And My Exchange Begins!!!

Hey Guys,

Well I finally made it, I am in Istanbul!!! I would have blogged sooner, but every night so far I have been asked to have tea, usually followed by more tea. I have already met so many awesome people and I feel a lot of great adventures to come. Istanbul is a vast change from Denver, and its has been an exciting week adjusting to life.For now, I just want to tell everyone who helped me get here thank you and to stay tuned for more.

I'm hooked to fishing- No pun intended!

Yesterday, on a fly fishing day trip to the Upper Big Thomson in Estes Park, Colorado, I went from doing the catching to being the caught!

Working the edges, I caught three beautiful Colorado Trout!

Then while I was re-rigging my pole on the shore, my brother stepped on a small piece of line, took a step, and yanked the small fly (a copper john) into my index finger.

The fly went in past the barb, leaving me unable to easily remove it.

After a short visit to the ER, the fly was out!

The Other Half

Rotary Study Abroad is becoming a family affair and I will be the second person to go on this crazy adventure. My twin brother was the first, and all last year I witnessed his journey in Peru. I heard about the incredible moments, the mundane, the bouts of homesickness, and everything in between. Now after one year he has returned. Picking him up at the Denver International Airport was a happy homecoming, and I am pretty sure our raucous reunion caught the attention of airport security. Seeing my brother now as a ex-exchange student I felt extremely proud. We exchanged hugs, and with Peruvian fervor he greeted me, of course with the odd Spanish phrase unconsciously sneaking its way into his vocabulary. Head to toe he was my brother, but I could tell how much he changed. My scruffy bearded twin, with a new language and the confidence acquired during a year away from home truly had an experience. After taking a few photos, we left. I picked his brain asking the questions that the next 12 months I will try to answer during my exchange. He gave me answers, but his just being there was wisdom enough. He made it!

Good job bro, a Rotary Youth Exchange well done! Also if you want to learn more about Cody, his time in Peru, and his work as a student and medical intern, I will happily send you his contact information!

Update!!!

My endless 'Before I go to Turkey' to-do list, I am happy to say, is getting shorter. Item number #43 was recently completed, getting my wisdom teeth removed! After a little over an hour the operation was done. I couldn't feel my face, I had this awesome perma-smile, and I would uncontrollably drip blood onto my shirt. It was the closest thing to a zombie experience I have had yet!

Also I would like to say thank you to the North Washington Dental Group and Doctor Eric Rossow for making this procedure possible, and their willingness to work with me financially.

Summer Thoughts

Rotary is a righteous organization, straight up, they work in education, the professional world, and are trying to eradicate polio. I feel proud to be a part of that. Since my Rotary blazer arrived I stare at it hanging in my closet with loads of pride, proud of what the patch represents, what I will represent wearing it. Even though I have yet to leave, I wake up and try to embody what it is to be a Rotary Youth Exchange Student everyday. I try to live with an indomitable spirit. Cheers, here's to a year of curiosity, tenacity, and the human spirit!

A Middle East Adventure In South East Denver

With only two months until my departure date I am craving a little adventure. I have been looking for any opportunity so when on my day off I had the chance to prepare for another fundraiser, preparation which included a visit to the Middle East Store, I took a short pre-rotary sojourn. (The next post I will reveal the fundraiser and provide more information!)

This is Rudolf, a friendly young man I met while waiting for the number eight bus.

In order to get to the market I took the H line from 16th street to its location off Colorado Blvd.

Traveling aboard the light rail.

The Middle East Market, along with other Middle Eastern restaurants.

The entrance of the Middle East Market.

Hookah anyone?

Interesting sticker, I wish I could read Arabic!

This caught my eye, some Turkish Coffee!

Bags of rice.

The owner, who kindly allowed me to photograph him. His only words were "don't use it for anything illegal!"

Jive Turkey

Hello everyone right now I have a hair free lower left leg and a strip of hair missing from the shin of my right leg. Its not that I sleep shave or anything (is that even a real condition?) rather I was hard at work raising money for my rotary study abroad in Turkey by having a public waxing. I lost some sporadic leg hair...my dignity too...and raised 234.00 dollars. Awesome!














P.S. Thank you to everyone who supported this venture!
P.S.S I have recently shaved my legs and I have a fully uniform stubble now:)