A Short Story

       I knew it was going to be a bad day when the phone rang at five o’clock. My mum was calling me and she frenetically wanted me to came her house immediately. Nevertheless, I couldn’t understand why I had to go. Then I asked her that but she said nothing and she put down the phone. I was frightened and worried about her. Later I changed my clothes, I got ready to go but actually, I had no idea what I would see.

          During the way, I always thought what happened in the house. When I calmed down, I could think logically and probably she believed that she heard sounds and saw shadows. For her, that was certainly a thief. I was relaxed because I knew my mother; she usually exaggerated everything that she could be scared.   

          Finally, I came to her house and there wasn’t anything unusual. The door was locked, all the windows were closed. I rang the bell and shouted to her. She opened the door slowly. She was very happy for saw me but she was still stressful. I entered the house as soon as possible and asked her what happened. She said nothing again. I was confused. She did a sign with her hands; she wanted me to followed her. She was trying to be very silence and I did like her.  She went her bedroom and opened the window very slowly. After she showed me pigeons. Firstly I didn’t understand anything but when I looked carefully I could see babies. That was great. Otherwise I was late for work. That wouldn't be good. 

Travel to My Hometown

Hello Everybody,

I will present you a city guide for three days. This city is my hometown Bartın which is a small town near Black Sea.

First Day

Bartın River

We are starting our trip from city center of Bartın. Bartın’s most important feature is Bartın River. The last 14 km on the Bartın River, between Bartın and Black Sea coast is navigable for vessels. That’s why Bartın River is unique in Turkey about transportation. 

A wooden house

We can see a lot of historic mansion near this river. In addition, the city is full of wooden houses from Ottoman era. The city has had Hagia Nikola church- now; it is used for the center of culture. And also there is a ethnography museum.

Second Day

Kuşkayası Monument 

We will go to Amasra which is a historic town. The town contains many historical monuments from Romans, Byzantines, Geneose and Ottomans. We can see Kuşkayası roadside monument on our route. It was erected in the Roman Imperial age.

Amasra Castle

Amasra Castle was built during the Roman period. The walls of the castle were built by the Byzantines. The front walls and gates were built by the Geneose in the 14^th and 15^th centuries.

The city had has two churchs. After conquest of the city by Mehmet II, these two churches were converted to mosques. Now, the big one is still mosque, the little one is center of culture.

There is a Geneose Chateau in the castle.

A view of Amasra

I think it is enough for second day, now it’s time for rakı and delicious Black Sea fish.

Third Day

Direkli

Today, in the morning we will swim near historical monument Direkli. After, we will go to Amasra Museum. In the afternoon, we will walk in green forests and plateaus of Bartın.

About Me

Hello everybody,

                              My name is Berk, I’m studying at Galatasaray University in international relations department.  It is my third year here and I am taking this course for the first time. Now it is very difficult to speak English after two years of French education. Actually, I graduated from Kadıköy Anatolian High School but I could not improve myself about foreign languages. I think it is my last chance to learn English without paying money.

                             When I was at high school, I lived in a dormitory for five years. After high school, I thought dorm life was enough for me and that is why I decided to rent a house with my friends. So now, I am living with my high school friends in Ortaköy.

my flatmates and me

                              I love Turkish Classical Music and singing. For that reason, I have participated in Kaşif Kalkavan Musiki Derneği two years ago. In every four months, we organize a concert in Üsküdar and I always have a solo song. 

My girlfriend and me after one of the concerts