Training UNFPA- more cultural, less academic benefits

A week ago someone from my University called me and asked me to work as a translator for them. The call was from my University, from International Children's center, which was established by Ihsan Dogramaci earlier. He established Bilkent University later, but the center is still at the campus, in the library.

The training was in Russian. The number of participants was 18. Participants were from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It was easier to them to talk to in Russian language.  Most of them did not speak English at all. However, two of Turkish women were not understanding anything, and I was the one, who supposed to translate into English and sometimes(during presentations in English) into Russian. Although it was pretty hard to translate, I was trying to do my best. Translation from Russian to English was much easier, than from English to Russian. I felt that in 5 years outside of Azerbaijan, my Russian lost its fluency in academic speech. It is sad to accept, but the words were coming into my mind, in Turkish very often.

Whatever.. That was not my point when I started writing :)
The thing is that I was positively shocked by the culture and traditions of Central Asian people; Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kirghistan, even Turkmenistan. Before and after each eating, they were having a very short praying ceremony, they were thanking God. I really loved it. This small moment was very symbolic, but at the same time very candid that I even asked them to teach me as well.
I questioned them, and they answered that they are trying to keep close ties with God during the day, even if they are not performing the Namaz regularly.
I talked to a few of them separately and saw that some of them were not religious, but they strongly believe in God. And if they believe in God, they should not forget about him in good moments.
They believe that, he is over their, on the top of their head and its their big pleasure to thank that he is helping them everywhere.
It is more traditional belief than, religious.
One guy, from Uzbekistan told me that, in their country, even his 2-3 years old niece understands this 15 seconds of silence before and after the meal and she is raising her hand to pray.

I suddenly remembered my protestant church visit in Los Angeles.
Isn't it a good idea to start Sunday morning with this great musical praying... what can be better? the best recharging method, the most positive one. I still remember that I did not want to leave that place, when our tour group called me, I was thinking maybe, to ask them to stay lil bit longer??

This training gave me two good friends. One from Turkmenistan and one from Uzbekistan. It was a great pleasure to talk to them. The feeling that they still live in Soviet regime according to my mom's explanations of  people and relations between people, when she was young. My mom would certainly love them.


This gift is from my new friend who is from Uzbekistan. His sister made this and designed by national patterns. To be honest, this small present made my day :)

Phone and visit card case

Küçük ilham perisi kalemime konduğunda..

Bazen birileri bizi ilhamlandıra biliyor. Öylesine, nedensiz. Şiir yazarsın sen de onun derdini hafifletmek için. 

Aşk için üzülmeğe deymez. Aşkla yaşarız çünki. Nefesimiz bile aşk parçası :)

                      Adını Yine mi Aşk Koysak?

Aşk seni sevmeğen değil.
Seni hayata bağlayan,
Farkında bile olmadığın -          ayrı bir hayattır.
Aşk bir kişiye bağlı değil.
Seni, beni, diğerlerini ayakta tutan             
                              bir değerdir.
Aşk- geceler seni izleyen 
                               küçücük bir melektir.

Aşk- hayata bağlar bizleri-  
                              sormadan gelir. 
Kucağına oturur...Ağlatır  bazen, güldürür
Elinde tutar, oyalar, oynatır.. zaman -zaman.   
Sonra bir anda, köşeye atar.

Aşk -acı çekmek değil.
Acı çektirenin AŞK`a doyumsuzluğu
İlgiye susuzluğu, kendi umutsuzluğu...
Senin aşkını çalıp, mutlu olmayı dener.
Ama.. Mutluluk vermez
Çok uzun sürmez.

Bir kişilik olan- Aşk mıdır ki?
İçimizdeki aşk ihtiyacı- doğamızın bir parçası..
Yanımızda olmasa da, içimizde bulunur.
Paylaştıkça çoğalır, çoğaldıkca, yayılır.

Belki yine de sorgularsın..         
Derinindeki aşk kırıntılarını.
`Atlatırım ya.. ` dersin kendine.
Sorguladıkca batarsın..
Battıkca da tutunursun kırıklardan..
"Zordur ya.. kırıklara sarılarak yürümek
Ama boğularak ölmekten daha iyidir" dersin kendine.

Aşk-insanın içine sığmayacak kadar özgür!
Sevdikce çoğalacak... 
                sonsuz.. gurursuz.. hiç unutulamayacak...

Colors and Personality

Colors, like features, follow the changes of the emotions.
Pablo Picasso

One of my favorite colors is no Color. Billy Baldwin

Some colors are very difficult to render, and you must compensate to get the color you want on the screen.

Claude Charbrol

About 4 years ago my friend gave me a book about daily psychological tests, recommendations and about basic knowledge about psychological therapy. She knows my passion to learn psychology, so she knew that it would turn to be my every day table book.
I am still  repaginating that book and seeing it from the different perspectives each time. 
The name of the book is " Psychology for every day". Although it is in Russian, I would like to translate and share one of the interesting parts of it about the place of COLORS in our lives and how we have are choosing favorite colors?

