Yeah if the wind brings me to Adana, I'll give you a shout.

Going with the flow, something definitely wanted me to come here and learn a lessons or two.

I was trying to get out of Cappadocia, I had just so much time and so much of a budget. Cappadocia was sure something else and quite a surprise, but I wasn't ready yet.

I contacted Uveys who I had met in Izmir.

He had told me to contact him if I wanted to stay with him in his home in Adana.

I didn't think of stopping there but eh, I needed a place to stay tonight, by couch-surfing to be budget friendly would be preferred. As hostels didn't seem like options, having none the more east of Turkiye I went.

I was on my way there, having pulled myself to get the many buses to get in the city center.

I remember arriving and noticing public transport wasn't google maps friendly and I would have to bust out every Turkish word I knew.

The cold in Cappadocia after the many months of heat while sleeping in dorms with many people.

I had a little sickness, thankfully I had about 30 cups of Turkish Tea before leaving.

I was definitely running on these tea fumes.

I had to go back and forth in many buses and at time feeling very lost while checking google maps bringing me out of the city center.

But eh, just keep at it and one bus led to another to then going through city center and walking 30 minutes to finally arrive somewhere with FOOD.

I was welcomed with a text from Uveys that he will definitely not make it out tonight and that I would be homeless.

Okay, yeah I didn't eat since 9 am breakfast, now 9pm.

Washroom would be nice, but ah damn, priorities.

I needed somewhere to stay like asap.

I was about 10h east of Istanbul in new territory at night. I usually don't arrive late in places that I know nothing of but since my friend was supposed to be there to welcome me, I figured, ah no stress i'm too tired to think anyways.

One thing I learned in any situations of times where we feel at our most stressed.

Breathe, relax, let it slide.

I mean, in all case scenarios, worst that can happen, is die right?

I mean, like always when we panic, okay, then what next.

I find going through slides like this that you just okay, now that's about 5 worst case scenarios.

Now let's try 5 best case scenarios.

Okay now let's just observe what around me can bring and go about that.

I figured I would be in good hands as I was told, the more east you go in Turkiye, don't worry about accommodations. They get warmer and warmer.

But eh, still gotta play around with the voice of fear in our head trying to win.

I ended up going to a KFC since I figured, Wifi, place to sit, food, washroom.

But I got there and it was closing in 2 minutes.

I was though so generously offered food by two young teenagers eating.

This may seem like a little gesture.

But this one of the many experiences of Adana where I was blown away.

To begin, fast food is cheaper but still very expensive and westerner prices.

A 15$ combo for me would of been 300Tl for him.

In the last three years the CAD $ went from 1 to 5 to 1$ is 20 Turkish Lira.

Inflation is hitting them hard.

What I also knew is that if I would of ate absolutely everything they had.

They would of felt so happy and proud, like if their hunger vanished.

That's how much they value giving.

I could not feel right doing this so a couple fries just to not refuse as you can never refuse such kindness.

Then I needed to go walk another 10 to get another fast food place where I could have Wifi and chill while I waited.

All during this time, I had started a hangout with Ezgi who was from the area.

I seen she didn't accept surfers so I was just asking her for directions hoping she might know someone who could help me.

I was walking around when I seen a group of skaters. Young guys who might know english.

I chatted with them in Turkish and they were so impressed haha, they were" like who the hell are you walking around here and speaking some Turkish, haha why? so cool"

They were super excited to show me some of their moves then guide me to where I should eat waiting for responses.

Ezgi had just texted me, she was going to ask her parents if they could host me.

I mean, yeah would be cool but really, what are the odds of their parents accepting this random foreigner at 10 pm in their house.

I was walking to the food place and while crossing the street.

I was looking at my phone as she responded.

THEY SAID YES!

Woah sick,

Ah F$%K!

I feel into this massive pool of mud while not looking when crossing.

My shoes, my "cleanest" pair of pants and my backpack and all was soaked in mud.

Ah smile. Breathe, laugh and swear.

But happy swear.

Sometimes the intensity is so unreal, things going super bad when going super great you don't even know what to feel you just are looking at it like really?

I got helped by the restaurant, like 3-4 of the people working went out with many napkins and cleaning wipes to help me as they seen me in the streets.

I got one of the best durums yet, I understood what they meant about food being better here.

Then I just chilled, ate and let the pressure release as all this adrenaline was now over with.

I didn't know if I would be able to clean myself, all my stinky clothes, when my next meal would be or any of that extra stuff.

But now I knew I had a place to stay.

I would now wait for Ezgi and her father who would come to pick me up with their car to what would become just the beginning of this crazy and life changing experience Adana brought to me.