singing five times a day, I hear a bell ringing twice a day. My Nepali family is Hindu, and twice a day my mother practices Puja. Puja is a ceremony done for many different occasions and to mark many different holidays. The Puja my mother does everyday is in honor of her deceased father and husband. The process involves ringing a bell, lighting a candle, reciting a few verses, and taking Tika. Tika is typically a red powder that women and men put on their foreheads or on their hairlines during ceremonies or after marriage. When a womens husband has died, instead of the traditional red Tika, her Tika will be a lighter color such as pink, white, or yellow. Anyway, my house is next to a Hindu Temple, so every morning I can hear people going to the temple to pay tribute to someone or pray to the gods, or my neighbors ringing a bell in their home's personal shrine. Although I live next to a temple, there is a room in my house dedicated to doing Puja. Other Puja ceremonies I have participated in have been for the engagement of a Pitzer graduate who lives in and is from Nepal, commemorating the death of my Nepali great grandfather, an occasion when the entire side of my Nepali mothers family came together, and to celebrate the beginning of studying in Nepal.
I am now growing accustom to hearing these bells ring everyday. When I go home in June, I hope to realize another sound that I may have missed before.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Mero Nepali Pariwaar ra School (My Nepali Family and School)
Nameste (I bow to the divinity within you = hello),
I have now been in Nepal for a month! It is absolutely amazing! The transition into Nepali society and daily life has been a smooth one, and I am enjoying every aspect of of this adventure so far! For the first two weeks I was living at the Pitzer program house and intensely studying Nepali. Now I am living with a host family and still intensely studying Nepali.
Prepare yourself for a long blog post... The entire country of Nepal is "load-shedding," which means that for 14 hours a day there is no electricity. Nepal gets most of its electricity from hydro-power, and because it's not the rainy season there is a lack of energy. Since I am in school nine hours a day, it is hard to get to an internet cafe during the hours that there is electricity. Therefore, the stories have piled up and I have so much to share with you! This post just a tid-bit of what my life has been like here.
Pariwaar (Family):
I am living in a pink house with my Aamaa (Mother), Didi (older sister), Daai (older brother), and a dog named Tulgi. They have all been very welcoming! My Aamaa works at home and in the fields around our house during the day. She is an amazing woman and is always smiling and cracking jokes. I am becoming very close to her and my Didi. Here is an example of one of my Amma's jokes: Every Saturday is "family day," which means I have a day off from school, but I am required to spend time with my family. Saturdays is also when I shower and wash my clothes (I will have to write about this process another time). Last Saturday, after my shower, my Aamaa and I were sitting on our rooftop terrace and she was brushing and braiding my hair. She kept telling me that I had lice! I would say, "what! Are you joking? No I don't!" The she would reply, "no, just kidding," pause and tell me again that I had lice. This want on about five times and in the end I really do not have lice...I promise!
My Didi is 23 years-old and my Daai is 21 years-old. They both are waiting to hear results from college exams, so they are not working or in school(my Didi is waiting to hear how she did on her nursing exam.) This means my Didi is usually helping around the house and spending time with friends. She is usually around after I come home from school, so we hang out, chat, and help Aamaa cook dinner. My brother however, is never around. He is usually hanging out with his friends when I get home. He comes home just in time to sit down with us for dinner, which is around 7 PM, and then literally sprints to bed afterward. Therefore, I have not spent much time getting to know him, but when I do see him (other than at dinner) he is usually playing with our 11 and 2 year-old neighbors and very kind.
Next door is my Sano-Hajurbaa (little-yes dad = little brother of my grandfather)house. He lives with his son and son's family. In Nepal it is traditional for the parents to with their eldest son's family. The means that every first-born son knows growing up that they are stuck with their parents forever!!! His house has the 11 and 2 year-old boys. They are pretty cute. The 11 year-old always tries to speak English to me and everyone gets made at him, which is pretty funny. The 2 year-old always comes over during breakfast and is around to play with (we probably speak the same amount of Nepali).
