I've Come to Take You Home

OK. I am home. I am in Brooklyn, safe and sound, feeling like I never left. And feeling completely different. I had a nice easy trip home, despite a random search which ended well because I had Fenerbahce (go Fenerbahce!) soccer memorabilia in my bag. I did lose (lose??) my hairdryer in the multiple searches of my bags. I suppose that isn't bad and it had a European plug anyway.

So, I had my State Department Oral Assessment (OA) in DC on Friday. This was not my Turkish exam - that is a month away. I had no jet lag which was really helpful as this is a killer "interview" - I got there at 7am and left at 4pm. I did lose my head for a bit the day before and put a paper bag with my bagel and full cup of coffee in my handbag with all my application papers. The damage was not too excessive, luckily. I blame it on the fact that I have not been able to walk around with coffee on a regular basis for some time, so of course I forgot I had a cup with me. Maybe?

Anyway, I took this OA thing which is the monster final exam that gets you into the Foreign Service and hallelujah, I passed again. This is a major relief as it buys me a LOT of time to continue with Turkish. IF I do not pass my Turkish test at the end of the month, I will have another chance to take it again in 6 months time. I would not have had that option if I didn't pass the OA on Friday. And, as it was why I came back home from Istanbul, I feel sort of efficient. Like, OK, came back for this, check, next thing. Which is find some work. Which is go to jury duty. Which is head to Cape Cod and pick up the bulk of my belongings. Which is continue studying Turkish....

Well, all or any of you out there,thanks for spending some time with me in Turkey. I really enjoyed myself and don't think my time there is over. I can still feel the pull, I really can...

Gule Gule - Melissa