Why did I travel to Turkey?<\/h2>\n\n\n\nPart of a big Dream<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"World](\"https:\/\/prueba.voyagellama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/220732-P0Y8VN-190_baja-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAround the year 2012, when I was writing a few sketches and drafts about a fiction book that I was imagining, I visualized a long trip. It was needed for the book so the stories didn't look like off-the-shelf narratives, but authentic one that have actual contact with the language and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this reason, I established an ambitious goal: I have to live at least 1 year in every continent<\/strong>. How am I going to achieve it? Stick around in this blog and subscribe to the newsletter<\/a> to find out, because I'm planning to share my stories, achievements and failures, here.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are many countries to choose from<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I was looking for a country for my first destination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- It shouldn't be too exotic for me so I became overwhelmed by culture shock.<\/li>
- It shouldn't be too familiar for me so I didn't learned anything new.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
I have lived most of my life in America<\/a> and 11 months in Europe<\/a>. I wanted to try a different continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRepublic of Turkey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When I lived in Germany from 2008 to 2009, I felt how (some) germans had scorn towards turkish immigrants. Somehow, the sense that turkish culture had ‘inferior prestige' sticked with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But years afterwards, I found myself researching countries in internet, reading the almanac, asking other people about their trips, etc. Turkey<\/a> popped out as a very interesting starting point because people told me that it was a modern country. But why? Should it matter to me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Turkey](\"https:\/\/prueba.voyagellama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Turkish_republic_day_23-1-1024x431.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Counter-Government that changed it forever<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Doing the research, I found about the origins of the modern turkish republic and its first first president: Mustafa Kemal Atat\u00fcrk<\/a>. After World War I<\/a> (1914-1918), he formed a counter goverment and an army. They fought against many invaders in the Anatolian Peninsula<\/a> during the Turkish War of Independence<\/a> (1919-1923).<\/p>\n\n\n\nAtat\u00fcrk reformed heavily the country. He changed the alphabet, enabled women the right to vote (among other rights), it changed the constitution, abolished the sultanate, modified the turkish language (yes, the language!) established Hagia Sophia<\/a> as museum and ceased as mosque<\/a> and much more. You can find a complete list of changes in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTurkish uses the Latin Alphabet<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Latin alphabet<\/a> is used in many western countries, like in my homeland Ecuador<\/a>. Since this is the only alphabet I can read and write with, it will be easier for me to learn a language that shares the same alphabet. The turkish language qualifies in this criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prueba.voyagellama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/image.png\")
Latin Alphabet World Distribution. Respectfully borrowed from Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMy ex-girlfriend was in Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Saeli and I applied for a scholarship<\/a> in Turkey<\/a> but only Saeli earned it! I would have liked to be part of the same experience (so I can travel to Turkey<\/a>) but it wasn't posible.<\/p>\n\n\n\nEven though we broke up a few months before, on October 7 of 2019, I decided to travel to Turkey<\/a> anyway. I wasn't sure if I was going to live in the same city, let alone be together again.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI wanted to seize the opportunity that Saeli was already there to help me with the initial push, like dealing with culture shocks or other problems that I could face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A handful Experiences that shaped the Travel to Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\nFood<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When I was in Germany, I fell in love with the D\u00f6ner Kebap<\/a>. I couldn't resist it! Once, I ended up eating it 5 times in a week. My favorite!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"D\u00f6ner](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/a\/aa\/D%C3%B6ner_Kebab%2C_Berlin%2C_2010_%2801%29.jpg\")
D\u00f6ner\u00f6 Kebap. Respecfully borrowed from Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen I was back in Ecuador, I discovered shawarmas<\/a> made from immigrants from Pakistan<\/a>. They tasted so well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"File:Shawarma-sandwich-01.jpg\"\/](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/5\/5f\/Shawarma-sandwich-01.jpg\")
Shawarma. Respecfully borrowed from Wikipedia<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWas it a coincidence that I liked both foods from Middle East<\/a> so much? Or perhaps there was something special that I have to learn by myself?<\/p>\n\n\n\nCulture Similarities with Turkey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Turkish TV Dramas<\/a> are popular in Latin America<\/a>, such as Fatmag\u00fcl su\u00e7u ne?<\/a><\/em>. I read once that the viewers find many commonalities with the culture of Turkey<\/a>. Interesting because there are more than 10000Km in distance, language are vastly different (Spanish<\/a> and Turkish<\/a>) and the most practiced religion are not the same, although both are originated in Middle East<\/a> (Catholicism<\/a> and Islam<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Turkey](\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/en\/d\/d4\/Fatmag%C3%BCl%27%C3%BCn_Su%C3%A7u_Ne_cover.jpg\")
