Iraq and Back

My adventures as a preemptive love coalition intern

Back in Amsterdam

I feel like it is rather fitting that my last blog post of the summer be posted from the very same place that I posted my first update; in Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. 

I have finally reached “the west” and I’m half way home. Kind of. Half way home is actually somewhere over the Atlantic, I think, but since I can’t update my blog from the sky the airport in Amsterdam will have to do. And since I just completed the first of my two flights today I feel like calling this half way is ok. 

This last week and a half has been quite the blur. My internship was officially over on the 28th and I’ve been reeling ever since. Its hard to believe that 2 and a half months ago I was traveling to Iraq. As cliche as this sounds; it feels like yesterday that the internship was beginning. I cannot believe that it is over. It was bitter sweet leaving Suly, Iraq, and all the other interns and staff. I have been so shaped by all of those things that I didn’t ever want to leave. (Ma how do you feel about me living in Iraq permanently?) 

Lucky for me instead of coming home straight away I took a couple of days to myself to decompress in Istanbul. It was a glorious misadventure from the beginning and I have never had so much fun in my life. I did what I wanted, when I wanted and even got to eat cake for dinner. How’s that for being independent?!  It was nice having no agenda. In my opinion it is the best way to travel. So far its worked for me in two cities: Amsterdam and Istanbul.

In all seriousness Istanbul is an amazing city. It is the perfect blend of East and West. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect way to end my summer internship. It is most definitely a place that I want to go back to, but next time I want someone with me (any takers?). Traveling solo gets lonely fast but it allowed me lots of time for reflection. Which was ultimately helped me process some major events that occurred during my internship.

 But goodness knows I’m ready to be home. 

I’m going to miss this place

Cookin’ Tepsi

In my last post I very briefly mentioned the opportunity I got to learn how to cook tepsi, a dish that is a favorite here in Iraq. 

The whole adventure began with an invitation to dine with Awara and his wife Shoxan at their home. Then the female interns got invited to come over early so that we could learn how to cook the meal. I hemmed and hawed over the idea of going over early, but by the time the 17th rolled around I decided to go. The night definitely turned into to one of those “boy am I glad I did” kind of nights. 

Monique and I  had the opportunity to learn at the hands of a master chef and briefly partake in a community of great women. Besides learning how to cook tepsi and qaisee (an apricot dish) we had tons of fun just talking and hanging out. I have come to discover that the best place to learn a new language is in a kitchen. There isn’t much that doesn’t get talked about in a Kurdish kitchen…

I can now confidently say that I can make tepsi and qaisee…well the confidence part of that statement might be a stretch but I can definitely try. So get ready Mom and Dad because when I get home I’m makin’ tepsi!