Turkish Delight

If you missed it, we had our final international potluck of the summer last night. It was our first time making Turkish food, but thankfully, all turned out well. On the menu: lentil soup, tomato, olive and feta salad, rice pilaf, and homemade pita bread.  Dessert was good ole' fashioned American and decidedly non-Turkish brownies! About 20 guests and staff enjoyed a communal meal and conversation. Afterwards, Claire gave a brief travel talk on her recent trip to Turkey, complete with pictures and a power point presentation. We were so busy making sure the food tasted somewhat Turkish, that we forgot to take pictures of the event. So instead, check out some of Claire's trip pics below.

The Blue Mosque

Tiles of the Blue Mosque ceiling

Aya Sophia at Night

Spice Bazaar

Our neighborhood

Sunset over the city

Meet Claire

What brought you to Harpers Ferry?

Craiglist! I am a substitute teacher during the school year, and while it has its certain benefits, a paycheck during the summer is not one of them. I saw the help wanted ad online, knew the job was for me, and applied.

What do you love about it?                                                                                                

I enjoy the variety of people that pass through here-on some days, it's never a dull moment!

Favorite memory of working here?

Hmmm. That has to be from this season-the summer of potlucks! They have been alot of fun and I can now say that I have cooked edible Indian food.


What state are you from?
The Wild and the Wonderful.


What is your favorite way to travel?
While I love the thrill of the next destination, I dislike the very act of traveling, most of the time. So, it depends on the company I am keeping and mode of transport.  Whoever is more fun and whichever is faster!


What does travel mean to you?
It means adventure, discovery, and opening myself up to a thought, a culture, a method, a way of doing things that may not be like my way. And that is OK. Travel can be near or far, it's me that makes it an adventure or not.

Craziest thing you have ever done?

Crazy can have many different contexts I suppose. As I get older, I consider how "crazy" it was that two friends and I just picked eenie meenie miny mo style,  a random Guatemalan Spanish school off the internet, emailed them and showed up in Guatemala City one day hoping that a ride would be there to pick us up. Our ride was there and we stayed for 3 months---one of the best periods in my life to date.

FREE EVENT!! August 21 from 12-6pm

Join us at Railroad Square in Downtown Brunswick for the first annual Brunswick Bicycle Festival. There will be activities, music, and food. Hostel staff and volunteers will be there hard at work promoting the hostel and our amazing mission! Come out and visit or help us get the word out to all those cyclists!! The best part of course, is that it is FREE!!!

Music by: Tonehounds, The Hard Swimmin' Fish, Bo Weevil and Rottin' Cottin'

Location: Railroad Square (near the MARC station) on mile marker 55 of the C&O Canal