December

This month has been a normal month, in terms of exchange students.

I learned a lot more Turkish (a LOT more) and now I can talk to people and they understand me! This is something that no one should take for granted, ever. Ahh the blessings of knowing a language! I am finally starting to be able to say what I need to say without thinking for 30 seconds about conjugating this and making the possesive form of that and remembering the word for that... Of course I still have those slow moments, but they are becoming a little less frequent.

So, in layman's terms, people don't think I am stupid anymore! Woo hoo! They always ask, "How long have you been in Turkey? Did you know Turkish before you came here?" When I reply "4 months, and no, I learned Turkish here" they are shocked. I am enjoying the expressions on their faces... Nothing is better than seeing gaping mouths and wide eyes every time you meet a person. Seriously, every time.

I got bronchitis! It has been two weeks so far, and I can tell you that if possible, avoid bronchitis at ALL COSTS. I am literally coughing up my lungs a little bit every day... It is a rather unpleasant experience. So many Turks smoke and the air pollution in Istanbul is really bad, so those are definitely contributing factors to the prolonged period of my bronchitis-ness. Turkish women are insanely afraid of me. It was funny at first, but now I am tired of explaining that antibiotics don't work on bronchitis because it is a virus. Virus. VIRUS. There is nothing to do but wait, dammit!

I have a new host family! It has been almost a week, and so far it is pretty good. They live in Ulus, a place near the 1. Bosphorous Bridge and Ortakoy, my favorite place to relax in Istanbul. However, I don't live a 10 minute walk away from Taksim, a really fun and central place that I always go to, and now I have to take the school bus to school for 45 minutes every morning. That being said, I still enjoy life and do the things I used to do; it just takes longer to get there!

I wasn't homesick on Christmas... I think I was one of few. I haven't really had homesickness here, and now that it is almost January (the turning point of one's exchange for the better) I am sure that I won't ever be homesick. Phew! That is a relief. Of course, there are times when I wish I could see my dog, or hang out with my best friend from Michigan, but that is normal for anyone. I don't cry for my mommy and stay holed up in my room, thinking dark thoughts about how much I hate Turks and Turkey and Turkish food... I love Turks! I love Turkey! I love Turkish food!

As I go into January, I can't help but be excited. Half of the month will be vacation and then I will go on a tour through Western Anatolia and a few coastal cities! I am so excited!

Lots of love and I hope all is well, whereever you are!

Photos of Izmir

I Made Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies!

The Sunset View From A Cafe In Alsancak, Izmir

Front Street in Izmir From One Of Many Cafes in Alsancak

Can Being Cool and Drinking Coffee Before His Cousin and I Tricked Him Into Seeing New Moon

My Mum and Can in Izmir

Can at the Sevinc Cafe in Izmir

Izmir's Front Boardwalk on the Aegean Sea

My Mum at a Restaurant in Alacati

Me in Alacati at a Marina

Aegean Sea View in Alacati

Thoughts

Reflecting upon life is something that I have had a lot of time to do lately (mostly because I don't understand my classes at school). I am thinking that, even though life seems pointless to some, for me life is about the circles of bonding, culture, language, and the future. Bonding: family, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends, brothers, etc. Culture: I love the cliche "the world is like a puzzle" because it is a puzzle of cultures. If one learns another culture, or a multitude of cultures, then that person is one step ahead of the curve. Language: Similar to culture, language is essential to life; it is what makes us humans have the ability to wonder what is the point of life. Learning another language is an experience that dips into history, culture, the future, business, and all lifestyles. I think every person in the world should learn a foreign language at some point in their lives; it opens one's eyes. The Future: When experiencing life, too many people think about the past. Regret is a word that should be forgotten; without the past, one may not live for the future, and the future is more essential to our lives than any other aspect. The general consensus of politicians, mothers, workers, and all people is "there are too many problems in this world". When preparing for the future, a person must think about life in the present, and reflect: If there are too many problems now, then there will likely be even more in the future. Tackling a problem now, be it small or world-wide, improves the future for the next generations. I, as a 16-year old, prefer to think that I am part of a generation that will bring change. Already my generation has voted a black president into USA's highest position, begun the tackle on global warming, and has worked toward a more socialistic world. To think: what will be the next generation?
Yesterday, my friend wrote an interesting question on Facebook (When will Facebook become part of the past, I wonder?): "How do you help a person find their soul?"
I thought about this for half an hour, pondering many answers... I concluded with this: "Be a mirror for them so they can find themselves in their reflection."
Now, can you do this? Reflect upon yourself and the people around you. Would life be different if you had other bonds with family and relationships? Or if you lived in another culture? If you could speak another language and meet foreigners to learn about the world? Are you willing to reflect upon yourself the importance of your actions when the outcome is the future?
I am only sixteen, but while studying on exchange, these questions often come to me. I think it shouldn't have to be a life-changing experience to make me think these thoughts. These thoughts should just come to you as an inquisitive person. Therefore, I challenge you to stride toward a better future and tackle a problem, learn a culture, enjoy a foreign language, love another, and be free.

