All my lovely plans of blogging our trip to Türkiye this summer were ruined by my charge converter blowing while in the mountains. The electric current there is undependable, with frequent spikes and outages. I have learned, the hard way, to have a back-up charge converter and a back-up laptop battery. Now, back in Istanbul, I am borrowing a niece's computer, complete with funkyTurkish keyboard. I am finding my way around it. when I get back to NY, I will have to readjust to my own.
As well as seeing some sights in Istanbul, travelling to the mountains of the Sivas province, hiking, mountain climbing, swimming in the river, climbing up waterfalls, going down the rapids, we have experienced the quiet pastoral farm life of Belentarla (in Zara, Sivas province). Roosters and tractor engines revving up awaken us every morning. There are cows and goats to be milked, eggs to be gathered, baby chıcks and baby turkeys to round up, new calves and goat kids to groom and feed. There is fresh bread to be baked in the separate room with its open hearth, baked on a hot stone, or thin köy pita baked on a huge circular metal pan over hot coals, listening to the Zaza chatter and laughter of the local neighbor ladies who come by to help. There are endless pots of çay (Turkish tea), lots of meals made from fresh picked farm vegetables and wild herbs. Regular additions, that we do not see in America, like purslane and lamb's ear (both small leafed spinach-like plants), enhance spicy baked goods. Men help each other at the drop of a hat, at any bigger farm chore, hooking up larger farm implements to the tractor, harvesting everything from wheat to potatoes to honey, in this place that is both the Bread Basket of Türkiye and the Honey Capitol of the world. Wildflowers abound in every conceivable color and fragrance, and the natives know the medicinal properties of every wild plant. To know the köy (village) is to love the köy. Life here is simpler, but physically challenging, peaceful and easier paced than life in New York.
more later...we are being called to breakfast!
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Hollywood in Istanbul?
The 4 kids were unusually quiet (as opposed to their normally rambunctious selves while together, playing soccer and the like), occupying themselves for most of the afternoon on Sunday. Just before dinner, they came in all excited. It seems, they made a movie! They used a cell phone with video capacity and made a series of short films, like separate scenes of the same movie, complete with musical interludes and background sounds. Resembling some Mafioso-type films, they made a very funny version of their own, pretty authentic, considering what they had to work with. They are each quite dramatic and creative. I want them to post it on YouTube. We'll see what comes of that.
Ever the ESL teacher, it has given me some ideas for future lesson plans. For both my elementary school charges and my adult ESL classes at the college, this kind of assignment would be very good for
developing English skills, while their focus is on the creative design of the drama at hand. At SCCC, we use The Chicken Smells Good, which has some dialogues, and we often act them out. The classes always enjoy that. This would take it to the next level. Maybe we could start with one of the Chicken dialogues, then create a skit to follow. Hmmm...
Ever the ESL teacher, it has given me some ideas for future lesson plans. For both my elementary school charges and my adult ESL classes at the college, this kind of assignment would be very good for
developing English skills, while their focus is on the creative design of the drama at hand. At SCCC, we use The Chicken Smells Good, which has some dialogues, and we often act them out. The classes always enjoy that. This would take it to the next level. Maybe we could start with one of the Chicken dialogues, then create a skit to follow. Hmmm...
Turkish Airline
My favorite airline, of the dozen or so I've tried, is Turkish Airline. They do not make a fuss about overweight baggage, are very courteous and helpful in all respects, and serve restaurant-style meals with unlimited beverages, snacks, and sandwiches, even in economy class. Each seat comes with its own screen on which various channels are available, with games, movies, t.v. shows, documentaries, shorts, travel info, and many other things for all ages. My son can literally be on it nonstop throughout the 10-or-so hour flight, with no complaint. I cannot sleep sitting up, so I watched almost 4 movies. That's probably the most movie watching I've had in the last 6 months!
Upon arriving to Istanbul Attaturk Airport, I have to go through the visa line (only $20), have my son's citizenship card checked and American passport stamped (he has full dual citizenship...I don't have my Turkish passport yet, only family card...need to finish that process...lazy me.) Then, on to baggage claim. I hate baggage claim in every airport...waiting with the crowds of people while suitcases come down the belt, spotting yours, elbowing your way to the right spot, then wrestling the bigger bags off without hitting anybody, all the while keeping the eyes in the back of your head trained on your child guarding the baggage cart.
