Traveler Bio

Merhaba! Hello! My name is Clara. I grew up in Minnesota, and I have lived there most of my life. I absolutely love Minnesota! In the summer, I spend most of my days outdoors, hiking and swimming in some of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes. In the winters, when it's too cold to go outside, I prefer to watch movies and read. 

During my time at the University of Minnesota, I started volunteering as an English teacher to adults in the community. I loved it so much, so I continued to teach English on my campus and even online. I have had students from all over the world: China, Russia, Oman, South Korea, Mexico, and more. At the same time, I pursued my degree in Economics. 

In 2019, I won a scholarship to study Turkish in Baku, Azerbaijan. Living in a different country while speaking only a little of the language is overwhelming--it really helped me understand how many of my students felt!

I wanted to learn even more about Turkey, so in February 2021, I moved to Bartin, Turkey to teach English to college students as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant. Bartin is a small city in northern Turkey, close to the Black Sea. I spent most of my time there, but I also had the chance to explore other areas of Turkey, from its Mediterranean coast to bustling Istanbul and the ancient sites of Cappadocia. I can't wait to share my journey with you, and show you why Turkey has become my second home!