Skool Dayz

This is the gate keeper of the Pre.School. He's a really nice man. My classroom is behind the banner.
The is the building where I teach Reception. It also contains the classrooms for 1st grade, the music program and the Finnish program. My two rooms are the ones with the balconies. (is that how you spell it? I'm too lazy to check!)
The is the building where the administrations have their offices and we have the teachers lounge. It is a pretty nice place eh! That's the Turksih flad. These flags are hung all over in Istanbul!

Julaine! Of course you didn't lock me in the bathroom. Angel and I got locked in on accident. Remeber the screw driver and everything? I think Angel was babysitting and I was tagging along... Who knows. It didn't have anything to do with throwing up though.

No throw up today. I know, amazing! So the total is: three out of five days included vomit!

Tomorrow I have another meeting. I'm really over having meetings. And it's with parents. That's even worse than meeting with the administration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And it's SATURDAY!!!!

Turkish Wedding!

This is Aysegul and her friend. The wedding was last Saturday and it was the first of this kind. I can't imagine it will be the last though! The pins on her sash and the money are from her friends. You pin them on for good luck. You write your name on the red ribbon. ie: your wedding gift.
You sit in a big auditorium and hopefully they will say yes (evet)! And when they do you clap like mad! Then they herd you out like cattle. Then you go into this big room (the first photo) and get into a receiving line. But, it really is quite hectic because even as her friend was receiving people, there were 3 other brides also receiving people! It was so crazy! And we stood around comparing dresses, you know, as all women do.... This is how life goes. See, they wear white just like us! It was fun though and a new experience! My brain is on overload; a new experience every day!

Today was a good day, but a boy choked and I was the ONLY one in the room with first aid who was paying attention (only 3 teachers have had first aid training). So of course after I'd wacked him HARD on the back the item mixed with lunch was thrown up. One new teachers aid just stared at the kid. It was a little freaky. This would be day 3 for throw up. I'm trying for a new record. Read tomorrow for a final score!

Julaine; of course I remember you!!!! I rarely forget a person after I have been locked in their bathroom, no matter my age!

Turkish Wedding!

This is Aysegul and her friend. The wedding was last Saturday and it was the first of this kind. I can't imagine it will be the last though! The pins on her sash and the money are from her friends. You pin them on for good luck. You write your name on the red ribbon.
You sit in a big auditorium and hopefully they will say yes (evet)! And when they do you clap like mad! Then they herd you out like cattle. Then you go into this big room (the first photo) and get into a receiving line. But, it really is quite hectic because even as her friend was receiving people, there were 3 other brides also receiving people! It was so crazy! And we stood around comparing dresses, you know, as all women do.... This is how life goes. See, they wear white just like us! It was fun though and a new experience! My brain is on overload; a new experience every day!

Today was a good day, but a boy choked and I was the ONLY one in the room with first aid who was paying attention (only 3 teachers have had first aid training). So of course after I'd wacked him HARD on the back the item mixed with lunch was thrown up. One new teachers aid just stared at the kid. It was a little freaky. This would be day 3 for throw up. I'm trying for a new record. Read tomorrow for a final score!

Julaine; of course I remember you!!!! I rarely forget a person after I have been locked in their bathroom, no matter my age!

Galata Tower

I know, I already posted about this, but I have limited pics of myself and I thought Mom would appreciate this pic. The girl threw up in class again today. Are you kidding me? But I heard it coming and ran from the room so that the other teacher could have a turn dealing with it. It truly worked out great becuase when I went back to the kitchen I was like, "Oh, my goodness, she threw up again?" It worked like a charm. I had my first conversation in Turkish today on the bus. It went something like this.
Her. "Live?"
Me "Bishiktash"
Her "oh. why?"
Me "teacher"
her "college"
Me "3 and 5 yr olds."
Her "Wow. blah, blah, blah"
Me "I don't understand."
Her "telephone number"
Me "I don't have one"
Her "Name"
ME "Laura"
Her "My name"
Me "I don't know"
Her "blah blah"
Me "My stop. Bye."

Cool huh. I'm fluent now! but seriously, it really is a huge confidence booster!

Do You See What I See?

This is Elvin and she is a student in my class. Well, at least she used to be, but Barkin ran into her and smacked her in the nose. Henceforth she has been afraid to come. But, when I look at this picture all I can see, is that the purple diamond is higher than the red triangle. Ahhhhhhhhh, my brain can hardly handle this! It really should be straight, I don't understand why it's not. It is such a beautiful picture to be marred by incomplete lines. I just can't work in an environment like this!!!! haha, Polina Teacher is quite accomidating to my OCD "needs."