A few blocks away is my Baa's (father, who is deceased) parent's and younger brother's house. My Kaka (uncle) and Hajuraamaa (yes mom = grandmother) come over to my house fairly often. Usually my Hajuraamaa comes over in the morning for chiyaa (tea)and to give us fresh milk. However, she has been sick for the past few days and has been unable to come over. My Hajuraamaa is a character though, and only has a few teeth! She usually comes to our house to sneak a cigarette and drink lots of chiyaa. One morning I came down stairs for breakfast and she was sitting at the kitchen table, and told me she was on her fifth glass of chiyaa. My Amma then joked that Hajuraamaa has no teeth because she drinks too much chiyaa with too much sugar and that she smokes. My Hajuramma then smiled in agreement! I typically only see my Hajurbaa (yes dad = grandfather)and my Kaki (aunt) when I go to their house. My friend Ana also lives at their house, so we walk to and from school together.
Just to note, I am the tenth Pitzer student my family has had. They are very good about speaking slow enough for me to understand and using Nepali words to help describe words I do not know. Also, I am pretty sure my Didi and Dai know English, but are keeping it a secret from me, which I appreciate because I am trying to learn as much as I can.
School:
School is about a 30 minute walk through mustard, potato, onion, etc fields from house. Every morning I wake up 7 AM, eat roti (a flat bread that looks like a pancake) and vegetables, and leave for school around 8:20 AM. School is typically from 9 AM to 5 PM, but sometimes runs a bit late. We have four hours of Language class in the morning, with a short chiyaa and biscuit break in between (I will have to devote an entire blog post just to food and how we eat...). In our language classes we are not allowed to speak in English or take notes because our teachers are trying to teach us Nepali as if we were learning it as our first language. It is difficult, but this learning style really works! I am legitimately able to have conversations with my family and get around the city on my own. I would say I know more Nepali now then I know Turkish, and I studied Turkish for 5 months. There are three main language teachers, and we switch teachers everyday. The classes have two or three students in them and they change after every week. After class we have a guest lecture to us about an important Nepali topic. So far we have learned about the Caste System, Nepali History, Current Political History, Natural Resources, Foreign Aid and Development, etc.
This program has also allowed for some alternative learning and field trips. Last week we each went to different NGO's and interviewed their directors about what they are doing and why. Then we shared with each presented the NGO's to our class. I went to an NGO named CDO that deals with the brick factories in Nepal, which have very poor conditions. The workers and children lack sanitation, education, health care, food, and basic life necessities. CDO helps provide all these resources through a school, scholarships, health seminars, workshops, and a mobile health clinic. I was able to tour a brick factory site and it was pretty eye-opening! Our field-trips are not your average elementary school style trip... We have a lecturer come with us and tour us around a site. We have had a historical tours of Kathmandu, Patan, Pashupati Temple, a big Stupaa, etc. Both the cities of Kathmandu and Patan have large squares filled with Hindu and Buddhist temples because at one time the kings of the two cities and one other city were in competition to see who could build the most temples. So you could imagine (or google and see) how beautiful their squares are - both squares happen to be named Durbar Square. The primary religions in Nepal are Hinduism and Buddhism, but I will have to save religion for another post...
It's important to note that there are only eight bidyaarthi (students) on this program. We are all girls! Six are from Pitzer, one from Pomona, and one from Vassar. Everyone is interested and dedicated to learning Nepali and about Nepali society, so we all motivate each other and push each other to practice our language skills.
Well folks, that's about I'll I have time to write about... Tomorrow I leave for an eight day trip to Chitwan and Lumbini. In Chitwan National Park I will get to ride an elephant and go on a safari ride! Lumbini is where Buddha was born, so I am sure I will see a lot of beautiful temples. Of course, I will let you know what happens!
Suppaadin (have a good day)!
P.S. I saw Mt. Everest as I flew into Nepal!
I have now been in Nepal for a month! It is absolutely amazing! The transition into Nepali society and daily life has been a smooth one, and I am enjoying every aspect of of this adventure so far! For the first two weeks I was living at the Pitzer program house and intensely studying Nepali. Now I am living with a host family and still intensely studying Nepali.
