she placed a warm palm to my shivering cheek

Okay so I have been here for almost 3 weeks now... but it feels so much longer in a fulfilling way Alhumdulilah. I passed my first official assignment almost 2 weeks ago and have been struggling with the disconnected haruf assignment... I have a feeling it is going to take MUCH longer to pass this one. I hope I can get through AT LEAST the connected haruf during my time here, but I hear that could take years to pass (I counted it and I think it is 12 assignments total... if going by the sulus and nesik book I picked up from IRCICA).

InshAllah we will see how things progress... also, I am realizing I REALLY need to learn the language. There is no time for that right now, at least not during this stay but some friends are coming to visit from the states and are bringing me a teach yourself Turkish book, lol. The pronunciation of words seems to be a lot more difficult than Arabic, even though the language uses Roman alphabets!

Also I want to say something about the people I have been meeting here. Never have I come across a place where I am delighted by the personality of EVERY person I am meeting, Alhumdulilah rabil alameen. Especially the calligraphy masters! Everyone is soooo wow. Really indescribable with such depth of character, personality, goodness, and sincerity. They are so down to earth, yet accomplished and generous. May Allah bless them all. My heart really swells with happiness when I am in their company and after spending all day with them, I come back to the apartment feeling such peace, Alhumdulilah rabil alameen.

Turkey is also a haven for a spiritualty/sufism lush. I see beautiful masajid and mazaars everywhere. I also have a feeling there are plenty of dergahs here... I went to jerrahi dergah a few nights ago in Fatih and it was amazing. Also, there are a whole bunch of foreign 'seekers' here that I have been meeting through various people... people that have been searching for Truth and have come here somewhere during that journey and decided to stay. Says something about the place I think.

Being here has changed my perception of time. I am not sure how to explain it. A year no longer seems like a long time, neither does 5 years, 10, 30, or a life time. Also, being here has really allowed me to question what it is that I need as opposed to what society tells me I need.

Life seems stranger to me than ever. I cannot describe what I am feeling. But this feels good.