The reason is simple, because they are related to our spirits.


Let's first define the meaning of colors.

• Black is real sensation, even if it is produced by entire absence of light. Black absorbs all light in the color spectrum. Black is the color of the hidden, the secretive and the unknown, creating an air of mystery. It keeps things bottled up inside, hidden from the world.

• Orange is a combination of yellow and red and is considered an energetic color. It was used to heal the lungs and to increase energy levels. Orange is the color of social communication and optimism. Orange is cheerfulness, low cost, affordability, enthusiasm, stimulation, creativity, aggression, food.

• Purple is the symbol of royalty and wealth. Purple also represents wisdom and spirituality. Purple does not often occur in nature, it can sometimes appear exotic or artificial. Purple is power, royalty, nobility, elegance, sophistication, artificial, luxury, mystery, royalty, elegance, magic

• Blue is the color of trust and peace. Blue can suggest loyalty and integrity as well as conservatism and frigidity, tactful, reliability and responsibility, conservatism and perseverance, caring and concern, idealistic and orderly, contemplation, peaceful and calm.

• Yellow is the color of the mind and the intellect. It is optimistic and cheerful. However it can also suggest impatience, criticism and cowardice. Yellow is attention-grabbing, comfort, liveliness, cowardliness, hunger, optimism, overwhelm, Summer, comfort, liveliness, intellect, happiness, energy, conflict.

• Green is the color of balance and growth. It can mean both self-reliance as a positive and possessiveness as a negative, among many other meanings. GREEN durability, reliability, environmental, luxurious, optimism, well-being, nature, calm, relaxation, Spring, safety, honesty, optimism, harmony, freshness

• RED warmth, love, anger, danger, boldness, excitement, speed, strength, energy, determination, desire, passion, courage. RED one day and this may indicate they are ready to take action, or they may be passionate about what they are going to be doing that day, or again it may mean that they are feeling angry that day, on either a conscious or subconscious level.

• White leanliness, purity, newness, virginity, peace, innocence, simplicity, sterility, sow, ice, cold. The color meaning of white is purity, innocence, wholeness and completion.

Now, let's see how colors relate to our personalities.

Statistics show that 14% of population until 1995, choose black as a favorite color, which is the majority compare to other colors.

Once I saw in one of the Magazines the quote from Donna Karan that says, 

"Black is not a color. Most of the people choose it, because it is an illusion."

Lovers of black have a need for power and control in order to protect their own emotional insecurities.

If your favorite color is red, you are action oriented with a deep need for physical fulfillment and to experience life through the five senses.

If orange is your favorite color, you have a great need to be with people, to socialize with them, and be accepted and respected as part of a group. You also have a need for challenges in your life, whether it is physical or social challenges.

Choosing yellow as your favorite means you have a deep need for logical order in your everyday life and to be able to express your individuality by using your logical mind to inspire and create new ideas.

If green is your favorite, you have a deep need to belong, to love and be loved, and to feel safe and secure. You need acceptance and acknowledgment for the everyday things you do for others - just a 'thank you' is sufficient.

Lovers of blue have a deep need to find inner peace and truth, to live their life according to their ideals and beliefs without having to change their inflexible viewpoint of life to satisfy others.

If purple or violet is your favorite color, you have a deep need for emotional security and to create order and perfection in all areas of your life, including your spiritual life. You also have a deep need to initiate and participate in humanitarian projects, helping others in need.

If your personality color is pink you have a deep need to be accepted and loved unconditionally.

If turquoise is your favorite color your deepest need is to create emotional balance in your life, to be able to express your hopes and dreams no matter how idealistic they may be and to make your own way in the world under your own terms.

Lovers of brown have a deep need for a safe, secure, simple and comfortable existence with supportive family and friends.

If white is your personality color, your deepest need is for simplicity in your own life and to be independent and self-reliant so you do not need to depend on anyone else.

With gray as your favorite color, you are the middle of the road type, cool, conserved, composed and reliable. You tend to conform just to keep the peace.

Scheduled and fun together

Is it a reality that sometimes time is flying away, when other times it is just going?

This semester I am  more than happy with my course schedule. I could not find enough time for writing about my impressions about them, but really would like to share.

 I am taking elective courses that are very interesting to me.  Environmental issues & climate change, IR in movies and GENDER in IR are my favorites.


Environmental class is pretty funny, though it has nothing to do with International Relations:)) We are choosing and observing a particular area in campus, then writing a report about observation, about change in temperature and environmental changes overall.
For exp, today we went to Bilkent lake. The Lake is artificial, but pretty big with a great view.
We have a very nice professor, she is from United States. Environmentalist, vegetarian, against usage of cars and mobile phones, but still using internet , at least in order to contact us :) We have a mutual sympathy I guess maybe because of my interest to the subject, she chose me as her assistant.

My goal for the near future is to make more people to be educated in Gender issues and their equality!

