I suppose the title tells it all, but we are indeed back safe and sound.  The trip back was a 25-hour one (which I’m prolonging by spending time on the Internet, but I promise I’ll be crashing soon) but was about as smooth as you can hope for.  I only had a empty seat by me on one leg this time (the long one, but it was gladly given to a teammate who wasn’t originally sitting near us), but I still definitely kept my streak of getting good seats going (my last one was in the first row…the “first class” if you will of a puddle jumper).

Funny moments:

Saying “tesekkuler” to an American shortly after landing at JFK, who likely has never been to Turkey and had no idea what I said.

Okay, that’s the only one I can come up with off the bat, though I’m sure there’s more.  I’m tired, so you’ll cut me some slack, right?

Let me know if there’s anything specific you want to know (or maybe you’ve asked questions already in the comments…I haven’t read them all yet) so I don’t bore ya.  I want to include enough that you can travel vicariously through me if you desire, but not too much that you turn the channel.  Fine line.

I’m thankful to be have had the opportunity to go, thankful to be back, and thankful to be sleeping in a bed in a room by myself tonight!