Home Feels Further Away Than Ever Before...

Someone asked me today if I was happy I was nearing the end of this program. I quickly answered yes. He then asked if I would do it again. I quickly shook my head "No." Then thought for a second, and said "Maybe, after some time has passed."

Don't get me wrong, the year has been great! I've had more sincerely incredible experiences that I'd ever expected to have in a life time. But too many incredible things, packed into eight months, and self-reflexive examination on top of it absolutely takes the life out of a person.

I've slept in at least 19 different beds in the last 4 months because of my travels. From the piles of poop in India to the constant caffeine boosts in Turkey, my body is tired and more than ready to get to that 20th bed, the first one in a long time that will make me remember what home feels like.

8 days, not like anyone's counting...
B(ee)

We are in...Turkey?

Last night we had an "India" experience in Turkey. Half of us drove to the train station, unpacked the van of all our huge bags, entered the train terminal to hear the words "There is no train."

Not literally. There is a train. And a month ago, when our tickets were purchased, the rails from Konya to Istanbul were complete and suitable to travel on. Since two days ago, this is no longer the case. The line is closed for repairs until May 16th. This would have been nice to know, oh, before we packed the van, or maybe even when we bought our tickets, or at least somewhere in between.

So...yet again...we piled onto a private bus, this time barely squeezing our bodies and our bags into an 18-seater van --- every single seat was taken by a body and the aisle was chock-a-block full of bags.

At least this was the last move.

Now, back in Istanbul, on the Asia side this time. We arrived at 7:30 and looked around for a place to eat --- people looked at us like we were crazy. Again...I'm in Turkey, right? My body wasn't transported back two months to India where nothing opens until 11 and everything is closed before 8? No...there's still kebab and smiling faces everywhere we go, this is definitely Turkey.

Exhausted doesn't begin to describe,
B(ee)

Easter Fromps and Frolicks...

Yesterday, spending yet another Easter away from home, I attended my first Orthodox Easter service and then drove for two hours to Hasankayf, an old ruined Roman castle on the Tigris River.

The caves were by far the most beautiful place we've visited thus far in Turkey, and quite possibly the most beautiful place we've visited thus far on CRC. On the 2-hour drive to the caves, we were all wondering whose idea it was to put us all on a bus again, considering we've spent at least half of the past week on buses.

But after we had lunch (literally) sitting over the Tigris river and hiked up the old Roman road to the castle, which sits on a piece of higher land surrounded by deep gorges, we understood why this place was a must visit. Our professor had to literally herd us like sheep away from the half-ruined rooms and ruins when it was time to go back to the bus.

Today we're heading out on yet another bus ride (13 hours this time) to a Sufi village south of Ankara. We'll be there for five days and then head back to Istanbul, the last stop on our 8-month journey. A month from now, I'll most likely be passed out in my own bed with my own blankets, and bags still packed to the brim.

Happy (late) Easter,
B(ee)