At first, I diligently studied basic Turkish phrases, and, now, in the end, Turkish phrases I didn't even know existed years ago are flowing out of my mouth. I've put a lot of time into learning Turkish, but there are some Turkish phrases that have nearly become a part of me, and I'd love to talk about why.

There is an immense amount that I'll miss about Turkey (namely, my students and the people I met there), but I'm starting to realize that I'll miss the little things as well. I think I'm slowly coming to terms with the notion that Istanbul isn't technically my "home" anymore, and part of coming to terms with that has been taking the time to reflect on my time in Turkey.

As far as the language, I'm trying to think of creative ways to continue practicing Turkish, but it's not just speaking the language itself that intrigues me, it's the way it's used day-to-day in Turkey.

My daily life, I now recognize, was filled with little Turkish phrases that propped me up and helped me to feel a part of Turkish society. On that note though, I should note that these these Turkish phrases didn't just come to me via osmosis. I used tools like Duolingo to practice Turkish, and I've heard good things about Turkish Tea Time.

For me though, it was about getting out there and learning from the people through conversation and mistakes. I think that's why I'm so attached to the language, and, for that matter, the country at large.

My Turkish wasn't perfect by the end, but it was pretty decent. I'd venture to say that by the end I could have had a 20 minute or so conversation in Turkish without flickering in and out witht the use of English. But it's not necessarily just that I'll miss. A lot of Turkish is about the "back and forth" or the "give and response." You say certain things at certain times which let others know you're thinking about them. The Turkish people, in my experience, are amazing in their empathy and care. Literally, If you ever get injured in Turkey, people will be fawning over you like you were their first grandchild, and they might have just met you.

As part of this continued "Istanbul departure series," (which I by no means planned) today I wanted to note the 7 Turkish phrases that I'll miss the most! In Canada, people are incredibly polite, but there just isn't the same level of casual interaction as there is in Turkey. Honestly, the gym was about a block and a half from my house in Istanbul, and I'd probably say hello to eight or so people on the way, and occasionally I'd be forced to stop and have a tea. You just don't get that everywhere.

In no particular order, let's get started.

The 7 Turkish Phrases I'll Miss the Most