Chewing Gum

Ok. So far all of my blogs have been super happy YEAH I'm in Istanbul. You're probably wondering where my dark humour is hiding. WELL, I must vent just a little... So, today I got on the bus 129T and found a seat. It looked like a nice clean seat, free from young men and other irritating sources of nature. That is until I sat down and then it began! First off, old Turkish men don't shower. Old men all over the world have the same smell. You know, that old man smell. That musky, medicinal, orange pill bottle smell? Well, mix that with an aversion to deoderant and infrequent clothes wasthing. So, a man of this nature sat directly behind me, leaned forward and placed a hand on MY seat. Now, this immediatly annoyed me stricly because it's irritating to have someone in your area. That said, he was also chewing gum; or trying to. You see, he was more-so making a smacking sound as he had no teeth with which to chew. His saliva made a slurpy smack smack and it almost drove me to insanity!!!!!!!! So I did the unthinkable; I turned around and stared him straight in the eye. This of course was a mistake as he gave me a gap toothed smile that spoke volumes of creepy old man happiness that I was "eyeing" him. Oh palease!!!!

Busy Weekend!

This is a fabulous view from the top of Galata Tower. It is a view of the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofia across the Golden Horn. This is Not a view of the Bospohorus, but the Golden Horn. This body of water seaprates the Golden Horn from the rest of Istanbul while the Bosphorus separates Europe from Asia. I live on the European side and work on the Asian. Pretty cool huh. I live and work on separate continents... How often does that happen?
This is Turkish Coffee. It is the strongest and thickest coffee in the world and I LOVE IT! It is so thick it is almost like a paste and the bottom part of it is coffee sludge. It is so fabulous and wonderful.
Aysegul and I enjoying a taste of Starbucks along the Bosphorus! It tasted so good and was a little piece of Heaven. It was truly enjoyable and wonderful. I of course am jealous because Aysegul has fabulously dark skin and she is jealous of me because she wants lighter skin. We are so different; it is such a beautiful thing!
This was just to let you know how small these Turkish coffees are; they are that strong! It is so much stronger than the strongest espresso!

Mert & Ayşegül

Aren't they fabulous!? This is the couple I am living with. They just celebrated a second year of marriage. Bravo!!! Aysegul is at an intermediate level of English and Mert knows about 7 words. It is working out fabulous! I speak English with Ashyegul so that she can practice, and I speak Turkish with Mert to practice it. They are the sweetest couple! They have done everything in their power to make my move as easy and painless as possible. My room is lovely and I have been sleeping so great! My first week of school was a little crazy, so I am so happy that I had a place to stay that was clean and quiet. They are such a sweet couple! I really feel blessed to have found them. I live on the 5th floor though and that makes for a strong bum! But when I'm "almost home" I remember that even when I get home...I have 5 floors to walk up. AND, the lights are timed. So if you walk up at night, be sure to hit the switch on every floor because if the lights go off it is pitch black and on marble spiral staircases, this makes for a very dangerous situation! Hmmmmmmmmmmm, any questions about life in Istanbul? My picture was taken AGAIN by a man passing me. I don't get it! I'm like a walking freak show, really! Do I really look that out of place? Well, maybe... Ohhhhhh, ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, this is a good one. Turkish doorbells sound like birds singing. Almost everyone has the same sound, it is this odd twittering sound. Anyway, I swear it is mirrored after a local bird because I'll be walking down the street and hear the "doorbell." Like to freak me out!

Another Beautliful Face

This is Angela and she is FABULOUS! She's Greek-American (she looks Greek and speaks Greek and her girls speak Greek so she's totally Greek/American) and the ONLY person who understands me! Don't believe that American's think differently than anybody else in the world? Ha, move to Europe!!!! She's truly fabulous, Great personality and truly beautiful. This pic was taken on my birthday at the school. I work mostly with Turkish and British people so it is wonderful to have her around. She's always available for a cup of coffee (she's a coffee snob and an addict just like me.) I have her lovely daughter in my class and she's pretty cute. I'd post her pic but I didn't take my camera to class.... So let me tell you about working for an international school; meetings take FOREVER because everything is translated from Turkish to English. I really could bring a book and read until it's "my turn." Yet, somehow I think the director would frown upon this... And now that I'm actually trying to learn the language I keep hearing words I recognize. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. And then it's blah blah blah, Laura, blah blah blah, varma, blah blah blah, evet..... That is what I hear!!!!! Oh, and today I heard the hokey pokey song 5 times. Oh yes, I counted! So if I hear this song 5 times a day, five days a week that is 25 times a month. roughly. Multiply that by however many months I survive pre.school and k, and well you get the pic. The point is that next time you see me I might be slightly insane. but the best song ever is, "How many way, how many ways, how many waaaaaaaaaaaa-aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays, can you carry a bean bag?" yep, we sing this song w/o beanbags. My mind has a hard time grasping this. During my years as a lil' girl I was the master of the bean bag toss. But that's ok because every day I get to sing the bean bag song. What could be better than this?

