By Marissa
I arrived in Turkey mid-September to begin my exchange with AFS intercultural programs. Living and studying here for the past 10 months has been an incredibly rewarding experience full of little adventures and unexpected moments. I’m excited to share it with you all!
At the beginning of my gap year, I was welcomed by a wonderful host family who accepted me into their lives with open arms. We lived together in their apartment in Kadıköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul. I occupied my older brother’s room while he was away at university, and spent much of my time with my host parents and younger brother. Our home was just a few minutes walk from Bağdat street, a bustling center full of shops and cafes. There was a park nearby, and the Caddebostan beach was only a 15 minute walk. I went almost everyday to stare at the water. I had lived in a rural area for all of my life, so being in the city was an exciting change. I loved to watch all of the people coming and going.
Living with my host family gave me ample opportunity to learn about life within Turkish culture. They made sure to include me in their lives and treated me like a part of the family. I especially enjoyed holidays and family get-togethers. One interesting thing I noticed is that, in contrast to the U.S., Turkish culture generally emphasizes the importance of relationships. A breakfast meet-up can last until 5pm once you get talking. It’s pretty acceptable to be late if you get caught talking with a friend. Family is prioritized above other commitments, and there is a lot of community support.
As I explored my new city, I found some unique characteristics compared to the other places I’ve visited. First, I was super impressed by the history and architecture. Seeing byzantine and ottoman structures right next to massive skyscrapers and modern shopping centers was astonishing to me. It’s just not something you can find in America. I loved being surrounded by so much water, and crossing the Bosphorus was such an incredible experience. I was in awe that I could literally change continents with a 30 minute ferry ride! Although adjusting to the traffic, crowds, and other problems of the city was difficult at first, I really loved living in Istanbul. It will always feel a bit like home to me.
Learning the Turkish language was a large part of my exchange experience. I had some formal language study, both by attending a local high school and weekly lessons with AFS’s amazing Turkish teacher. But I think what really helped me make progress was living my life in Turkish. Talking with friends at school, ordering at a restaurant, hanging out with my host family. I was able to learn as I went, and although it was frustrating when I didn’t have the words to express myself, I could feel it get easier and easier as the year went on. I could feel how different it was communicating ideas in another language, how it forces you to think about things from a different angle and see the world from a different point of view. My host family had fun teaching me to pronounce difficult words and testing me on different idioms. My host brother was also learning English, so we had a good time speaking both languages and watching each other’s growth (as well as poking fun at each other along the way).
My exchange was a beautiful adventure which opened my eyes to the world around me. I’m so grateful for all of the connections I’ve made, with my host family, friends, fellow exchange students, teachers and mentors. Thank you to everyone who made this year so special!
Pictures from my time in Istanbul:
