My third trip to Turkey, and to Izmir, the first one without Nur. I feels  strange. I feels familiar. Nadiye met me at Izban station and when to her home.

Some legal stuff in the morning, then walked to the bay and sat to think. A voice said hope on a dolmus and go ‘home.’  I walked back and got the keys, took my 2.5 TL and went to stand in the street to hop on the minibus to Bornova, I looked out the window and watch the familiar and exotic scene. I saw the grocery store and knew it was my stop. I walked the 100 meters to Nur’s home, our home.

Should this be my home?

Will I be the last American to move to Turkey? I find so many friends and family it seems strange not to be here. Nur and I were going to travel more. Without her there is not as much of US to be seen. Once I have seen Yellowstone and Denali I’m done with north america.

Turkey has the challenge of being a new language and culture I have the gift of now being 1/2 into this world, I feels like a opening up of self ,to get out and see something new.  I wonder if I’m doing just what Nur did when Steve died? Leave the country. Only this time I’m going the other way.

So I’m trying this living in Turkey for a bit, Istanbul was great fun, but is so big. Izmir is easy for me to manage on my own. Airport Metro, izban, buses, dolmas , bike run — I’m fully mobile. The market, bakal , and restaurants all are within my capability. Basic communication is ok, Now can I navigate more difficult conversations and get to a point of have meaningful  dialog?

How does this compare with living in america, staying in Portland?

I know living it Turkey for a few years would be a much better story to tell.

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