Sile, Turkey.

Corinne and I made an early morning bus to Sile located on the Black Sea. (Prior to the trip I had viewed pictures on Google and was impressed by what I had seen.) The bus stop is located across the street from my school - how convenient. Just to double check for us two, I asked a family standing at the bus stop. They assured me I was in the right spot, though there was a fraction of a doubt. But, not 5 minutes later bus 139 picked us up. Problem was there was only standing room - 40 minute drive. Side note: the same family was at the bus stop in Sile heading back to Cekmekoy. I made eye contact with them and the father helped us get back.

The bus dropped Corinne and I, and many of the other passengers, off at the top of the hill looking down through a curving cobble stone street leading to the Black Sea. She and I made our way down to the water. The different views on the way to the waters edge was a tease.  I could feel the excitement building. 

Our first "stop" was at the castle. We really were only able to view the castle from afar, since it is located on a skyscraper of a rock, in the middle of the bay. Beautiful!

 Castle Located on the Right

Next, Corinne led me to the light house.  We walked about 10-15 minutes.  Just before arriving we were able to see the lighthouse around the bend of the cliffs that lead straight down into the sea. At about the point we first spotted the lighthouse I stopped at a market, grabbed a nectarine, and proceeded to pull out change to pay the lady sweeping to stoop. All I received was a warm smile and "aufiyet olsen." - she gave it to me. 

The lighthouse had an incredible view of the sea.  Walking up to the lighthouse we found a old man sitting on the patio.   I spoke a bit of Turkish with and me he mentioned, using a bit of gestures, to not go up into the light room. The lighthouse had many artifacts from its pristine day and age. I did enroll Corinne in being my lookout as a snuck up to the 3rd floor of the lighthouse. I turned back before reaching the top because I got nervous.  I should and could have made it. Oh well.

We continued through town on our way to one of the prized beaches (if not the only one). We strolled the shore until we found the cleanest portion of water and beach not polluted with seaweed and debris. Actually, we found beach chairs and paid to use them. Food service and rocking American music accompanied. Corinne and I took turns watching over our luggage so the other could swim. I won on that, though I think she was more into tanning and relaxing. I personally was a about body surfing on the largest (5-7?) foot waves coming in. While I was out looking for those waves I watched these two local guys body surfing. They were incredible at it. I dissected their pattern for picking the wave, how they approached it and made their move on the wave. I thought I had "body-surfed" before. Not until then. I literally rode on top of waves from 30-40 yards out. It was incredible.

When Corinne and got hungry we made the walk back to the area just before the castle. We found a restaurant that overlook the pier, smaller beaches, boats, rock formations and castle. Our seats captured all of these things in the same view. A bit overwhelming, especially when our food tasted so great.

Sile, I will see you again!

I'm a Working Man

Monday was the first day on the job.  As and English department, we had Smart Board training.  In each classroom there is a brand new Smart Board.  The capabilities of these models are incredible.  For instance, four writing utensils can be used at the same exact time - maybe more.

Mom and Dad, this pic is for you. :) Another will come on the first day of school.

I am very glad to be at school in the work environment.  Things have been a little slow but the communication among teachers had been spectacular. The English department has worked on the 1st floor, above the main floor.  We have had a lot of good laughs.

Lunches have been incredible.  If lunches were this nice in the US, gosh, we would have some amazing household cooks in each family. I do feel lunch time is the best time of the day...thinking all the way back to childhood lunches - STILL the best time. On Monday I sat with Cihan and another.  we taught each other the food names of our lunch in our native language. Then afterwards a gang of men hung around our tabel and we mimicked how to make perfect freestyle swimming strokes.  In the evening I ended up heading back to the school to swim with a few of the male teachers.  Cihan and I swam a few laps as others showed up.  Once we had enough players to play a 3-on-3 match of water polo, we did. The Turkish are competitors! I like that.

Today, Wednesday, Molly Corinne and I took to school as a typical training day.  We worked on posters for our classrooms and editing exams for students to take in the future.  Around the end of the work day we were suddenly surprised.  We all were asked to take photos with one of the principals. I'll comment that we weren't dressed for it.  I think one of our comments was, "I didn't know it was picture day."

