My time in Minnesota is becoming bittersweet as I’m preparing to go back to my Adana home. I’ve had a great time this summer, and I feel like I’ve taken advantage of all the opportunities I could to hang out with friends and family during this time. So why bittersweet? Let me share with you…

First of all, Candy, my sister-in-law, is almost eight months pregnant, and I won’t get to see my new niece until Christmas at the earliest. This will be the first baby in our family in twenty years and its really hard not to be around for such an event. Continuing a long-distance relationship until my boyfriend is able to find a job is another very hard thing about returning. Finally, going back to Turkey means yet another apartment hunt, opening electricity, phone, internet, buying furniture, moving….really really not fun stuff for me. I have less than a week before school starts to get all of that done, and if last year was any indication of how much time it takes to set up an apartment in Adana, its going to be a very frustrating first few weeks of school.

On the other hand, my other sister-in-law is having a baby in the spring and she is in Adana. Beside my brother, I’ll be the only person from our family there, so I get to hog the baby all I want! Getting a new apartment will be exciting after we’re all settled in. Its just the initial moving in that I hate. I actually love decorating and making a new apartment feel like home. Hopefully my roommates this year will join me in being excited about it. (Hint hint, Su.)

Finally, most of my friends will be back in Adana, I’ve got some really sweet new co-workers, and I’m returning to a job that I really enjoy. I think the good out-weighs the bad. I just need to make it past the first three weeks, and I’ll be fine. Maybe I should think about giving up worry for Ramazan.