Happy Anniversary. No. Not my wedding anniversary. That was back in February which, of course, both The Turk and I forgot. No this celebration marks the first year of the rest of my life. My new life. In Turkey. To be honest, I didn’t think we would make it, I mean just buying toilet paper can be difficult at times. But we have survived unscathed to tell the tale. Mostly.
Today is also the day that The Turk leaves for Australia. Yes one year ago today we arrived in Turkey and now one year later The Turk is leaving. Just for a short time. We hope. I think. He is tying up some loose ends over there but I suspect he will enjoy the First World lifestyle and I will probably have to go and bring him back (or not).
It has been a year of growth, not just for me but for Daughter too. Immersing herself in a new language, a new school and new friends. She has grown too. She is so tall now. Those long legs will never quit. She is more beautiful now if that is at all possible. The Turk wants to keep a cricket bat at the front door to swat at the boys that will no doubt soon come to call. I had to remind him that it is doubtful that we will even find a cricket bat here in Mersin (or in Turkey for that matter). And now she can swear in two languages (actually three as she can swear in Italian too – a proud parent am I).
The challenges of living in Mersin have been real and raw and exhausting. Dealing with homesickness, Turkish bureaucracy (read that as Turkish bullshit), school struggles, family loss, culture shock and everything else that comes along with moving to the other side of the world has brought me closer to the edge of insanity than I thought I would ever reach. My first trip by myself to the supermarket is a memory best forgotten. Or a spider bite that resulted in my needing 12 shots to survive (what the??) and my numerous, read that as hundreds, of trips to the Emniyet and Nufus to try and get visa’s, a kimlik and citizenship. Holy crap! Turkey will knock you for a six!
I must say I thank goodness for blogging. I can get my crazy out here, with you, rather than taking it out on others. You can either read it or, if you are sick of my rant, you simply close the page (after you “like” it of course). Easy.
Thank you to each of you who have supported us in our journey so far. I have made some great friends on here in the blogging world, people that I would never had had the opportunity to get to know unless I did write my blog. I have also found some real friends here in Mersin, expats like myself thrown into the deep end of hell trying to survive each day.
So let’s raise your glass – Şerefe!
_________________________________________________________________________
Loving this blog? Please help me build my audience and share with like minded people who, like you, feel that culture shock is a way of life and you love Turkey. You can also subscribe or like me on Facebook for all updates.
janeyinmersin 