 I fell in love with my Gender in Ir course professor. His name is Tore Frougner. He is from Norway. I knew him before, because he was my Erasmus coordinator, but did not know him personally, more specifically,  his ideas about social issues such as "Gender difference"  for example :)
First of all,  he is full of energy even in 8.40 classes: drinking coffee in his big coffee pot, while discussing  the subject very passionately with the whole class. I should say, his voice is getting very load sometimes, but it is priceless for the morning class-keeping me awake :)
Secondly, he can see the world from the women' perspective. Not everyone could interpret the development  of the gender relations as good as he does. He is building empathy, which is the best way to perceive and go to the depths of any subject. Probably, that is a main reason why he is giving that course.
 He is the very successful in convincing, he is very smart to pursue a person to make a link and make a distinction between brainwashing and reliable statements.
I can not tell that I am learning a lot in this class, but the way he is organizing his ideas makes a perfect structure in my brain about a knowledge that I already knew.

For example, I knew about feminist movements; but did not think about its causes.

Well, I agree that wars are terrible. But everything happens for a reason. Wars, especially second World War is the most important cause for the feminist insurgence.
When he was talking about wars, I remembered my granny's stories about world war period. She is a great example for that. When my granny lost her father she started working, in 13 years old she was working in few places at the same time. She was the eldest child in the family and everyone expected her to earn for piece of bread.
She was a leader everywhere, in every stage of her life. You know why? Because expectations from her was high enough since her childhood and she was trying to meet their expectations and needs. Not something else, but definitely THIS makes her to be successful,  to be the head of the family throughout her life even now, in 85 years old! :)

Society or our own families expect man to be strong, active,smart, leader, when woman beautiful, sensible, honest, gracious etc, etc.
Thanks to LIFE, thanks to Wars, difficulties of 20th century, that made a rise of women position in society.

Another example,

People used to think that women are not engaged in politics, because they are too emotional.
Do you really think that emotional people are far from being rational? Or do you think that a word "emotional" has that limited meaning of "sensitive" that generally is accepted as a "weak person"?!

Men are at least as emotional as women are, but showing it in different forms.

Let's see
Maybe men are not always crying when they are getting angry or sad but they are crashing something, beating or screaming.
Did you know that men are twice more likely to commit a crime than women and to drink alcohol?
Men are engaged in sexual harassment and rape. The reason is not a sexual desire. The reason relies on the negative emotions that they have inside.

When women are getting off their negative emotions by crying, men are beating, heating, in extreme cases committing crimes and rapes.

Emotions are natural for both men and women. Please, tell something different next time when you will mention about rationality and emotions that can determine success of men in Politics.

Because, rationality has nothing to do with emotions.

If you have this course in your University, I would like to advice you to take Gender in Ir course, not depending on where you are studying at.

Back in Ankara!

After 5 months of Erasmus in Maastricht and 2,5 months of holiday in Baku finally I am in my place- Ankara! Erasmus helped me to discover that I do not want to lose my ties with Erasmus.So I started to work with ESN (Group of students working for international office, international students)
I wrote and ask Erkin Tarhan, who is the head of International office and he said, we are already waiting for you! :)
I came here a week ago and realized that I didn`t miss the city. It is too dry, to empty and broad.. I think, every city should have a sea, river, canal or a lake. Otherwise, the city seems too ordinary, even ugly.
First 3 days I was drinking a water whole day and night. My lips were getting dry and nothing helped.
During the period of international students' arrival I spent my whole day in International office. Not only me sure,  other ESN members as well. We went to the airport, filled their documents and welcomed them. It was tired, but very interesting. I liked the idea of being representative of Bilkent:) Answering to the questions of students, introducing campus, teaching them some Turkish, and on the other hand doing some office work on the computer... I realized that I really like active life. It is much better to feel tired than sitting home and doing nothing more than watching TV.
I met different people. In the first day of orientation, our university organized a Turkish breakfast, where we were supposed to give students' ID card, welcome package, email address and passwords etc. We put them on the table, so that students could find their ID-s with their own photos and names. One of the students, who was from Pakistan took the ID card of another person, who name was Ceylan Ceyhan. When I wanted to write his name to the list of commers he said nooo, I am not Ceylan. Then we asked, so why you took this ID if it is not yours? He said, hmss I just took it randomly :)))))
 This is a small and maybe a stupid example to indicate differences in levels, but I don`t really think that a European citizen could do this. I don`t want to seem as a racist, but this really shows the quality and the life standards of a citizen, which determines his or her behaviors.
I met some interesting and weird people. I met Charlotte from Maastricht. She is so different with her orange hair, green eyes, freckles in face and long legs, cute smile, flattered face. She hates "nice" people, thinks that nice people are not interesting :) She has a few trips alone to Thailand, China where she had an opportunity to read tens of books, talk to hundreds of people, continue her trip with a gay guy, who was also very intellectual and smart person. Especially a very good travelling companion, as she says.
It is just so enjoyable to talk with her, i feel relaxed. Sometimes I try to be bad, or not too good because she does not like people who wants to seem "nice"  :D
My friend brought me a special thing from Switzerland, where I can make fondue. So I decided to try it and made a chocolate fondue that we could taste it together with her. It was enjoyable!
Now I am sure that I love my life in Ankara, I love my school, people around me... And all other people, who are just well intentioned :)

