I have red Malcolm`s reflections with great interest.
I myself was also a sort of city dweller from almost the same part of Turkey (Giresun) but left the place at a young age to study in Istanbul. I completed my military service working in a mountain village school for 18 months, as "Yedek subay ogretmen" (Reserved officer teacher)in southern Turkey.
This was just about the same time as Malcolm was
in Trabzon area.
I have met many peace corps working on different fields around the area. But I somehow never managed to get deep enough into their feelings, and expriences about their stay in Turkey.
I know some had, understandibly, great trouble to adjust to their new envoriment, but the majority seemed to enjoy the situation.
Malcolm has managed to put his feelings into a nice reading.