down to the last week

I have 7 days and about 17 hours left in the states. Pretty crazy to think that this time last year I was just starting to think about and research studying abroad. I found some really cool programs, like one that was half the year in the Netherlands and the second half in South Africa. For some reason, I ended up picking Turkey. Maybe it was because of the Islam class I was taking last fall, or maybe because I thought it would help me get a job. Now I am about to embark on this crazy journey and I haven't even thought about packing yet. I think I am trying to push my departure date as far back as possible by not thinking about it. I don't think its working...

I finally got the list of all the other kids going with me this Fall. We started a facebook group and have been talking off and on. Most seem pretty cool. There are only a few others staying for the whole year, but they seem nice so far. I wonder if I would feel differently if I was only going for a semester. 10 months sure is a long time.

In other news, that hoopla about the drought was a little exaggerated. Apparently Ankara has enough water to last for a year. The mayor made a bad judgment call by cutting the water off. So I should have water the whole time I am there. Who knows.

Also in other news - Another Turkish Airlines plane was hijacked last week. Two guys, one a Turkish nationalist, tried to get into the cockpit unsuccessfully, then demanded the plane go to Iran. The pilot then landed in Turkey claiming he had to refuel. The hijackers said women and children could go, but instead, everyone bum rushed the exit and ran across the pavement to safety. The hijackers apparently did not have any guns, but were in possession of a strange box wrapped in plastic? Some thought it was a bomb. Pretty sure it wasn't though.

Even more other news - The guy running for president that caused so much trouble earlier this summer failed to get the "yes" from the first and second rounds of voting this week. The Parliament elects the President, versus the general public. Gul's last chance is next week. He only needs a simple majority to win, and its quite probable he will win. When he does win, it will be interesting to see what the military does - will they do as they said and do anything to keep Turkey secular?