Bakı kəndinin əhvalatları

Bakıda olduğum bu müddətdə çox şoka düşdüm, çox təəccübləndim, çox əsəbləşdim. Ama ən pik an Ankaraya gəlməyimdən bir gün qabaq Caspian plaza- Psixologiya bölümündə `YOQA terapiya` sanıb, getdiyim tədbir oldu. Özü də rahat paltar geymişdik, axı yoqa hərəkətləri dənəyəcəkdik. Tək deyildim, Ankarada 1 ildir ki magistratura oxuyan rəfiqəmlə idik. 1 il ərzində demək ki o da unudub Azərbaycandakı bu tip seminar və ya tədbirlərinin nə səviyyədə olduğunu. Yaxşı deyirlər -к хорошему быстро привыкаешь! Nəysə, tam bir lətifədir ona görə də istədim paylaşım.

`Yoqa terapiya` başlığı altında facebookda diqqətimizi cəlb edən bu tədbir nəinki müvzudan kənar oldu,  məyərsə heç planda yox imiş. `Gecikdik` təlaşı ilə getdiyimiz seminarın qapıları bağlı idi. Səbəb? yoxsa bəhanə? -Axı bazar günüdür,insanlar dincəlir.
Gülməlidi, görəsən onlarlar heç utanmırlar? Böyük böyük event yaradırlar, və nəinki vaxtından qabaq heç 15 dəq gec də yox, düz yarım saat sonra açırlar qapılarını. Nəyə güvənərək, öz savadlarına ki gec olsun güc olsun, yoxsa insanların onsuz da səslərinin çıxarmayacağına?! Əmin olun ki, birinci variant üçün heç bir şans yoxdur.
TƏƏCCÜBLƏNDİM. Çünki şəxsən mən 5 nəfərin içində prezentasiya etdiyimdə belə ən az 15 dəqiqə əvvəl gəlirəm sinfə, ən azından sinfin aurasına adaptasiya olmaq üçün. Çünki mənim 20 dəqiqəlik prezentasiyam mənim tədbirimdi, mən onun necə keçəcəyindən məsuliyyət daşıyıram. Daşımıramsa da, daşımalıyam, yoxsa nə işım var ki universitetdə, kimi aldadıram..?!
Dəhşətli bir görüntü idi. Adam bilmirdi, `Yoq` kimi özünü qələmə verən o kişiyə baxsın ya da seminara gələn müxtəlif yaşlı və görkəmli insanlara.
Bilirsiz, Bakıda hər şey mümkündür. Hər an möcüzə baş verə bilər, gec zənn etdiyiniz yerə birdən birə hamıdan tez gəldiyiniz məlum ola bilər, özünə `yoq` deyən insan isə hər şey ola bilər- Psixyatr, falçı, idman məllimi.
İnsanlar mənasız düşüncələrini yüksək səslə bildirməkdən zövq alırdılar orda. Mən isə sabah bu ölkədən gedecəyəmi fikirləşirdim. Elə bilməyin ki, hər şeydə neqativ axtaran insanam, yox!  oysa ki elə həmin günün səhəri Bakıdan getməyimə görə çox üzülmüşdüm. Seminar(?) təkan oldu nəyin necə olduğunu başa düşməyimə.
Gələn insanların içində, manikur-pedikurçu, psixoloq-şirniyyat ustası-falçı (eyni insan), aşbaz, jurnalist(dediyinə görə), məktəbli çift, 600 sehifəlik kitab yazan ama din və tibb-dən ümumiyyətlə anlayışı olmayan insan... -insanlar var idi.
1 saat yarım ərzində isə edilən söhbətlər o qədər mənasız idilər ki, onları istəsəm də yadımda saxlaya bilmədim. Cin və şeytanların, `niyə evlənmirsiz ki, yaşıvız keçir axı` kimi şeylər yəni, qisacasi. Parixmaxerde olduğu kimi.
Biz ama səbirliydik, bunun qurtaracağını və nəhayət nəsə az da olsa maraqli bir şey baş verəcəyinə inanırdıq. Ama bir an gəldi ki, dözə bilmədim. Dedim ki biz gedirik bura bunlara qulaq asmaq üçün gəlməmişik.
Ama bilirsiz, o insanlar saatlarca o vəziyyətdə otura bələrdilər təbii ki. Nə tələsəcək yerləri var, nə də maraq dairələri. Ürəklərini boşaltmaq üçün yer axtarırlar və üzlərini tuturlar bu cür yerlərə!
Ən acınacaqlısı bilirsiz nədi? Azərbaycanda rus və azərbaycanca kimi böyük dil problemi var. Bunu görüb pis olmaya bilmirəm. Bu tip seminarları apara biləcək səviyyədə mütəxxəssislərimiz yoxdu. Varsa da, azərbaycanca danışmırlar və rusca keçirirlər tədbirlərini.  Əla, super! "Yaxşı ki heç olmasa onlar var" deye bilərik. Ama unutmayaq ki,biz axı Azərbaycanda yaşayırıq. Rusca ok! Ama hara qədər? Utancverici... Sonra deyirik ölkəmiz inkişaf edir. Mən deyərdim geriləyir. Ama heyf ki bunu insanlar görmürlər, bəlkə de görmək istəmirlər. Bir sözle, üstü bəzək, altı təzək! :)
So, enjoy this shitty beauty, guys!

