Corlu

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May 12th or is it the 13th
My morning started with the traditional Turkish breakfast: cucumber, tomato, many cheeses, toast, boiled eggs, olives, and tea. The Turkish people drink A LOT of tea and coffee. After breakfast I met up with the team at the VW dealership. The owner let us borrow a van for the day. Did I mention that Turkish people drive CRAZY! There is no speed limit, they don’t wear seat belts, and will pull out in front of anyone. Our first stop was at a private school PreK-8. It was SO NICE. The Kindergarteners have their own floor of the school. Each subject has its own room: centers, art, music, nap, Movie Theater, gym, and a room for normal subjects. Each student has an actual bed to sleep in for nap time. The movie theater had a bean bag chair for each student to sit in. There were 2 pool outside (one for the older children and one for 4-6 yrs) It was quite impressive. Students pay $5000 to go there for a year which includes books and food. The art teacher made a picture for each of us using a special technique where they paint with water.
The second school that we visited was a public Elementary school. It was very similar to the private school. The principal helped start this school at the beginning of the school year. It is the 5th school that she helped open. Rotary provided the shelves, tables, furniture, and research books in the library. The school was very colorful. Each floor was a different color: purple, lime green, pink. I gave the students some American candy (Smarties). They were very excited. This is where we experienced our first European restroom. It is basically a hole in the floor. Some of the girls were hesitant BUT when you gotta go you gotta go. It was an experience.
We visited a 3rd Elementary School. One of the Rotarian’s wives worked there. This school was in the center of town (Corlu). It was an older school where students only go a half a day. Some students go from 8:30-12:30 and others come at 12:30. This was very different from the other schools. A 3rd grade class was doing a mother’s day presentation playing the recorder when we got there. Students at all of the schools wear a uniform. At this school, boys can wear hats. We were given hats from the school. Rotary funded outside water fountains at this school.
We visited a Museum next. On the way to the museum they showed us a hill and said that Turkish people found treasure there. The treasure is what was in the museum. It was relics from a grave. The bigger the mound of dirt that is found the more important or rich the person was. This grave was pretty big. In the past the Turkish people just disregarded findings such as these. Now they try to preserve the history.
The tour was followed by a stop at a coffee shop on the sea. It was really peaceful. We could see huge cargo ships loading.
Our first presentation was tonight. We had an interpreter, Egen, who is from Turkey but currently lives in Boston and is getting her PhD in Chemical Engineering. Her father is a Rotarian, so he asked her to go with us today.Most of the children speak English, but the older people don’t. Overall it went well. It was over at 10:30. Bedtime? NO WAY its time to drink more coffee. The club president invited us to go to his house and drink coffee. It was nice. His wife knitted house shoes for each of us. (Turkish people don’t wear shoes inside. Shoes stay outside and you put on house shoes) She also made head scarves for us. We will need them when we are at the Mosque.
Tomorrow I will go to another family’s house in Ederine. It is bitter sweet. My family first family has been great. It is strange how people who don’t speak much of the same language can communicate so well.

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Photos

the VW dealership
The man in the center wearing light blue is the owner. We had hot tea while we waited for the others to get there

The private school
K-5 is in one building and the older students are in a different building

Kindergarten
They were in art class. Their teacher painted the pictures that were given to us as a gift.

Room for resting
Check out this... sure beats a thin mat on the floor. This is at the private school

The students at the new school
I gave them Smarties candy

3rd graders
THey were doing the mother's day songs on their recorders

Its in the ground
Lets just say there's no sitting on this one

Our presentation
There were a few minor glitches (LANGUAGE) but for overall it was good for our first time.

MORE COFFEE
Yes we are drinking STRONG coffee at 11:00PM

Comments

[Kalee]

how are you doing?
hey ms. coco are you having fun? I can't wait to hear more of your stories. Take care and have fun. Kalee

[Heather]

hi
I am loving reading your blog. We just got in from Disney, it was awesome. I can not believe the kids sleep on beds for nap time. Maybe if Brooke had a bed like that she would actually sleep at school. Have fun and keep posting. The pictures are great!

[Lindsay]

This is so much fun. I love reading your blogs and looking at the pictures. I cant believe those schools, how nice. I look forward to hearing more about your trip. Have fun and be careful. Don't fall in the holes:) Lindsay

[Dan-Dan]

cool
hope you are having fun. can't wait to hear more about it. the nap room and theatre are different from home....have fun

[Aunt Joyce]

More - More - More!!!
Thanks for the journal entries and pictures. I'm sending this on to other Rotarians because I know they'll enjoy them. We're very proud to have you representing our country. Remember to have fun. You're doing the right thing to try all their customs (food, coffee, late nights, etc.) Love you!

[roger]

what
want some candy? tell your sister that i love her and to call already