After spending a total of 17 days in Turkey, I reluctantly bid the lovely country farewell due to the current political instability within the state. Although there was a terrorist attack, a military coup, and apparently an earthquake the day after I left, I leave Turkey with great memories, even greater friendships, and a desire to return one day.

Unfortunately, the media usually only portrays the most negative aspects of a country and that is the image that the general public has. Some of the things you haven’t seen in the news about Turkey and that I got to experience include:

• The INCREDIBLE sunsets

• Mussels that only cost ONE Turkish Lira (The equivalent of about $0.30, I could eat about 15)

• The Black Sea

• Really nice guards that give you fruit on the regular
• Pretty rich history
• pastries
• ice cream

• and in general really, really great and brilliant people

I wish the country of Turkey the best, and hope for an outcome that benefits not only the state, but the incredible humans within it.

Again, although my stay was short, I learned a lot about archaeology and the town of Sinop. I am very grateful for the experience and I am pretty glad I can add archaeology to the list of things that I have tried- who knows I might even try it again given the opportunity.

Now that this part of the year abroad was cut short, I am running around the world again for a little under a month before I head off on my next adventure. First stop, Italy.

-L