Bureaucracy v. What I'll Miss

I swam through the murky, muddy waters of Turkish bureaucracy today, in a desperate attempt to get permission to visit the States in January. I got somewhat tangled in the insanity of it all - the arbitrary rules, the megalomaniac personalities, the darned language barrier which (perhaps fortunately) prevented me from expressing myself fully. But, as it goes, everything seemed to work out. Some tactful moves, a few stern statements, and a mostly level head pushed me through and saw that I got what was needed. In conclusion, I netted the deal. I'll be home January 14th through the 24th, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

I miss home - I really do - and a nice break to refocus the mind and the spirit ought to do me well. I'm half expecting a tea withdrawal as my daily intake is abruptly compromised from, say, 5 cups a day to 1 (maybe?). It'll also be quite strange to be in the presence of English speakers and non-smokers. I could go for a burger, too, but its not a worthy substitute for Turkish cuisine.

I've found myself recently surprised at how normal my surroundings have become. The call to prayer doesn't phase me as it did when I arrived (this happened in Cairo, too), and the idiosyncrasies of Turkish lifestyle are payed without heed. I know that when I leave for a longer amount of time, I will miss Turkey deeply. Yes, I'm happy to come home for this much needed break, but considering my more permanent departure is a deeply sad thought. When I'm feeling stressed and out-of-place, I need only pause for a sec and consider how lucky I am. To be greeted by the old minarets at the end of my street when I leave my flat in the morning, and to hear the streets awash with the call to prayer as the sun sets over the mountains. I know these are things I'll never expereince in the same capacity come June, and I yearn to hold onto a solid memory. It's kindling for future nostalgia, yessiree.

I'll leave you with an awesome final sentence. This weekend I'll celebrate the New Year in Istanbul.