Every Good Story Starts and Ends With Cake

Our first day at Marmara University, we ate cake. Our last week at Marmara University, we ate cake. I think all "Hellos" and "Goodbyes" should be accompanied by cake. It helps my tender heart.

We have had a great last week in Istanbul. We have seen more beautiful sights and ate (too much) delicious food. Our gracious friend Emine even let us do laundry at our house. She said she did not want Jonathan and Nathaniel to think we are smelly people now. Emine even gave us each one of the hand-stitched scarves she received from her mother before her wedding. Needless to say, we got teary.

Also, Aysu and her sweet parents made lunch for us on Children's Day, April 23, which is a national Turkish holiday to celebrate the future leaders of Turkey: children. Pretty great idea, if you ask me! The meal was astounding. Yes. Astounding. Imagine the biggest Thanksgiving meal you have ever had plus three dessert servings. I left thinking, "This is it. I am going to drown in food and die a happy, over-stuffed person." I did not die. But it was close. 

And if that wasn't enough, the girls gave Mary Margaret and me each a zip-up jacket embroidered with Marmara University. We are speechless. 

Before our presentation

Receiving our certificate of completion after our presentation

Eli, Aysu, Mary Margaret, me, Seonkyeong, and Emine

Playing in the park

With sweet friends

Wait... why are there tulips in a non-tulip post? I know. I couldn't help it.

The view of the European side of Istanbul and the Bosphorus Strait

Some of our Children's Day spread

Fruit parfait and tea

Aysu and her mom: our sweet and incredible cooks

Below is a picture of the "minibus" we use to get everywhere in Istanbul (except when we take the ferry to the European side, of course). I am sometimes amazed that I let this contraption shuttle me from place to place. There have been multiple occasions where I am half-in-half-out of the minibus when it takes off. They also do not follow any type of traffic rules, from what we can tell. And, we are extremely excited when we get a seat. Sometimes, its a sardine can (understatement).

Your chariot awaits, my dear.

Our international rotation is finished. We can not believe we have been here an entire month. Time has flown. To the faculty and staff in the clinical pharmacy department at Marmara University, teşekkür ederim (thank you) for having us. We were so fortunate to be able to see clinical pharmacy in Turkey. Thank you for your hospitality and letting us participate in your hospital visits and discussions. You have a great program, and we are excited to see what is to come for you in the future.

To our new friends, teşekkür ederim from the bottom of our hearts for spending so much time with two girls you barely knew. Thank you for investing in us and letting us be a part of your lives. Thank you for always including us and speaking English when you could talk a thousand times faster in Turkish. We have loved our experience here mainly because of each of you (and the food... we can't forget the food). Its hard for us to leave you, but we will see you again when you visit Memphis (soon we hope!). We hope you will remember us at least half as fondly as we will remember you. Sherefe (Cheers)!

And I am officially done with pharmacy school. Now, its time to do some sight-seeing with our manly men and Kirsten and Amanda.

Love,
Brooke