Bakı.. Doğuldum yer? Evim? Yoxsa sadəcə Azərbaycanın paytaxtıdır Bakı?

4 ildir ki Bakıdan uzaqda yaşayıram. Ama tətilləri, xüsusilə yay tətillərini Bakıda keçirirəm. Düşündüyümdə görürəm ki məni Bakı ilə çox şey bağlayır. Ama bu bağlatı yəqin elə şəffafdır ki, onu nə görürəm nə də hiss edirəm.
Bugün digərlərindən fərqli oldu. Həmişə olduğundan fərqli olaraq bugünü evdə keçirdim. Düşündüm biraz.. 2 aydır ki Bakıdayam, və bugün hər gün qarşılaşdığım şeyləri analiz eləməyə başladım. Azərbaycan, Bakı ilə əlaqəli  fikirlərimi yazmaq üçün kifayət qədər vaxtım oldu.

Əlbəttə Bakı haqqında demək istədiklərim sadəcə bu dyeil, bu onların cuzi bir hissəsidir. Davamı gələcək bir mövzuda müəyyən fikirlərimi paylaşmaq istədim..

Maraqlıdı,
Görəsən niyə insanlar

öz problemlerindən çox başqalarının problemlərini fikirləşirlər?

Niyə bir çox mövzularda fikirlərini standart, beyinlərini yormadan sıradan stereotiplərə bağlayırlar?

Niyə qızlara görməmiş kimi, hamilə qadınlara isə "hörmətlə" yanaşırlar?

Niyə insanlar 55 yaşına girəndən sonra qocalıqdan acizliklə bəhs edirlər? Bu onları müqəddəsləşdirir ki, görəsən?

Niyə cavanlar blackberry və bbm-ləri ilə öyünürlər? Dəb? ya yeni tanışlıq metodu?

Niyə tələbələr Universiteti bitirəndə sevinirlər? Rüşvətdən canları qurtardığına görə yoxsa... işə düzəlmək üçün tanışları olduğundan minimum məbləğ ödəyəcəklərinə görə?

Niyə ortalama maaş 400-500, küçədə şütüyən maşınların ortalama qiyməti isə 50.000-dir?
O insanlar ya yemək yemirlər, ya da başqalarının maaşlarını da depolayırlar ciblərinə.

Niyə avtobus rəisləri 10larla insanın (yaşlı, uşaq, inkişafda olan gənc) yanında söyüşlü danışırlar? Kim onlara verir bu haqqı?
Qarşı çıxan isə nədən çox vaxt azlıq təşkil edir..?

Niyə avtobus basbaslarında insanlar sürücünü yox, bir birlərini acılayırlar? Niyə hamı qorxur, niyə hamı susur ki?
`Basabas`larda istəmədən birinin ayağını basdalayanda, üzr istəməyə macal tapmadan niyə turşumuş üzlər və acı sözlər eşidir ki insan?

Və nəhayət, məni ən çox maraqlandıran...


Niyə bu qədər az gülür insanlarımız? Niyə eybəcərləşir cəmiyyətimiz, gənclərimiz?
Boşluqdan? Savadsızlıqdan? Mədəniyyətsizləkdən?
Bəlkə də bu cür insanların sayının artdığına görə ÖZÜNÜMÜDAFİƏETMƏ reaksiyasının təcəssümüdür bu çirkin, bezgin, yorğun üzlər!

Təbəssüm təkcə`facebook` şəkilləri üçün nəzərdə tutulmayıb. Mağazada bir şey alarkən, evə daxil olarkən, yolda tanımadığın insana müraciət edərkən., Təbəssümünüzü əsirgəməyin. Unutmayaq ki, təbəssüm bizim sağlam ruhumuzun göstəricisidir. Paylaşdıqca çoxalır təbəssüm.
Çoxaldıqca müsbət enerji yayır ətrafa. Xoş əhval ruhiyə isə xoşbəxtliyə bir addım daha yaxın edir insanı...

Xoşbəxt olmağı da niyə istəməsin insan?! :)

 Sən fərqli ol.. Gülümsə! ;)

Palma- Valencia - Barcelona Summer!