Some Photos From My Year

Some Friends and Me Before Seeing New Moon (Yesterday)

The Grand Bazaar

Some Turkish Lamps

The Marathon Across The Bosphorous Bridge
(This was so much fun.)

The Basilica Cistern (Roman Era)

The Blue Mosque

The Bosphorous

Ortakoy and the Bosphorous Bridge

View of the Bosphorous from "Maiden Tower."

This is a famous landmark on the Bosphorous, in English named "Maiden Tower." I went here with my friend Julia and we ate dinner here. It was spectacular, the view!

A guard of Ataturk's grave standing next to famous quotes from Ataturk.Ataturk's Mausoleum.
This is me in front of the Turkish Parliament in Ankara. This is the new parliament. In Ankara we also saw Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's tomb and the mausoleum structure was amazing... It took up several acres. I was in awe and the whole magnitude of Turkey's love, respect, and reverence for Ataturk was very apparent at this place.

Update: Month of October

This month has been largely about settling down and adapting. I am learning Turkish better now that I have some basics and I have been making friends and learning the culture. I love Turkey so much! This was such a great decision to come here. Thank you again, family and friends, for making this possible for me.
I feel more mature right now than I used to be and I look different too. I am thinner, my hair is longer, and I always wear the same outfit (School uniform; I actually like it. Saves time in the morning). I have some friends and they're really great! Some exchange students, some girls from my school and other places.

I didn’t travel very much this month outside of Istanbul. Still, Istanbul is like a country within itself, so I am okay to stay in this city. J I attended a meeting with a Rotaract Club who put together a presentation about Turkish history in the last 100-150 years. It was really interesting! Some friends of mine, who hosted my best German friend in Holland, Michigan last year, came to visit me in Istanbul. I showed them the best places and it was really cool to see how I had changed already from their eyes. Recently the Turkish Independence Day happened and I attended a celebration with my friend Ilayda and I brought my American friend Tawni with me. The Bosphorous Bridge is really famous in Istanbul and the show was there… There were searchlights placed all around the Bosphorous (I was on my friend Ilayda’s yacht) and the lights shined into the sky and moved around like a giant-sized discotheque light show. The Bridge is always lit with different colors, and is always a beautiful sight; but with the lights shining about and the Bridge overseeing the scene, this was a spectacular experience. But it got better: fireworks began exploding all around us, lit and rocketing into the sky from so many barges that were surrounding us. It was a 3D movie theater with the way the fireworks were flying everywhere. I just laid back and looked into the sky. This was the best fireworks show I had ever seen and never have I more felt that I was meant to be here.

I'm going to Ankara tonight! Photos later + and update about Ankara!

Love you all!
Kisses,
Lexi

Izmir, Buyukada, and More

After not updating for a month, I have a lot to catch up on.

I went to Izmir last weekend to see Can and his family. It was the best weekend of my life! I saw a lot of Izmir and fell in love with the city. I am going to confess that I prefer Izmire over Istanbul... there is more space, the people are kinder, it is cleaner, and there is more water-frontage. I feel the same about Chicago versus New York City, and the analogy of Istanbul is to New York as Izmir is to Chicago is actually really applicable. I spent the entire weekend hitched to Can (I was trying to make up for lost time by constantly hugging him) and fell in love with his family. I am so grateful for the weekend they treated me to, and I can't tell you how much they feel like my family here in Turkey. I love them so much, especially because of the connection we have through Can. After just two and a half days with them, I had to go home and return to Istanbul and I cried when I had to say goodbye--that is how deep the connection was for me. It felt like leaving home...

And this past weekend, I went to Buyukada (translation: Big Island). It is like Turkey's version of Mackinac Island for those of you who want another analogy. I went with the Rotary Inbound exchange students (representing so many countries!) and we rode our bikes to so many places around the island. I had a great time there and it was SO beautiful!

I have been attending school regularly now, and it is REALLY hard. I can't pay attention because most of my classes are in Turkish, and the classes that are in English are equivalent to AP courses, so they are super tough (especially becuase they switch randomly into Turkish while I am trying to learn the topic). But I will keep trucking and trying my hardest! It really is tough here, but Black River has similar standards, so it isn't anything that I can't handle.

