Group pic on wall
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Ataturk
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City Center
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Reading Tom's fortune
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Playing BS
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Turkish Tradition
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Group Picture in Museum
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Group Picture!
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Balekesir

Hey Everyone!

Everything has been great! I can't believe that there are only two weeks left of the summer. The kids these last few weeks have been great, they have been from Israel, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Belgium. Yesterday was one of the best days of the summer!

Kids from three weeks ago invited us to their home in Balekesir, Turkey. It is about two hours away by bus. Yesterday we woke up at 6 and got ready and were off to the bus station. We left on our bus at around 9 and got into Balekesir at 11am. The kids were there waiting for us and were so excited to see us. We went from there to their school. Their school was amazing! It was huge and very very nice. It was so cool to have them show us around their school. After the school we went on our way to the city center. Throughout our trip they showed us where they hang out and what they usually do in their everyday life. Then we made our way to one of their homes.

We went to Ece's home for lunch, where her mom made a huge feast! It was like a Turkish thanksgiving! It was so nice, she made SO much food that was so good. While their, two of their friends showed up who wanted to meet us. Supposedly the entire town knew we were coming and two of their friends wanted to help show us around. It is a Turkish custom that your guests can not lift a finger, so they wouldn't let us get our own food or pour our own drinks they had to do it all. It was so weird, but so nice. After eating we talked and talked and then played BS, a card game we play alot here at camp! After that we went back out and about.

They first wanted to take us to their very old and large clock tower, and then to a mosque. It was our first time at a mosque and it was a very interesting experience. After that we made our way to the top of the city. Asude's dad drove us up to the highest point of the city where there is a statue of the first Turkish president, Ataturk. It was a nice view and alot of fun. After that we made our way back into the city to shop and get some ice cream. The ice cream place was really fun and seemed like a modernized version of a 50s ice cream parlor. After that we made our way to a place where they always play tennis. We played some tennis, played cards, talked and they taught us some more Turkish. It was really fun. After that we went back to Ece's for dinner, another GREAT home cooked meal, amazing really. We hung out and played a game called Okay which is like a card game but not with cards, it's with tiles and scrabble like boards. I will bring a set back. It's fun. After that we made our way back to the bus station.

It was really interesting through the day to hear the kids talk about what they learned about at camp and what they got from it. They remembered alot of space stuff but they got more from it too. They are always talking to their friends from Bulgaria and from Lebanon and also got more confident with their English. They said the first day of camp they didn't understand a word we were saying because we talked faster then their teacher in highschool and just different then their high school teacher. But after the first day they said they understood us and when they got back were much more confident in their English after speaking it with native speakers, that they started teaching more English to their friends back home. It was really great to see what they got out of just six days of camp and what stuck with them at home and how much we were able to influence their lives for the better.

When all was done they walked us back to the bus station and started saying their goodbyes. One of them said that she will always be waiting for us to come back. Their parents invited us to stay in their summer home on the coast anytime we want. Turkish hospitality is well known but I didn't really understand it until this. They are the nicest people. It was a great day that I will never forget!

--Matthew