Ok, a new post. Work has been very busy as of late, especially with our final term exams last week, as well as all the hectic preperations preceding our upcoming week off. Honestly, I can't wait to go away next week. I'm heading to Jordan with a good friend of mine, an Aussie named Bed. This is very exciting for me because I've always wanted to see the Middle East. So many people in the U.S. talk about the region as if they're experts, but the longer I'm here the more I realize most people back home have no idea. Yes, Istanbul is in Europe, but there are a number of conspicuous Middle Eastern elements that make Istanbul the unique city it is. Istanbul is a great launching pad for someone who wants to better understand the Middle East, and I see these next two years-actually, a year and eight months now-as a sort of prerequisite for what I hope could turn into a career in Middle East studies. I am pretty fickle when it comes to my future plans, so who knows if or when I'll change my mind. But Turkey and the Middle East, as well as all of the accompanying idiosyncracies, has captured my interest, and I plan to learn as much as possible.
Other news: its getting cold, its rainy, I might get a used couch soon, the Turkish lessons are coming ok-peaks and valleys, as they say. I tend to assess my overall happiness on a numerical scale every three days or so. Tonight I give it a...7. But that's a positive assessment, and it typically flirts around 5 or 6. Why so low? I work too damn much. A solution will come.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Today was Cumhuriyeti, which I guess means Republic Day. This year's Republic Day was particularly nationalistic, some friends told me, because of recent attacks by PKK rebels on Turkish soldiers. It was very interesting. The parade, which really consisted of thousands and thousands of people walking down one of the main thoroughfares, began in Ortakoy, where I live, and ended in an area called Besiktas. There were a lot of Turkish flags and a lot of chanting, but overall it was pretty festive. I guess the chants had something to do with their soldiers dying, Turkey remaining a secular democracy, long live Ataturk, etc. The fireworks were actually better than anything I'd seen in the U.S., and it was very cool to see how much Turks love their country. Sometimes I wish young people in the U.S. had such a sense of ardent patriotism, but I suppose right now there isn't much to foster solidarity. Turks seem to see the usefulness in demonstration as well, and I think that's something that we're missing in the U.S. too. The last time I remember so many people taking to the streets were the immigration protests in the summer of 2005. I hope we never forget our right to dissent.
I posted some pictures of Cumhuriyet on my facebook, and you do not need to have facebook to see them. The link is:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2055376&l=429cf&id=26310454
It's basically a bunch of flags and lights. My photos make it look much less interesting than it really was. Also, I posted video on youtube.com but right now the video is still loading, and I need to go to bed. I'll post the link tomorrow. Well, I hope everything is going well with all of you. Feel free to email me any thoughts, comments, criticisms, etc, at chip_hubbell@yahoo.com. Chao for now.
I posted some pictures of Cumhuriyet on my facebook, and you do not need to have facebook to see them. The link is:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2055376&l=429cf&id=26310454
It's basically a bunch of flags and lights. My photos make it look much less interesting than it really was. Also, I posted video on youtube.com but right now the video is still loading, and I need to go to bed. I'll post the link tomorrow. Well, I hope everything is going well with all of you. Feel free to email me any thoughts, comments, criticisms, etc, at chip_hubbell@yahoo.com. Chao for now.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Wow, a post!
Ok, the blog is back! I have to apologize for not keeping in touch with you all, but I didn't have internet in my apartment until a week ago. So, you're probably struck with a mild interest in what is going on with my life here in Turkey; otherwise, why would you visit this site, right?
Well, work is going ok. I teach 9 1/2 hour days, and it's starting to wear on me. Because of the extraordinary trafic problem in Istanbul, an otherwise 30 minute commute to school in the morning turns into a one hour+ commute home in the evening. I don't get home til after 6pm, and I feel like that's really no way to live. My solution? We will see.
I generally spend my weeknights at home reading a lot, writing a little bit, or trying my hand at traditional Turkish cuisine once in a while. Weekends I spend with friends, but this weekend is huge. Do you know why? Because the Red Sox are back in the WS, baby! I've been getting up at 4am to watch the games, and while I'm dead tired during the day, I'm wicked excited at night because we are just bashing teams all over the field.
News about Turkey: it's hard to imagine Turks being any more nationalistic than they already are, but in the last week there's been a wave of ultra-nationalism that ranks right up there with immediate post-9/11 America. Turkey has recently moved into Northern Iraq to attack PKK terrorist camps, against the advice of the US. That combined with Monday being Republic Day (celebration of the founding of modern Turkey) results in an insane amount of Turkish flags, hanging from houses, cars, lightpoles, trees, skycrapers, bridges, etc. Also, American sentiment is pretty low right now because of the Armenian genocide bill going through the US House.
Anyway, it's Sunday and I'm about to take a walk along the Bosphorus. It's been very cold and rainy lately, so today is a nice change with lots of sun.
That's all for now. Kendinize iyi bakin! Sizin seviyorum!
