Gobble

It has been a long time since I have updated. I guess I got a little lazy. I, unlike some of my international friends, have not done any more traveling since I went to Antalya. I have been spending a lot of time doing nothing. And by nothing I mean the usual: class, nargile, cay, video games with Ben and James, reading, eating. There aren't usually many dull moments in Istanbul.

For the most part, my classes are pretty easy. My American Lit class is for sure going to be a cake walk, but it is still interesting because we are reading some things that I have never read and a lot of things that I haven't read in a long time. I need to choose a topic for my research paper. My hardest class, by far, is my Computer Networking class. Let's just say that it would be difficult if it were taught in all English, the fact that it is taught in about 60% Turkish, and the students ask their questions in Turkish, the professor responds in Turkish, I can't see the whiteboard because there are like 70 students in there and they have big heads, AND I can't buy the textbook because the bookstore on campus is sold out and they said it will be a MONTH or TWO before they can get it in. It's going to be a rough ride.

Good things:

1. I learned how to play backgammon
2. I'm staying in good shape via the track that is right next door
3. Last week I mailed 3 postcards and today I mailed 8
4. Friday (hopefully), I leave for Romania.
5. Aaron and I met Muhitten, who owns a nargile cafe and he hooked us up.
6. my Turkish is getting a lot better.
   

Bad things:

1. I miss my friends and family (and Baxter).
2. I don't have enough cold-weather gear.
3. milk tastes weird
4. I've been kind of sick
   

So yeah, starting Friday we have a week break which is because of the end of Ramadan. A group of us are taking a train into Romania, and from there head north-west...Maybe making it to Budapest in Hungary. The plan is to stop a couple of days in Transylvania and do some hiking maybe. Aaron and I are probably going to break off from the group and do our own thing for a while. I'll take plenty of pictures and pick up some cooler looking postcards.