Impressions

Turkey, at least where I have been, is clean clean clean.  I haven't seen any garbage anywhere.  At home in Tire, one takes their garbage out to a community box (right on the corner) and it is picked up daily.

The people have been the friendliest I have ever encountered.  Granted I am not in large urban areas, so that may account for some of it.  The folks in the market, at shops, restaurants etc. go out of their way to assist in any way possible.  I am always offered a seat/stool wherever I am, be it in the market, or on the street (waiting for my ride). Maybe it is just that I look so old and decrepit that they are averting a medical emergency on their doorstep  :).

It would be redundant to say that I love the food.

I am very very comfortable here.  It doesn't feel foreign/strange at all.

Because I am still awake and have internet here there is a little story I would like to relate.

The other night Nihat's nephew, Omer, his wife and new three month old baby girl came to visit before they went to the village to see his mom and other family  I had heard about Omer for many years, and even talked with him on Skype once when he was at Nihat;s.  Well, Omer is doing his PhD in computer engineering now.  He told me that when he was about nine years old his uncle Nihat sent an Atari to him in the village,  and he knew then he wanted to be a computer engineer.  He also said that his uncle Nihat gave him financial support through university.

Nihat is a very special person to him.  How pleased his uncle must be to see his nephew doing so well.

Omer is a kind, caring young man with a lovely wife and new born daughter.  I wish him all the best that life has to offer.