Ahh how I have missed constant internet

I have been doing internet things for the past like 5 hours. My host sister is enjoying her new computer so she has been doing the same thing. It reminds me of when my sister and I are together - we always end up on the computer.

<---This is Ataturk's Mausoleum. If you look closely at people's shadows, you will realize that those are in fact reflections. This place is seriously so clean that our shoes squeeked...

Theres a museum that runs under the actual mausoleum. It has everything from Ataturk's clothes, books, cars, tea sets, and pencils to full scale battle depictions of the evil Greeks who killed innocent Turks. Yay nationalism!


This place was referred to as the national "temple" by our program director. This coming from the same guy who says he changes religions during Ramazan (so he doesn't have to fast).

This painting below and to the left (shh...dont tell, you're not allowed to take pictures in the museum) is one of the many GIANT paintings given to Turkey from other countries. This one is depicting the hard working women who made sure everything went okay while the men were off fighting the war.










There are also many of these cavern like areas in the Ataturk museum. Each one has a different theme. The architecture kind of makes the place look like Dracula's castle or something.

One of the best parts about Turkey is the t-shirts:

All in all, it was an interesting trip into Turkish life. I have come to the conclusion that the real religion of Turket is not Islam but Ataturkism. My host sister says she is Buddhist for Christ's sake. No pun intended.

So last Friday we went to a "terrace party" at the Turkish American Association. It was 10 YTL to get in and for dinner and one drink. I don't think it was worth the 10 YTL, but it was fun to get dressed up and hang with the whole group.

Some decided to request some American music and start dancing. These two kids decided to join in. Then they preceded to crawl through our legs and hang on us leaving multiple footprints on Frank.

After the party we all went to a bar called Nefes. I went there the week before with my host sister, my friend Kristin and her host sisters, and then some others. They had an English band playing/singing. It was like medieval English music. Kind of neat, but got boring after a while. So I wasn't too excited to return to Nefes, but the four of us (in the picture) left and went to a better place. It's good to have some Turkish people around cause they can show you the good restaurants, cafes, etc and can also yell at strange children who tell you to die.

This last picture has no real purpose other than to show you that they have negro cookies here in Turkey.

I should head to sleep now, however, for I am going to Cappadocia tomorrow! I will be staying in a hotel that was carved out of a mountain. Ie, I will be sleeping in a cave this weekend. So I will be internet less yet again, but only until Sunday night.