Thanks :-) It was amazing, and I really appreciate you reading about it! Someday I really hope you can make it to Cappadocia.
As for those little things in the caves in that picture, those little compartments were used in the markets and the pharmacies, to hold food (if it was a market) and medicine (if it was a pharmacy.) I think it is so cool that people actually lived in those things and had entire villages.
Wow! I have been waiting to hear about your trip to Cappadocia and see the photos. I am so happy you went! What a trip! On page two, on the photos entitled "on a hike," what are those little things carved into the rock?
Transportation I love all forms of transportation, especially ones I do not ride on often. Be sure and search out riding camels and going on a hot air balloon while seeing Cappadocia.
I'll try again to say what I said before. I checked out your blog and the last time my e-mail disappeared, it did not appear on your blog. You may receive two very similar e-mails from me if my e-mail reappears from the netherworld.
I am thrilled that you get to have a grand adventure in Turkey--seeing The Blue Mosque and Cappadochia, among other treasures. No matter how your trip turns out, you will always have fond memories for the rest of your life.
What happened to my last e-mail? This is the second time I have written to you and then suddenly my e-mail disappears. I will wait and see if what I just wrote appears in your blog. I did not submit the comment. I just disappeared off of my screen.
Hello Elli!! Hi!!
The pictures are really fun!I'm happy to see again the conselors(Jonnhy)
Really I hope to see all of conselor next year!!
Bye!! ashley
Hi from Aunt Dianne You may get two of these from me right in a row. The one I just wrote suddenly disappeared--I don't know what happened to it--you may get it or it may have disappeared forever. I did not click on the submit comment. I am so glad you have a cat to keep you company. Keep us informed as to what is happening.
Hello Well, it is now Sept. 7 here, and your latest comment was received Sept. 1, so I thought you might like to hear from somebody in the U.S.A. I hope you are getting more used to your situation there by now. I'm glad there's a cat around; cats are important. What day do you start teaching? Are they on a Monday to Friday week like we are, or what? How do you like the food there? And what, if anything, are you hearing about our presidential race, i.e. do you have a sense of how Turks are viewing it, or the U.S. in general? I will look forward to your next update.
Skateboarding in Denver while the DNC was going on John wasn't completely alone, but it's true that the number of other skateboarders was pretty low. Alia took pictures of John when she got him alone in view, I think! Interestingly enough, the Democratic National Convention was going on, and we weren't far from it. We did see two groups of cops -- one on bicycles and one on horseback -- near the skatepark. But there were also other skateboarding dudes around -- mostly 20 years old or so, probably.
response to: Sally Green Saol. :) I appreciate your comment. That is always encouraging to hear how others adjusted here and that it IS possible to learn some Turkish!
I just feel like a complete outsider at school right now -- all the other teachers are friends already and I am the only non-Turkish teacher here so I can't understand the conversations they have. My other main problem is the lack of knowledge I have about the public transportat1on system and how to get anywhere. Got my Akbil yesterday though so there 1s a start!
That 1s great you are work1ng on a novel. IStanbul 1s huge and you could do so much w1th a sett1ng l1ke th1s! What 1s the novel go1ng to be about do you know?
Well let me know 1f you are 1n Istanbul somet1me th1s year! :)
Hello Alia,
You don't know me, so I apologize for horning in on your blog, but it reminded me a lot of myself 24 years ago, sitting in a flat in Akatlar, waiting for school to start at Bosphorus University, where I would be teaching, and feeling somewhat overwhelmed. As it turned out, I loved Turkey, to the extent that I married one of my fellow teachers, a Turk, my husband of 20 some years now. Istanbul is my second home, where I love taking my children.
Hang in there, be patient, and be proud of yourself for going on this immense adventure. Turks are great-- proud and a little nuts, but warm and funny and friendly. The language takes time. I would recommend actually studying it, as it is very different from English or Romance languages, and not just trying to pick it up. The agglutination is very systematic, once you get used to it.
How fun it would be to spend a day like you are now! I am working on a novel set in Turkey and so I roam the blogs occasionally. Thanks for reminding me of one of the favorite times of my life. Kendinizi iyi bakin, da hos cakal.
Sally
Response to: Aunt Dianne I wonder if he's ever been to Turkey. Well, nonetheless, I hope he would be proud of me; that is actually something I often think about.
Wish you could visit. I'll update as much as I can, though... I'm actually experiencing some pretty bad culture shock and am sort of upset today. It makes me feel better to talk to people back home.
response to: Aunt Kathleen Yes, the kitty is wonderful, and so is the apartment! And I am very happy to have met the people I've met so far.
Today was actually not the first day of teaching - I found out yesterday that we aren't having students until next Monday; this week is just an orientation, so the days at school are shorter.
My housemate and I are both forcing ourselves to stay awake -- the really strong Turkish coffee will do it. :-)
response to: Grandmama It was really nice to hear your voice on the phone right before I left. Thank you for calling. I'm still definitely adjusting here; it's not easy. The language barrier is the hardest thing for me so far, as I'm sure it is for the other teachers.
The night view is incredible and peaceful, so whenever I feel weird or am missing home, I feel a lot better after I look out the window. :) LOVE back.
Your 1st Istanbul blog Exciting to hear about things there, WITH PICTURES, already! Incredible, you talked on phone from MN 2 days ago, now are settled in Turkey! Your apartment-mates sound interesting, glad one has kitty you can enjoy. I, too, would like the night view from your bedroom window, city lights! Will you get tapes or something to help learn some Turkish? You'll pick it up fast! LOVE!
Thanks for the update! Alia, I'm so glad you're there safe and sound. It's good to hear about your new home and your housemates--including a kitty--how cool is that? Best wishes for your first day of teaching. You'll do great. Hope you can stay awake :) Love, Aunt Kathleen
Hi from Aunt Dianne You seem to be settling in quickly and well. It was wonderful to see you in Colorado. Your grandfather Bill would be so happy you are traveling so much and would be excited about your current adventure. I am, too. Keep us informed as to the next installment. Aunt Dianne
Hello again! It looks like John had the skate park all to himself? Perhaps school has already started in Denver.
I'm glad you all had a safe drive home.
Have you already posted a travelblog entry about Fort Collins? If so I may have missed it. I will check my e-mail again.
Looking forward to hearing about your current location!
I'll attempt to answer All I know is that it was built for the Huguenots (French protestants), who had to flee France b/c they were persecuted... a lot of them ended up in Russia. Maybe there were some who fled to Germany too.
Sarah is an amazing hostess! It's astonishing how much you did in a few days! She sounds like a really nice and smart person, which doesn't surprise me because her mother is the same!
alia142
Alia
Thanks :-)
It was amazing, and I really appreciate you reading about it! Someday I really hope you can make it to Cappadocia. As for those little things in the caves in that picture, those little compartments were used in the markets and the pharmacies, to hold food (if it was a market) and medicine (if it was a pharmacy.) I think it is so cool that people actually lived in those things and had entire villages.