Tomorrow we will again be working on getting posters together and setting up our classroom.  Friday is a holiday, so we will be cramming in some work, I suppose. After school the English department is planning on heading out for some social time.  I'm not sure where we are going, but Yay! I'm excited.

Izmit on the Sea of Marmara

Corrine and I planned to walk across the highway to walk up and down the "main street" local to us in Cekmekoy.  Before we moved out I had mentioned to Gulsen our plans and abruptly she said to hold off, as she and Soner planned to pick us up to take us over.  Once we cruised the main street twice Gulsen turned to me in the backseat and asked what to do next.  In my mind I thought we could just go back to my flat and socialize.  She threw out a few ideas and I just nodded. What we did next we wonderful.

Soner drove us past the newer and larger airport located on the Asia side of Istanbul. The we kept driving. Both Corinne and I really hadn't heard what or where we were going, but we were in for the ride. An hour into driving I noticed water out the window.  Corinne investigated on her Iphone and found we were at the Sea of Marmara.

First Glimpse of the Sea of Marmara

 

Jungle Gym(?) in the Park

  

Gulsen and Soner took us down to Izmit.  Izmit is a elongated city that wraps around most of the eastern most corner of the Sea of Marmara.  Soner parked at sea shore park.  We all got out of the car and walked the boardwalk, finding a cafe where we all ordered coffee.  I was lucky, the cafe had Wifi and I made a few Tango calls to family and WhatsApps messages to friends. (I'm still working on getting my mobile data to work for my phone.) Our group sat sea side for an hour or so and then made the decision to head back toward Istanbul for dinner. 

On the Boardwalk

 

When we hit traffic, Soner zig-zagged through back roads to our destination.  We were only half way back to Istanbul.  We at at, as described by Gulsen, a meatball restaurant. Funny thing is no one ordered any meatballs, though "meatball" may also include patties for burgers. The food was great.  I ordered dessert before my main meal - Turkish coffee accompanied by two cubs of Turkish delight and a cookie that reminded me of shortbread sprinkled with pistachios... I also helped Corinne finish off her patty with an assortment of sauteed onions. Yum Yummm!  It was long ride home but a great day before the first day of teacher training!

Dessert Before Main Course

 

Rob Got Lost and The Police Drove Him Home

After lunch I walked up to the market.  It's a straight shot to the market from school, too - easy.  The school isn't in viewing distance but it's along a fairly straight road.  Once I arrived I gathered supplies for cooking and cleaning - the things I realized I needed while I had been cooking before.  On the way back to school I began to think to myself, "none of the surrounding look familiar" , so I kept walking, assuming I'd make sense of my surroundings and make the correct adjustments. After ten minutes I came to realization, I was lost. For the first time!  No big deal... just then the police were coming down the road in their absurdly shaped van.  I waved them down and spoke, "FİNAL school," accompanied by hand gestures pointing in a general direction of there I hoped FİNAL was. It didn't have the instant response I was looking for. "B-P gasoline, FİNAL school?"  The police officers looked at each other.  The man in the passenger seat waved at me to get in the back seat.

How convenient is this! As I placed my plastic bags of groceries and cooking supplies in the middle seat I noticed the semi-automatic gun resting behind the seat of the driver.  I sat in behind the passenger and kept my hand to myself.  No. Sudden. Movements.  I never felt worried just didn't need  The police officer in the passenger seat spoke to me, mixing Turkish and English.  He asked about me again, learning I was a teacher.  He gave me a once over, looked through my bags and gave me the all clear.  On the short five minutes drive to school we made little talk.  What a great start to the neighborhood. 

Lunch at School

Just before noon I took my 5 minute walk to school and met with a few staff members.  I practiced using a Google translator with Tulin, which doesn't work too well when speaking more than a few words.  I acknowledged, through trial and error the translator lunch would be served soon, so I stuck around.  The food was excellent.  More than I expected, too.  Also, I was delighted to be with much of the staff.
                           

My Digs (Flat)

I will be posting pictures of my flat rather than writing about it.

