Last week at school was work time. What exactly I'm supposed to be working on has been a bit of mystery, but I'm forging ahead with my normal get-ready-for-the-first-days-of-school routine. However on Friday, there seemed to be quite a frenzy from returning faculty. I felt like I was missing something, but I really don't know what exactly to expect; I figure if I can't get through the first week after 16 years of teaching, then there will be a bigger problem on Monday (tomorrow 10 Sept.). Wish me luck!
This morning after a delicous breakfast of pancakes, fruit, and some orange juice (potakall suyu), I biked to the local mall..oh yeah, here's the bike! Beauty, eh? 
As most of you know, I don't regularly frequent the mall. I'm more of a thrift store gal, but I tell ya, there are some serious deals here in Turkey. There is a store called Kipa (said Keepa, like keep a secret) that reminds me of a super Target. I got quite a bit that was clearanced: dress for school (25 lira about $15), sandals (12.5 lira about $7). Best purchase but not at Kipa...brand new Nike tennis shoes for 67 lira...about $40. Not only good because they were a deal, but also I start tennis lessons tomorrow. Woohoo! 
Yet, despite all this goodness, the best part of the day was on my bike trip home. It must be pepper (biber) season because I've seen people gathering outside their homes (ususally apartments in Tarsus) and seeding peppers. Not just a few peppers, but tons of peppers! Bags at least three feet tall full of peppers. Bags and bags of peppers! You can see there are actually two on the left in the picture. One is on the sidewalk and one is behind the two ladies.
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| Two sisters: the one on the right is Yaliz. I'm not sure how to spell it. |
I asked if I could take some pictures in my ridiculously broken cavewomanish Turkish. Not only did they oblige,but they also tried to learn some English from my pocket phrase book. We talked for a bit ...me, again broken cave woman talk -- and I ended up joining in!
I stayed for awhile talking (um, yeah, at least trying!) and deseeding peppers, but I mostly listened and didn't understand. One of the younger girls ...probably middle school ...knew a little bit of English, and now the family wants me to practice English with her. At least I think that's what I got out of it!  |
Hi there, just catching up on you... left a trail of "likes" on your FB photos. You're taking some great pics, it's so cool to see all the people you hang out with and where you roam. :) Love it!
ReplyDeleteSo, uh, holy cow, that's true Stacey fashion to just go up to a family and start a conversation. That made me smile 'cuz it's so YOU. ;) They look like nice neighbors. When I lived in France I had a couple Francophiles that would come over once a week for English lessons. It was pretty awesome, they always brought me some kind of new regional food to try. Deal worked out great.
So, about this national drink deal... No. 1, who has a national drink? We don't have cool stuff like that, do we? (OK, I'm an idiot. I just googled it, ours is bourbon. ...blech.) And, No. 2, HELLO, Turkey's national drink is CHAI?!?! That's like heaven. The list of reasons to visit just keep growing...
How's school and tennis lessons?!
Hugs! A
Amy,
DeleteThank you so much for replying to my posts. Sometimes I just feel like I'm writing out into the air. :) I'm glad you're liking the photos; I am too. I'm often suprised how good they actually turn out. Guess taking that photography class this summer really did help! :0
I haven't see Yaliz and her family since the big pepper festivities, but I ride past their house to and from school, so I hope to catch up with them soon. Good to know I'm still me even in a foreign country! :0 I feel anytime you can trade converstaion for food you've made a good trade. They did ask me if I wanted food as well, but I felt that would be a bit much.
Ahh, well there are actually two national drinks...one is tea (Turks drink more tea than England and China combined! These are some serious tea people!) and the other is raki (a licorice flavored liqueur) similar to ozo in Greece. While I haven't had it here, I did in Greece and it's fairly strong. In Turkey, it's mixed with water. Isn't bourbon mixed with water too? But raki turns white in color. I'll have some eventually, but not an everyday drink - at least for me!
The first week of school went really well. I'm still trying to understand the crazy schedule, but in time it will all seem to work out. I do feel like I made the right decision in coming to Turkey. I have already met so many wonderful people and had so many amazing experiences. High school students are high school studnets no matter where they are from. I've enjoyed meeting the students this week, and I'm sure there will be more challenges with them as the year continues. But hey, one week done and only 36 more to go!:) I didn't count the weeks btw... the international school counselor did. So nice of her.
Tennis is great. I had no idea how difficult it is...well at least for me. Sweaty by the end of any hour! And my brain just keeps learning more. Lessons are 99% in English and 1% in Turkish. Kerry (an elementary teacher from Nebraska --we're doing lessons together) and I asked him to add a little bit more Turkish each week. Yikes! But good :)
xoxo
smb
If you're smart you mix bourbon with water. LOL. I dunno, I don't go within a mile of it.
ReplyDeleteSo, tennis is putting the smackdown on you, huh? Regardless, that's the best way to learn the language, just keep having people speak it to you. You'll catch on so fast with immersion. Pretty soon, you'll catch yourself understanding more than you thought you could, and you'll feel fabulous about it. :)
...36 weeks? That's all? ;)