Classes in Maastricht finished 7th of June and we went to Spain with my friend Irem and her friend Yagmur. We wanted to have a relaxed summer holiday together. Spain always was the best for me! Even before being there... Irem is also a big fan of Spain, Spanish language, people, food and drinks.
We started our trip from Palma de Mallorca.From Maastricht airport we directly flied to Palma with Rynair. It was not the first time I was flying with Ryanair, however this time it seemed very dangerous to me.. the rising and landing of the plain was awful. Irem was laughing that what you were expected for 10 euros ticket? :)
Palma is a very big island, where many tourists come, especially from Germany and Russia. Also, Spanish people spending their summer there. Our hostel was very cute! I think it would be wrong to call it a hostel, because it was a hotel, very comfortable, cheap and only for three people.
When we arrived we changed our clothes, bought some drinks and just lied on the sand. In the evening we went out again to have dinner and there I met a guy who was working in the restaurant and inviting people there in English. Then I learned that he is from Azerbaijan, Baku. I was totally shocked. He did not look like Azerbaijans at all. He was tall with muscles, long curly hair and blue eyes. We talked a little bit and then we ate paella in that restaurant and drank Sangria. Sangria was terrible.
The next day we went to the better beach to swim. The sea was awesome. we spent whole day there, and I got a sunbath. Irem and her friend`s sunbath was better, i was jealous. That night we went out to Palma central, had a perfect seafood dinner and then went to another place to drink something and listen to music.
We were planning to go to the best white-sand seashore next day. Because I was jealous, I lied whole day under the sun. Even fell asleep. The weather was windy and sunny, the sea was wavy. I enjoyed swimming a lot. I could not feel that my skin was burning because of the wind. Unfortunately... Only in the evening i felt pain in my shoulders, legs(back side) and then I realized that it hurts when I am moving my legs. That day at night we flied from Palma to Valencia.
Valencia was too big and because of our sunbath we could not enjoy it a lot. We went to National aquarium,  and spent our full day there. I didn't want to walk at all. But it was a very nice place to visit with different parts. Concert hall, aquarium, museum. The temperature was 41, and whole body hurt. Also, because it was Sunday, everywhere was closed, I could not buy anything to wear, kind of long and thin dress. Anyways, after one day in Valencia, where we saw only huge, interesting buildings( their architecture was very beautiful)  we went to Barcelona. 
Of course it is hard to talk about Barcelona in a few sentences, but I will try. For me Barcelona was a European Istanbul. Huge, interesting, special atmosphere in the air, seaside, concerts, lots of tourists, beautiful churches and places to visit, parks, greens.. 
I think my favorite place there was Park Guell that was located in the hills and was about Gaudi. We saw his house there, where he spent 7 or 8 years of his life. it has a very nice garden in front of the house. 
We went to watch Flamenco in El Gothic. El Gothic is a very strange and interesting square. People were sitting in four sides of the square and drinking in front of bars, or watching Flamenco shows inside bars.
We tried Tapas, Paella, churros, ice-creams. Everything tasted perfect there.  I advise you to visit Casa Batllo and Sagrada Familia.  These are Gaudi's masterpieces.  They are incredible buildings.  Do climb the towers of  Sagrada Familia.
We have an Erasmus friend from Maastrciht who is living in Barcelona. 
She and her boyfriend took us to the highest point of Barcelona-TIBIDABO. It is impossible to walk there. Car is the only way. You should go there if you are in Barcelona and want to see the city from the top. 
All together we went to the local restaurant. It is better to be in the city with locals. They know everything and can advice. 
Next day we went to the Bazaar close to our hostel. it was great! different fresh products; fruits, sea foods, juices. I bought fresh juice with mixed tropic fruits. It was really enjoyable to spend time there.
By the way, after two days in Barcelona, I had a problem with my visa card. I was disappointed. But fortunately,  then I wrote to my sister and she sent me money via Western Union.  
4 days in Barcelona was fine, but I would like to spent more time there, hope I will go there again. One day...

P.S the weird thing is that in Barcelona people call themselves Catalonian and do not recognize the word "Spanish" :)

These are photos taken by me. 

 
   Paella and Sangria- first day in Palma de Mallorca.

 Valencia

 Dolphin show in National park-Valencia

 Sagrada Familia - huge line in front

                 

              Sagrada Familia inside

Park Guell.

   Park Guell

 the view from Tibidabo

   Tibidabo- highest point in Barcelona.

    Barcelona from the top

Gaudi's masterpiece. A house for rich people. Now, museum.

   Barcelona port.

   Barcelona- Old City.

 Tarantos- very cheap but nice Flamenco show in El Gothic square.

