Over a Year Since I Have Seen You When you shared your plans at the reunion, I envisioned your assignment to be in former Russian states consisting mostly of sand and dust. Your wonderful blogs have certainly dispelled any concerns about your geographic welfare. My Turkish students at Cal seem only interested in secular vs. nonsecular government and the "civil war" with the Kurds.
Please keep the blogs coming. They make my day!
beautiful fotos! Seeing your pictures of Slovenia reminded me of my time in southern Germany - -I didn't realize that Slovenia was so Alpine - it's beautiful!! Great to hear from you as always! Thanks for the work you're putting into the blog!! big hug to you both - Catherine
Thanks! Team Antlaya,
I really appreciate the time you take to write this blog. It's great to get a taste of Turkish and Slovenian culture in 2010 (read the board in the bed, the electric car charger, and the cleanliness of the streets). It all seems really interesting. It's quite nice that while working on melding into one culture you can over there pretty easily take a jaunt to another! Unfortunately, trips around the states don't yield the same vast differences. I like the picture of the dude on the bike relaxing. Thanks guys for the insight! I look forward to visiting!
Ted
WOW! BIll and Carol,
You make us feel as if we are all right there with you. Thank you for sharing your adventures and bringing Turkey so alive for us. Before now it was just a place on a map and names and dates from a history book.
wow such an adventure you guys are having. Turkish cooking--i am impressed. we just returned from E. Europe. Enjoyed it all except the 6-person cubicle we slept in on train frm krakow to budapest. walked about 5 miles a day. sylvia now sore and exhausted. taking days to get back into normal routine. keep the news coming. v
Amazing!! Thanks for your blog and all the great pics. Turkey is one country and ancient civilization that I have always dreamed of exploring. Your adventure gives me hope. Keep the updates coming. It's a great way for me to feel connected. Michael
Thank you for sharing! Dear Carol and Bill,
Though I haven't piped up until now, Cameron and I are REALLY enjoying your reports from Turkey. We feel like we are there experiencing the country and its treasures and manageable frustrations along with you. We appreciate the work you put into the blogs, writing and pictures both.
All is well -- at least manageable -- here in Seattle.
Love,
Carolyn, Cameron, and Tristan
What an experience! Carol (and Bill, too, of course) - I love reading of your grand adventure, especially since it reminds me of the two very fast weeks Max and I spent in Turkey in February this year. It's very hard to convey how amazing Cappadocia is, no matter how many pictures you take.....or how many word pictures you write! We were bedazzled by it all...also astounded at how people lived for so many years in those caves, both above and below ground. I also loved the various "ruins," and was overwhelmed by their history, especially Ephesus, with its layers of people and cultures. I first "fell in love" with the Hittites when I took Ancient History over 50 years ago, so finally seeing their ancient homeland with my own eyes was a long-time dream. It sounds as if you are entering a new phase of your trip, with your school volunteering. I was wondering how in the world you could "teach" right off the bat, with no Turkish language to rely on....however, you planned beautifully for step by step activity. I look forward to Month 5 and hearing of your new adventures! Stay well, Ann
Wow Dear Carol,
I'm very very jealous. Sounds like you are having a great time and seeing wonderful sights. And the food! I made some Indian food with a friend recently. Hey, it was damn good but I don't compare. I buy local stuff too and spend time doing vegetarian cooking. Semi retirement helps in this endeavor. Things going OK for me here. Having a great summer hiking and doing the Fall "leafer" thing this weekend.
Keep up the fun.
Love,
Richard
Wow, again and again! Gerald Forster reported happily on his visit with you and the wonderful food Bill cooked. Fun to hear.
We did follow the Thames from its inception (very unprepossessing) to Greenwich, in various ways, waling,
boating, bussing, training, all interesting. We also spent a couple of day in wonderful Bakth and even more wonderful
Oxford--saw a show in London, and four of us went to Paris for ONE DAY on the Chunnel, and reported a
fabulous time. And as we neared hom, they said"where to next time?". I think that means they had a good
time. Thanks so much for your photos and narrative. Molly Holmes
month 4 hi Carol and Bill,
I've spoken briefly with karen about her trip but know how wonderful it was! It is nice to see the pictures, too. The cave hotel sounds so interesting! And the balloon ride! What a great thing to do! Today I used the olive soap Karen brought home and gave to me. I thought of Turkey as I used it!
You 2 have done so much in these 4 months! I love seeing the photos and reading your narrative!
School started today! I had a month off between summer and now. I went to MI for 2 weeks and it was wonderful to see my brothers, sisters, their wives and husbands, and the 2 generations of nieces and nephews! I was there for the beginning of school, too, and all the pre class stuff that goes on to 'ensure student success', I'm guessing. A lot has happened in a month and I feel transformed and ready for the year!
