I was just looking back at a post that I did in February when I was trying to get into my classes. It's so funny to see the way that things have turned out.
I made it into four classes, one of which (Ottoman Cultural History) is the best history class I have ever taken. Lillie's roommates 'who never talk to her' are now her best friends. My roommate's boyfriend has returned from his semester abroad in the states and... they now still get in fights over the phone. I have mastered all forms of public transport (which in this city, is a lot: buses, metro, light rail, funicular, ferry), except for the taxis, which continue to rip us off no matter how much we charm them with our Turkish skills. I can speak Turkish! In the past, present, and future (tenses, that is). The weather has shifted from rainy 50s to 75 and sunny every day. And, I'm leaving Istanbul.
It's unbelievable that I've made to this point. So many of my friends go abroad and have a love affair with the place that they live in. At one point I thought that's what I had with Istanbul, and with Turkey, but now I know we're in it for the long-haul.
I've had a full on relationship with this city, and this country. I struggled a lot, dealt with a lot of frustration and had to adapt. But I think that's why I feel so connected to this place, because I had to work for it.
As I finish up finals and plan my next big adventures, I wonder if I'll ever get the chance to stay here again... I suppose I chose it for that reason. Istanbul is a place that I thought I would never have the opportunity to live in again, it seemed so inaccessible.
But now I have an undeniable need to return.
The cliche that comforts me most right now is that 'all good things must come to an end'. It's not cheesy, I don't think. It's just true. Don't worry, this is not a final post. There is still so much to say, but there is also just so little time to say it.
No comments:
Post a Comment