I didn’t realize how much I had bonded with our little neighborhood here in Cianghir until I was walking around running errands yesterday and it hit me that it was the last time that I would be doing so. All of a sudden the shops looked cuter, the colors seemed brighter and the permanent pedestrian traffic jam on Istiklal even seemed quaint.

I walked into the local corner store last night and a man who works there actually greeted me with handshake. We have seen each other almost every single day for the last month either when I come into the store or when I am just walking by on my way home. I have no idea what his name is and neither of us speak the other’s language. But he is always friendly and tries to be helpful when I am looking for things.

This was the first time that he has shaken my hand, which is a customary form of courtesy here in Turkey. I have finally broken through a cultural barrier, a tiny step toward cultural acceptance and understanding. I was excited for a second and then really sad when I realized that I am leaving today and will never see this man again. I have these visions of the seasons changing and him looking out the window hopefully, waiting for me to return and ask where the eggs are, but I never do.

I am glad that I am leaving Istanbul on a high note. The weather is beautiful, the outdoor cafes are packed and the tourists are flooding in. There are a few things that I wasn’t able to see while I was here like the Topkapi Palace and Chora Church. But it’s also nice to have a reason to come back. Istanbul is definitely a city that I want to come back to.