I can't blame you if you've left. I can't even be a little bit angry. I've been absent in our relationship. I'm sorry. I hope you can forgive me. It's been a busy few months -- to say the least. Lame excuse. I know. I've written a million blog posts in my head, but I never made the time to actually get it down on "paper"..umm I guess into cyberspace would be a better description. ;0 Here is a rundown of events since my last post:
April
- spent my spring break in chilly but fabulous London
- enjoyed Book of Mormon, Peter and Alice with Judi Dench, and Quatermaine's Terms with Rowen Atkinson
- ate some fish and chips, enjoyed a Magners cider, devoured delicious cheeses and bacon! MMMM BACON!
- London Eye, Big Ben, Rosetta Stone at British Museum, Lichtenstein exhibit at Tate Modern Museum
- enjoyed a day in Adana for the Orange Blossom Festival for a Turkish fashion show, an almost American hamburger, wish balloons, and new friends
- explored more of Istanbul for a weekend -- Topkopi Palace, Blue Mosque, Domabache Palace
- headed south to Antakya to visit a mosaic museum, stay in the former Syrian president's home (which has now been turned into the Liwan Hotel), see the Titan Tunnel (a Roman engineering marvel!), eat paper kebab and pepper bread, and attempt to answer a poignant question (more on that later)
- attended a Turkish funeral for the father of one of my students in Mut, Turkey
May
- proctored the SAT
- attended a Turkish wedding -- my tennis instructor's
- headed southwest to indulge in gastronomical deliciousness in world renown Gaziantep!
- met a Buddhist Kurd who was our guide in Kahya and Nemrut
- watched sunset at Nemrut Mountain where a magical rainbow appeared
- woke at 3:00a.m. to climb said mountain once again for sunrise. Sorry people, you really should have gotten up because sunrise rules! :0
- spent a week recovering from said gastronomical deliciousness..ugh..but so worth it!
June
- drove from Tarsus to Cappadocia -- the long way!
- enjoyed the view of Goreme (Cappadocia fame) from a hot air balloon ride -- yeah, more on this trip...the theme was "Take 2" ...every activity required a re-do...oh Turkey ;0
- discovered the quaint town of Ürgüp outside of Goreme
- watching a revolution play out before my eyes in this cultural dichotomy of a country
- attended Tarsus American College graduation
- celebrated a dear friend's birthday on the rooftop...oh, and the police showed up! :)
- 15 school days until the end of year one
As I just spent the last hour remembering and typing up my activities from the last few months, I somehow don't feel as guilty for not posting a blog. (and a second hour adding pictures and links) Yes, I'm sorry I ignored you dear readers, but I guess I've been busy.
Also know that there have certainly been bouts of various emotions. Most notably homesickness in April -- it seemed there was no end in sight. Everything seemed overwhelming, frustrating, academically questionable, and simply just too much to deal with. These last few weeks jealousy also visited as I know schools at home are officially on summer break, but then I remembered: I live in Turkey, so take that! :)
Yet another emotion continues to spring up. Privilege. I'm not sure that can be an emotion, but I sure have felt it. Because of the color of my passport. Because my native language. Because I have this amazing opportunity. For so many reasons. Here's a bit on how this all came to be -- the poignant question in Antakya.
As many times as I repeated I was going to Antakya to many people in various parts of the world, no one ever looked on a map. Antakya is approximately 20 kilometers from the Syrian border. Also, Gaziantep is about 50 kilometers from the Syrian border. While I didn't go to these two cities to see the Syrian border, while there, I did find myself taking a couple of deep breaths. Not because I was scared or worried about the political situation, but because I realized that the country I live in borders a very volatile country. That may sounds ridiculous as you read that; heck, it sounds ridiculous as I type it, but my day to day life isn't any different than if I lived in Colorado -- outside the obvious. I go to work. I deal with students. I have parent meetings. I grade papers. I travel. Same. My time in Antakya and Gaziantep was an exploration -- like any other city I've recently been too.
But, I had to recognize that I was closer to Syria than ever before. And, things seemed the same. People were going to work. Teenagers were shopping and hanging out. Tea houses were busy. Same. Except at lunch one day in Antakya.
Four of us ate lunch in the back of a butcher shop in the garden (yeah, I know sounds like the setting of a bad B horror film). The food was great and the people who worked there were gracious and proud of their food. I took tons of photos. Our server spoke English, and we found out that he too had been an English teacher. In Syria. Until war broke out. Now, he's a server in a restaurant. We shared that we were Americans (fairly obvious) teaching English in Turkey.
While we chit chatted and enjoyed our lunch, I could tell he wanted to talk more. As we were leaving, I hung back from the group to thank him. He paused, held my gaze for what seemed a solid two minutes, and finally asked: why hasn't your country helped us?
Silent. Embarrassed. Gut wrenching. Despondent. I had nothing to say. I don't have a good reason why the US hasn't been involved. I can guess. I can listen to what the news tells me. But, I don't have an answer. His question has reverberated in my heart, my soul, my chest. It's not going to let go anytime soon.
And in the last ten days, Turkey has faced its own war of sorts. Protests continue throughout this country in over 90 cities. Not just Istanbul, but here in Tarsus, Izmir, Ankara, Adana, Mersin, Gaziantep. Little old ladies wearing headscarves banging small copper pots at 9:00 each evening. Men wearing salwar marching beside teenagers wearing Abercrombie and Fitch hoodies. Musicians, photographers, environmentalists, teachers, students, men, women. They are there. Each night for the past 10 days. Marching, singing, dancing, documenting, yelling, screaming, fighting... and then posting on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. My Facebook feed. The one that contrasts my adventures with their own battle. Showing yet again my privilege.