Flat 22

 

Entry Way

 

Living Room

 Kitchen

 Living Room looking from Kitchen

 Looking out my window to the right

 Looking out my window to the left

 Bed Room

Sunday meeting(!?) and Staff

I have met a lot of the FINAL staff, including the founder, principals, accountants, teachers, technicians, custodians, and others I cannot put label on.  Everyone has been wonderful.   With the Turkish language I have picked up I have made good first impressions on folks. Though, I don’t know if it’s the best plan to use too much Turkish with the staff at school, staff might start talking to me as if I can understand it all – Gulsen advised me this.  I can’t help though trying to learn at least a new word each day.  And once I’ve learned a new word I really try and use it in the real world, rather than mumbling it to myself until I feel confident. 

This last Saturday my school had an all staff meeting. The founder, CEO and another put on a presentation lasting for 3 hours.  Now put yourself in my shoes.  You just had a long night of hanging out with new friends, now you’re sitting in the front row as the CEO is talking.  He is very active in body language and everyone is listening intently.  A few chuckles upraise every once and a while. Gulsen is sitting next to you as a translator.  You know when she is about to translate when she leans into you. After the CEO is done talking the founder of FINAL gets up and begins his presentation.  At this point your eyes are starting to fade. You know there is no possibility to daze off, so you literally start to pinch your arms to stay awake.  You start to think to yourself, “how much longer can this be?”, “there is still another man left to speak and I’m dying to get and move about.”  Just then, Gulsen leans over and whispers in your ear, “how much sleep did you get?” Oh the humanity! 

Let’s fast-forward to after the presentations.

 

Afterwards the a few of the staff members socialized and joked around.  Two male workers at the school, I really enjoy, are Cihan, pronounced Jihan, and Kadir.  Cihan is the vice principal at the secondary level.  He is a character.  I’ve spoken about him before on the blog. (Day 1 he fed me my first taste of Turkish food).  He and I get along very well. I hope to enjoy his company all year long.  Kadir is a bit newer to me, but we have made some big strides in friendship in the past two days.

Week One Complete

It’s official, I have lived in Istanbul/Cekemekoy for one week!  On Tuesday I officially moved into my flat in Cekemekoy.  The staff from FINAL has been an incredible helping me get set up.  FINAL helped furnish my flat including in it a fold down sofa, two sofa chairs, rugs, a bed, a cabinet for my room and living room, plates, bowls, cooking pans and a few other things.  Gulsen helped me get my phone working, although there are still problems with my mobile date, something I would really like for documentary purposes.

Miten and Tulin went to the grocery store with me and helped me find most of the supplies I need.  Other items I need come to mind as I ponder my future, for instance, while I cooking my first meal in my flat, pasta and a Turkish salad, I had no cooking utensils or strainer to work with.  No worries, I improvised well. 

Tomorrow I will have internet installed.  I was supposed to have it installed today, but as I’ve been leaning, the Turkish culture can put things on hold.  My first load of laundry was a learning process, too.   I cannot determine what the print on the washing machine informs one, obviously, so I ended up calling Molly, a fellow American teacher at my school to help me decipher.  All I need to say is that first load of laundry is very clean.  I have no cable for my TV, so while I have been home I play my music off my computer and phones.  

Topkapi Palace and the Harem Apartments

I first must say that today was the first day I truly spent by myself.  I rode the mini bus to Uskudar from Umranye, took the boat across to the Bosphorus to Kabatas, jumped on the train until Eminonu, and then walked through the streets to Istanbul Archaeology Museum... AND...  It was closed. Oh well, I walked up the street to Topkapi Palace, which turned out to be amazing!

Topkapi Palace Main Entrance - The Gate of Salutation

 

Gate of Felicity (Where the Sultan sat during ceremonies)

Topkapi Palace, built between 1459 and 1465, is a marvelous construction of not just one building, but a series of pavilions.  I purchased tickets to see the Topkapi Palace Museum and the Harem Apartments.  I cut the line to get into the Topkapi Museum, saving an hour long wait, and found myself transported back in time.  I saw keys from the Ottoman period that opened government books, swords and bows 4 and 5 feet in length.  I examined gold plated boxes, pitchers, daggers and toys, all of which were detailed with various combinations of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. I toured a showcase of different costumes worn by sultans, his wives and guards.  I read that after the death of a sultan, his clothes would be folded, ever so neatly, and placed in bags.  Because of this the garments on display are perfectly preserved.

