11:45p.m. CST/7:43 a.m. Istanbul time on July 12 or 13??? Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, changing time zones at a rapid pace.
The captain of our flight to Istanbul says the trip will take about 10 hours and 15 minutes……seriously. But here is the awesome part – no one is sitting in 2 of the 4 seats in my section, so I can make a bed, and I get to eat 2 meals and a snack. Just the airplane itself, a product of Turkish Airways, is its own cultural experience. I was greeted at the front door of the plane by a beautiful Turkish woman handing me my toothbrush, sleep mask, warm socks, pillow and blanket. Turkish music is playing, Turkish wine is served, and I am pumped. My neighbor in my section is Ozgur, a really nice and soft-spoken Turkish man from Istanbul. He says that Istanbul is the most beautiful city in the world, and I believe him. He also says that I eat too fast. I inform him that I am from Texas and he says “Is makes sense.”
I have met several of the other tour members so far, and I am convinced that they are going to be a really fun group. James (from Irving) was nice enough to give us all kettle popcorn seasoned in salt and vinegar…..yum! The two tourists I met from Seattle were very cool as well. After sitting down with them and swapping teaching stories, it became evident that this profession is pretty much the same, no matter where you teach.
I just finished dinner and I think I am going to attempt to sleep in an airplane. Wish me luck. When I wake up it will be Monday afternoon in Istanbul. Let the games begin.
Blog Playlist:
The Sun Ain’t Shining No More; Across the Universe by Jim Sturgess; Lake Michigan by Rogue Wave; Sleep by Azure Ray
Factoid: St. Nicholas is from Turkey.
The captain of our flight to Istanbul says the trip will take about 10 hours and 15 minutes……seriously. But here is the awesome part – no one is sitting in 2 of the 4 seats in my section, so I can make a bed, and I get to eat 2 meals and a snack. Just the airplane itself, a product of Turkish Airways, is its own cultural experience. I was greeted at the front door of the plane by a beautiful Turkish woman handing me my toothbrush, sleep mask, warm socks, pillow and blanket. Turkish music is playing, Turkish wine is served, and I am pumped. My neighbor in my section is Ozgur, a really nice and soft-spoken Turkish man from Istanbul. He says that Istanbul is the most beautiful city in the world, and I believe him. He also says that I eat too fast. I inform him that I am from Texas and he says “Is makes sense.”
I have met several of the other tour members so far, and I am convinced that they are going to be a really fun group. James (from Irving) was nice enough to give us all kettle popcorn seasoned in salt and vinegar…..yum! The two tourists I met from Seattle were very cool as well. After sitting down with them and swapping teaching stories, it became evident that this profession is pretty much the same, no matter where you teach.
I just finished dinner and I think I am going to attempt to sleep in an airplane. Wish me luck. When I wake up it will be Monday afternoon in Istanbul. Let the games begin.
Blog Playlist:
The Sun Ain’t Shining No More; Across the Universe by Jim Sturgess; Lake Michigan by Rogue Wave; Sleep by Azure Ray
Factoid: St. Nicholas is from Turkey.
No comments:
Post a Comment