Love, Denise
Envy Bill and Carol -
What a fantastic experience you appear to be having. We all envy you. Thanks for sharing your experiences and letting us come along vicariously.
All the best!
Doug
So Beautiful! What fun and joy to read your wonderful descriptions and great pictures. I felt refreshed myself at your change in temperature. Myra June and I just spent a weekend at a retreat in Lake City--September has been so pleasant here and the fall colors are gorgeous--very bright golden and pockets of orangey-red here and there. Enough leaves had fallen in the high country that we walked on a golden carpet when we hiked up to the falls. Keep up the amazing travelog--it is great to have our own personal foreign correspondents.
Love, Al and Sharon
With you every step You make everything come alive. It is wonderful. Can not get out of the boat yet... after swimming near the cave. Will come along a little later for the lamb kabobs, Save a bite for me.
Marilyn Lee Buckmaster
Hooray for adventure I am enjoying seeing your photos and reading your story. How wonderful that you are both sharing your gifts with whomever it is you are bumping into.Many of the shots of open markets and baskets hanging by the doors remind me of times in the Philippines. what we didn't have there was easy swimming in the bay. that part sounds delicious. Of course, on the other side is coping with the heat, when you are not swimming! How do you find the food? Do you do a lot of cooking? or eating at cafes?
Can you eat fresh fruits and vegetables, or do they need cooking to be safe? What is local? I saw photos of olive trees, so I am assuming you have olives. what else?
My family news is that my son and his wife celebrated their marriage in grand style. Yes, another international couple. we totally enjoyed Ellen's family from Belgium. they were here about ten days. the celebration began in Seattle, moved to Los Angeles, and will end this weekend in Belgium when my son returns to the States. I am thrilled he is learning about this interesting culture and nature-centered part of the world. Keep on giving, and I will love receiving....your notes and reflections!!
rahatlik We could use some of that as we are putting our DC house on the market and in protest I guess everything is breaking down at once. Your adventures are wonderful and we look forward to each installment and forward them to Alison. It almost feels like I am there to read and see what you are doing in that wonderful country.
Keeping in touch Your blog is such a wonderful way for us all to stay connected while you're far away. You'll appreciate this story from NPR today about how current Peace Corps volunteers are staying in touch with home in a way that wasn't possible in the past. You (Bill) will especially relate as you compare your PC time in the 60s with your current trip in your 60s! Ted L will have his more recent perspective. Here it is: Texting, Skype Alter The Peace Corps Experience. August 26, 2010 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129449455.
Keep blogging!
sunny Seattle Hi Carol and Bill, You've probably heard that we had gorgeous "hot" weather, mostly in the 80's for a while. Today, back to fog and showers. Dad and Sylvia have been visiting. I'm glad you sent out your recent posting, as Dad hadn't seen any of your blog. What great photos and experiences. Who cares about a few broken appliances, when you can revel in such amazing cultural experiences. Turkey seems to have a long term struggle with the secular/religious balance . . . I suppose most places do.
Another world I'm so enjoying your blog and pictures, and imaging what you are experiencing. The countryside is lovely and after 3 months, you seem very much in the culture. And I was also amused by the difficulties of getting things to work - something we often taken for granted over here. What are winters like there?
Carol, did you have "teaching" dreams before the term began when you were teaching? I always had them and so did Tom - the dream is that you forget to teach a class, or prepare for a class, or ... and can't get it together. Well, since I'm not teaching this term, I had a "reverse teaching" dream a few nights ago. I dreamed that I mistakenly taught a class, then couldn't find the right instructor or get the students to the right place, ... It was hilarious. The subconscious is surely a hoot.
Connie
keep 'em coming.... Great posts Carol and Bill! Vicarious adventures are always welcome and yours are among the best. Hope to arrange a stopover, but nothing planned as yet.
Comfort Thanks so much for your blog filled with pictures as images and with words. You are both quite gifted, you know. I can hardly wait to see Karen after she returns. I bet you guys will have (or had) a great time. My thoughts and prayers are with you. ADVENTURE ON!!!! In comfort, of course.
Cindy
Carol and I have moved to Antalya, Turkey where we will be living for two years. We wanted to live in another culture, learn Turkish, possibly teach some English and enjoy a beautiful place and friendly and welcoming people. We would like to experience Turkey as people who live here rather than as tourists, passing through.... full info
Warren Brown
non-member comment
Over a Year Since I Have Seen You
When you shared your plans at the reunion, I envisioned your assignment to be in former Russian states consisting mostly of sand and dust. Your wonderful blogs have certainly dispelled any concerns about your geographic welfare. My Turkish students at Cal seem only interested in secular vs. nonsecular government and the "civil war" with the Kurds. Please keep the blogs coming. They make my day!