These past few weeks have been a whirlwind. I spent the summer in Williamstown in the Berkshires (Massachusetts), writing for a local newspaper there. I went home for a week to say goodbye to my family, and today my mom drove me from San Diego to Los Angeles, where I will be flying to Istanbul.
I’m currently sitting in LAX airport, about to board my 14-hour flight. After the mad dash of packing this morning (I managed to get it all into a big suitcase, a small suitcase, and a backpack –no one would ever accuse me of being a light packer) I finally feel a little calmer. I realize that I have no idea what to expect, despite the books I’ve read and the few chapters of Turkish Rosetta Stone I’ve completed. I know that the next few months are going to be challenging, but I’m ready to be pushed out of my comfort zone, into that space where I’m both nervous and excited. I’m going to try to be open to it all, and see what Istanbul has in store for me. See you on the other side — my flight is boarding!
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Lauren Bender
<p><span style="color: rgb(29, 29, 29); font-family: Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; background-color: rgb(237, 237, 237);">My name is Lauren, and I’m a west coast transplant currently studying at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. I’m a double major in art history and political science, and I hope to become a journalist after I graduate, focusing on the politics of the Middle East. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, singing, cooking, spending time with family and friends and watching TV shows as diverse as “Doctor Who,” “The West Wing,” and “How I Met Your Mother.” I love traveling, learning, and writing, and I can’t wait to share my adventures in Istanbul!</span></p>