Massive Gold Plated Sword and it's Sheath  (and a selfi)

                                 Stone Carved Jug                                         Emerald Filled Box

                                  Swords                                                Writing Utensil Holder Made of Jade

Passing through the courtyard I took in the surrounding, including 600 year old trees. Inside another pavilion I viewed all different types of clocks.  Some were skeleton in fashion, others sat at work table, some were just for show.

After examining the many artifacts I headed to Harem, a labyrinth of gorgeous rooms where the sultan's wives and concubines lived.  Each wall was covered with detailed İznik styled tiles from the 17th century, or painted with intricate designs.

                  Close-Up of aİznik Tile                                The Fruit Room (Fruit and Flowers Painted)

 Courtyard of the Apartments of the Queen Mother (where the sultans mistresses lived)

 

I'm tired. Goodnight :)

New Friends

I met up with JJ at Galata Tower. When I arrived I learned she had more company coming.  I was very excited to hear they were all American.  We sat beneath the tower for hours and talked about many different things.  A few Turkish students attending universities in the city joined on our many conversations.  While we sat beneath the tower we drank Turkish wine and beer.

From left to right: Josh, Mekale, JJ, Onur

Since I was on the Europe side of Istanbul and my hotel was on the Asia side, the Americans kindly offered their couch for a place to stay for the night.  I took the offer.  At about 1 AM we decided to head to a near by club called... Clup(?). I knew all of the songs except three songs - two Turkish songs and one American song I hadn't heard before.  All of the Americans and a few Turkish bellowed out the lyrics while we danced.

 I am so grateful I met these people.

Prince Islands: Buyukada

My friend Ben Schapiro connected me with JJ, his friend from the Peace Corps. JJ is living in Istanbul on the Europe side.  I called her just after noon and planned to meet up with for dinner, at 9PM, under Galata Tower.

In the meantime Gulsen met me in Uskudur to tour a bit.  She and I made a quick decision to go to the Prince Islands.  I had no background information on what to expect. All I knew was we were going to the largest of the islands, Buyukada.  While we sat on the boat I read in 569 Justin II built a royal palace on Buyukada. During the Byzantine times the island had become infamous as a place of exile, and also a place of many monasteries.

Gulsen and I spent a quick hour on the island.  We rented bikes and rode up the steep hills through neighborhood.  Motor vehicles are frowned upon on the islands. When we got to the top we cooled off and enjoyed an incredible view of the Sea of Marmara. I will have to make a day trip to this island, so I may go biking more.  I would have loved to zip through the streets and down the steep hills. While biking we crossed paths with a very scary looking building.  I told Gulsen it must be haunted.  She had found out later is was a orphanage.  After we returned the bikes we rushed to the boat.  Getting on was exciting - Gulsen and I held hands while we squeezed through the crowd and onto the boat.  I made a quick move to find us seats for the long hour and a half return to Istanbul.

Once we arrived back in Istanbul,Gulsen took me trough Taksim Square, down Istiklal Avenue to Galata Tower where I met up with JJ.

Heading to Buyukada Island

 Entering Downtown Buyukada

 A Top Buyukada

 Run-Down Orphanage

Fortress of Europe

Gulsen met me at my hotel at noon today and took me to University.  It was very nice campus.  I saw more trees on the campus than any other place in Istanbul – maybe. Gulsen had a surprise for me there.  We visited Tevfik Fikret'uress house.  He was a famous Turkish poet.  I was able to tour his house.  The majority of items in the house, including furniture we from when he lived and passed away.  The house was extremely detailed at every corner. 

 Tevfik Fikret's House

We then zigzagged through hilly streets to the Fortress of Europe.  This fortress was built over the course of four months by a thousand masons in 1435. I was astonished by this feat considering the steep terrain it was built on. Gulsen and I climbed the stairs to an incredible vantage point. It was the most exciting part of the day. We sat at that spot for about a half hour and cooled off in the strong updraft. 

Fortress of Europe

When we left the Fortress of Europe, Gulsen took me to a line of baked potato sellers. It was very unusual for me. The area is known for this, the baked potatoes and toppings. It was just down the street from one of the rich clubs, which i thought was funny.  Gulsen bought the baked potatoes and we sat at the side of the Bosphorous.  I enjoyed most of it – too much salt. When we finished our meal we then walked to a restaurant with rooftop seating and enjoyed a cold one.

Baked Potato

 Bogazici Bridge (Day)

Bogazici Bridge (Night)