The last day before I go home. Woke up to meet Dr. B at 8 15 am. I cannot believe this is it. I am writing from seat 15 A from Dallas to LaGuardia airport in NY. Lots of beautiful awe inspiring puffy white clouds outside my window seat. I am looking forward so much to see my family and to get back home. It has been an incredible 55 days of my life. Oklahoma, Greece and Turkey these places are all part of me now. I can say that this experience has changed in me in some ways. The dozens of people I have met on this journey have all taught me something. I feel priveldged to have had this opportunity. Thanks to Drs. Hranitz, Barthell, Wells and Abramson for letting me tag along and to be involved in such an exciting experience. Thanks to Marisol, Carman, Aaron, Josh, Amanda and Maria for working so hard and making the trip so much fun.

One last goodbye to University of Central Oklahoma's campus



My plane itinerary and the book about Turkey that made it all so much more clear


Dr. Barthell and I in the morning before leaving


Flying out of Will Rogers airport in Ok City


My Bags


Arrived in Dallas in 35 min.



Verrenzano Narrows Bridge NYC






Home AGAIN

Day 54, July 30, 2011 (Goodbye again, Catching up on Work)

This morning we met up to say goodbye to Maria and Aaron.
John and I drove them to the airport to say goodbye.
Aaron packs one last time




John showed me a road marker for the original Route 66, his home is on that road


Next door cattle to John's family home

Old Route 66

Day 53, July 29 (Saying Goodbye)

In the morning we met with John in the science building and wrote some reflection and
talked about our experience. I think we felt a bit uneasy with the underlining fact that we
were all leaving very soon
We met at a Mexican restaurant, kind of our last get together.
We were swapping stories with John and each other, we laughed a lot and
sort of did not want to leave as our journey was now over. All of us wanted to go
home but we were also leaving behind an experience that we shared together for 52 days in the summer of 2011.




Amanda had to have ice cream

Aaron and Josh at the dorm

Day 52, July 28, 2011 (Oklahoma Bound)

We met in the lobby at 615 am, packed up the bus and took the drive to the Ataturk Airport. We drove along the coast of the Sea of Marmara noting the large number of ships (one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world). We went through various security checks (many of those today in 3 countries). My passport was questioned as it was issued yesterday and therefore did not have an entry sticker, but I was cleared to go on. I am writing this in the plane now as we go to Heathrow in England for our first change over. We had to take a bus to another terminal, driver on the right side of the vehicle was weird to see. We left late from England and therefore when we got to Chicago, which was very busy and a long 1 hour line through customs, we missed our conecting flight. We were lucky that we got a flight 4 hours later to Oklahoma city. It took us 28 hours to go from the dorm at Uludag University to the Dorm at Oklahoma Centeral University, arriving at 1 am. We were so happy to see Dr. Barthells again. We began comparing US to Turkey world. We noted how different things were, people, food etc. The transition back to US life style will take a bit of time.

Looking out of Van window at the sea



My ticket stubs


Airport







England


Hello native country airplanes

REU's all cozy




Yes this is Chicago




This Chicago fast food sign was ironic to us on many different levels

In Oklahoma

Dazed and tired

1 am on campus