Information Information!

Hello!

I've just found out the names and location of my new host family! My father is Elçin Bayyurt and my mother is Fatma Bayyurt. They live in Ankara, where I will attend özel Aykan Anadolu Lisei, or Ozel Aykan High School. I am SO excited. I love having these details. It's making it all seem much more real and much more imminent.

School in Turkey starts on September 20th. They want me to arrive a little before then, but my travel forms say between July 20 and August 12 as arrival dates?! Who knows...

Fizzily,

Natalie

Update

I've just found out tonight that I am going to be spending my year abroad in Ankara, the capitol of Turkey! I am excited. I have mixed feelings about being in such a large city (it's the second largest after Istanbul), but I'm sure that I'll love it. I also worry about being so far from the coast. I wonder if I will be able to pick up enough Turkish with so many English speakers around. Hmm.

I am looking forward to finding out more about my new first family.

In Sleepy Excitement,

Natalie

Working On It

By "it," I do not mean school, unfortunately. The closer Turkey comes, the more difficult I am finding it to concentrate on school work. I am making a very weak effort at staying involved. I hope I can pull it together enough to finish the year up decently.

I am working on getting my visa, however slowly. I sent one of the forms to my dad to be signed and notarized only a few days ago, and I'm hoping he'll be able to send it back in time for the June 1st deadline. I am always late with everything, and unfortunately, this visa process seems to be no exception.

Regretfully Lackadaisical,

Nat

Starting to Feel It

I feel as if I should write something especially profound for my first post, but I can't think of anything especially profound to say. I am just excited. I am so, so excited.

My mom is trying to figure out which sort of suitcase to order for me. Of all of L.L.Bean's offerings, I like the extra-large rolling duffle, hopefully in plum. I think I'm going to have it monogrammed with my name, or perhaps my initials. I want to order a nice looking passport case, too.

I guess it doesn't really matter how these things look, only that they function. So, regardless of the color schemes, I am excited to be ordering travel gear. It feels like such a concrete step. Even the payments have not felt very "real," so to speak, as these are mainly done by my mother and/or electronically. But suitcases, they have a little weight.

Pleasantly Anticipatory,

Natalie