Received March 30, 2006

 

Hey

Ý used to live 10 minutes maximum walk to a castle in my first host family

but the funny thing is Ý never went. Ý finally went and it was GREAT.This

area is where Ý connect myself most with in Ýstanbul because Ý will always

be with my first host family. What Ý got from them was what truly made me

happy and Ý am kicking myself everyday for asking my Rotary club to change

host families because Ý wanted a change. Yes change is good but with host

families it went downhill from there. The second host family didn't work

out at all and my current one, they are nice people and am happy in the home

but Ýt just doesnt feel the same way as my fist host family. Ý didnt

realize how happy Ý was and how much Ý appreciated my first host family

until Ý left and Ý wish Ý could go back. Back to the castle. The view of

the Bosphorus from up on the wallswas absolutely AMAZÝNG and Ý was truly

relaxed and at ease being there. Ýt was really such a Great feeling.

 

Cafes are a big social aspect of the culture in turkey and Ý have discovered

the perfect one. My German friend and I have a cafe we discovered at the

beggining of the year but this one is mine. The name Montreal. Ý walked by

it one day and I was WHAT???Ýs this what Ý think it is. Yesterday Ý went

inside to discover what it was and that is right. Named after the city from

Canada!!! Ý just went in to check it out and ask the people if they were

Canadian or not. Their cousins live in Toronto(of course, where else

right?) for 10 years now. I drank a tea and was goýng to pay when I started

talkýng wýth the workers again and he was like come we will talk have a

another tea. I also got to have TIM HORTONS coffee!!!. Tims coffee isn't

fantastic but it is a taste of home. My turkish isnt great but Ý was

talking with them in turkish and when Ý really had to go Ý didnt have to

pay. Ý just felt really good about the whole thing in the end and Ý will

definetely come back.

 

Ý may be extremely patriotic here, Ý really dont know but when out of the

exchange student Ý am from one of the loner countries and Ý am hanging out

with the american exchange students, Ý come from a country that is has alot

of American influence and is dominated by amerýcan products and restaurants

and in turkey everything is either from Europe or America. Ýt just feels

really good and makes me smile when Ý see a Canadian flag or something

Canadian.

 

Ý have had the opportunity to do two things that normal visitors dont have

the chance to do. Ý when to a Historical building used by the last Sultan.

Normally you only stay on the guided path and can't gross the rope or chains

that tells you dont pass this point but Ý was alone in this tour and the

tour guide was why dont you go to the center of the room(Ý was aHUGE room)

and Ý will take your picture. Ý also got to side in one of the chairs. Ý

may not sound really all that exciting but when it doesnt normally happen it

is kind of exciting.

 

Ý went to a porcelain and tile shop and attached to it is where the people

are hand painting the poteries. Ýn my Ýstanbul book it says normal visitors

are not allowed to see the factory but Ý had the opportunity to go inside

and see for myself that people REALLY are painting the things. Ýt is

unbelievable the work it takes and the Results are amazing.

Ýt is just so unbelievably hard to realize that Ý am in the last third of my

exchange. Three and a half months left. Ýt is a really sad thought. Ý

dont know when or where Ý will see the amazing people Ý have met here. Ý

will be truly heartbroken to leave. Yes Ý miss Canada because it is a great

country but Ý have become attached to what there is here. And Ý really will

not understand the extend of what this exchange has done for me until Ý am

back home again. Ý have change an incredible amount and am a bit frightened

to come face to face again with the people from home.

 

My turkish course has come to an end. The final exam is tomorrow and as

much as Ý hated being home late three days a weeks Ý did enjoy myself and

unfortunately don't have the time to continue to the next level. My turkish

is not great but Ý am more confident in speaking of course Ý did improve

since the beginning. Ý have worked really hard to get to where Ý am at with

my turkish and Ý hope that when Ý am back at home Ý can find someone who Ý

can continue practicing with.

