Season 2: Invasion of Turkey: Culture Shock "HELLOOOO KEBAPS!!!"

After a very long trip I finally arrived in Ankara, Turkey.  It looked just like a typical European city so it wasn't a real shock like it was last year.  But, I met my coaches and they took me to dinner.  First thing I thought of was "Ohhhhhh goodness what the hell kind of food do they have here!"  So we get a very good Kebap restaurant and they ordered me chicken and beef kebaps.  They brought out that plate my eyes lit up!! Meat! Meat! Meat! Rice! Ekmek! I wish I had a picture of it! Boyyyyyyyy that food was DELICIOUS!! Oh my goodness the food here is off the damn chain!!!!!!!!!! I was like man this is going to be a great time!! I might even gain weight here!! Sooo I said goodbye to the burnt frozen pizza and french fries from spain and hellllllllo kebaps!!!!!

The coaches told me that my apartment wasnt ready and that I had to stay in a hotel.  I was cool with that because I could have the internet and meals paid! I was excited because shoooot the food is great!  I stayed in the hotel for 2 weeks and finally got my apartment.  The apartment is soooo nice! I would post pictures but somehow my camera cord got lost in the flight.  I'm looking in the little bitty kitchen like where is the oven?? The oven is the size of a mini microwave! But hey I don't know how to cook so it don't even matter!  That was the only thing that stood out ohhhh and the washer machine is in the bathroom...weird. 

The problem now is the language.  I think Turkish has to be the hardest language everrrr! At least I spoke and understood Spanish but this right here man o man o man is tough!  The only thing I can say is yes (evet) hello (marabar...selam...gunyden) and that is all.  I know I spelled them wrong but oh well.  I have no clue what is going on nor what they say which is bad because I have no idea if they are talking bad about me.  I've been here a while now and I haven't even picked up on words. 

One thing about this place is that it is very Americanized.  The music stations are in english and people know alot about rap and hip-hop which surprised me.  I would have thought they only knew pop music (which i definately CANNOT get jiggy with).  I was listening to "I'm A Flirt" by R.Kelly feat. T.I and T-Pain and my manager Ozar took one of my ear plugs and was like oh R. Kelly! I'm like whhhhhhat?!?!? What you know about R. Kelly?? He was like I know R.Kelly! I was shocked.  So it is a little bit of influence here music wise .

I went to one club and if you have been to one club over here you have been to them all.  Rediculously loud, extremely crowded, zero dancing just jumping around.  Definately not my type of party.  I told them to take me to a hip-hop club because I LOOOOVVVEE dancing.  Plus hip-hop clubs you find other americans and I need all the connects and friends I can get.

Rules and Regulations by the Government: Now this right here is what killed me.  The government regulates what you can and can't look at on the internet.  You talking about mad, I was heated!!  The government banned youtube.  That is the most rediculous thing I have ever herd in my life.  Overseas, my life revolved around a couple websites...YOUTUBE!!! and the usual facebook, twitter, JUSTIN.TV (which is also banned) Ustream (banned), Sticktv (banned).  Now the last couple of websites I mentioned are all of the websites that streamed live sports games from home.  I am very upset that I can't watch the NFL on sundays or I can't watch my alma mater (Mizzou) or any college basketball.  Its truly a travesty and its not fair.  I get punished that you Turkish government for taking away my freedom and rights that I hold true from America and make me feel like a prisoner in my own freaking house.  How you gonna tell me what I can and can't watch yall crazy as hell.  I'm a internet buff and I have my ways I know how to look at youtube now and the only thing left is for me to figure out how to watch sports online.

The only thing I can say is that you appreciate the little things from home when you are overseas.  I will say this: THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.  God bless it!!!!!!!!!!!!