I figured it has been almost a month since I blogged last which is pretty pathetic, and I have been taking good pictures, making good memories, and haven't been sharing. So this week I hope to catch you all up a bit :)
Since I got here in late December we have had seven games, and went 2-5 in all of them. Overall, our record is 4-11 in the league and are sitting in 9th position. We need to win two or three more games in order to get into the top eight of the league. If we don't make it in the top eight, then our season is finished March 21st. If we do make it we finish early-mid-April.
I have adjusted pretty well as far as getting used to the basketball here and my team. There are three other Americans on my team along with me. Shannon Bobbitt is our point guard, she is from New York, played college ball at Tennessee and professionally with the LA Sparks. Marcedes Walker is our center, she is from Philly and played college ball at Pittsburgh and is also my roommate. Angela Tisdale is our shooting guard, she is from Austin, TX, played college ball at Baylor. The basketball world is so small, as those of you that are it know, that there so many connections with teams, players coaches, and people everywhere. For example, prior to my time here in Turkey, I played against Shannon's team, LA, when I was at San Antonio in the playoffs. I played against Marcedes in a pre-season training camp game and played against Angela in the Big 12 for two years. They are all great to play with and easy to get along with.
My Turkish teammates are all so great. I couldn't ask for better girls to be around. They are all very young, but so gentle hearted and hard working. There are about three girls on the team that speak english well, the rest of them is pretty broken and can't really understand much English. The are all players that have been with the club Botas for a few years, and played on the younger Botas teams growing up. So to be playing on the senior Botas team is pretty big for them. They all range from the age 17-23. Yes, I am the oldest on the team out of everyone :) I enjoy it though and have really enjoyed being able to be a leader in my actions and words around my team.
So I have been able to try lots of great yet interesting food since I have been here. One is this dish called Iskender. I posted a picture of it for you all to see. It is famous in the city of Bursa, Turkey, but they sell it everywhere in Turkey. It is basically little pieces of bread with thin slices of meat on top, with a white yogurt, a red tomato sauce on top, butter poured on the top and a tomato and pepper to go on the side. This is one of my favorite Turkish foods, but I usually try and get no butter, they pile it on here!!!!
So one of my teammates, Ebru, invited me over for supper one night. I got there and they were just so nice, cooked Turkish food and even made some chicken and rice if I didnt like the Turkish food. Well Ebru's english isn't the best and her parents didn't really speak any at all. Don't worry that fact is important to know as the story continues. So anyway, her mom cooked this stuff called Mumbar. It looked like something I wouldn't attempt to eat, but wanted to be polite and try it. I asked Ebru what was in it and she said that it was stuffed with rice and meat. So I thought, well that is pretty safe, so I ate the whole plate full and it was ok, not super tasty but ok. So I was telling one of the Americans that I met here that story and she about died laughing because she told me that it was intestines that I ate!!! So I couldn't beleive that I ate a whole plate of intestines and didn't even realize it!!!!! I am not sure whether it was lamb or beef, but I would really prefer not to know. So I posted a picture of some Mumbar for you all to see. And the stuff I ate didn't have the colorful garnishes on it when I ate it :) You live and learn!
So when we go on the road we eat in hotel restaurants right, well one morning I was ordering a omelet and preceeded to ask if I could get my omelet with cheese and ham in it. So I got the the point of me saying "I would like cheese and ha---" then stopped and realized that in Turkey people don't eat Pork because it is against their Muslim faith. So I have caught myself a few times sticking my foot in my mouth on my words!!!! But I sure do miss having a good piece of ham that is for sure!!!!!
Here are some pictures of the groceries here, thought you might all like to see the kind of things I buy at the grocery store. Once again so sorry that I might be the worst blogger on the planet, but I am determined to get better at this!!! Plus I have lots of adventures planned after my season, so I need to get you all caught up on my trips since I have been here!!! I have also been able to go to the cities of Izmir, Ephesus, Sirance, Ankara, Goreme (in this area of Turkey called Cappodocia), Istanbul, and a few places around Adana. This next weekend I am going to Athens, Greece to meet up with some old Iowa State teammates and Sacramento teammates :) So excited!!!!! My dad came about two weeks ago and we had a great time too! He really loved Turkey!!!! I will update you on that soon as well!!!
Today we had the day off since we had a game yesterday. I have been really blessed to have my sundays mostly off. Since I have been here I have been able to connect with several foreigners and got some good fellowship to go to weekly. They are from all over the US and there are about 4 families that i have connected with that either work here or are studying the culture and learning the language. Every week we get together and have a house study, fellowship and pr@yer. I have gotten to know there kids and has been fun to be apart of the birthday parties and just hang out with Americans sometimes. Since I have been here I have purchased a guitar, so I have been fortunate enough to play some guitar for worship time in our house groups, which has been fun. It has been so sweet and we even sing worship songs in Turkish!!! One of my Turkish friends came this morning, that was fun for him to be there, he read the scripture in Turkish to us :) The house group as been able to come to a few of my games and stick out like sore thumbs with their signs and the fact that none of them are Turkish :) They are all great and so supportive of me and my team!!!
I don't want to keep you all for your day, so check out the pictures and enjoy!! I WILL write again this week I hope!!!!!
Love you all!!
Britt<><
The pictures are of my team, Turkish Groceries, Mumbar (intestines), Iskender (looks gross but it is good!) and from the Fenerbahce game. The team picture was taken at the airport as you can see, an airline company is one of our main sponsors. The men in the front of the team from the left is our strength coach (Umit), head coach (Olcay), the Airline president, and our general manager (Alpo).
