Settling in

The reality that I'm going to be gone for 4 months seems to be setting in.  I still feel as if I'm on vacation, which makes sense since I've only ever been away from home for 2 or 3 weeks at most, since a plane flight away is always followed by a relatively quick return, since a trip is just a trip and nothing more.  This summer, I never took time to consider how long 4 months could really be; I was determined to avoid thinking about any aspect of the trip, preferring instead to enjoy the summer fully, setting up for a blind jump into this journey when the time arrived, in hopes of being as surprised as possible.  I don't regret my summer strategy, but it has made the beginnings of this transition a little more difficult then they might have been if I had been more prudent with my mental preparation.

Nonetheless, I can feel myself easing into this new reality every day, finding my balance with subtle shifts and steps, probing out the steady ground in my new surroundings, reading my own feelings to see what feels right.  As I continue to explore Istanbul, to forge new friendships with my group members, to dive into another semester of classes, to practice Turkish, to meet Turks, to read, to take pictures, to seek out new foods, to devour said foods, to swim in the Bosporous, to study Middle Eastern politics, geography, and history, to stake out more of myself as I trek through this new place, to settle in myself as well, I know that this trip will make me more of who I am meant to be.

Apologies for throwing down such a heavy post, but I needed to get the weight of those thoughts off of my mind, onto paper where I can pick through them myself with the attention and nimbleness their weight prevents me from wielding.  All said, my excitement for this trip grows every day, even when the doubts and pangs of this new reality well up in me, they do recede as I think about all that this trip will be.

Until next time,
Your Favorite Luker

Safe and Sound in Constantinople

I made it here in one piece, legs and knees only moderately sore after being trapped on airplanes and in airports for a day and a half.  My right leg fell asleep completely on a number of occasions, but some improvised calisthenics at 30,000 ft. saved me from the certain fate of falling on my face during deboarding.  I am exhausted, tired to the bone, so tired I feel nauseous and dizzy and weak and tired, 36 hours removed from my last wink, almost too tired to sleep.


My exhaustion only serves to heighten the surreality of finding myself here, finally here at the outset of my journey, boots on the ground in the first country on my itinerary, Turkey, getting ready to crash in Constantinople, the only city in the world to straddle two continents, Europe and Asia, East and West.  From our drive in, I'd have to say that Istanbul reminds me of California, probably most reminiscent of San Francisco.  Mediterranean climate with palm trees and conifers, the Bosporous cutting into the city just like San Francisco bay, red shingled houses scattered across the hills; it is a beautiful city with ancient, old and new architecture standing side by side, remnants of the Ottoman empire rising next to the newer buildings of Boğaziçi University.  


We are currently housed in the Superdorm on the residential campus of Boğaziçi University, about a half hour walk from the main, south campus where we will take our classes for the next three weeks or so.  Tomorrow we have a full day city tour, which is sure to be fascinating, and guaranteed to be too long for me, considering the amount of travel fatigue I still feel on my first morning here.  


Well I just wanted to let everyone know that I made it here safely, without any major problems beyond sore knees and jet lag.  Still can't believe that I will be traveling for 4 months, a time away 8X greater than any time I've ever been away before.  I know that I will miss all of you back home immensely, but I know that this time away, on my own, will make me a stronger, wiser person for all of you.  I had intended this to be a short post, but clearly my long wind is blowing.  Take care all.  I'll talk to you soon!


Love,
Luke

Last night stateside

Here we go.  I'm leaving tomorrow, setting off on a new adventure after the best summer of my life.  I'm  beyond excited to go, but I do not want to leave.  Strange to be caught between those two sentiments, eager for the new, but still so hesitant to leave my home and more importantly, the people I love.   I'm in limbo.  I can't even begin to imagine my trip and I can't even begin to believe that I will not be home tomorrow. 

It's time to change the rhythm of my life, and just like when the songs change on the radio, I know it'll take me a beat or two to get my feet tapping in rhythm again.  I know that I'm excited, but I know I don't want to leave, and I can't articulate the feeling of that paradox with any further detail.

International travel is always such a bizarre, jarring experience.  And I honestly believe that no amount of mental preparation can smooth out the bumps in such a crazy transition; falling asleep in your own bed one night, and waking in another country a day and a half later, 5000 miles from home, off your moorings floating abroad in a strange, new place.

I am eager for the strangeness, hopeful for the new experiences I am sure to have, but I am still not ready to end the best summer of my life.  It will take me awhile to get my rhythm, but I know I'll find the groove, and I know that the next four months are sure to be incredible.  I'll make sure to keep all of you posted.

Peace and love,
Luke

Corrected Schedule Links

Not confident that the links in the last post will work for any of you, so I've posted again with links directly to the Google documents.  You will probably need to sign in to your Google account, or create a Google account if you don't already have one, in order to view the monthly schedules.  Please post comments on the blog to let me know if the new links work for you.

August
September
October
November
December

Again, please let me know via comment on the post if you are unable to view the links.  Good luck and enjoy!

The next 4 months of my life

Yo,I've listed links to all of these schedules on the TIME 2010 group website,
http://stolaf-time-2010.blogspot.com/
for those of you who don't know already.  But, I thought I'd throw the links up here as well.  Check 'em out.  That's what I'll be up to for the next four months of my life.  Hope you enjoy the day-to-day details of where I'll be and what I'll be doing. 

Links to Monthly Schedules (click to download):
August

September

October

November

December


Also check out my flight itinerary if you're interested.  Can't wait to cram my 6'8" frame into the economy class for this many hours of flight time.  Whoopee.

Eight Days Away

What's up everybody,
This will be my personal blog for my semester broad in the Middle East.  As many of you already know, I'll be visiting Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt, followed by 10 days in Israel.  I am also managing a more general blog for the entire TIME St. Olaf Group.  You can follow that blog at:

http://stolaf-time-2010.blogspot.com/

As I said this blog will contain info about my own personal experiences on the trip.  I will also include some photographs on the blog, but if you want to check out a more complete collection of my mid-east photos, head on over to my flickr page at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lukearoundtheworld/

Well, that's all for now.  I am bailing in 8 days, so stay tuned for some sweet stories and some cool pics. 

Peace,
Luke