I miss home a lot, but to tell the truth, I often forget it.. I think this is my mind protecting me from missing home all of time. I get so wrapped up in my life here that I forget my life in America. Of course I love home and my family, but it is easier here when I don't think about them... I love them too much. :)

I am safe here and supported by my friends and Can's family and Rotary, so don't worry about me. I know that I am so far from home, but I am living life and making it by... one day at a time.

Istanbul Part Deux

I have done so much in three days that I can't remember it all to write here...

DAY ONE (after I got off the plane):
I got a cell phone and a sim card (Turkcell) so call me in Istanbul! I learned that night that the bakery is a block away and that all the bread we buy is baked fresh. "Bir ekmek, lütfen." (One bread, please.)

DAY TWO:
I found out that Starbucks is exactly the same... except it's in Turkish of course. I learned some more Turkish and walked around Nişantaşı (where I live). I saw so many new things and had such a great time!

DAY THREE:
My host brother, Burak, has a friend named Okan whose birthday was on my third day in Istanbul. We went out to lunch at a cafe where I got Börek. Mmm... Then we went to Starbucks again. Burak and I met my host mum at our apartment and we walked the two blocks to the polis station to get my residence permit.. which didn't work out. Rotary is going to do that for me. We walked across the street and I got registered at my school and purchases my school books. I learned that some of my classes are actually in English! I met the principal and he told me (via my host mum, translating) that I should relax: he is trying to get my lunch meals to be free and my grades aren't important as long as I am passing, etc. It is very nice and he is right--I am more relaxed about school! Then we purchased my uniforms... at United Colors of Benetton. No joke. My school has customized United Colors of Benetton uniforms. After that I went with Burak and his friends to a coffee shop (apparently they do this a lot). From there we took a taxi down to a cafe on the Bosphorous where everyone was smoking hookahs and playing backgammon and drinking tea. It was the image that nearly everyone who hasn't been to Istanbul thinks of when they think of Istanbul. It was comical. We joined the crowd and relaxed for a few hours, chatting and laughing. When we returned to Nişantaşı we walked through the City's Nişantaşı mall and went to the arcade for a Turkish game that, I found out, was foozball. I was brought home by a couple of Burak's friends and ate some dinner and slept the sleep of the dead. I was so tired.

DAY FOUR: (Today)
I have posted on this blog. :)

Istanbul!!

I arrived on Saturday, August 29 in İstanbul Atatürk Airport at 16:45. After wrestling with all of my luggage I finally walked out of the arrivals gate to meet my host brother and host mother, Burak and Yasemin. They both held signs that made me smile. They read "Welcome to Istanbul!" and had the Rotary Youth Exchange Logo and a Turkish flag on them.

We then drove home through the middle of Istanbul and along the Bosphorous with me in the backseat, marveling at everything I saw. At one point we passed a Mercedes-BMW dealer on the right, a cruise ship on the left, a Turkish Coffee/Nargile Cafe, and then a battlement to a Byzantine castle.

Goodbye Can

To my host brother, Can--

I will miss you and we will visit each other often. It is nice that I am going to be in Turkey this year, so we will definitely see each other.

I'm so glad you came to our home; you touched us all. Thanks for all the great times (even the times where you annoyed the crap out of me).

I love you and now you're my older brother that I never had...

Goodbye Party/Happy 4th of July

The Goodbye Party was a blast!

Lots of people came, there was tons of food, and everyone had a good time!

Summertime and Sailing

Welcome to Summer and Sailing Season! I was at the pool today, enjoying the sunshine, when a thought struck me:

I am leaving in approximately (I had to look at my phone's calendar to figure this out) 80 days!

This may seem like a big number to you, but it isn't.

Summers always go by so quickly,

and I know that this will be no exception.

So, if you want to see me before I leave, you better come to my goodbye party (see previous post)!

Counting down the days...

Goodbye Party

Can Aran and Lexi Petter’s
Goodbye Party

To Contact The Petters and Can Aran: 616 335 2166

Date: July 3, 2009

Time: 2:00pm—12:00am.
Dinner at 6.

500 Blue Star Highway
South Haven, MI 49090
(Use MapQuest)

Say goodbye to Lexi and Can and wish them good luck in Turkey at this goodbye party—dancing, food, beach, music, and fun.

Can will be going to college in Ankara and Lexi will be spending a year in Istanbul on exchange.

RSVP to lexipetter@gmail.com.