A Child in Class

This is a Turkish boy in my class and I think that he is so cute! But he only speaks Turkish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In only two days we have had many a difficult moment. Notice the wall??? I helped make that cool train thingy that says, "We're on track with shapes!" Wonderful!!!! Oh, but get this...I am a pre.school and kindergarten teacher and I don't have a single box of crayola markers, crayons or paints!!!!! And then get this TURKEY DOESN'T HAVE THEM! Today they are like, "Laura, you must draw flashcards...." They only have skinny markers here and they just make do with that. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! I came with enough lotion to swim my way to America and not a single marker of card stock? What was I thinking? Oh yes, I thought that maybe the school would have this.... Think again people....the school can't have what Turkey doesn't offer... And how was I to know that Crayola hadn't gone national? The truth remains...as I hang my head in shame...I came unprepared to shape thes young minds.

First Day of Class

This is traditional Turkish Breakfast. So much food eh!? My favorite of all is the bread with cream and honey on it. Oh my gooness it is sooooooooooooo good! I just love it so much. Cheese and bread is very popular for breakfast. It is also normal to have cucumber and tomatoes with your egg. Do you see the Turkish Tea? The glasses are sooooooooo hot and you have to grip the very tips or you can't hold it. I have not yet mastered this yet. I will though, I have it enough times a day...

I'm officially a teacher because I taught "youngsters" today. Oh my goodness! The worst part about teaching are the mothers! Oh my goodness, the mothers follow the children around all day. Like they would hide in the blinds and behind plants to see their children!!! It was terrible. At this young age it is really better for the parents to stay for awhile and then leave while they are playing. Some children cried ALL day! It was so terrible. But the children are so cute! The only problem is they only speak Turkish!!!! Yikes, they will learn English fast with me! But they cried harder the more I didn't understand them and they became frustrated. It was truly terrible! And the laws are different than in America! If a kid refuses to move I am supposed to pick them up kicking and screaming and move them to the location I desire. I am also supposed to hug them when they are sad, I can't do this in America!!!! But the names are so hard... Balkin.. Eje spelled Ece of course..... I cut the meat for many a child today during lunch... At least the potty dance is multi-lingual.... So we take the kids as a group, "Toilet Time!!!!" Can you imagine me with small ones???? Begininng next week I will teach 3 hours in the afternoon in the elementary school. I can't believe I am doing this and in Turkey no less...

Merhaba (hello)

I move tomorrow to my flat and I am soooooooooooooo excited! I have been staying with a friend, but it is time for me to settle in and to FINALLY unpack! I am moving to Bishiktash. It looks like Besitkis on the map. Everything is different. J's are z's. C's are js and ch's. i 's are ee's , but I is prounounced i (like as in it) Which is why Istanbul is prounouced eestonbul because the I in istanbul realy has a dot over it, we just don't have that letter in our alphabet for a Capital letter. Later on a Brit, the director of the school, and I got in a lively discussion over grammar. (Mind you the director is British....)

British English: Have you been to the store today?
American English: Did you go to the store today?

Which is easier aha, I knew it, American! But let me remind you that we are preparing these young minds for the TOEFFL Exam... (Did I spell that correctly?)

A Day in the Life to My Friends Who Don't Know

It would help if you have been down Las Ramblas in Barcelona Spain, but I will do my best in trying to descibe Istanbul. It is an amazing mixture between Paris, France and Morocco. The streets are VERY narrow and many of them are cobbled. (Did I spell that right?) The streets are quite crowded and one needs to be a tad aggressive. I quick flick of the head up means no, which I still have trouble with. A good friend is met and bid good-day with a kiss cheek to cheek. Saying one word in Turkish can make a Turkish person's day. Saying things wrong makes them laugh and they genuinely enjoy helping you try... Every day has at last two LONG tea breaks. No matter how much work needs to be done there is time for Chai! Turkish Tea is served in small glasses that have no handles so you grip the very top with your fingers so as not to burn yourself. I offended a Turkish friend when I got fidgity during our hour long tea break 'cause there was so much to do!!! She placed her hand on my arm and said in broken English, "We are becoming friends Laura.." What could be more important? My new friends have taken it on themselves to memorize just how I like my coffee. "How many sugar cubes Laura?" I wish you could hear how they say my name. Some of my new friends speak no English and I no Turkish, but we each speak in our own respective languages and gesture. A woman and I ended up dancing as we were so animated; she grabbed my hand and started twirling. But we became friends and later at our 2nd coffee break she called down to my room, "Laura...coffee!!!" Beautiful culture, just beautiful. It is both friendly and loving. Of course me being white and blue eyes I am quite easy to pick out, so I avoid eye contact with men I don't know. I walk as if I know where I'm going, when half the time I don't. I'm walking off the pounds everyone!!!!The water is so beautiful and I am in awe every time I cross to the Asian side. It truly is so wonderful. But it is a shock and it will take time...

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