WEEK THREE

      Wednesday, February Thirteenth, marked my third week here in Istanbul. Time has been passing so quickly already! Almost a month into this endeavor, I can't believe it, I don't want it to be true. The other day I was walking up the staircase to S dorm because a group of us were meeting there for a quick dinner before the language exchange event and I had one of those 'moments'... I was walking up the stairs and it was a cold night, just like the very first night when we all arrived to Istanbul. I couldn't believe that I had already spent so much time here and have already become so comfortable with everything and everyone. Three weeks seems like such a short amount of time when you think in the global perspective but considering I am only here for a little over 4 months, 3 weeks is a huge chunk of my Istanbul time that has already passed. It makes me feel conflicted: happy and sad. I am so glad to be fitting in here and that the country and culture has beyond exceeded my expectations but on the other hand I am sad that the time has been passing so quickly! ...But I suppose that is a good sign, as the cliche goes "time flies when you're having fun." And so much fun I am having indeed! 

      Every day I force myself to try something new here, to go somewhere I haven't been, or talk to someone that I haven't met yet (this task however is relatively easy seeing as there is so much to see and do in Istanbul and on Koc campus). Since the academic semester is in full swing now I am trying to get involved around campus. I am still active with my original CIEE group, getting informed about all of the ISS (International Student Society) events, joined the equal rights movement here on campus called "eKUal" who meets weekly, also trying to keep up my semi-routine yoga class attendance, and as I mentioned earlier also participating in the language exchange program which is basically designed to introduce exchange students to Turkish students to help us intermingle rather than just stick to our groups. So much to do, so busy all the time. I hate to waste one single moment of my time here, basically having to force myself to stop and sleep every once in a while. Hopefully I can survive at this pace for the entire semester! Only time will tell...