BLOCKED

The lovely government here has added Blogger the the growing list of things it had blocked. So, sorry if my posts are few and far between. Who knows when or if we'll be able to get back to our blogger site.

Bus Haikus

On the bus I sit
where should I look, straight? sideways?
Next time I'll stand
(Cultural note: the bus seats face the isle, so when it is packed, it in not unusual to have some one's... ahem... midsection at eye level.)

The bus is coming
How many people can smash in?
Too many to count


Summer is so hot
the people on the bus smell
I wonder if I do


What do I feel... sweat?
Uh Oh! Close all the windows
someone will get sick
(Cultural note: the people here firmly believe that moving air makes people sick, especially if they are sweating. So it is not unusual on a hot day to be on a slam full bus with the windows closed- YUCK. It's like a greenhouse.)


Bus stop is in sight
Here comes the bus, there it goes
Whoops, missed it again


Sweating on the bus
drip, drop, drip, drop, will they see
Arm pit stains will come


Can I stand up front
looking out the windshield
is my favorite


Dear bus, I love you
where else could I stand so close
to sweaty people?


Hey Mr. Driver
Why do you think its so fun
to speed up then brake


Riding on the bus
feels like surfing. Hang ten dude
stand up- ride the waves


I see the new bus
it has air conditioning
Its not on my line


Old buses a plenty
Moses rode on this one
wonder where he went


Stop, go, stop, go, stop
Go, swerve, slam on the brakes, wait
Yep, you're on the bus!


Bing! One twenty five
gasoline is expensive
the bus is so cheap

Random Pic Wednesday

Party Pictures

Ever since we were invited to a birthday party here, I knew our day was coming. So, after a year, I felt ready to host my first "event." As it grew closer, I actually began to get excited about hosting Lucy's 2nd birthday party. Invitations here are done by word of mouth. So a week before Lucy's party, I began inviting our friends and neighbors. Because things are done by word of mouth, you never know who is going to show up, and who may bring a friend or family member. We only had one woman and her daughter show up that I didn't know and another friend's sister whom I had met before. So, that was good. I had 17 women and 15 kids come.

Whenever we would talk to Lucy about her party she would say, "Yeaaaaa!" and start clapping! SO CUTE!

My friend helped me figure out the menu, and Justin ordered the cake, cookies, and börek (a yummy layered pastry). My friend made a carrot salad (carrots, plain yogurt, and garlic), another friend made kısır (bulgar with olive oil, tomatoes, parsley, and green onions), and another friend made a pound cake. I made an orange marmalade yogurt cake and my momma's banana bread muffins.

The women basically sit around talk, eat, and drink tea while the kids run wild. There is not much emphasis on the birthday child. Since I was the hostess, I was quite busy serving everyone. But, the women love to help out the foreigner, so everyone pitched in. One lady gave the boys the sparklers instead of putting them in the cake. So they waved them around the room while everyone sang the T-ish version of "Happy Birthday." Then someone- not Lucy- blew out the candles and that was that!! No pictures of it because I was holding Lucy and praying the rug wouldn't catch on fire!!




Callie getting ready to party!



My first guest arrived at 1:30 (the party was to start at 2). Shortly after this sweet little girl arrived another friend sent her son up early. So fun to have these "helpers" while I was running around trying to get the last minute things done! HA HA!



This little girl is named Merve. She and Callie play together a lot. Her mom was my first friend here.



This is my dear sweet friend, Çiğdem, and her son Serhat. Her husband is a deadbeat. He refuses to work, so she works 4 jobs to support her 2 boys. She works in our office assembling cards and has come so far in her understanding and acceptance of the Gospel.



Betul couldn't wait to give Lucy the gift she picked out for her. A bright yellow stuffed bunny rabbit. Lucy loved it- called it "Baby" and carried it around all day.



Lucy's cake



The food table. Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the other decorations. We hung up streamers, balloons, and a princess banner that said "Happy Birthday!".



Starting clockwise from the plates: kısır, carrot salad, and orange marmalade cake.



the cake



Clockwise from the drinks (juice, Fanta Orange, and Coke), peynir börek (layered cheese pastry), cookies, meat börek (layered pastry with spiced ground beef), pound cake, banana nut muffins, and more kısır.



I laid out picnic blankets and let the kids eat on the floor in our family room.



Some of the women just pulled chairs right up to the food table and ate!



My sweet friend Gülsevin. Her second child is due on December 25th! Don't tell her, but I might take him!!



Unfortunately, my friends aren't very good with technology, so I had to have Callie take pictures when Lucy opened her presents. This is Çiğdem, my teenage neighbor from downstairs, another neighbor- Fatma with her baby Osman, and my forehead.



Thanks, Callie, for the closeup!



Merve, Menekşe (she lives below us), and in the chair in front of the window is Arzu's sister (I don't know her name).



Callie's view of Lucy opening a present.



Lucy examining a gift.


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Still examining.



Then the dress-up clothes came out. Kids love to play with our dress-up clothes.



Here are most of the kids in costumes. They had a blast dressing up!


So, the party was a great success! Everyone ate their fill and had a great time. Lucy was adorable. It was so fun to celebrate her.

Everyone left by about 6:00. The kids were all outside playing, and Lucy was dying to play with them. So I took her out for a bit. We came in and Lucy watched a video while I tried to get the flat back in order.

