Turkish Meze

Turkish Meze is sort of like Spanish tapas or Italian aperativo. You order many little things and share with the rest of your group. 

Farmer's salad, like greek salad.

Turkish Pide bread.

 Here is baked eggplant that was mashed without the skin and garlic and olive oil was added to it. Simple and delicious. The white on next to it is yogurt with a green vegetable that I have never heard of in America.

This is Turkey's version of pizza. Spicy!

 Doner Kebab.

 Water buffalo cream ontop of Quince, a yellow fruit that turns red when cooked. Never heard of it but it was yummy!

And of course... Baklava with Chai, the turkish word for all tea. 

Interesting things about Turkey

Interesting things about Turkey:

1. Many people order groceries online and they are delivered to the home.
2. There is a sound that plays over a loud speaker all over Turkey that means it is prayer time, 5 times a day.
3. They do not practice the same health behaviors we do. Example: Not covering mouth when coughing or sneezing
4. Thousands of jelly fish in the water. Note to self: Do not swim here.
5. Very cheap public transportation. A one hour trip with busses and metro to the city is less than $3.50
6. I am told the average income in Turkey is about $11,000 a year. This means, as an Au Pair, I am almost making a normal salary by Turkish standards.
7. After my first Turkish coffee, the children's grandma told me my fortune. When you are finished drinking the Turkish coffee there is thick mud like coffee grounds at the bottom. Turn the cup upside down onto the plate and let it sit. When the 'fortune teller' lifts the cup, they can tell you your fortune.
8. So much BAKLAVA!

Turkey!

Now for a new adventure, I will be an Au Pair in Turkey. I have just arrived and only had a small taste of all the food and adventure to come. Tomorrow I head out by myself to figure out the bus system, get myself a phone, and see what I can find at the grocery store! Some of the things I have eaten so far include:

1. Bread, very long pita bread that hangs in bakery windows.

2. Pumpkin boiled in sugar water and sprinkled with walnuts.

3. BAKLAVA! And lots of it!