Amsterdam

This weekend I went to Amsterdam. I was very excited, because it was our first meet with my boyfriend after 4 months. Finally...
I left Maastricht in the morning and firstly enjoyed the city alone. It was too sunny and warm. I was very excited, was looking in the mirror and becoming nervous. Then he came with her sister to the hotel.. And we had a night walk together around Dam square, red light District. I said that it was a center, they were shocked because it was too small and crowded with lots of drunk people around. They were celebrating free Friday, lol!
Saturday morning we had a good breakfast with him near to our hotel and then went to the hotel to wake up his sister. Together we walked to the Museumplein. We bought a ticket to the boat cruise and then visited Van Gogh museum. It was a great museum. The first floor was full of his own pictures,whereas the second and the third were mixed with his own and impressionists' works. I learned much information about his life, works and saw his first pictures that were drawn with pencil. Mostly they were descriptions of Amsterdam Bridges.
Boat cruise was also very nice, we saw different places; passed through the large and small bridges. I became pink during this tour by boat, the sun was really too warm and shinny!
Then we took some photos in front of the sign I AMSTERDAM. In the evening I was in dilemma between watching Eurovision or to walk. Then I decided to go out, because I missed him a lot, and it would be stupid to stay in the hotel because of song contest, though it happened in Azerbaijan. We had a good ice cream. I still remember the taste of ice-cream. Then we watched the end of Eurovision. I was tired.
Sunday morning we took the tourist bus and had a tour around the city, while the guide was explaining about the history of the city. We visited Rijksmuseum and then walked in the Voldenpark.The Museum was good. But the park was better, too big and green park, bikes everywhere!  This time I saw Amsterdam from another perspective. In winter it was cold and snowy. But this time it was shiny and lovely! The other part(not center) of Amsterdam was also nice, with higher and modern buildings.
When I came back in Maastricht I was disappointed, everything at home was the same...But the happiness turned to be sadness. During my way back to Maastricht, I was watching our pictures in my phone over and over. Fortunately we will meet again in 3 weeks in Baku.

After 4 different cities, finally will meet in Baku :) :)

Weekend in Paris

Paris memories

I can call this weekend the best and the most excited that I remember. I went to Paris from Maastricht, but made a transfer in Brussels. From Brussels I took highspeed train to get to Paris Nord. Narmina and her friend Bajat came to another train station that is called Gare de Lyon. So, from the station where I arrived, I took metro to get to their station. Metro system in Paris is too complicated. That is why before going there I checked it up in different sites on the internet, took notes on my blank book. Thus, it was not hard to get there. Together we went to the apartment, where we were planning to stay those two days. It was an apartment of Narmina`s mom's close friend, who is from Paris itself. First of all the location was very close to the Notre Dame. Secondly, it was very large: only one apartment in each floor. It has 6 rooms. In the dinner room there was a balcony. It was a great pleasure to sit there at night, eat or drink something talk with friends. 

The day when we arrived- Friday we decided to have a night walk in Paris and have a Seine boat tour. It was windy, but I enjoyed it a lot. Eiffel Tower seemed beautiful and shiny at night. Paris has lots of bridges, which makes the city hilarious. Next day,on Saturday we had a very nice breakfast and then went to the Champs de Eyslee. The weather was sunny. The avenue starts with the Arc de Triomphe and the end is Louvre. Paris is large and green. I didn`t know that it is such a big city. We had a long walk until we got to Louvre, we could enjoy morning sunshine. 

In Louvre I had an accident. Still can not understand how it happened. Inside the museum I suddenly realized that my bag is open and it is not as heavy as it was. I could not find my wallet in a small bag. I was lost at first, then I looked around and at the end of the hall, I saw a girl who was trying to hide my purse under her cardigan. I started to run and I realized that I`m trembling. I said to the girl `give it to me`, then she showed me the knife. it was scary, but somehow, in a second I became brave and took the wallet from her hands. Still can`t understand how I could behave so, why I looked around when I could not find my wallet in my bag and how I could see her at the end of the corridor. And money was in it. Lucky me! Otherwise, whole the holiday would be sheety. Also, purse itself is very valuable for me. It is my boyfriend`s present. Whatever, I was shocked whole day.. the thing I cant really understand, is how people can pay 10 euros for the museum in order to steal tourists money? seems illogical. My boyfriend said , I am HERO! :)

Louvre is a huge museum. It has some parts: Italian art floor, Islamic historian art, Spanish artists floor etc.

We saw the portrait of Mono Lisa. 

That day in the evening we were looking for the place Maison du Chocolade. Chocolate there is amazing there as far as we know. But when we came there, the place was closed, because it was too late. (Sure, late for Europe 9 is too late to find open shop). Even if it is a megapolis like Paris) And on sundays it was not working as well. We became disappointed.

Paris is too luxury. It has lots of brand stores, special boutiques, expensive restaurants and hotels, cars.  

We went to the Hotel Four Seasons. The entrance was very nice, smelled fresh and designed with flowers. Everyone was dressed up chic. That was nice to be a part of Parisian Hotel life, although for one or two hours. We sat on the big, comfortable coaches, and garcon brought a small chair for each of us, where we  put our bags :D I ate ice-cream while enjoying a live music on the piano. 

Paris is awesome, but it is too dangerous. That day when we came home, black people surrounded us and it was annoying: we were hurrying to  get home as soon as possible. Lots of drunk people at night, lots of maniacs. I`ve heard in suburban areas it is much worse. That is why I would not like to live there for a long time or whole my life.

Sunday was sunny and we went to the Eiffel Tower. The view from the top was great. The height of the tower is 300 meters. and it seemed like people are points or houses are boxes :)

Again I realized how big is Paris! the view was great from different perspectives, it was amazing to see Paris from 360 degrees angle. 

I didn`t want come back. 2 days in Paris is nothing. I know that I will return there again, to see some other sides of Paris an enjoy every moment spending there.