I had the flat all cleaned up, except the kitchen, when Noah and Callie and a friend came in and started to wreck havoc again. After the kids' friend left, I almost had the flat cleaned up again when a neighbor dropped by. Yes, you read that right... MY NEIGHBOR AND HER KIDS CAME OVER!! They didn't want to come to the party because they thought it would be too crowded. So, I put the teapot on and began to entertain... again! Needless to say, Justin was surprised that I still had guests when he arrived home from a seminar at 8:30. The woman and her kids stayed until 10:30!! Then I got to scoot the kids off to bed and clean the flat up AGAIN!!

PARTY

So, the party is over and it was great! Lots of fun, lots of food, and lots of rowdy kids!! Lucy was perfect! She is awesome!

We are exhausted! The first guest came at 1:30, and the last one left at 10:30!!!! I'll post pictures and details when I've gotten above water again!!

MERCY

In just a short while A LOT of foreign (no... wait, I'm the foreign one) women and children are going to descend on this flat! Lord help me... I'm going to have to communicate with them for probably at least 4 hours! Mercy, the sweat is starting to roll!!

Amca

Amca is our word for uncle. It is the familiar way that people refer to older adults. This morning our dear sweet neighbor, Amca, rang our bell, and presented my kids with cotton candy. FANTASTIC! I didn't want to make breakfast anyway. And really, what could be a more balanced breakfast than cotton candy and milk. I should have thrown in some chocolate, too! Hope the noise created by three strung out children doesn't disturb him!!!

File This One Under Conversations That Used To Be Abnormal

Explaining the downfalls of polygamy. During this conversation, the man I was speaking with kept asking, "but what if my wife doesn't interest me anymore?" I was bold enough to tell him that was a selfish attitude!!

Discussing the parts of the Koran that acknowledge Jesus as Messiah.

Challenging my friend to read the other Holy Books (the Pentateuch, the Psalms, and the Gospels) in addition to the Koran since the Koran says to read them.

Explaining why wearing a pink shirt and makeup does not mean I am trying to attract men. And learning the reasons behind the extremes in modesty.

The Athlete

The boy loves his shinguards!!!

On any given day Noah wears baseball socks that are thigh high, football or baseball pants, shinguards, sometimes shoulder pads, and of course he changes jerseys constantly! He cracks me up. I don't think anyone loves sports as much as him!

Preciousness

Aren't my girls awesome?!?!? I am quite sure that this is a little taste of heaven! Turn up the sound on your computer to hear the song they are dancing to- it is one of my favorites!

Sorry, maybe one day I will realize that I need to quit turning the camera!!

Biscuit Bliss

We have new teammates from England. We LOVE them! They are so fun. They were on the field for 10 years in China before they were asked to leave! So, now they are here!

It has been so fun to realize the differences in American and English culture. There are so many! One thing that cracks me up is that they call cookies or sweet crackers (graham crackers) biscuits. I've been trying to explain to them what we call biscuits. Well, all the talk about biscuits has made me crave the wonderful pillows of buttery yummyness! I have been scouring the internet for recipes that contain ingredients we can get here. Also, I have been watching tutorials on how to make them. I guess you can say I was a little intimidated by the thought of making the perfect biscuit!

Today, I did it! I made the best biscuits. It wasn't hard at all, and they were fantastic! We ate them with butter and fresh jam! OH MY GOODNESS!! WE HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT!!! I had to stop the kids at 3! Good thing there was no one around to stop me...ha ha!

Now, I just need to invite our new friends over to show them what REAL biscuits are!!





Maybe next time I'll attempt something like this... if only I could find a pig to slaughter (and orange cheese!)!

Sadness

Only one more day of vacation till the real world starts again... booo hooo!

Noah and I have A LOT of homework to do!!

Here's the short list of fun things that we did. I'll elaborate more on them when I get the chance!
*had our whole team over for dinner and "church"
*gave out candy to all the kids who came to our door over a 3 day period
*Noah, Callie, and Lucy went to the neighbors in our building and got candy
*we made several visits to friends and neighbors
*subsequently, we ate A LOT!!
*explored an amazing fortress (pictures to come)
*went to the cinema with friends to see Wall-E, the Disney pic (YIKES, what a social message, made me not want to throw anything away!)
*Daddy took Noah and Callie to the government theatre (1 lira) to see Kung Fu Panda (we saw more movies this weekend than we have seen the rest of the year combined!!)
*ate at Subway!
*learned how to make biscuits, and to convert some of my old favorite recipes to my new situation and product availability
*played outside in the BEAUTIFUL fall weather
*began preparations for my Baby's 2nd birthday party... its going to be interesting!

GO TO THIS LINK NOW AND READ IT!!

Too Much of A Good Thing?

This is how you know your 7 year old has enjoyed (maybe a little too much) the Sugar Holiday that ends Ramadan:

As the "Auntie" (the familiar term that children use to respectfully refer to older women- in the local language, of course) was handing him another huge cookie similar to a moon pie:
Noah: Mom, do I have to eat this, or can I hide it in your purse?


After yet another visit with some local friends...
Noah: Mom, I think I only want to eat fruit tomorrow!


At one house, Lucy ate so much chocolate that I am pretty sure I'll find a pure chocolate bar in her diaper tomorrow!


Callie and Lucy almost passed out in sugar comas. They laid down on the floor at a friends' house and their eyes rolled back into their heads as pure sugar drool dripped from their lips!

Tastes Like Ketchup

For the first time in 13 months Ketchup tastes like ketchup! You see, before the other day EVERY TIME that I ate ketchup I always compared it to American ketchup. "This tastes like American ketchup, this sweeter than...., this isn't even close..., etc." But the other day as I was dipping my fries into ketchup no comparison even crossed my mind. After my meal it struck me that... the Ketchup tastes like KETCHUP!!! My taste buds are forgetting...