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Thursday, December 24, 2009

My 1st Christmas

As you may know, majority of the population do not celebrate Christmas here. Well, we like to celebrate the coming of the new year with big dinners or parties with family and friends but this is not the topic of this post.
I think I wrote before that once I was an exchange student and I had the chance to spent a wonderful year with the Walker family of Keyser - West Virginia. Being 17 and spending a year abroad. Oh, it was such a big growing experience, and since those days I always feel that they are my second family.
So I spent my very first Christmas with the Walkers. Decorating a tree, lots of gifts and being with the whole Walkers was such a big treat for me. So here is a photo of the young Aysegul on her first Christmas morning.( sitting second from the right)
Dad - Bill Walker who was holding the Snoopy on top of my head had passed away years ago, and Mom Emma Walker was not in this photo because she was taking it. Isnt it a great photo from December 24,1981 ???
Well, apart from Dad the Walker clan is still around and here is latest photo of them..

I miss you guys a lot and Merry Christmas to you all and all my friends from Keyser. ( Especially you Gary!!)

Also another big MERRY CHRISTMAS to all my Christmas celebrating blog friends...

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27 comments:

  1. NomadDecember 24, 2009 at 4:19 AM

    Happy holidays to you and your family, Aysegul. I wish you a wonderful coming year. (2010. Can you believe it??!!)

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  2. AnonymousDecember 24, 2009 at 4:44 AM

    I hope that you and your family have a very happy holiday season!

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  3. Debra She Who SeeksDecember 24, 2009 at 5:20 AM

    Beautiful memories -- thanks for sharing them!

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  4. Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.comDecember 24, 2009 at 7:42 AM

    such a nice post for today. i like human interest stories and the global connections. Happy New Year to you

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  5. mxtodis123December 24, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    Thanks for sharing such special memories with us. A really wonderful story.
    Mary

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  6. Jen Beaudet December 24, 2009 at 9:45 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  7. Jen Beaudet December 24, 2009 at 9:53 AM

    I had a typo! Thank you for sharing such a special memory with us! I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating the holidays. Thank you so much for all of your support and words of encouragement, Aysegul.
    -Jennifer :)

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  8. Simply Mel {Reverie}December 24, 2009 at 2:16 PM

    Wishing you the best during this season and always...here's to a New Year filled with much love, peace, happiness and good health!

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  9. AnonymousDecember 24, 2009 at 4:56 PM

    I'm so glad you were able to share all the fun and excitement of a Christmas celebration once, Aysegul. I loved seeing how you looked all those years ago and must say you haven't really changed very much. Thank you very much for having given so much of yourself and teaching us so much about your country and culture through your blog; I have learned so much and appreciate it all.

    Happy holidays,
    Pam

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  10. Petrea BurchardDecember 24, 2009 at 8:55 PM

    Aysegul, this one brought a tear to my eye. What a sweet post. How generous of the Walkers to open their home and hearts to you. It's no wonder you opened your heart to them as well.

    Happy New Year to you!

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  11. Julie@beingRUBYDecember 24, 2009 at 9:02 PM

    HI Aysegul
    What an adventurous spirit you have to travel to another country at such a young age.

    I love this picture you have shown us. it represents many christmases I have known... just the simple family fun of gathering round the tree and being a bit silly...

    I hope you enjoy this time of year preparing for your own celebrations for the new year and I'd like to thank you for all you have shared with us this year. Your beautiful photos, your informative posts taking us on journeys to places we have never travelled and your own kind spirit with your lovely comments at our own blogs... It's been great getting to know you through your blog.

    Take care xx Julie

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  12. davewvDecember 25, 2009 at 7:31 AM

    Thanks Aysegul for sharing your stories of your West Virginia Christmas. It was a growing experience for us too having you visit in our home for a brief weekend when you were here. You are certainly a great ambassador for the world. Wish all looked through a similar lens. Here are big hugs for you and your new hubby from another West Virginia family who loves you.
    Dave, Pat, Suzanne and Dave Stanton

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  13. Phivos NicolaidesDecember 25, 2009 at 7:54 AM

    You are simply a great personality. Teshekurederim! Hugs.

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  14. Pooch Purple ReignDecember 25, 2009 at 5:04 PM

    aysegul
    you were soooo cute! that is such an "80,s" photo. i love it.
    hugs from canada
    ~laura

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  15. anaDecember 26, 2009 at 7:55 AM

    Lovely story!!! Happy New Year darling!!! hope you have a great time and a big party!!!

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  16. SandyDecember 26, 2009 at 12:52 PM

    Aysegul,

    What a great post! I bet you have wonderful memories of that year spent with the Walkers.

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  17. Bunny The Paris House DesignsDecember 26, 2009 at 2:31 PM

    Thank you for sharing these lovely photos and special memories. It is so nice to see that you still care so much for this loving family, it is so sweet !!
    xoxo

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  18. LPCDecember 26, 2009 at 9:56 PM

    Thanks!

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  19. ElaineDecember 27, 2009 at 5:33 PM

    That must have been great, celebrating an American Christmas for the first time. Have you been back to West Virginia?

    Nice that you still keep in touch after all those years.

    Hope you had a wonderful holiday.

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  20. Midlife RoadtripperDecember 27, 2009 at 7:47 PM

    Lovely post. I have wondered what all those who don't celebrate Christmas have thought of my December posts of holiday merriment. I am always eager to learn what I don't know and hope to see many special celebrations from all the world throughout the year.

    Happy New Year!

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  21. anitaDecember 28, 2009 at 7:49 PM

    i'm thinking how brave you were to go live with a new family so far from home..

    wishing you much happiness, love and peace in the new year :)

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  22. ShellbelleDecember 29, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    Wow, what a wonderful story to share at this time of year. I've wondered what happened to the exchange students I went to school with so many years ago. It was great to see that you still keep in touch with your American family. The world is small, after all.

    Happy New Year!

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  23. BhushavaliDecember 30, 2009 at 9:30 AM

    Hey Aysegul,
    Happy New Year dear.. :)

    Me and my Mannequin!!! - Fashion Panache
    Interview at Speakbindas - My Travelogue

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  24. AutoDTDecember 31, 2009 at 7:20 PM

    A very Happy New Year to you all!!!:)

    Cyrus:)

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  25. Phivos NicolaidesDecember 31, 2009 at 10:51 PM

    I wish you dear friend by heart the best for the year 2010! Happy new year!

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  26. DinaJanuary 1, 2010 at 2:14 AM

    I wish all kids in the world could do this exchange thing. Think how it would change us and the world.
    Thanks for the story and the nice vintage photo. :)

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  27. AngeJanuary 3, 2010 at 1:16 PM

    I can't believe I haven't stumbled over your blog before! Wonderful. I too was an exchange student. Wonderful memories that I hope my children will choose to do too - but we will see. Happy New Year!
    Ange

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