Lucy Turns One

I cannot believe that my baby is already one year old (don't mothers always say that?).  Here are some pictures from her birthday.  Not the big she-bang that I usually go for, but it was a fun time nonetheless!  Our team leader happened to be working in the states a week before Lucy's birthday, so the grandparents were able to send presents to his hotel, and he delivered them to us.  She was quite interested in the whole present thing.  Unfortunately, her big brother and sister were a little too helpful!  We had to fight them back from opening the presents, and they had to help "break-in" the new toys!  We had some friends over for an American feast- including cheeseburgers, hot dogs, mac & cheese, and birthday cake!  It was fun.  Although, the cake didn't turn out so great.  My frosting turned out quite runny, so the cake looked ugly.  Oh well, I'm learning all over again!  Now we have to learn how to tell people that Lucy is one year old... and I had just figured out how to say 11 months!  

Happy Birthday, my sweet little princess!  We adore you!

Independence Day

Today is Independence Day here!  The kids are out of school and Justin only went into the office for his language lesson.  We have been looking forward to the fireworks over the Bosphorus for a few days now.  So, this afternoon, when it clouded up and began to rain Noah, Callie, and I cried.  The weather, we are learning, changes so quickly here.  Easy come, easy go.  By 6 or so the rain was gone and we set out for the very tall hill (not quite a mountain) in our part of the city.  So did half of the asian side!  It was busy and confusing but wonderful.  At the top of the hill there is lovely park with lots of big old trees with little white lights up in the branches, and tables with little tea stools.  The best thing by far about this place is the view.  It is amazing!  You can see two continents from there.  The city lights, the water, the skyscrapers, the mosques.... it is absolutely beautiful!  The big bridges had special lights on them to make them red.  Patriotic music was playing and there was a festive attitude despite the damp air.  People here are far more patriotic than any other nationality I've ever run into.  The fireworks were beautiful.  They were shot off along the water from several locations on both sides as well as from one of the big bridges!  Fantastic.  Next year we may venture down near the water.  I love to be "under" fireworks.  You really get the awe factor!  Looking down on them was pretty, but not heart-stopping.

Also, today Noah a a patriotic program at his school.  We did not know what to expect, but sort of thought it would be "bad".  We were right.  It was out in the baçe (the black-top area within the school walls were the kids have recess and line up each day before school).  The kids were in a semi-circle, lined up with their classes- including the middle school students that use the school building in the morning (Noah goes to school from 12:50 to 6:00).  Lots of kids, families, and flags!  EACH class had prepared something to celebrate independence day- songs, readings, skits, etc.  So, it was long and boring.  But I am glad we went.  I am happy for any taste of the culture that I can get!  Luckily, Noah did not have to preform.  His teacher had selected 5 students to recite something- who knows what it was.  Obviously, he was not chosen!!

Celebrating Two Months

 We have been here for two months now.  This is the longest that I have ever gone without driving a car (since age 15).  I totally love the public transportation.  It is anything but convenient, but it is fascinating.  I go to a language class on Saturday mornings- the only thing that I do by myself- down by the water.  To get there I have to ride the busiest bus on the planet.  I still holler "wait" when the driver starts to pull away and all the people have not managed to shove themselves on... what a rookie.   The drivers are amazing.  They can drive the big 'ol thing (one of those double kind that looks like two buses hooked together with a dryer vent hose), talk on their cell phone, make change for passengers, and navigate the absurd traffic.  I love being stuck up front right by the windshield where I can see everything.  We manage to get so close to cars and people.  What fun. Sorry... enough of that rabbit trail ( I am bad about that).

Anyhow, we've been here two months, and seeing as how I have just managed to get this thing up and running I felt the need to reminisce on what I've learned...

1. cobblestones are beautiful but quite bumpy

2. seat belts and traffic rules are over-rated

3. Americans should be glad that there is a $500 fine for littering

4. learning and functioning in a new language is way hard

5. people here are wonderful, regardless of what the media says

6. downsizing is a great thing

7. the kids don't miss a bit of their stuff

8. there is so much to discover in the world

9. roasted sheep heads are really gross looking, especially because they have crazy looking teeth

10. futbol is life

11. the weekly market is so fun

12. it is hard to help your child do their homework when it takes you forever to translate the simple directions with your giant translation dictionary

13. it is hard to make friends when you can't say much

14. it is fun to laugh at yourself

15. my neighbor is a fenerbache fan- it is one of the futbol teams here, and he screams during their games

16. women have it very hard here

17. joy is possible anywhere

18. kids are very flexible

19. it really is great to be where the Lord wants you to be

20. 40Lira of groceries is too much to carry home a mile and up 4 flights of stairs- especially when I have Lucy and the stroller, too

21. meat, fruits, and vegetables are really fresh here

22. the "building guy" (for lack of a better word- he is sort of the handy man) sells piping hot fresh bread daily, door to door, and it is fantastic

23. a headscarf is a great way to hide hair that does not like this humid climate

24. the call to prayer is broadcast from the minarets at every mosque five times a day- it sounds like nothing you have ever heard before- eerie but beautiful 

25. old ladies will not so gently rap you with their umbrellas and tell you to properly bundle your baby if she is not dressed for arctic weather despite what the weather really is

26. your baby is public property

27. pedestrians or the smaller car have no rights and must be on the defense at all times (even on the sidewalk)

28. you must really keep up with the laundry if your kids wear a uniform and you only bought a few

29. "vat is your name?" said repeatedly by local kids is amazing annoying

30. whoever chose white button down shirts for Noah's uniform should be beaten

31. bread is the most essential part of the diet here- Dr. Adkins would be flogged

 

Truly I could go on.  The past two months have been nothing but learning, and it feels like we've just made a drop in the ocean.  The most exciting thing that I have learned is how to work my washing machine.  After two months with the translation dictionary, the machine, and the manual, I think I've got it figured out.  (ok, maybe no the most exciting thing, but it is up there on the list).  Laundry and acquiring and preparing food are major parts of my day now.  Come to think of it... they were before, too.  I guess we're not that different after all.

A Glimpse at the Possibility

You know how in romantic comedies, which I love, everything ends up great in the end?  The plot is always the same no matter how different the setting is.  The girl shows up to something new, she doesn't look or act her best, and she can't function appropriately.  But, by the end of the movie everything is perfect.  She's figured it all out, and got the great looking guy to boot!  All of this is just two hours!  

Well, I've been in this new place a lot more than two hours, and I've got relatively nothing figured out!!  I can say, "ekmek var mı?"  See, I can even type it properly with this awesome computer (i love apple!!).  Notice that the ı does not have a dot!  The question, "ekmek var mı?" means is there bread?  It is the first thing our curriculum teaches us.

So, anyhow, I can say it, and a few other things.  My point is that in the movie that is my life (and as Donald Miller says, yes, you are in my movie, you play a wonderful supporting role, thank you!) two hours have passed and I haven't gotten things all figured out!  But, you know how in the movie, they show quick little glimpses of the process the girl goes through to get it all together.  In my movie, I had my first few glimpses last week.  I thought of and spoke my very first sentence!!  Not, the sentences and phrases that I've been taught.  But, my very own!  It had the subject and verb of my choosing and was conjugated correctly.  Not only that, but the person I was speaking to understood me and answered!!  Also, last week, we got our first piece of mail!  I cannot tell you how wonderful it was.  It was a birthday card for Lucy from my mom, but our entire family devoured it!!  You have to remember that we have not seen or spoken to a real live American (other than our team leaders) in two months, so we are easily excitable.

So... it's a start- a glimpse at the possibility.  I'll get there, it will just take a lot longer than two stinkin hours!!!