Pizza, Pasta, and Flooding

I know, I know. So many people have asked me why I don't go somewhere different, experience new things, etc. Really...honestly... this is my vacation. I feel so relaxed and at home in this part of the world that when the opportunity arises, in my mind, all other options seem silly. Each trip back to Italy is different and I feel that I learn something new about myself, as well as remind myself of who I am and who I want to be.

Joanie and I flew into Venice after a quick pit stop in Munich (just enough time for a beer and pretzel). Ahhh...Venice. I love that city. Rain or shine, I think it is hands down my favorite. Our first day we wandered the canals, ate loads of carbs, attended a string orchestra concert that night, and had a simply wonderful first day.

We hopped on a train bright and early our second day for a day trip out to Verona. Romeo and Juliet... another great city! The only problem...snow. It was so cold that after about a half of day of being a Megan popsicle, we decided to head back to Venice and have a nice dinner and head to bed early. 

sending my letter to Juliet

Oh...but things never go as planned.

after nearly 5 hours stuck on the train!

the wonderful dinner we had been looking forward to. 

Celebrating after our 8 hour adventure...

The "oh shit, that's a lot of water" moment 

Finally making it back to the hotel and attempting to thaw my legs.

It was quite the day. When we did finally manage to make it back to the Venice train station, we were greeted with flooding up to my knee. After about 2 hours, 2 vaparettos, worries that we were going to have to swim, and a 10 minute walk in freezing water (there were literally chunks of ice floating in the water) we had finally made it back to the hotel. Ahhh....but wait, there's more! The power was out, which meant no heat and no hot water. So we simply continued to be popsicles for the rest of the night.

Day 3 was much better. 

Off to Florence! You know, we did the usual. Walk to the top of the dome and walk around the river. Valentines Day was wonderful because we got into all of the museums half price! Sweet deal! We enjoyed a great meal that night and just had decently warm time. 

I WILL live here someday!

shedding a tear because it's Valentine's Day, but then remembered I was in Italy and couldn't be happier!

Onward to Milan! My first time in Milan and it was quite the city. For a fairly broke teacher, such as myself, I felt there wasn't all that much to do, but to eat and walk (not a problem since I love to do both!). Now if I did have money...watch out. Talk about shopping. Someday, when I a fabulously rich and famous teacher, I will return to Milan and just go crazy!

A wonderful trip, even with a few twists and turns. I desperately hope I get to go back again real soon! In the mean time, I will have to survive on dreams of pizza and macchiatos. 

Ankara

Huh...this actually makes it sound like an interesting place.

Safranbolu

Another great weekend out of Ankara was exactly what I needed to remind me of just how fortunate I am to be living abroad. We drank lots of cay and walked around the market. I had my first experience with a hamam (Turkish bath) that left me in tears I was laughing so hard. As I lay there (after an argument with the hamam lady so that she would let me keep my bathing suit on) I couldn't help but giggle at this old tradition and how unsanitary it felt. They scrub you down until there is but one very thin layer of skin left and then dump buckets of water to rinse you off. Keep in mind that this is simply done in a community room and that the lady scrubbing was wearing very little at all.  I've been told that in the old days, Turkish women would use the hamam as a place to scout out potential wives for their sons. I was thinking about this while losing layer upon layer of skin and what it would've been like to know that everyone was watching you.

The next day we hired a driver to take us to a tiny village not far from Safranbolu. Here we had just enough time to be welcomed into an old Ottoman style house where I was pinched and groped by an elderly Turkish lady. I tried to say a few things to her in my broken Turkish and she just thought that it was amazing. She was very sweet and we ended up enjoying some cay and baclava in her house. The whole weekend was quite the experience and I am looking forward to doing more weekends away this year.

Istanbul (take 1 & 2)

After a year in Turkey, I finally made it out to Istanbul! And what a city! Its so busy and alive. The first weekend was for the Red Hot Chili Pepper Concert and the second was to watch a swing dance competition. I have yet to follow the guide book, but figure I've still got plenty of time. Both trips were wonderful weekends and I'm looking forward to getting to know this complex but exciting city!

Hoşgeldiniz

Welcome to my new Kindergarten classroom! It's been a busy couple of months but I feel like I am finally falling into a routine. I've been blessed with an incredible group of students this year and can't wait to watch them grow and learn.

Çay İstiyorum

This was a video my principal shared at a staff meeting this year. I feel like it really gives you a sense of Turkey!

Aviano, sweet Aviano

I actually became very anxious before heading back to Aviano this time. I started to worry that my friends wouldn't have time to see me, that I would get bored being alone, or that it just wouldn't be the same. And yes, of course it's not the same as when I was there for student teacher. I've changed and grown over the past year, probably more so than during any other time in my life. I enjoyed my days of walking around the city and simply drinking my macchiatos and reading for hours on end. I took naps and just enjoyed my beautiful surroundings. Then meeting up with friends after they all got off work was wonderful. I forgot how much they became like a family to me and how much I really miss them. I tagged along with old and new friends to the beach for a weekend and had an absolute blast!

the view of Aviano from one of my many walks :)

Meeting up with Susan and spending the day at Aviano Elementary reminded me (again) of how I desperately hope I will end up in the DoDDS system. Someday. Hopefully soon! Sometimes I wish I wasn't such a daydreamer. I could get so much done if I wasn't dreaming of what my perfect future would look like! Speaking of...I found my dream house while walking around Aviano. Here it is!