Ý hope all it well!.

Heather Yawney

Rotary Youth Exchange

Canada --> Turkey

2005-2006

 

 

Received February 22, 2006

Heather apologizes for the misplaced letters, because she is using a Turkish keyboard.

 

well Ý have successfully finished one full week of school and onto the

second one after 5 weeks of holidays.

 

The first three weeks were probably the most interesting weeks Ý have had

since being in Turkey. Ý spent these three weeks living out of a suitcase

and carrying all my important belongings around. Ý spent the first 2 weeks

staying with three temporary familys and the third week on my first Rotary

Exchange Student trip(which Ý will talk about later) while my second host

family was on vacation. Because Ý had to move to a third host family and Ý

wasn't sure whether Ý would be back with them for a little bit or if Ý would

go directly to my third host family right after Ý arrived back in Ýstanbul

after my tour,as a result Ý packed my important things and hauled them

around from family to family and on the trip. This was definetely a

learning experience. Ý can assure everyone that this was a not fun

experience and was really not happy with the idea that i was pretty much

homeless and had no idea where Ý would be going after these three weeks.

 

The best part (as if this situation was comfortable) was my second temporary

family was absolutely fabulous. Ý couldn't have asked for a better family

to be with throughout this time. With this second host family Ý really

didn't feel a part of their family, even after a month and a half with them,

and with this temporary family Ý felt very included even though Ý only

stayed with them for 5 nights. Ý got along with their kids very well(14, 12

and 9) and the father is Rotary so Ý knew him quite well. Ýt was a really

good feeling being able to come into a home when you are in a bit of a

confusing sitaution and you feel at ease and very comfortable. The first

temp Ý had stayed with before so Ý knew who Ý was styaing with but the third

temp just wasn't the best. Ý felt generally uncomfortable in the home and

there was no connection between this family and me. Don't doubt we were all

on very friendly terms but these people were very confusing. Ýt was funny

to hear afterwards at my Rotary meeting that temp family #3 was just

satisfied with me and with #2 they were really happy with me and said that

if Ý ever want to visit just don't hesitate to call. First impressions Ý

have learned stay with you until the end of a stay in someone's home. Ý

knew Ý would be happy in #2 and Ý was and from the moment Ý stepped into the

home of #3 Ý knew things were not going to be as good. This is part of what

exchange is about...learning to live with different families and meeting,

communicating and working with all different sorts of people, right?

 

Now about my tour. Ýt was absolutely FABULOUS! Ýt was actually really nice

to leave the business of Ýstanbul. Ý wish Ý could send you pictures but Ý

can't put them on the computer so Ý go to my first host father office where

Ý regularly visit and he puts them on CD for me to send home (to Canada).

The only bad part about the trip was that everyday we saw two or three

theatres so by the time Ý go to Efes(aka Ephesus) the theatre there was just

not as impressive as it could be. Don't get me wrong it was impressive, the

theatre is HUGE!!!!!! Ýf we would have gone at the start of the trip it

would have been the coolest thing in the world but at the end it was

like...cool, another theatre.

 

Day1-Spent the day driving to Pamukkale(Cotton Castle) and stayed overnight

at the hotel.

 

Day2-Visited ancientt Hierapolis and Pamukkale. Ý was so angry. My camera

battery power died so Ý thought Ý was going to go crazy. Luckily Ý had

enough power to take some pictures of pamukkale of the white carbon

deposits. The rest of the day was spent driving to Antalya where we spent 2

nights.

 

Day3-We visited Antalya's harbour and had a full day excursion to

Perge-Aspendos

 

Day4-We continued to Demre to visit where father Chrismas was born and the

Church of St. Nicholas, the theatre and tombs. We continued to Kokova for a

boat tour and then to Kas for the night.

 

Day5-We visited Xanthos and Olu Deniz(Dead Sea[but not the real one, of

course]). Spent the night in Fethiye

 

Day6-Took a tour of Dalyan by boat and in the afternoon We visited Bodrum

castle and the Yacht Harbour.

