Quite some time ago, some other exchange students and I took a trip to Milas, a smaller city a couple hours south of Izmir.
We went to the local high school and met some foreign language students. I had a fantastic time chatting with Melda, the girl that I would be staying with in Milas. The festivities began with us attending a language class. The exchange students were able to help a bit with English and German, and of course we had the chance to practice our Turkish. We had a traditional Turkish lunch and then headed to a center for disabled children to do some volunteer work.
In Turkey, people with disabilities whose families are unable to care for them live in special disability centers. The one that we visited was bright and welcoming with friendly residents and nurses everywhere. In typical Turkish fashion, our first activity was a dance party. We started with the Macarena, followed by all of the traditional Turkish songs. My new friends from Milas had fun trying to help me improve my belly dancing, and eventually everyone got on their feet. The residents had a fantastic time dancing with us, followed promptly by punch and cake. We then got to see the crafts that the residents make in their free time, and play for a bit in the rec room. We left the center to spend some time with the Milas kids we were staying with that night, and I got to meet Melda's family. I was treated to some truly wonderful köfte and conversation in English and Turkish with Melda and her sister Yelda. Everyone regrouped later that night for our German friend Soraya's birthday party. We went to sleep exhausted and got up early the next morning for a trip to Bafa Gölu.
After a short bus ride through Muğla, we arrived and had a giant breakfast on a balcony overlooking a lake with an ancient castle on an island at its center. The national park is comprised of a giant lake with ruins from early Christian civilizations. We explored the nearby trails and ruins, and proceeded to lunch at an Ottoman themed restaurant. We got to see some ruins back in Milas, and then it was time to say our goodbyes. Huge thanks to the kids at Milas Cumhuriyet Lisesi and especially Melda for the adventure and friendship!
In Turkey, people with disabilities whose families are unable to care for them live in special disability centers. The one that we visited was bright and welcoming with friendly residents and nurses everywhere. In typical Turkish fashion, our first activity was a dance party. We started with the Macarena, followed by all of the traditional Turkish songs. My new friends from Milas had fun trying to help me improve my belly dancing, and eventually everyone got on their feet. The residents had a fantastic time dancing with us, followed promptly by punch and cake. We then got to see the crafts that the residents make in their free time, and play for a bit in the rec room. We left the center to spend some time with the Milas kids we were staying with that night, and I got to meet Melda's family. I was treated to some truly wonderful köfte and conversation in English and Turkish with Melda and her sister Yelda. Everyone regrouped later that night for our German friend Soraya's birthday party. We went to sleep exhausted and got up early the next morning for a trip to Bafa Gölu.
After a short bus ride through Muğla, we arrived and had a giant breakfast on a balcony overlooking a lake with an ancient castle on an island at its center. The national park is comprised of a giant lake with ruins from early Christian civilizations. We explored the nearby trails and ruins, and proceeded to lunch at an Ottoman themed restaurant. We got to see some ruins back in Milas, and then it was time to say our goodbyes. Huge thanks to the kids at Milas Cumhuriyet Lisesi and especially Melda for the adventure and friendship!