NationStates Jolt Archive


When the Land you love is in America and the people you love in Turkey.. that leaves

Groznyj
21-07-2007, 21:08
You in the Middle of the Atlantic...

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SHIT.


Heh I just got back from a 3 week trip in Istanbul visiting relatives and getting to know a long lost cousin of mine. The trip was awesome, mostly the last week of it where I spent time with my cousin and her (now our) friends. I tell you what Turkey is a great place. And a horrible place. Depends on your outlook. If you can learn the language and have family there it's awesome. Even more awesome if you can relate to the culture and not get culture shock. It sucks if you can barely speak Turkish and you somehow find youself in the middle of Kapala Carsiya (or however you spell it) a.k.a. the Grand Bazaar (or however you spell it) and get assaulted by pricks trying to sell you a fake rollex. It's an interesting country, Turkey, or Turkiye as its called in its language. Funny at times and annoying at others. Despite the humor and occasisonal backwardsyness of the nation (it's come a long way from 1922 though let me tell you) I think it's a great example of a secular Islamic country. Maybe it's because I'm not atheistic, maybe it's because I can tolerate religion, maybe it's because I am Islamic, whatever ('neyse' in Turkish) it's really cool to see how the faith works in that sort of modernizing country. I'd relate it to America but it seems for the most part Americans these days either hate religion, hate Muslims, hate Catholics, hate Jews, or just hate religion so that's out... Imagine a populous that beleives in the faith but are normal. Not a hint of shariah (basically this is me trying to push the anti-Islamic stereotype out of people, even if it doesn't exist bear with me). Anyhow I'm rambling on.

Spending time with my cousin and friends there has really changed me (for the better hopefully). I actually go to the Mosque on Fridays (yesterday would be my second time :p ) I'm not lazy, and... heavev forbid; I clean my room. I even got a job as a caddie at a gold course and I get to drive that thing that picks up golf balls. I despise golf but for that kind of money...hey.

Anyhow woohoo. I didn't mean for this to read like a blog and if it does, meh. If I know NSG as much as I think I think I do then this'll either be shunned or full of comments soon.