 

Day7-After leaving Bodrum we visited Didyma, Prienne and the house where the

Virgin Mary stayed in her lady part of her life and then to Ephesus and then

stayed the night in Ýzmir. Ý am in contact with an exchange student living

there so my friends and Ý met up with some of them at night

 

Day8-After Ýzmir we had a Pergamon tour and we learned how carpets are made.

Stayed the night in Canakkale. Unfortunately we could not sea the Troy

ruins(but from everyone who Ý have talked to they say there is nothing to

see and Ý will be back in the area later this year) but along the shore

there was the Trojan horse used for the Troy movie.

 

Day9-We crossed the Dardanelles(but ended up waiting 2 and a half hours for

the ferry to leave due to thick fog) and headed back home to Ýstanbul. This

Ý think was the worst day. Ý was dropped off in Ýstanbul and still had no

idea where Ý was going or what Ý was doing(and Ý knew Ý couldn't stay the

night at my second host family's home because they were still on vacation).

Ý stayed at a friends home which was actually really nice because Ý was able

to relax because Ý was a bit tense the whole trip because Ý still didnt know

what was happening.

 

One of the best things about this trip is Ý am better friends with my

friends and the people who Ý was acquainted with in my circle of friends are

now friends. Where as before Ý didnt talk to them really, now Ý talk to

them quite comfortably. The best part about the trip was when we were all

in Bodrum an exchange student got a message to their phone from an exchange

student who didn't go saying that due to snow in Ýstanbul they called a snow

week. The funny part about the snow was for our trip the weather was quite

enjoyable. Ýt did rain but at times that were not important. And when we

got to Ýstanbul the weather was weather that Lethbridge gets during

chinooks. Ýt was FANTASTÝC.

 

Ý did stay 3 more nights with my second host family and then moved to my

third host family. But the extra week off, what better stuff to do than

what exchangers really should really not call themselves: TOURÝSTS!

The great thing about this time off is that Ý made two new friends which has

been really nice. They don't go to my school but it is just a great feeling

to know that Ý met some new people.

 

Ý entered aturkish course three days a week after school. Ýt is nice being

able to practice my turkish. This is a hard language to learn. Ý dont

think Ý can say Ý will be able to speak it fluently when Ý go home but Ý can

say that Ý can communicate with the people and the experience was absolutely

fabulous. Ýt definetely opens your eyes to so many things. And on the

school subject. Ý am still with well not my sort of people (people who are

either really immature or people who are snobby [due to me going to a

private school with ALOT of rich people]) but Ý have some friends at school

who dont include the people Ý just mentioned so that makes my time there

more enjoyable.

 

My new host family is really good. Ýt is so great to have a certain happy

feeling in me that Ý haven't had in so long. Ý do have my own room so Ý do

have some privacy which is nice but Ý dont think that contributes to my

happiness, Ý think Ý came here and had a good first day and have been making

an effort to get to know everyone. The weird part Ý must say is these

people are very wealthy. They have 2 workers and a driver. After 9 my

mother tells me to call the driver to pick me up from the bus stop. Ý am

sorry but Ý have never had someone pick me up from the bus stop if Ý am out

late. Ý like to walk. Ý dont have to do my laundry or put my dishes in the

dishwasher but Ý do it anyways. Ý may be crazy but Ý enjoy being able to

take responsibility for my own things besides doing these sort of things

keeps me grounded while Ý live with very well off family.

Hope all is well. This is all for now.

(And congratulations for Canadian women's hockey team winning GOLD!!!

YEAH!!!)

..:;:.--->¤+±‡HeatheR!!!_,.-~=*'"°^¯!?¿¡<---®©™.,.,

Heather Yawney

Rotary Youth Exchange

Canada --> Turkey

2005-2006

 

 

Received December 24, 2005

Well it is CHRISTMAS TIME so not better time then to send my best regards

and hope this holiday season treat everyone well.

