Bayram

This past week, due to the sacrificial Muslim holiday, we enjoyed a 5 day weekend! Since the holiday fell right before payday, and everyone was low on funds, we stuck around in Ankara.

On Saturday, some friends (Rachel, Amy, and Jilly) hosted a Halloween themed party. The night before we were mistakenly informed that we could only purchase liquor that evening, so we rushed off in our pajamas (as if we don’t stand out already) in search of supplies. We were, obviously, over eager to celebrate one of my favorite holidays! Randi, also, spent much of that evening making a lady bug costume out of a sheet and tissue paper. I, the less creative one, dressed up as a cheeky kitty! We had a lot of fun celebrating Halloween and afterwards went out dancing, minus the costumes!

During our holiday we spent quite a bit of time shopping, watching movies, reading (we’re in a “Game of Thrones” unofficial book club!) and exploring the city with friends. On Sunday, after Randi witnessed our neighbors slaughtering a cow from our window, we decided to remain indoors.

Randi and I visited our first Hamam, a Turkish bath. We were surprised by the lack of modesty amongst the Muslim women, but I guess amongst other women their levels of exposure are far more relaxed. Good thing we’re not too modest! I am pro-boob lifts after the experience and there were some sights I wish I hadn’t seen! While lying on marble platforms, we received body scrubs. I have a phobia of dead skin. I can’t even be around friends who are peeling due to sunburn! So having dead skin shaved off of my body and then having to turn around and lie in it was an issue for me. After that ordeal, we returned to the main room and rinsed ourselves off with bowls of hot water. Next, we received a bubble (bath soap) message. This was much more enjoyable for me, except for the part where the lady got soap in my eyes and threw buckets of water over my head. Randi found this a little less enjoyable as she had to grasp the edge of the marble platform for fear of being shoved headfirst onto the floor. Still, Randi intends to go every month; I’m thinking one or two more times before I leave. Next time I won't wear my contacts, which should help with the unfavorable views and the soap in my eyes.

~ Stacy