Prepare yourself for a long blog post... The entire country of Nepal is "load-shedding," which means that for 14 hours a day there is no electricity. Nepal gets most of its electricity from hydro-power, and because it's not the rainy season there is a lack of energy. Since I am in school nine hours a day, it is hard to get to an internet cafe during the hours that there is electricity. Therefore, the stories have piled up and I have so much to share with you! This post just a tid-bit of what my life has been like here.
Pariwaar (Family):
I am living in a pink house with my Aamaa (Mother), Didi (older sister), Daai (older brother), and a dog named Tulgi. They have all been very welcoming! My Aamaa works at home and in the fields around our house during the day. She is an amazing woman and is always smiling and cracking jokes. I am becoming very close to her and my Didi. Here is an example of one of my Amma's jokes: Every Saturday is "family day," which means I have a day off from school, but I am required to spend time with my family. Saturdays is also when I shower and wash my clothes (I will have to write about this process another time). Last Saturday, after my shower, my Aamaa and I were sitting on our rooftop terrace and she was brushing and braiding my hair. She kept telling me that I had lice! I would say, "what! Are you joking? No I don't!" The she would reply, "no, just kidding," pause and tell me again that I had lice. This want on about five times and in the end I really do not have lice...I promise!
My Didi is 23 years-old and my Daai is 21 years-old. They both are waiting to hear results from college exams, so they are not working or in school(my Didi is waiting to hear how she did on her nursing exam.) This means my Didi is usually helping around the house and spending time with friends. She is usually around after I come home from school, so we hang out, chat, and help Aamaa cook dinner. My brother however, is never around. He is usually hanging out with his friends when I get home. He comes home just in time to sit down with us for dinner, which is around 7 PM, and then literally sprints to bed afterward. Therefore, I have not spent much time getting to know him, but when I do see him (other than at dinner) he is usually playing with our 11 and 2 year-old neighbors and very kind.
Next door is my Sano-Hajurbaa (little-yes dad = little brother of my grandfather)house. He lives with his son and son's family. In Nepal it is traditional for the parents to with their eldest son's family. The means that every first-born son knows growing up that they are stuck with their parents forever!!! His house has the 11 and 2 year-old boys. They are pretty cute. The 11 year-old always tries to speak English to me and everyone gets made at him, which is pretty funny. The 2 year-old always comes over during breakfast and is around to play with (we probably speak the same amount of Nepali).
A few blocks away is my Baa's (father, who is deceased) parent's and younger brother's house. My Kaka (uncle) and Hajuraamaa (yes mom = grandmother) come over to my house fairly often. Usually my Hajuraamaa comes over in the morning for chiyaa (tea)and to give us fresh milk. However, she has been sick for the past few days and has been unable to come over. My Hajuraamaa is a character though, and only has a few teeth! She usually comes to our house to sneak a cigarette and drink lots of chiyaa. One morning I came down stairs for breakfast and she was sitting at the kitchen table, and told me she was on her fifth glass of chiyaa. My Amma then joked that Hajuraamaa has no teeth because she drinks too much chiyaa with too much sugar and that she smokes. My Hajuramma then smiled in agreement! I typically only see my Hajurbaa (yes dad = grandfather)and my Kaki (aunt) when I go to their house. My friend Ana also lives at their house, so we walk to and from school together.
Just to note, I am the tenth Pitzer student my family has had. They are very good about speaking slow enough for me to understand and using Nepali words to help describe words I do not know. Also, I am pretty sure my Didi and Dai know English, but are keeping it a secret from me, which I appreciate because I am trying to learn as much as I can.
School:
School is about a 30 minute walk through mustard, potato, onion, etc fields from house. Every morning I wake up 7 AM, eat roti (a flat bread that looks like a pancake) and vegetables, and leave for school around 8:20 AM. School is typically from 9 AM to 5 PM, but sometimes runs a bit late. We have four hours of Language class in the morning, with a short chiyaa and biscuit break in between (I will have to devote an entire blog post just to food and how we eat...). In our language classes we are not allowed to speak in English or take notes because our teachers are trying to teach us Nepali as if we were learning it as our first language. It is difficult, but this learning style really works! I am legitimately able to have conversations with my family and get around the city on my own. I would say I know more Nepali now then I know Turkish, and I studied Turkish for 5 months. There are three main language teachers, and we switch teachers everyday. The classes have two or three students in them and they change after every week. After class we have a guest lecture to us about an important Nepali topic. So far we have learned about the Caste System, Nepali History, Current Political History, Natural Resources, Foreign Aid and Development, etc.