Everything is going well with me. I have been with my new host family for 3

weeks. They are nice people but I am shaking my head at why I suggested to

my rotary club that a change would be cool. You think you are unhappy so

you suggest to your Rotary okay it has been three months change seems cool.

Since being with this new family I miss my old family a lot. I realized that

I was really happy with them. Everything is good with the new one.

 

There is an exchange student Christmas dinner. There are exchange students

from another district too so I am excited about that. I am performing with

some of the other exchange students because I took the Turkish folklore

dance lesson.

 

School is going okay. Still hard but you know I'm still alive right???Haha.

It is hard because making friends isn't the easiest thing.

It is a really weird feeling know that all Canadian students are out on

holidays and I still have school until January where I have 1 week of Bayram

and 2 weeks of holiday (semester holiday)

 

My Turkish is well as I like to say is not going too well. Yes big

improvement from Day one but I just don't feel I am where I want to be. I am

hoping to take a 2 month Turkish course with a few other exchange students

starting in February after our semester break is over. It is nice because

my new home I do have a chance to practice my Turkish more. The maid and

the host mom don't know English and my host father knows English but I try to

say things in Turkish with him. His English isn't fabulous so sometimes I

need to say it in Turkish.

 

Turkey really is amazing. I tell people this but I may have only been here

for 4 months but it is my second home. I am very comfortable here.

I hope everything is well with you all. Happy Holidays!!!

.:;:.--->¤+±‡HeatheR!!!_,.-~=*'"°^¯!?¿¡<---®©™.,.,

Heather Yawney

Rotary Youth Exchange

Canada --> Turkey

2005-2006

 

 

Received November 27, 2005 

Merhaba, nasilsiniz? iyi misin?
(Hello, How are you? Are you well?)

Everything thing is going great. My first 3 months have been fabulous here. Days go slow but when I look back at how long I've been here I can't believe I've been here for 3 months already. hopefully I can give you a rundown on everything that is going on.

School - is going okay. The school system is complicated here. at the 11th grade the student have to choose whether they want to take math and science or math and literature. it is too early to decide what you want to do with your life career wise. University is very hard to get into here so students study REALLY hard so that they can be well prepared for the university exams and receive high grades. Some students in grade 10 and 11 but the majority of students in the 12th grade go to what they call dershane. They are extra lessons outside of school. Usually the 10th and 11th year students go on weekends but the graduating students go everyday.

Here lessons are 40 minutes long with 10 minute breaks in between each lesson and 8 lessons a day. The lessons are long enough to just get
started before the lesson is over. Having short lessons is nice but with 8 lessons a day and the breaks in between it makes for a very long day.
Usually halfway through the day I can't wait until I can go home. Something I miss in Canada is the Friday afternoons off. I don't have that here.

Turkish - Unfortunately my Turkish is still NOT good. it is a very hard language. The 3 months to understand and 6 months to speak the language  does not apply to Turkish. I am working at it but it is very hard! I get frustrated because I cannot understand but I know that I can't rush things.
I have to take it one step at a time and not try and force myself to much or else I just won't learn at all. I can understand some Turkish, yes of course. I have definitely come a long way if you compare my language skill now and my skill when I first came here. I came to turkey knowing a few words but I can say that I know more than just a few words now.

 

Friends - Unfortunately friends have not come easily for me. I have become
good friends with some of the exchange students but at school it just isn't easy. I am not the only one. Lots of the exchange students are finding that making friends here just isn't easy. it is hard going to school. the school is really nice and I go everyday but I wake up and think to myself 'ugh another day of school, I already can't wait until it is over'. I have no motivation in wanting to go (even though I go) because when you are lonely you just don't want to be there.

