Orientation Week – Ataturk’s Mausoleum

Just before leaving for the field trip, the door to the room opened and I met Zemran and Ozgur, 2 of my roommates during orientation week.  They told me we’d go out to kizilay (shopping, food, business area) at night after I’d get back.  After walking back near the library, I met up with the group again and we all filled into a bus that was headed to Anitkabir (Ataturks Mausoleum).  By the way Mustafa Kemal was given the title Ataturk.  “Ata” means ancestor so “Ataturk” means “Ancestor of the Turks”.  His burial ground is quite the scene.  It’s on top of a huge hill so you can see it from a lot of places in the city.  At night they have all these spotlights lighting up the main building where he is buried. Once we got off the bus I was introduced to some of the Americans and we all headed up the stairs and past the guards who were standing at the top ends of the stairs.  They have a huge pathway leading up to the main open area in front of his tomb.  The stones in the pathway are spaced unevenly so you have to look down while you walk.  This was done purposefully so you have your head lowered to show respect to Ataturk.  Also on the sides of the path they have quite a few trees planted.  Since the mausoleum is on top of a hill the trees are blocking the view of the city.  The designers/planners didn’t want your attention to be towards the view while walking to his tomb.

Next to the tomb there’s a museum devoted to Ataturk and the War of Independence.  On display they had some of his clothes, personal things like cigarettes, gifts received from various world leaders, canes, guns, diaries etc. They even had his stuffed dog.  A few of his cars were there as well as his personal boat.  There was another room with tons of paintings of different Turkish war generals, paintings showing the battles against the Greeks, navy battles and other paintings related to the battles leading to independence.  At the end of the museum they had a gift shop.  They had anything ranging from pins, postcards, shirts and paintings.  They even had a tie with Ataturk’s face on it.  I knew the Turkish people loved him but they don’t just keep it to themselves, they display it everywhere.  Any place you go to, be it a bank, supermarket, barber shop etc. They will all have a framed photo of him hanging on their walls.  I know some people who carry his photo in their wallet as well.  As we were heading back to the bus it started to rain heavily.  We were leaving at the perfect time.  There was about an hour till sunset when I reached my dorm.  I wanted to rest a bit before going out with the roommates that night.  In the temporary dorm they had 2 rooms in the one main room.  In one room were 2 bunk beds for the four of us.  In the other room were 4 study tables.  As I opened the door to the study room a huge cloud of smoke rushed out at me.  My roommates greeted me and asked if I don’t mind the smoking.  I said that I don’t mind, which made them real happy as they each went through about 30 a day hahaha.  During the orientation week I got used to smelling like an ashtray.

PS. I forgot my camera during the orientation field trip but I later went back with a few friends and took some photos.

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