This program has also allowed for some alternative learning and field trips. Last week we each went to different NGO's and interviewed their directors about what they are doing and why. Then we shared with each presented the NGO's to our class. I went to an NGO named CDO that deals with the brick factories in Nepal, which have very poor conditions. The workers and children lack sanitation, education, health care, food, and basic life necessities. CDO helps provide all these resources through a school, scholarships, health seminars, workshops, and a mobile health clinic. I was able to tour a brick factory site and it was pretty eye-opening! Our field-trips are not your average elementary school style trip... We have a lecturer come with us and tour us around a site. We have had a historical tours of Kathmandu, Patan, Pashupati Temple, a big Stupaa, etc. Both the cities of Kathmandu and Patan have large squares filled with Hindu and Buddhist temples because at one time the kings of the two cities and one other city were in competition to see who could build the most temples. So you could imagine (or google and see) how beautiful their squares are - both squares happen to be named Durbar Square. The primary religions in Nepal are Hinduism and Buddhism, but I will have to save religion for another post...
It's important to note that there are only eight bidyaarthi (students) on this program. We are all girls! Six are from Pitzer, one from Pomona, and one from Vassar. Everyone is interested and dedicated to learning Nepali and about Nepali society, so we all motivate each other and push each other to practice our language skills.
Well folks, that's about I'll I have time to write about... Tomorrow I leave for an eight day trip to Chitwan and Lumbini. In Chitwan National Park I will get to ride an elephant and go on a safari ride! Lumbini is where Buddha was born, so I am sure I will see a lot of beautiful temples. Of course, I will let you know what happens!
Suppaadin (have a good day)!
P.S. I saw Mt. Everest as I flew into Nepal!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Kathmandu Bound!
I will be living, studying, and traveling in Nepal from February 2nd to June 12th (Happy Birthday Mom)! You can send me snail mail at:
Miriam Stiefel
G.P.O. Box 1846
Kathmandu
NEPAL
So far on my adventure I have taken 14 planes, and by the time I return home I will have literally traveled around the world on 20 planes. Throughout my life, I have traveled on planes, trains, boats, bikes, and automobiles, as well as horses, camels, donkeys, and lamas. I cannot wait to experience what comes next. Maybe an elephant ride?
I am leaving on a jet plane and I don’t know when I will write again… But I promise that I will keep you apprised of my whereabouts and happenings as best I can.
Miriam Stiefel
G.P.O. Box 1846
Kathmandu
NEPAL
So far on my adventure I have taken 14 planes, and by the time I return home I will have literally traveled around the world on 20 planes. Throughout my life, I have traveled on planes, trains, boats, bikes, and automobiles, as well as horses, camels, donkeys, and lamas. I cannot wait to experience what comes next. Maybe an elephant ride?
I am leaving on a jet plane and I don’t know when I will write again… But I promise that I will keep you apprised of my whereabouts and happenings as best I can.
The Land of Milk and Honey (Israel)
Over the past two weeks I have spent time with my wonderful parents and meeting 10 relatives. We traveled the entire Northern perimeter of Israel, from the Dead Sea to the Golan Heights. While we mostly enjoyed sunny skies, we also had the pleasure of experiencing rain and wind storms in Tel Aviv. After walking the Rampart of the Old City of Jerusalem, I ate certified kosher sushi. I watched the IDF investigate and destroy someone’s misplaced briefcase, while 20 meters away a boy and his family celebrated his bar mitzvah in the streets. Through a tour of the Carmel Mountain with my cousin Michael Weinberger, I witnessed the devastation left behind by biggest fire in Israel’s recent history. The photos below tell a few of my Israel travel tales…
Who knew ordering two salads and two kababs could mean so much food!
