Today started out like the last few days have. Get to the lab, make coffee, count nematodes, gag at the smell of rotting debris in stale water. However, around 11 a.m. EEST I asked Gul what if we had any plans for the upcoming holiday--the three-day celebration for the end of Ramadan. She said she would talk to Amer to plan something for Cui, Elfinesh and I to do (I'll come back to this later). I went back to counting and Amer walks into the lab. This is unusual because he lives/works in Ankara about four hours away. We chat about my work and how I've been and then he sets off to find Gul and Cui. I continue counting until I'm interrupted by Gul about 15 minutes later. I'm told I should finish the slide I am on and then grab a hat. I do so and hop in Amer's car with Gul and Cui.
We venture through town and end up in some research fields just outside Eskisehir to the northeast (the institute I'm staying at is on the outside to the southwest of town). Cui and I are given brown paper bags and told to collect soil samples from the roots of the wheat plants. So, I zig-zag through the field ripping up the wheat plants and shaking the soil into the bag. We continue this for several more fields in the area and then hop back into the car.
Next comes the exciting part. In order to get a random sample, Amer stops the car on the side of a fairly busy road next to a wheat field and we hop out and collect our samples. Now, these fields aren't owned by CIMMYT nor did anyone ask the land owner about sampling there. We simply stopped the car, collected our samples and went on our way. After collecting on the north side, Gul and Amer decided to get some more from south of town. We drove like we were going back to the institute but kept heading south instead of turning west when the time came.
By this point it was around two and Gul mentioned a restaurant nearby. I was a little shocked because Gul and Amer are fasting for Ramadan. We ended up stopping and eating at this beautiful place in a park. It was along a creek that had been blocked in order to divert water for irrigation. It surrounded by tall conifers and smelled of pine and cool water. We had grilled meat that was very Turkish. Gul ate with us but Amer did not.
Afterwards, we kept going south and collecting samples in the same fashion. We ended up in a town called Kutahya which is apparently famous for their porcelain and China. I made some purchases for my family and friends and we headed back to Eskisehir. All-in-all it was a very nice break from the regular lab routine that had developed over the last few weeks.While in the car, Amer mentioned that I might be the only intern to stay in Turkey during the entire month of Ramadan. For me it is okay--it is a nice experience and Elfinesh is a wonderful cook.
Speaking of cooking, Elfinesh, Cui and I made an amazing pizza on Sunday night. I made the crust and Elfinesh made the sauce out of fresh tomato paste with some thyme, oregano and Ethiopian spices. The sauce was beyond amazing. I asked for some of the spice so that I can bring it back home and try it there.
Back to the beginning, I'm still not sure what I will be doing for the holiday but Amer is thinking about it tonight and will get back to Cui, Elfinesh and I tomorrow. I am praying for a beach vacation in Antalya. I know I lied above when I said "one more thing," but I'm over it.
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| One of the field sampling sites. |
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| The best pizza ever, hands down, no competition. |
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| Me getting all up in that soil. |
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| My two outstanding supervisors. Left: Dr. Gul (the "u" should have two dots above it) Erginbas Orokci. Right: Dr. Abdelfattah "Amer" Dababat. I would like to add that they look flawless and I'm sure woke up like that. |
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| Me with my bag o' soil and my two amazing supervisors. |
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