Who else would you be?

I just had… an incredible day.  *deep deep sigh*

First language school. Then plans to have our new local friends over for lunch at 2. Class ends at one. SO? I RUN out of class and go buy some fruit and salad. Decide to get some fresh bread for our lunch and!!! HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE BREAD BEING FRESH BUT NOT HOT IN TURKISH!! AHHH!!! :o) Ahhh-mazing. I’m learning more than I realize in class!

I hurry, hurry heat up soup, chop of veggies… put the laundry Amy had on our drying rack in her room so its not in the living room (I want our friends to be comfortable)— then start putting our STUFF (such as notebooks, plug in cords, and hats) in a collective spot . Then the slippers we have are put out by the door as is customary for your visitors here. Everyone needs to have a pair to wear. And then Amy gets there. She went with a friend who has a motorcycle to pay our rent this month. We call Ayse. Boil some eggs.  She is coming and on her way.

We wait.

And… then call her again…

and realize that we have COMPLETELY mis-communicated.

Our local friends are NOT coming to our house for lunch. We have been invited to GO to ANOTHER friends’ house! Gahhh! We are cok genc (VERY late) at this point.

We throw the salad in the fridge and take off to meet Ayse to go to Olcay’s house.

I had a truly wonderful evening. There is this point where I am sitting on the floor beside Ayse. A half eaten piece of cake in on my left. Side note: cake is called “pasta” here by the way—which was a confusing conversation too! Anyway it is now past lunch. We’ve been served chai and cake and this beautiful  half eaten mound of chocolate cake is on my left. Ayse is on my right. In my hands I am holding the little cup full of chai tea. I am hearing this very involved conversation happening around me in another language and picking out the words that I know.  Which is just a handful. There are 7 of us total–all women and local except Amy and myself. My mind steps back and I am just flabbergasted at how this has become my normal! How much I am falling in love with these women and their hearts and their culture. How much I am enjoying their company.  This suddenly feels surreal. 

I have the privilege and capacity to at least at this point not worry about social etiquette too much. What does that mean? I am not sitting around “politely” because I think that “might” be the thing to do. I am taking photos. Telling these women how smart and beautiful they are. Laughing. Asking questions about words I don’t know. Snapping photos. Taking video. Twirling around on the smooth floor in my duckie slippers they gave me to wear. Making “quack, quack” noises. Asking how they make duck noises? “chirp chirp” 

Not eating EVERYTHING that is sat in front of me to “save face” even though my stomach is about to explode. I had a lovely, lovely time because I was who I am. A dear friend often asks me, “and who else would you be?” 

Olcay and her mom live together. Olcay we found out has recently been divorced and her momma– this beautiful grandmother type age took an instant liking to me. In her face? I see adoration. She takes one look at me and my duck slippers I am wearing and I smile at her and ask her “how are you?” in her language?

AND promptly GRABS MY CHEEKS for a big old pinch! hahaha! This was definitely the BEST cheek pinching I have ever had. HAHAHA!