You don’t have to be “Dead” to enjoy this Sea…
Mom and I also learned two new natural history facts:
This hyrax is a relative of the elephant, and the sweat of hippopotami is red.
Who knew ordering two salads and two kababs could mean so much food!
You don’t have to be “Dead” to enjoy this Sea…
Mom and I also learned two new natural history facts:
This hyrax is a relative of the elephant, and the sweat of hippopotami is red.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Shalom from Israel!
I arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday, January 17th and have since traveled to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Masada, Rosh Pinah, and Tzfat. While I am enjoying my time in Israel, this blog post is about last week.
Last week, I traveled to Prague and Vienna with my friend Quentin. It was wonderful! I spent two nights in Vienna, three in Prague, and then two more in Vienna. A few of the highlights from Vienna include going to the Schönbrunn Palace, where people like Maria Theresa, the Habsburgs, and Marie Antoinette lived (see the first photo), Museum Hundertwasser, and the Naschmarkt. In addition, we saw an English-speaking comedy performance by a group named “The English Lovers.” In general, I had an amazing time walking around the city and spending time with my friend.
In Prague, I was very lucky to visit the grave of my Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Grandmother. This is not a joke! Hendel Bassevi is my great grandmother ten generations back, lived in the early 1600s, and is now buried in the famous Old Jewish Cemetery (see the second photo). She was known as the “Queen of the Jews” in Prague because of her philanthropic work. Her grave was among the biggest and most decorative in the cemetery, so she must have been very appreciated. Hendel was married to a Jacob Bassevi von Treuenberg, who was a member of the Bohemian Court, and was actually knighted for helping Emperor Ferdinand II finance the Thirty Years War.
I also explored Prague’s past from its medieval to modern history by visiting the Astronomical Clock (see the third photo), Charles Bridge, the Communist Museum, Jewish Quarter and Museums, etc... Architecturally, Prague is a very beautiful city!
Overall, I had an awesome time getting to know both Vienna and Prague. I definitely recommend visiting them both. However, I had a small luggage issue flying to Israel from Vienna on Air Baltic… Let’s just say one piece of luggage is still in Vienna and will be heading home to Seattle soon with some of my belongings because of exorbitant fees. Due to the fact that my contact lenses are on their way back to Seattle, I will be wearing my glasses for the next five months! It’s probably healthier that way anyway…
I have a week left in Israel to spend with my parents and get ready for Nepal! I am so excited, but nervous to leave the comfort of my computer and warm shower.
B’Shalom (In Peace)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
New Blog New Year:
In late October my grandfather, Ernest Stiefel passed away. After his death I was at a loss of words. How could I tell you, the readers of my blog, how I felt? When I returned from my trip home for the funnel, I could not bring myself to put my feelings into a written expression. I have always considered my grandfather, whom I called Opa, to be an inspiration and hero. He was a Holocaust survivor, a community organizer, a businessman, a family man, and as cliché as it sounds, the smartest man I have ever known. While the traditional Jewish grieving period has passed, the feeling of loss continues to linger.
Throughout the past five months I have traveled to Greece, Italy, Hungary, and Austria. I have traveled within Turkey to Pamukkale, Ephesus, Selcuk, Istanbul, Trabzon, Hattusa, Antalya, etc… This morning I had to pack up all my memories and lessons learned and fit them into a mere duffle bag. The tangible and intangible cannot even begin to fit. Everything I have learned about the Turkish culture, my own culture, and myself I will now bring with me to Nepal.
As this experience comes to a close and I embark on the next, I must share what I am thankful for: I have met so many wonderful people from around the globe, who have taught me invaluable lessons. I have had amazing teachers and interesting classes, and finally finals are done! I have tried new foods and often felt the consequences… I have experienced Ankara in the summer heat, fall breeze, and winter snow. In Turkey, I have learned that the word hospitality means so much more then I ever thought it would.