My sister advised to watch the movie "Midnight in Paris". Last night I watched it and again became craze about Paris. Could feel the atmosphere from the movie, pictures seemed familiar, and I wanted to feel it there over again!!!

Random building wall .While walking in the narrow street of Paris

Seine boat tour beauty!

Louvre

Mono Lisa

Arc de Triomphe

Sunset in Paris

Notre Dame de Paris

view from Eiffel

Back to Maastricht. On train. Sunday around 9pm.

Stranger at Home?

         

On wednesday I came home and saw how the door of the other room suddenly opened. I was shocked, but then I realized that this is my new flatmate arrived. It was wonderful to meet her. It was too boring to stay alone whole this time, and she brought happiness to my home. Sabrina is from Germany- Cologne. She is doing her phd on psychology. It is interesting to talk about her experiments about analysis of human brain, about her studies and interesting articles that she is reading in order to write her thesis. 
The next day we went out to drink something. I met her friends. It was so nice to know them!  We were talking about psychological experiments that they are doing( really interesting), laughing, singing, chatting about anything! cool evening together... Although all of them are in their 27 years, I couldn`t feel the difference in age. It is a myth that German people are cold and very serious. Maybe a bit serious, but interesting and not cold at all.
Hehe she is a coffee addict. Her student gave to her two boxes, where there are 10 cups in each. Amazing thing to use when you do not have time to prepare coffee in machine. We are enjoying it:)

Yeah, she does not know, but her arrival brought brightness into my life!  :)

Our mini tour around Netherlands.

Leiden

         Last Thursday my friend Melike came to me to Maastricht from Groningen(the most northern part of Netherlands) and we decided to travel around the country and see the differences and similarities between cities of the country. It was very interesting to have a trip by train every morning and came home late night. Actually it was also cheaper to do so. We bought one day ticket(dagcard) that provided us a chance to travel 24 hours wherever we want. It is only 16 euros round trip.First day we went to Rotterdam, did some shopping there. It is a modern city, because it has been destroyed during the Second World War and then has been rebuilt. The city is covered with beautiful bridges; the longest one is Erasmus bridge. Next to the river you can see harbors and flags of different countries that make the total population of Rotterdam. It was little bit rainy, but fun to walk around and enjoy the sunshine that was flowing through the clouds. I really really enjoyed time there, while we were sitting in the terrace of LA PLACE cafe and having our mint tea with cakes. The view from there was great, i was lost between huge buildings, which is too far from the buildings that are in Maastricht.Next morning we decided to go to The Hague. We went to The museum of Panorama Mesdag. It was a cool place; round pictre in 3-4-5 dimensions. I think that was the best huge, long image, which could explain the beauty of whatever, in this case, the Hague`s panorama. Then we had visited Madurodam, where we saw a mini model of the Netherlands` cities, rivers etc. It was very interesting , too real and too small at the same time.We was taking pictures and was trying to find our cities- Groningen and Maastricht. We missed Turkish food so much! That's why, we had some "simits" in SIMIT SARAYI and tasty turkish food for dinner. It is easy to find Tukish food both in Rotterdam and The Hague. Unfortunately, it is not like this in Maastricht.  My impressions about The Hague or its another name-Den Haag  are very good. Because it is a city which has a sea, rivers, it is modern that make it so beautiful. The Hague is the city where the ministry and presidency of the country are.Very important city, by the way :)We had a free time in the evening, so we decided to see Leiden as well. It is too close to the Hague; only 16 minutes by train. I can not say that is was a city; it was a typical Holland village, with tulips, windmill in the center with small beer pubs and bars, bridges and lakes. I think it was the best place I have ever been in Netherlands that could really indicate the natural life and symbols of Netherlands. Maybe it seemed to me like this, because I stood there only 1 and a half hours. But maybe not..Return to Maastricht was late. But we also had fun at night partying in my dorm.... it was relaxing with good music and our drinks.  On Sunday we went to Utrecht, it is 2 hours away from Maastricht. The city is something between with Amsterdam and Maastricht. It is not modern, it is not so ancient. It has lots of small and large bridges over the canals. Boat tour, cafes around the bridges and Dome in the center. Because it was Sunday, everywhere was closed. We could not do any shopping, but we could walk around the city and feel the smell of the nature after the rain. Although walking in the city was adorable, the pictures that I took there were not the same with the atmosphere of the city in reality. That is strange... But I think sometimes it happen. You can enjoy the city, but pictures that remain after, are not giving you the same energy. By the way, the ice-cream that we ate in the center of the city was awful. To be honest, I am trying to forget the taste of that ice-cream, it is hard :) We had the last dinner of our trip together in the restaurant; it was a chicken with peanut sauce and vegetables. From there we went back to our homes. As the Utrecht is in the center of  Holland, it took 2 hours for both of us to get home. She went to the North part, I went to South...

Ermus Brigde-Rotterdam

Rotterdam-Harbor

Rotterdam

Mdurodam- little Netherlands

Madurodam- The Hague

Utrecht