Girls Night.

In Ankara, I couchsurfed. I have never couchsurfed before, but I have hosted a few couchsurfers in Azerbaijan. I reckoned I would give it a go and see how it went. I’m glad to say my first experience was a great one. I stayed with a teacher at the International School in Ankara, Carrie. Getting to talk with her was most assuredly a highlight in and of itself, but the best part of the couchsurfing experience with her was that I was invited to her planned Girls Night with 3 fellow teachers.

My last night in Ankara, we went to Kavanc’s house to have wine, dinner, and watch a Turkish chick-flick (that wasn’t as chick-flicky as I thought it might be). I got to talk about Azerbaijan, learn more about Turkey, and figure out similarities and differences between where I live and where I currently am. I was also able to enjoy the company of good and interesting people, which is lovely. We had an incredible dinner of Turkish mezzas, spinach artichoke dip, and lovely conversation. The movie being good was completely just to boot.

I know our host that evening is quite well-traveled and has worked with foreigners for several years and it showed in her house. She exuded the best parts of both worlds. The Turkish hospitality was there and genuine, but she also had pictures around her house of her and her husband being silly and smiling. After being post-Soviet for so long, seeing picture of happy people throws me off, but in a good way.

Ankara for the win.