Yesterday it snowed again in Ankara and whiped my slate clean. From here I go to Austria, the Czech Republic, Israel, Jordan, and then Nepal. My New Years resolution will be to write on this blog more often. However, the extent of my Internet access in Nepal is a bit unknown. While I head into more unknowns, I must recognize how much I have learned and grown here in Turkey. I know that I am well prepared to tackle any challenge that comes my way.
Güle güle Türkiye... seninle çok iyi zaman geçirdik... belki bir gün tekrar bir araya geliriz...
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
I’m Back! School and Dorm addition:
This is my third week of school. As I explained in my last post, the process for registering for classes at METU is very complicated. All my classes except Turkish are once a week, for three hours each. Turkish is twice a week for three hours in Kizilay. I am also taking an online class for Pitzer. I now officially have my finalized schedule:
Monday:
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Modernity and the Idea of Freedom (Political Philosophy)
6 – 9 PM Turkish Two
Tuesday:
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Sociology of Science and Technology
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Contemporary Turkey: State and Society (International Relations)
Wednesday:
6 – 9 PM Turkish Two
Thursday:
12:40 – 3:30 PM The Secularization Debate (Sociology)
So far the classes have a lot of readings, and they each have drawn from philosophers like Marx and Weber. With the exception of my Turkish class, the classes are taught in English. Sometimes my professors will go back and forth between Turkish and English to make sure that everyone understands. The teachers have been very welcoming and make an effort to include us (the exchange students). There is at least one other exchange student in each of my classes. I am hoping to branch out though and meet the Turkish students in my classes. The few that I have met are really interesting. A few common questions I get when I tell them I am from Seattle are, “do you know about the riots in 1999?,” in regard to the WTO riots, or, “Do you really have a great underground music scene?”
My dorm:
The dorms at METU are fairly strict compared to Pitzer. I live in an all female dorm, and men are not allowed in. There are no co-ed dorms on campus. Boys are allowed in the café in my dorm. However, once a boy came to visit a girl in the study room (which is next to the café) and he got yelled at. It is a bit ironic because sometimes I see cats walking around the dorm, which would be against the rules at Pitzer.
There is a little glass gate to get into the room portion of the dorm, and you must swipe your ID card to get in. This is fairly typical of dorms in America. However, I did not have an ID card for the first two weeks. Sometimes I just had to stand and wait for twenty minutes for someone to open it or attempt to jump over the gate (I looked pretty silly). Usually there was someone at the front desk to open it.
The front desk is where you sign up for a time to do laundry or to request maintenance. If you are planning to travel on the weekend and not be in the dorm you must sign out at this desk. Every morning a woman comes into the dorms to check if you are in your bed. I suppose she is also checking to see if someone else is in your bed (joke). I have been told that because this school has the top 1% of Turkish students they are ensuring the precious students safely. However, if you come back past midnight (any night of the week) you must sign in at the front desk. I have heard many rumors of what happens if you come back past this curfew more than three or ten times. The dorm “mudur” or manager may call home, they may kick you out of housing, or they may have a talk with you. I really do not know what’s true. What I do know is that this curfew means the library closes early! So I often sit upstairs in the kitchen or study-room for late night work.
Dorm meals:
Almost every night I have been cooking dinner with some of the Pitzer girls. There is a large kitchen in my dorm with six stovetops. There are no ovens so we have been getting pretty creative. So far we have made stir-fries, home fries, lentil soup, crepes, pasta, pasta sauce from scratch, fried rice, steamed vegetables, etc. There is also a panini maker so I make a lot of warm sandwiches with vegetables, usually for lunch. There is a small grocery store on campus, but if I want anything “exotic” like soy sauce I must take a bus or walk a while to a large grocery store in a mall. There is also a huge open market off campus that is open twice a week. I go there to get fresh vegetables. Right now tomatoes, broccoli, and eggplant are a staple in my diet. This week I was able to find fresh spinach! Everything is organic and very reasonably priced. I bought two kilograms of onions for 1.5 lira – that is about 25 onions! Needless to say, I will be eating onions for a long time!
