Funda

 Today was my first day of Turkish class! 

I can already hear some of you scratching your heads.  Why?

1) I can take a class for free because I am University employee 2) Korean is not offered  3) Turkish seemed like a good, similar alternative as
1) Turkey is a US and South Korean ally
2) Turkish is a critical language in my governmental branches
3) It is offered in my own department, so it was super easy to get enrolled and get info about the class-- as I see these people everyday.
4) Turkey seems like it would be a cool place to go

That said, this is not going to be a cakewalk.  Class is every day.  Most of the kids in the class, whose brains are 10 years younger than mine, have been to Turkey and/or are Turkish and have some background in the language.  GULP!  Time to be super competitive! 

The teacher is really nice-- she has an infectious cheerfulness, loads of perfume and hot pink lipstick.  She is an exchange teacher-- so kinda like a Turkish JET.

My Turkish name is Funda  (it looks like "fun" and sounds like "stepped on" in Japanese)!