My Host Family

I found out who my host family is going to be in Turkey!
I am in contact with my host mum, and her name is Yasemin Sümer. Her family lives in an area of Istanbul called Nişantaşı. I am going to go to a school that is literally a minute's walk away from my host family's house; it is called Ozel Isik Lisesi.
My host famliy sounds really friendly and I can't wait to get to know them better!

Savannah, Georgia

My mum, my two brothers, and I went to Savannah last weekend for a great trip! We had a blast and were really sad to have to come home; it was warmer in Savannah, dissimilar to the cold 9-degree weather of Michigan.

Disclaimer: Petter family vacations tend to revolve around food. :)

We arrived at somewhere around 3 in the morning on Saturday last week... (I don't remember it very well... I was sleepwalking a little bit, I think.) That day we visited Tybee Island, an island that's about 15 minutes away from our house that we were staying in Savannah. That night we ate at Cha Bella, an exceptional restaurant.

On Sunday we walked all around town in Savannah, sight-seeing and revisiting (in my case), places that are one of a kind. That day we ate lunch at a cafe called SoHo that had tasty natural foods. Dinner that night was very memorable: we ate at a restaurant called The Olde Pink House. This place had some history and some really wonderful food; it was some of the best food I've ever tasted, and that's saying something.

The next day we ate lunch at Mrs. Wilkes', a restaurant that made it into the book "1,001 Place To Visit Before You Die". The food is served family style and there are about 22 different dishes on the table at once! For dinner that night we had pizzas.... They weren't very good. But the restaurant's name was funny: Spanky's.

When we had to leave, on that Tuesday, it seemed like some otherworldly force was trying to stop us from making our return flight... Many incidents continued to occur--including detours, construction, and GPS malfunctions--attempted to make us miss our flight. But we made it just in time and got home safe and sound!

Savannah, Georgia is definitely a place that I recommend to visit. It is beautiful, full of history, a qwerky town with a mix between Old South and the art school that is spread across town, making Savannah a must-see vacation getaway.

My Destination: Turkey

On Thursday I found out that I'm going to Turkey for exchange! I'll leave in August and come back in July. I'm so excited!

International Dinner

Holland Rotary Youth Exchange Presents…

THE INTERNATIONAL DINNER

A Holland Rotary Youth Exchange event: Students will cook meals and put together entertainment from their home countries to raise money for their experience in America.

Saturday, February 7, 2009
Fellowship Reformed Church
300 N 168th Ave.
Holland, MI 49424
Buffet
6:00—8:00PM
Entertainment 7:00—9:00PM

Tickets sold in Holland Area
High Schools at the door.
Ticket cost:
Adult $20.
Student $10.
Child (5-10) $5.

Proceeds benefit Rotary Youth Exchange.

Tickets available from Rotary Exchange Students in Holland Area High Schools and may also be purchased at the door.

Lori Lambertenghi (West Ottawa)

Yuki Nakagawa (Black River)
Can Aran (Holland Christian)
Mark Niskanen (Black River)
Justo Insaurralde (Holland High)
Lexi Petter (Black River)

Gabby Russell (Black River)

My Best Friend Pia Dorn

Last night, I had to say goodbye to my best friend Pia Dorn of Bonn, Germany, after a semester of laughs, love, and hugs. We had great parties, fun get-togethers, and watched some good movies together.

I had tried not to think of what it meant for Pia to leave as the date, January 16, 2009, drew closer with each day. I would say to myself, "I'm not going to think about that now..." because I always get emotional about these types of things.

I'll never forget the great times I had with Pia, and will keep in touch with her forever.

Much love to you Pia.

My Host Brother

After a week and a half of having my new host brother, Can Aran, living in my house, I have learned a lot.

The most obvious thing I have learned is the fact that he is now the oldest kid in my family, instead of me. I am no longer the alpha, no longer 'The Princess' as my mum puts it. I am not the strongest, and I don't get front seat--shotgun--all the time anymore. I can't say that I like it, but I'm adapting to it. Or trying to adapt at least...

My brother, friend, and I pulled a minor prank on him this past weekend. He had told me that he didn't want to wake up early, that he wanted to wake up at 12:30, whereas I wished to wake at 8:30 and go to my (now our) grandparent's house. He said something along the lines of, "No, I want to sleep, and if you wake me up early--" because I had threatened that I would "--you will find out that I can be an angry brother."

So, of course, I was baited, and had to wake him up early.

We surrounded the walls of his room and beat on his walls, and yes, he was VERY angry.

Now I am awaiting payback... and am frightened.