On days that I do not feel like cooking or I do not have time there are many cafes on campus. Apparently the café in my dorm is the best. I was just there and bought freshly squeezed orange juice and baklava! Each café has a buffet with a selection of hot and cold options. Occasionally I treat myself and have dinner in the city with friends. Though I was concerned about my diet before I left, I now know that I will never go hungry in Turkey!
Görüsürüz (See ya!)
P.S. if you have any vegetarian/vegan stovetop recipes please email them to me!
Monday:
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Modernity and the Idea of Freedom (Political Philosophy)
6 – 9 PM Turkish Two
Tuesday:
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Sociology of Science and Technology
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Contemporary Turkey: State and Society (International Relations)
Wednesday:
6 – 9 PM Turkish Two
Thursday:
12:40 – 3:30 PM The Secularization Debate (Sociology)
So far the classes have a lot of readings, and they each have drawn from philosophers like Marx and Weber. With the exception of my Turkish class, the classes are taught in English. Sometimes my professors will go back and forth between Turkish and English to make sure that everyone understands. The teachers have been very welcoming and make an effort to include us (the exchange students). There is at least one other exchange student in each of my classes. I am hoping to branch out though and meet the Turkish students in my classes. The few that I have met are really interesting. A few common questions I get when I tell them I am from Seattle are, “do you know about the riots in 1999?,” in regard to the WTO riots, or, “Do you really have a great underground music scene?”
My dorm:
The dorms at METU are fairly strict compared to Pitzer. I live in an all female dorm, and men are not allowed in. There are no co-ed dorms on campus. Boys are allowed in the café in my dorm. However, once a boy came to visit a girl in the study room (which is next to the café) and he got yelled at. It is a bit ironic because sometimes I see cats walking around the dorm, which would be against the rules at Pitzer.
There is a little glass gate to get into the room portion of the dorm, and you must swipe your ID card to get in. This is fairly typical of dorms in America. However, I did not have an ID card for the first two weeks. Sometimes I just had to stand and wait for twenty minutes for someone to open it or attempt to jump over the gate (I looked pretty silly). Usually there was someone at the front desk to open it.
The front desk is where you sign up for a time to do laundry or to request maintenance. If you are planning to travel on the weekend and not be in the dorm you must sign out at this desk. Every morning a woman comes into the dorms to check if you are in your bed. I suppose she is also checking to see if someone else is in your bed (joke). I have been told that because this school has the top 1% of Turkish students they are ensuring the precious students safely. However, if you come back past midnight (any night of the week) you must sign in at the front desk. I have heard many rumors of what happens if you come back past this curfew more than three or ten times. The dorm “mudur” or manager may call home, they may kick you out of housing, or they may have a talk with you. I really do not know what’s true. What I do know is that this curfew means the library closes early! So I often sit upstairs in the kitchen or study-room for late night work.
Dorm meals:
Almost every night I have been cooking dinner with some of the Pitzer girls. There is a large kitchen in my dorm with six stovetops. There are no ovens so we have been getting pretty creative. So far we have made stir-fries, home fries, lentil soup, crepes, pasta, pasta sauce from scratch, fried rice, steamed vegetables, etc. There is also a panini maker so I make a lot of warm sandwiches with vegetables, usually for lunch. There is a small grocery store on campus, but if I want anything “exotic” like soy sauce I must take a bus or walk a while to a large grocery store in a mall. There is also a huge open market off campus that is open twice a week. I go there to get fresh vegetables. Right now tomatoes, broccoli, and eggplant are a staple in my diet. This week I was able to find fresh spinach! Everything is organic and very reasonably priced. I bought two kilograms of onions for 1.5 lira – that is about 25 onions! Needless to say, I will be eating onions for a long time!
On days that I do not feel like cooking or I do not have time there are many cafes on campus. Apparently the café in my dorm is the best. I was just there and bought freshly squeezed orange juice and baklava! Each café has a buffet with a selection of hot and cold options. Occasionally I treat myself and have dinner in the city with friends. Though I was concerned about my diet before I left, I now know that I will never go hungry in Turkey!
Görüsürüz (See ya!)
P.S. if you have any vegetarian/vegan stovetop recipes please email them to me!
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