Food - EXCEPTiONAL! Delicious. The first week or so 0 was like Yuck! This food is so disgusting. But now I love it. it is more delicious than Canadian food. Everything here is different. Sure it is the same vegetables, breads, meats, etc. but everything is prepared differently.

Rotary - My Rotary members are really nice. Nice people. But Rotary here just isn't the same as The Downtown Rotary Club of Lethbridge. Here you are more on your own. The members don't call you up to invite you to dinner or take you around. I am not forced to go to rotary every week. All the Exchange students only have to go once a month to get their allowance but I choose to go every week. I must compliment Lethbridge Rotary because you really go the mile for the exchange students. I have not changed host families yet. I mentioned moving to my club and my president has talked to the members so I think either in December or January I will be moving.

Football - The sport is like hockey in Canada. The most popular sport. Everyone loves it. in Turkey I have been convinced that the team FenerBahce is the best.

Describing my exchange - it is so hard to describe what you go through while you live in a foreign country. I love Istanbul. it is exciting (compared to Lethbridge). There is so much to do and so much to see here. I know I have changed because I am put into a situation where you are independent and have to basically do everything for yourself. Yes of course you have a home to stay in, they feed you and provide all the basic needs but everything else I'm on my own. I have to get around by myself, pay for everything myself, make my own decisions so it definitely changes you.

(my grammar is not terrible, this keyboard won't let me capitalize the i's )

(Heather will be glad to see the editor helped her to capitalize -most of them-)

I am so happy everyday that I have this opportunity to be in Turkey for a year. Being here is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

One last thing. Being here you have no idea how much it makes you love your country. I am so proud to be from Canada and I love telling people that I am Canadian.


Gule Gule


.:;:.--->¤+±‡HeatheR!!!_,.-~=*'"°^¯!?¿¡<---®©™.,.,

Heather Yawney
Rotary Youth Exchange
Canada --> Turkey
2005-2006

 

---

September 2005

Hey Rotary!

Thank you for this amazing opportunity!

What have I been up to. Well I spent my first four days in Kylios on the beach on the Black Sea. Can`t go wrong with that! The only bad part. I got sunburned on day 2 so now I`m peeling like crazy. :(

I`m a little nervous getting around the city. It is all a bit of a shock to me coming from a city of 70 000 people and moving to a city of 11-12 MILLION people for a year. I`ll tell you one thing. It is a good thing that there is the no driving rule because I would get in a crash in the first five minutes. The people here drive like maniacs. No signalling. No following of speed limits. The roads are very narrow.

At my home in Istanbul I live in university apartments with my host dad, mom and little sister. I get a view of the Rumeli wall. I am just up a hill and down a hill (less than 10 minutes walk) and I’m metres away from the Bosporus. I've driven along the Bosporus a few times now. It is amazing seeing all the buildings on the other side. My host dad and mom speak English and have been helping me out. My host sister on the other hand, who is nine, knows VERY little English so it is always fun trying to communicate with her. She is a funny little thing.

My first full day in Turkey (the day we left for Kilyos) I learned how to make Turkish coffee. No coffee will ever compare to this coffee. I drink it everyday! On Saturday night my family and I went over to one of their friends houses for supper and I had just regular filtered coffee. When you compare it to the coffee I've been drinking it was just not very tasty. I think about a year from now when I am back in Canada. I will definitely miss the coffee. At the bottom of the coffee there is always a thick layer of residue and my Rotex counsellor was telling me how you can get your fortune told. Last Friday there was my host dad`s family over and one of them knew how to tell fortunes. She said that 3 people live in my house in Canada (which is true), two cats and a dog live in my home in Canada (True) and she said I will meet 2 people who I will become close friends with and will get a younger Turkish boyfriend.

My school started last Thursday but I don't start until Tuesday. I am going to a Turkish school. I get an Turkish course for two weeks starting September 19^th.

Everything is going well. Thanks again. Bye for now.

Heather Yawney

Rotary Youth Exchange

Turkey 2005-2006