Cover of Fatmag\u00fcl su\u00e7u ne?<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThen there isn't much to think about, right? Let's travel to Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My Goal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The product of the travel to Turkey<\/a> was, actually, myself<\/strong>. Yes, what I wanted to bring back home was me with a few changes and with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n- the knowledge of the culture of this country<\/a>.<\/li>
- the language of the Turkic tribes<\/a> (just Turkish for the moment ^^)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The same way that I have learned to get involved among the germanic tribes<\/a> back in 2008-2009 and learned their language, I wanted to repeat this experience in Middle East<\/a>. It was my start in a series of journeys!<\/p>\n\n\n\nRead the Stories of my Travel to Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Right about my story to the modern Republic of Turkey<\/a>. I write about my experiences in the country with the language, religion, food and culture. Click in the button below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nRead about my stories in Turkey<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nAs I write the post and stories about Turkey, links below will be become available. In order to never miss a new post, make sure to subscribe to the e-mail newsletter of voyageLlama<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPosts during October 2019<\/h3>\n\n\n
[display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2019, October” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Posts during November 2019<\/h3>\n\n\n
[display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2019, November” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Posts during December 2019<\/h3>\n\n\n
[display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2019, December” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Posts during January 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n
[display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2020, January” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Posts during February 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n
[display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2020, February” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Posts during March 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n
[display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2020, March” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n
voyageLlama's Index of Content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Click on the following link to browse likewise content in the blog<\/a> in voyageLlama. This index<\/a> will help you see what you are looking for in a bird's eye view:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nIndex<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nKeep Reading!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\nCulture Category<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prueba.voyagellama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Culture_shocks_Portugal_9-150x150.jpg\")
<\/div>Culture Shocks in Portugal, silly and unusual but awesome Differences<\/a>These are my intriguing culture shocks in Portugal that you have to know before visiting this lovely country. Click here to read.<\/div><\/li>\n![\"Audioviajes:](\"https:\/\/prueba.voyagellama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Audioviajes-FI-150x150.jpg\")
<\/div>001 – What is Audioviajes? Introduction to the program with Juditova<\/a> Welcome to the first episode of Audioviajes, the voyageLlama podcast. Juditova presents the show and reveals some themes from the following episodes.<\/div><\/li>\n- <\/div>001 – What is Audioviajes? Introduction to the program with Juditova<\/a> Welcome to the first episode of Audioviajes, the voyageLlama podcast. Juditova presents the show and reveals some themes from the following episodes.<\/div><\/li>\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAround the year 2012, when I was writing a few sketches and drafts about a fiction book that I was imagining, I visualized a long trip. It was needed for the book so the stories didn't look like off-the-shelf narratives, but authentic one that have actual contact with the language and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this reason, I established an ambitious goal: I have to live at least 1 year in every continent<\/strong>. How am I going to achieve it? Stick around in this blog and subscribe to the newsletter<\/a> to find out, because I'm planning to share my stories, achievements and failures, here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was looking for a country for my first destination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have lived most of my life in America<\/a> and 11 months in Europe<\/a>. I wanted to try a different continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I lived in Germany from 2008 to 2009, I felt how (some) germans had scorn towards turkish immigrants. Somehow, the sense that turkish culture had ‘inferior prestige' sticked with me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But years afterwards, I found myself researching countries in internet, reading the almanac, asking other people about their trips, etc. Turkey<\/a> popped out as a very interesting starting point because people told me that it was a modern country. But why? Should it matter to me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doing the research, I found about the origins of the modern turkish republic and its first first president: Mustafa Kemal Atat\u00fcrk<\/a>. After World War I<\/a> (1914-1918), he formed a counter goverment and an army. They fought against many invaders in the Anatolian Peninsula<\/a> during the Turkish War of Independence<\/a> (1919-1923).