Within an hour of arriving in Istanbul someone already offered me tea so he can show me carpets in his family's big store. I felt so welcomed as I had been forewarned of this tradition. However, he thought I was Japanese, which everyone has been thinking since I started grad school. I think because my face got fat. i.e. the Turkish man welcomed me then called me fat. Does that sound like the beginning of a healthy relationship? I don't think so.
Also, my directions told me to walk next to the Blue Mosque and it wasn't blue. After white-balancing in my mind to make it blue, the Hagia Sophia looked blue as well. Needless to say, I took a very roundabout way to the hostel.
Anyway, we're going to try some street food today. Time to put that HepA immunoglobulin shot to use.