This trip, our plane took off on time, and we actually arrived early. There was some storm we flew through over the Atlantic, with a little turbulence, and I wonder if it pushed us along a little...we were 40 mintures early! It gave us time to freshen up in the airport bathroom before seeing the family...I always feel like I must look like I flew here on my own power (without benefit of an airplane), after a 10-or-so hour flight. (It's an embarrassing way to meet people!) It's funny to sit and watch the throng, as they search for their arrivers, some with signs in hand, or flowers, while we sit in comfort, knowing ours in on the way. We actually saw the family, before they saw us, as they came through airport security. (In Istanbul, you must go through a security gate, complete with metal detectors, upon entering any airport or official building of any kind...even in bigger shopping malls.) The 3 children, Little Sir's closest age-peers here, cousins in our apartment building) have all grown so much in 11 months time, as has he. Ulas (U-losh), nearly 14, is taller than everyone, approaching 6 foot, and has developed a deeper voice. Sidal (See-doll), just 11, has gotten beautiful and mature-looking, with a new almost-womanly grace beyond her years. Mert-can (Mert-John), 12, is the same as before, just taller, looking like he's been on a stretching-machine, with the same handsome face and impish grin...you know he's cooking up some adventures to come. When the 4 children see each other, they revert to their littler selves, shedding the newfound maturity, and become playmates again, as they have been since first meeting 7 years ago. For the rest of the trip, they will be mainly inseparable, except for when Ulas is at work...another new development. He has a summer job working with Hasan, his father, in a print shop. He has some tatil days (holiday), so can play with them until work resumes Monday morning.
And so the trip begins, leaving New York on July 12, arriving July 13.
Upon arriving to Istanbul Attaturk Airport, I have to go through the visa line (only $20), have my son's citizenship card checked and American passport stamped (he has full dual citizenship...I don't have my Turkish passport yet, only family card...need to finish that process...lazy me.) Then, on to baggage claim. I hate baggage claim in every airport...waiting with the crowds of people while suitcases come down the belt, spotting yours, elbowing your way to the right spot, then wrestling the bigger bags off without hitting anybody, all the while keeping the eyes in the back of your head trained on your child guarding the baggage cart.
This trip, our plane took off on time, and we actually arrived early. There was some storm we flew through over the Atlantic, with a little turbulence, and I wonder if it pushed us along a little...we were 40 mintures early! It gave us time to freshen up in the airport bathroom before seeing the family...I always feel like I must look like I flew here on my own power (without benefit of an airplane), after a 10-or-so hour flight. (It's an embarrassing way to meet people!) It's funny to sit and watch the throng, as they search for their arrivers, some with signs in hand, or flowers, while we sit in comfort, knowing ours in on the way. We actually saw the family, before they saw us, as they came through airport security. (In Istanbul, you must go through a security gate, complete with metal detectors, upon entering any airport or official building of any kind...even in bigger shopping malls.) The 3 children, Little Sir's closest age-peers here, cousins in our apartment building) have all grown so much in 11 months time, as has he. Ulas (U-losh), nearly 14, is taller than everyone, approaching 6 foot, and has developed a deeper voice. Sidal (See-doll), just 11, has gotten beautiful and mature-looking, with a new almost-womanly grace beyond her years. Mert-can (Mert-John), 12, is the same as before, just taller, looking like he's been on a stretching-machine, with the same handsome face and impish grin...you know he's cooking up some adventures to come. When the 4 children see each other, they revert to their littler selves, shedding the newfound maturity, and become playmates again, as they have been since first meeting 7 years ago. For the rest of the trip, they will be mainly inseparable, except for when Ulas is at work...another new development. He has a summer job working with Hasan, his father, in a print shop. He has some tatil days (holiday), so can play with them until work resumes Monday morning.
And so the trip begins, leaving New York on July 12, arriving July 13.
Back on the Blog!
Congratulations to me! After much struggling with the funky Turkish internet in this house, the Turkish comuputer keyboard and other issues, I am finally connected to gmail with this blog! If you read, please comment. (It's a lot more fun that way.)
My little son and I are in Istanbul until late tomorrow night, then we will fly to Sivas. It is very hot and humid in Istanbul, but Sivas is in the mountains where the air is clear and dry and the nights are cool enough to need jeans and a hoodie. As the locals say, it's good sleeping weather there. The only drawback of Sivas is the multitude of mountaintops interferes with cell phone signals and internet. I cannot use wireless there, and I am not here long enough this trip to recharge my Turkcell Vinn, a portable wireless connection. It's a little pricey for only 9 days' use in Istanbul.
Back later...
My little son and I are in Istanbul until late tomorrow night, then we will fly to Sivas. It is very hot and humid in Istanbul, but Sivas is in the mountains where the air is clear and dry and the nights are cool enough to need jeans and a hoodie. As the locals say, it's good sleeping weather there. The only drawback of Sivas is the multitude of mountaintops interferes with cell phone signals and internet. I cannot use wireless there, and I am not here long enough this trip to recharge my Turkcell Vinn, a portable wireless connection. It's a little pricey for only 9 days' use in Istanbul.
Back later...
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