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Atat\u00fcrk reformed heavily the country. He changed the alphabet, enabled women the right to vote (among other rights), it changed the constitution, abolished the sultanate, modified the turkish language (yes, the language!) established Hagia Sophia<\/a> as museum and ceased as mosque<\/a> and much more. You can find a complete list of changes in this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Latin alphabet<\/a> is used in many western countries, like in my homeland Ecuador<\/a>. Since this is the only alphabet I can read and write with, it will be easier for me to learn a language that shares the same alphabet. The turkish language qualifies in this criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Saeli and I applied for a scholarship<\/a> in Turkey<\/a> but only Saeli earned it! I would have liked to be part of the same experience (so I can travel to Turkey<\/a>) but it wasn't posible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though we broke up a few months before, on October 7 of 2019, I decided to travel to Turkey<\/a> anyway. I wasn't sure if I was going to live in the same city, let alone be together again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wanted to seize the opportunity that Saeli was already there to help me with the initial push, like dealing with culture shocks or other problems that I could face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was in Germany, I fell in love with the D\u00f6ner Kebap<\/a>. I couldn't resist it! Once, I ended up eating it 5 times in a week. My favorite!<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was back in Ecuador, I discovered shawarmas<\/a> made from immigrants from Pakistan<\/a>. They tasted so well!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Was it a coincidence that I liked both foods from Middle East<\/a> so much? Or perhaps there was something special that I have to learn by myself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Turkish TV Dramas<\/a> are popular in Latin America<\/a>, such as Fatmag\u00fcl su\u00e7u ne?<\/a><\/em>. I read once that the viewers find many commonalities with the culture of Turkey<\/a>. Interesting because there are more than 10000Km in distance, language are vastly different (Spanish<\/a> and Turkish<\/a>) and the most practiced religion are not the same, although both are originated in Middle East<\/a> (Catholicism<\/a> and Islam<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then there isn't much to think about, right? Let's travel to Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The product of the travel to Turkey<\/a> was, actually, myself<\/strong>. Yes, what I wanted to bring back home was me with a few changes and with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The same way that I have learned to get involved among the germanic tribes<\/a> back in 2008-2009 and learned their language, I wanted to repeat this experience in Middle East<\/a>. It was my start in a series of journeys!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Right about my story to the modern Republic of Turkey<\/a>. I write about my experiences in the country with the language, religion, food and culture. Click in the button below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I write the post and stories about Turkey, links below will be become available. In order to never miss a new post, make sure to subscribe to the e-mail newsletter of voyageLlama<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2019, October” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2019, November” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2019, December” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2020, January” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2020, February” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n [display-posts taxonomy=”post_tag” tax_term=”2020, March” tax_operator=”AND” image_size=”thumbnail” include_excerpt=”true” excerpt_length=”20″ wrapper=”div” wrapper_class=”display-posts-listing image-left”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Click on the following link to browse likewise content in the blog<\/a> in voyageLlama. This index<\/a> will help you see what you are looking for in a bird's eye view:<\/p>\n\n\n\nThere are many countries to choose from<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Republic of Turkey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe Counter-Government that changed it forever<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Turkish uses the Latin Alphabet<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
My ex-girlfriend was in Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A handful Experiences that shaped the Travel to Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Food<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Culture Similarities with Turkey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
My Goal<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Read the Stories of my Travel to Turkey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Posts during October 2019<\/h3>\n\n\n
Posts during November 2019<\/h3>\n\n\n
Posts during December 2019<\/h3>\n\n\n
Posts during January 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n
Posts during February 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n
Posts during March 2020<\/h3>\n\n\n
voyageLlama's Index of Content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Keep Reading!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>Culture Shocks in Portugal, silly and unusual but awesome Differences<\/a><\/div>001 – What is Audioviajes? Introduction to the program with Juditova<\/a><\/div>001 – What is Audioviajes? Introduction to the program with Juditova<\/a>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/prueba.voyagellama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Culture-Shocks-FI-150x150.jpg\")
<\/div>![\"Night](\"https:\/\/prueba.voyagellama.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/dancing-people-club.jpg\")
<\/div>