Dinner with host families

In Manisa,  the local association takes great pride in providing overnight stays for visiting American guests.  We were divided up into six groups and sent to different homes in the community.  David and I went with Serkan and his wife.  They told us how excited they were to host us.  They have an apartment on the 4th floor that they own (many Turks own their own apartments instead of renting.  They do not move often.)  Serkan insisted on carrying both of our suitcases all the way up.  We were greeted by his wife and Aunt who helped with the translation through dinner.  She had lived in New Jersey for 20 years and had good English, although she said it had been awhile since she had used it.

Serkan is a car mechanic and owns his own shop.  He did his mandatory military service (16 months) in a mechanized unit and worked on tanks as a young man.  After dinner he showed us pictures from his time in the military, also their wedding pictures and pictures that he took in Saudi Arabia when he went on his Hajj pilgrimage. 

They had two children.  The youngest (Eydan age 1 1/2) was there and playing.  He would run out on the balcony and holler at traffic and run back in.  The older one (age 13) was visiting his grandparents on their farm nearby.  Its a vineyard.  We are told 80% of the grapes used for raisins worldwide come from this region.

After the meal our translator told us that our host wanted to "make dua".  I didn't understand this word, but then it became clear that he wanted to bless the meal.  We all held our hands out, palms up as he offered a blessing, then he asked David to also offer a blessing, so David did.  A very generous and thoughtful invitation.

Beautiful (and tasty) dinner

Serkan, Eydan (age 1 1/2) and David

Nice view overlooking the mountain from their balcony

Serkan, David, Carolyn, Eydan, and (I didn't get our hostess' name!)

The formal living room.

The kitchen

The informal living room with TV. Our translator was an Aunt.  Her name was Fatima and she lived in New Jersey for 20 years when her husband was employed there.