portakal suyu - orange juice

it has been so long since i have posted that i do not know where to begin. i am excited about all the things happening here, how much i have been able to learn about culture, language, etc. i cannot say that this city is what i expected it to be. so many things are similar to the U.S. on the surface, but there are many layers. riding on the buses through town can be quite interesting; one can never know how long the ride will take since the drivers stop for anyone who flags them down. this is nice for catching buses though, since you do not have to be at a bus stop. i have been able to spend quite a bit of time with a few Turks, mostly over a backgammon board. it is very interesting to see the differences across the town. there is a distinct tourist area, which i don't spend too much time in. i enjoy walking through the more Turkish areas. i will say that i miss peanut butter and colby cheese. not together mind you, but yellow cheese is something that you do not see around here. the amazing variety here makes up for it though. gule gule! (bye)