First Post!

Hi everybody!
As you know, this August I'll be going to Izmir, Turkey for about a year! During that time, I hope to use this blog to let all of you know what I'm up to throughout the year and how I'm doing. I'll try not to just write about my schedule and things like that, and if you want to, email me, I'd love to hear from you! My email address is: alexis92@roadrunner.com
At this point, I'm extremely excited about my exchange, although sometimes I'll get a small jolt of nervousness when I think about all the things I have left to do before I leave!
Lastly before I go study some Turkish...
Here are some facts about Turkey:
1. The famous Trojan Wars took place in Western Turkey, around the site where the Trojan horse rests today.
2. The first church built by man (St. Peter’s Church) is in Antioch (Antakya), Turkey.
3. The oldest known human settlement is in Catalhoyuk, Turkey (7th Millenium B.C.)
Ephesus and Halicarnasus (the place for the two of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world) are in Turkey.
4. St. Nicholas, also known as Santa Claus, was born in Demre, on Turkey’s Mediterranean Coast.
5. Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi) in Eastern Turkey.
6. Turks introduced coffee to Europe.
7. Turks gave the Dutch their famous tulips.
8. King Midas lived in Gordion, capital of Phrigia.
9. Early Christians escaping from Roman persecutions found shelter in Cappadocia.
10. Izmir is Turkey's 3'rd largest city with 3 million people.