I have to have one of these costumes for next Halloween

The best commercial on tv is for Turkcell which is the main cell phone company. Their mascots are these creepy little kids dressed up in yellow and black outfits who go around spreading the word of how great life is with a Turkcell plan. I love.

And they say Virginia is for lovers

There is a lot of teenage love around here. I swear for every 13 year old kiz, there is a 13 year old olgan right beside her. Maybe I haven't been around American teenagers in awhile but it seems like these kids are way more affectionate than I would see at home. Lots of hand holding, arms around each other, making out in the park....it's freakin cuuuttttee.

Alacete

There is a city about 45 minutes from Izmir called Alacete where everyone moves to during the summer, rents beach houses, opens up restaurants and stores and parties for 3 months. This time of year it is nearly empty with almost all of the stores closed and the beaches completly deserted. I'm not exactly sure why because it is still 70 degrees and sunny but I love going there because it is so peaceful and beautiful.

You want an O with 2 dots on top. No problem.

I've reprogrammed by brain so now I can type on an American keyboard and a Turkish keyboard with the same speed and accuracy. You would think that changing long ago learned habits like spelling my name (in Turkish there is an i with a dot and an i without a dot) would be a problem but it's not. I rule.

Kaufer

I just got my hair washed and blown out at the hairdressers for $7.