Turkey, Istanbul

The trip to Turkey was one of the most amazing trips and experiences of my life. I realized even more how deep my passion for the Middle East truly is. The history, the music, the culture, the people. All these things intrigue me about that part of the world.

Istanbul is made up of two big parts, the Asian side and the European side. Both sides have their own feel, their own ambiance. The European side is also what used to be the Ottoman empire and also known as Constantinople. The history on that side is more then one could ever imagine. The Asian side is made up of a more westernized elegance, with shops, and fancy houses and cars. (speaking of cars, everyone in Turkey loves to honk their horns.. its incredible) There are 7 islands that are all very different, and unfortunately I was only able to do one of them. No motor vehicles are allowed on the island, so the only way to get around is by, Horse and buggy, bike or walking. This island had mansions, and churches, and views that would make anyone go, WOW!

This time I only had a week so I was only able to do Istanbul, but I got to see and learn a lot. I went into a few different mosques while I was there and I am so happy I took that Islam class last semester. I knew what to do, and what not to do. For instance, I knew to bring a sweater (even though it was 21C and about 70F out) because I know walking into a Mosque with a tank top on would not be appropriate and I knew that woman pray separately from the men and not to pry behind the partisans unless I myself wanted to go back there and pray and for sure not to walk up to close to the alter, because that is where the men pray.

I loved that I got this experience and that even in that week my appreciation for others has been able to intensify to amounts that in any other circumstances may not have happened. I was able to apply what I have learned these last few years in just this week. I don't speak Turkish and because the trip was so last minute learning even the basics would have been a challenge, so I went with not only little knowledge of what to expect but with no knowledge of the language, I did how ever go with an understanding of the Turkish culture because of a recent class I took and I have some understanding of Islam (which is the religion of Turkey). Having to use not just my words, but watch my tone, and use my body language to be understood was an amazing experience. Some might have gotten annoyed or would have just moved on to someone else who might have spoken English a little better but I pressed on, and ended up getting exactly what I needed in the end.

The Turkish people are some of the nicest people I have ever met, with of course the typical Middle Eastern temper. I didn't meet anyone whom I didn't like, and who was not as helpful as they possibly could be.
The food was amazing, the music was fantastic, and the elegance of the city was unbelievable. I will go back for sure.

To view pictures go to,
http://picasaweb.google.com/Sara.Avadarian/TurkeyIstanbul2009?feat=directlink

Påsk

So I thought it might be a good idea to compare Easter traditions. (Påsk means Easter in Swedish for those of you who didn't know.) In Sweden as well as in the U.S a lot of candy is eaten! And eggs are died fun colors. The thing that is different if how we get that candy as children and what happens with the eggs after their died.

In the U.S children dress up in their fancy Easter outfits, hunt for Easter eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden. When we wake up Easter morning we usually get Easter baskets brought by the same bunny with lots of candy inside! Easter dinner usually consists of Lamb (well in my family anyway) with of course the twice backed potatoes and green beans.

In Sweden it is a little different. Easter dinner is so good, we ate Kötbullar (meat balls), Korv (Sausage), and something with potatoes. Mmmm so good! The trees are decorated with colorful feathers and don't forget the Påskkäring (Easter Witch). Children dress up and go around collecting candy from their neighbors. There is of course lots of candy, and colored eggs, but the what is done with the eggs is really cool. The inside is blown out and used to make waffles or pancakes and then the shell is colored. Some are hard boiled and drawn on instead of colored. So I am sure you are wondering.. what has Easter have to do with Witches? Well..

It's a silly superstition but this is the history. People believed that witches were especially active back in the day and their black magic was especially powerful during holy week (which starts on Palm Sunday). They were thought to fly off on their brooms to consort with the devil in a place called "blåkulla", returning the following Saturday.

On the Easter morning people usually were a little hesitant to start a fire in their fireplaces. This was because it was thought that the Easter Hags got caught in the chimneys on their way home from Blåkulla and if you sent smoke up the Easter Witchs would come into your home. To be really sure that the chimney was free from magical beings you had to burn 9 different types of trees.

So I hope this helps you a little bit in understanding the differences in celebrating. One thing is the same though, Christians in both places celebrate Christs resurecction and are thankful for his sacrifice. I went to a church service here in Sweden and it was the same message, He is risin, He is risin indeed!

The beginings of Spring

The flowers are in bloom, the birds are up early and the best part of it all, the sun is out! You know spring is coming in Sweden when the sun comes up at 6 a.m and doesn't think about going down until at least 7.30 p.m.

I love Sweden in the Spring. Walking around you see people sitting outside enjoying their Fika breaks, soaking in the suns rays. You see people smiling, going for walks and riding their bikes. People change in the Spring time, there is a happy to be alive feeling everywhere. Maybe it's just me, but just seeing that the sun is up when I get up, makes me more excited to start my day.

The air is filled with the smell of fresh cut grass, barbecues, flowers and sweets and lucky for me because I am close to the lake, I can smell the water. There is nothing like it, and I love every second of it.

My brother Alex comes to visit

I had so much fun this week! Alex came over to visit, and since he had never been to Sweden before I wanted to show me as much as I could in only a week. I think I succeeded with our visits to, Stockholm and Gränna. And of course all of Jönköping including but not limited to our Max, Ikea, John Bauer Museum, and our beloved Råslätt! It was so much fun getting to show him where I live, teach him a little Swedish, and having him meet all my friends here, it was truly a great week!

Stockholm!

Sweden's Capital and one of the most amazing big cities here in Sweden. It has so many things to do and see and is beautiful too! I love Stockholm :)

We took so many pictures, but here are just a few.

