A week and then some...

I have learned so much in the last week. New language, new schedule, new campus, new apartment, new people, new city, new laundry instructions (I swear, it took over an hour and a half to do one load of laundry! But, I found the "Hizli 14" cycle. Laundry was done in 14 minutes! Hizli means fast, and I won't be moving the dial) I still do not know how to turn on my oven, but honestly, it's been too hot and humid to even think about cooking.

While it has only been a week, I have been impressed with the helpfulness of people. It doesn't feel like they are trying to impress you; they truly want you to be happy, to have a good experience, to like what you are doing, to enjoy your time here in Tarsus and in Turkey.

For example, one of the returning foreign staff members, Emily, remembered the crazy orientation schedule and suggested we (the new foreign staff) get a beach day instead of another day of shopping for our apartments. Mr. Hanna, the headmaster, asked our opinion and conceeded to the request. The school provided transportation - a bus that sat over 30- for anyone who wanted to go to Kizkalesi. Emily organized our group (14 attended) and even lent me a beach towel. Other members of our group were eager to point out attractions, lunch spots, and help secure lounge chairs -- with cushions.


A day of relaxing on the beach was greatly needed after the whirlwind of scheduled events. I spent the day swimming in the warm Mediterranean Sea with soft sand beneath my toes. I was able to swim out to the castle and spend some time trying to grasp the idea that I'm actually living in Turkey. Still so surreal to me. I asked the returning staff when it finally started to feel like home; they said it takes awhile. :)

You may be wondering why I was at the beach or shopping on a Thursday... 30 August is Victory Day when Turkey celebrates the victory over the Greeks in the Battle of Dumlupinar, a battle in the Turkish War of Independence in 1922. Yes, I hear firecrackers in the street near my apartment. What is is about independence and blowing things up?