My final week with the kids has come to a close. How does it feel? I feel relieved, to be honest, but also of course very sad to see this amazing and unique season of my life here coming to a close. I will miss these people, the incredible Bosphorus views I enjoy each day outside my suite and whenever I'm out in the city, the rich history here, enjoying the masterful dishes of a Turkish cook for lunch and dinner of my daily life, and just being somewhere I am being challenged and learning constantly, completely surrounded by people and a lifestyle so different from me and mine.
Some final pictures of these crazy kids I've spent more time with than any other humans this summer... :)
Denis with Ella's Barbie doctor glasses. The one on the right is a classic Denis face - "I'm so silly, aren't I!?"
Ella is doctoring her sick horse. The one on the left is a classic Ella face - "What I'm telling you is very interesting and important, isn't it?"
 |
| He did the classic face again. What a hunk of joy. |
To commemorate our last day together Ella and I pretended we were in a photo booth...
Ella's peace sign is struggling a little bit. Ha
I said my goodbyes to them Thursday night. Ella didn't seem to really understand that this goodbye was final. She kept saying, but we'll have another playdate soon! We talked about all the things we will do "when" she visits me on the farm. The goodbye for me was bittersweet. I was of course sad saying bye to this little girl I've bonded with so much, but I also felt a great contentedness because I know I have truly poured my all into her :)
Since my host mom and the two kids left, I've had the weekend to use however I liked. On Saturday I got to meet up with an au pair from Chicago who I met on the playground with Ella the week before I went to Bodrum. We kept wanting to meet up but unfortunately it didn't work out until Saturday, the day before I had to leave. We had such a great time together we both wished we had met sooner, but hope to meet again maybe in Chicago sometime :) Anyway, we found our way to the Church of the Holy Savior at Chora, which is rated #2 on Trip Advisor so even though it was very out of the way and somewhat difficult to get to (without taking a taxi), we decided it would be worthwhile, and it was! Our journey there was a hot and sweaty adventure at nearly 90 degree heat... This exterior met us when we finally reached our destination:
And the mosaics in the interior are what make this place so well-known and worthwhile to all its visitors. The church is considered to be one of the most beautiful surviving examples of a Byzantine church. During the Ottoman empire it was made into a mosque (like the Hagia Sophia), but lots of the mosaics have been recovered again today now that is a museum.
 |
| I didn't know what this mosaic in the dome was until I just now found it on Wikipedia (there were no English informational pamphlets). This is the resurrected Christ pulling Adam and Eve out of their tombs now that he has overcome the gates of hell! John the baptist, David, and Solomon are behind Adam, among other righteous kings. |
 |
| This shows John the Baptist on the right and the Virgin Mary on the left, making intercession for mankind at the Last Judgment. |
 |
| An awful picture thanks to my camera's inability to take pictures in dim lighting, but this is me and Aylin, the girl from Chicago I spent the day with :) |
 |
| One final shot of me in front of this magnificent view I've so thoroughly enjoyed. |
I'm headed home. I get to leave here at 2:30AM (Monday morning) for the airport, fly to Rome with a 3 hour layover, then get in at Detroit Tuesday around 3:30PM on Monday Ohio time. The crazy thing is, my summer traveling adventures are not ending. On Friday I'm leaving with Mom, Dad, and Alyssa for a grand road trip adventure to the Grand Canyon and a day in Las Vegas and back! It is going to be a blast. Nothing like catching back up with the family by spending every hour in a car together for two weeks! I love road trips. Then we get back August 23, and I move into Taylor the 25th. My life is going to be insane for the next month, but I am going to love it!
So I made this blog to document my travels from Ireland through Turkey, and now these travels have come to a close. What now? Should I keep using this blog to continue documenting my life, learning, adventures, and/or hobbies? Something to consider. I think there's a pretty good chance I'll keep using it, because even if no one else looked at it ever it helps me a lot to process and have some tangible way to remember my life. If you know me, you know I have one of the worst memories of any person who doesn't have dementia. Anyway, you'll hear from me again soon. :)
Love you all! Thanks for all your support and prayers through this incredible journey. The Lord has taught me SO much and challenged me hugely... I've needed every single one of those prayers. I have much more reflecting to do and as time goes on I'm sure I will see more clearly the ways I've grown and the specific things I've learned.
No comments:
Post a Comment