Gränna
This place is known for there polkagris (peppermint candy) which was first made in 1859 by a poor widow named Amalia Eriksson. You can watch them make it and when you walk into a store that sells it, it smells like heaven! I will be going back this summer for sure to hopefully take one of there air-balloon trips and to go to the island of Visingsö. This small town was so cute, and has so much history, I cant wait for the summer.

We found this great little 50's diner to have lunch in, it was so cool and the food was amazing!

Polkagris!

Max!
You can't come to Sweden and not have a Max hamburger!

And you have to have lunch at Ikea!

John Baur Museum

John Baur was born in Jönköping in 1882, so he is a legend around here. He first illustrate the fairytale book Bland tomtar och troll (Among elves and trolls) in 1907. The illustrations would eventually make him Sweden’s favorite fairytale artist. He was artistically wealthy and painted monumental frescoes, wrote fairytale plays for children and wrote a libretto for the ballet Bergakungen (The Mountain King). His sketches are amazing, his stories are moving and his illustrations are my favorite!

Jönköping!

Yup this is where I get to live!!

Fjällstugan

Fjällstugan!

I was so excited, Nadia invited me to her church on Saturday and Sunday this past weekend. I had been praying to find a church that had young people going. Here in Sweden Christianity is unfortunately not very popular among young people. God answered and I went!

It was great. Saturday was Komma Hit, a lot of young people gathered and we had fika, there was live music, we sang praise songs and prayed together. I know what you're going to ask, "wasn't it in Swedish?" well yes, yes it was! But I understood most of what was being said, and most of the praise songs we have in English. It was so nice to be with other Christians and of course meeting some new amazing people.

Sunday was regular service and the guest speaker was actually a teacher we had one day this semester! They had a dedication of 2 different babies that morning. It was so moving, and they were so cute! It was a really good service! Again it was in Swedish, but I understood most of it and I had my friends Julius, and Erik to help me with the words I really didn't know.

Typical Swedes? Only in Sweden!

So I love Sweden and I love these Crazy Swedes but their Culture is very different from the American culture (even the Swedish culture I grew up in and around), some things I knew and some I never noticed before, so I was thinking I should note a few examples! :) Remember, these aren't ALL Swedes, just a few typical/common differences that I have encountered and have heard about since being in Sweden.

• I don't want to bother others and I don't want them to bother me.

Swedes for some reason think they would bother you if they talk to you and most of the time, they don't want to be talked to. I haven't experienced the latter, every time I have made the effort to talk to them, I have ended up having a great conversation, and many are now my friends!

• Don't sit next to me on the bus, if you don't have to.

I don't understand this one and when I have asked Swedes about this, their not sure why this happens either, it just does.

• The tighter the jeans the better!

Guys and girls love tight jeans! I have seen so many young teens with rubber bands around the bottom of their jeans to make them smaller even.

• Saying Hej! to someone you don't know is not acceptable, you're looked at as being a little crazy.

This I think is only if another Swede does it, not a foreigner. I can't say that every time I have said hej to someone they haven't looked at me funny, but that could just be me!

• Take off your shoes before entering into a house or an apartment, no exceptions!

I really like this rule!

• Please and Bless You are rarely said

It's strange, when someone sneezes, no one says bless you! I do it anyway! :) and I usually get a thank you.

• You can only buy alcohol at System Bologet or at bars (and it's really expensive)

I'm used to this now, but it can still be annoying.

• Sandwiches are ate for breakfast and for lunch

This is not a new one for me, I love this! But I know a few people who still haven't adjusted to not eating junky cereal and bacon and eggs for breakfast yet.

• When the sun comes out, so does everyone else!

The sun in Sweden is a rare thing in the winter so when the sun comes out, everyone wants a piece of it. In the summer the sun is out all the time, and so are the people. I can't wait for summer!!

• Swedish males and most females are not the best at Hugging!

Me and a few of my friends one night tested this experiment and the test came back as the truth! We need to help teach these Swedes how to hug!!

A few stereotypes

Well I have been in this Intercultural Communications class for a few weeks now and have gotten to learn a lot about other cultures and how easy misunderstandings happen. Without even realizing it, I came here with a few stereotypes of my own, some bad, some good. I have learned so much about why people are the way they are, and have even gotten to make some new friends.. even Turkish ones!

The thing is, I have never considered myself as an American, yes I live there but many rituals, celebrations and foods don't shout American. When people ask me what I am my answer everytime is, Swedish and Armenian.

Since being here, I have gotten so many questions about America, and I feel most of the time like I need to make excuses as to why they may have these twisted ideas about America and Americans. I knew people were going to have their opinions about Americans and I would be stuck hearing a lot of them, and somehow needing to explain the whole of American culture (which is NOT possible)
I am going to list a few typical stereotypes that I have heard about Americans, I am sure you to have heard a few of these if not all of them before....

• Self centered, Arrogant
• Loud, obnoxious
• Fat, Lazy
• to consumed with things
• unfriendly, or too friendly
• Stupid and Uneducated about the rest of the world.
• Everything deserves a High Five or an Awesome response

My personal favorite, "You all elected a dumb president" and even when I tell them I can personally tell you that many didn't vote for Bush... they don't believe me.

I have to say, none of these are ones I haven't heard before, but I have never felt so embarrassed in my life. I have never felt more American in my life.

My struggle is to find a way to get people to understand that those are not all true and are all attributes you find in other cultures too. I have however been told many times, "you are not a typical American" and I have to agree, but how many Americans have they met, and not just seen on TV? Can anyone give me a few good stereotypes about Americans?