It's the Little Things

I don't understand just how far away 500 kilometers is.

I am not accustomed to cleaning ladies barging into my locked dorm room at any given hour of the morning (is there a schedule? Probably. Do I know it? Nope. Could they tell me? Not until I become adequate at Turkish).

The percentage sign comes before the number in Turkey.

Usually, I go to a restaurant to enjoy a relaxed, un-rushed meal. Yesterday, I went to Kadıköy with a group of friends. We stopped to eat outside, and the waiter proceeded to tell us to eat quickly, as the Ramadan dinner rush was to commence within thirty minutes. That was a first.

Suddenly, I am held accountable for my country's actions (or lack there of).

My OCD concerning water has increased ten-fold here, as I cannot simply fill up a canteen at any random faucet. I am constantly thinking ahead; when will I next get water?

Grocery stores are packed with men and women alike at 11 am on weekdays.

Words have become so much more flexible. Can I say, in the words of my Turkish friend, Misra, that a person is a "cinema-worm" and be understood? Yes. Or, in the words of my German friend, Chris, buildings can seem "negatively inspiring." Words, words, words...oh, communication. What a concept!

Dishes that I order at restaurants are always surprising.

Stray dogs and stray cats are everywhere. Dogs are especially prevelant on Yeditepe's campus -- they are accepted, expected. Also, the Turkish government decided to give all stray dogs rabies shots. You know that they have been given this shot if they have a red tag in an ear. Good stuff.

I have never hated ice cream. I hate Turkish ice cream: dondurma. To me, it tastes like sour milk. Of course, considering that Turkish milk can be left unrefrigerated probably means that the ice cream is just a product of such ridiculousness. Hyer dondurma. Teşekkür ederim, sağol.

Three Shakespeare plays in a semester is considered a workload here. Well, OK...

Wow, public transportation is, in fact, useful! Did you hear that, US?

...it's the little things.