Well, work is going ok. I teach 9 1/2 hour days, and it's starting to wear on me. Because of the extraordinary trafic problem in Istanbul, an otherwise 30 minute commute to school in the morning turns into a one hour+ commute home in the evening. I don't get home til after 6pm, and I feel like that's really no way to live. My solution? We will see.
I generally spend my weeknights at home reading a lot, writing a little bit, or trying my hand at traditional Turkish cuisine once in a while. Weekends I spend with friends, but this weekend is huge. Do you know why? Because the Red Sox are back in the WS, baby! I've been getting up at 4am to watch the games, and while I'm dead tired during the day, I'm wicked excited at night because we are just bashing teams all over the field.
News about Turkey: it's hard to imagine Turks being any more nationalistic than they already are, but in the last week there's been a wave of ultra-nationalism that ranks right up there with immediate post-9/11 America. Turkey has recently moved into Northern Iraq to attack PKK terrorist camps, against the advice of the US. That combined with Monday being Republic Day (celebration of the founding of modern Turkey) results in an insane amount of Turkish flags, hanging from houses, cars, lightpoles, trees, skycrapers, bridges, etc. Also, American sentiment is pretty low right now because of the Armenian genocide bill going through the US House.
Anyway, it's Sunday and I'm about to take a walk along the Bosphorus. It's been very cold and rainy lately, so today is a nice change with lots of sun.
That's all for now. Kendinize iyi bakin! Sizin seviyorum!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
new photo link
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051146&l=47e84&id=26310454
This is the link to my photos. You don't have to be a facebook member, so sorry about posting a link before that only took you to the facebook.com sign up page.
This is the link to my photos. You don't have to be a facebook member, so sorry about posting a link before that only took you to the facebook.com sign up page.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Update!
Oh my gosh! A blog entry! Sweet mother of Jesus, I can't believe it! Ok, so I haven't had internet in my house, and I only have time for internet fun when I make the trek to the local Starbucks and connect to their wireless. I began an entry on my recent trip to Mt. Olympus in Greece, but it's nowhere near finished. Just be patient and you'll be properly informed in no time.
Anyway, here's a terse narrative of the recent events of my life. This week is HUGE because we start teaching...finally! I've spent the last month preparing all kinds of things (including the curricula for my classes) so it'll be a relief to do some teaching. I met some of the students and their parents on Saturday when we had back to school day. Açı school is definitely a school for the children of Turkey's elite: academics, musicians, artists, writers, journalists, etc.
I started my Turkish classes today (Sunday). I think it's going to be fun to learn a new language. Türkçe seviyorum! Haha What else...the weather has suddenly changed from blazing hot and humid to a crisp autumnal climate. I'm getting very used to İstanbul. The people, the traffic, the city plan itself is all becoming familiar. My life is fairly predictable but every now and again I meet someone new or venture to an unexplored area of the city, and I remember that I'm living in a different country that's not technically my home. I'd like it to feel like home, and as of right now it's the next best thing to New York. When I returned from Greece, I exited the train and walked down the platform smiling because I felt like I was where I should be--in İstanbul.
That's all I can say for now. I really do have an epic tale about Mt. Olympus, but I just need to find time to write the story. In the meantime you can moisten your visual palet with some pictures I took in Greece. Go to
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051146&l=47e84&id=26310454
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=510082299084
Well, that's it for now. I'll have internet soon and I'll be able to keep you all updated. Kendine iyi bak.
Anyway, here's a terse narrative of the recent events of my life. This week is HUGE because we start teaching...finally! I've spent the last month preparing all kinds of things (including the curricula for my classes) so it'll be a relief to do some teaching. I met some of the students and their parents on Saturday when we had back to school day. Açı school is definitely a school for the children of Turkey's elite: academics, musicians, artists, writers, journalists, etc.
I started my Turkish classes today (Sunday). I think it's going to be fun to learn a new language. Türkçe seviyorum! Haha What else...the weather has suddenly changed from blazing hot and humid to a crisp autumnal climate. I'm getting very used to İstanbul. The people, the traffic, the city plan itself is all becoming familiar. My life is fairly predictable but every now and again I meet someone new or venture to an unexplored area of the city, and I remember that I'm living in a different country that's not technically my home. I'd like it to feel like home, and as of right now it's the next best thing to New York. When I returned from Greece, I exited the train and walked down the platform smiling because I felt like I was where I should be--in İstanbul.
That's all I can say for now. I really do have an epic tale about Mt. Olympus, but I just need to find time to write the story. In the meantime you can moisten your visual palet with some pictures I took in Greece. Go to
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2051146&l=47e84&id=26310454
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=510082299084
Well, that's it for now. I'll have internet soon and I'll be able to keep you all updated. Kendine iyi bak.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
photo link
For photos of my day-trip to Princes' Island, go to the following link:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2047472&l=608e8&id=26310454
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2047472&l=608e8&id=26310454
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