Fight to Make it Home

So here it is, the street I'm living on for the next 4 months or so. It's not much to look at from this point but I'm telling you, a 3 minute walk or less puts me at the most amazing spot ever overlooking the Bosphorus. It's the most beautiful place I've seen in the world so far. I'll upload some pics of it when I can. Either here or on my fb page. 

So the process for getting my resident's permit here is slow and convoluted to say the least. Frustrating as well but those are the demons we deal with. So the earliest appointment I could get is on March 22nd, that means even if I wanted to, there is no leaving the country for me :). I'm a student prisoner... is this what boarding school feels like? Anyway, as soon as I go to that first appointment I have to go back in about 8 days or so, and they will have my permit for me. So as of about April 1st I am free to travel as I please. Until then there is much of Turkey to explore. I mean this place is huge! An hour and a half bus ride, and you're still in Itsanbul. Man its quite amazing. 

Next Monday we can register for our classes. I am hoping that I am able to get the ones I am looking at. Like all things Turkish, the registration process is chaotic as well. Thought you might enjoy some quotes from the orientation session we had yesterday. Here are some of the good ones:

American Kid #1: I have a tourist visa and it says that my visa will expire in 90 days on the stamp. My question is, when does it expire?

Boss Lady: That means you should leave the country in at most 89 days to be safe.
American Kid #2: Wait, I have a tourist visa as well but my question is a bit different. When does it expire?

American Kid: Is there anywhere I can buy bacon in this city
Auditorium: Clapping and laughing
American Kid: No I'm serious


Why does it seem like few of the Americans here lack common sense? I mean the visa process and whatnot isn't easy but come on... lol. Anyway, while everyone else is trying to make a bad name for us while they're here I've been trying to keep my mouth shut, listen and learn. My Turkish is rubbish at best at this point but I've been able to survive the bazaar, shopping, ordering and the like so far so I think I'll survive at least.


I also was able to get my bag back from the airport on what my beard was telling me was the 6th day without it. It is nice to have one's things. While I had all my essentials with me in some carry on luggage, it was comforting to know things were not missing from my life so to speak. This recent blessing comes as no surprise to me as God has seen fit to rest me in the palm of his hand during this time in Turkey. Blessings and mercy have been showered at an alarming rate. I sense a purpose here. As though there is something to be accomplished in this place. I know I have a lot of growing, maturing, and evolving to do here and I get the feeling that something is happening here that will change my life. So I pray for the changes and challenges to come and that I have strength enough to see them through. I'm fighting, I am warring against the things that would keep me from the man God has intended. There are some forces over which I have no control but I will fight through.