US Teacher in Turkey

 I'm still waiting.  But.  Not. For. Long.  My visa has been approved and is in the mail.  I don't know why I paid for 2nd Day shipping at UPS, because it is taking 4+ days to get to my house.  When it does, I will contact the school and Zeynap will arrange an airline ticket for me!!   The past two weeks, even though I haven't left my home, I have been in Istanbul.  They call it SITE.  I'm not sure if it's an acronym, or it just means teachers are present for training and meetings.  But, I have connected through Google Meet, email, and WhatsApp flawlessly the past two weeks.( If I sound surprised it's because I'm always amazed when the tech gods favor me!) I've worked with each of my grade level - 9, 10, 11, and 12.- teachers.   I've attended training for the technology I need to accomplish on-line teaching.  I've meet individually with the IB Coordinator, Natalie (from England), English Department Chair, Nurcan(from ...

 I am going to Istanbul!  I am going to teach IB Language and Literature at Enka School Istanbul!  I am going to rent an apartment and a car in Istanbul!  I am going to have a bank account in Istanbul!  I am going to walk along the Bosporus and eat Turkish Delight in Istanbul!  I am.  But, I must wait .   The Coronavirus, Covid-19, has not made this easy.  With government offices closed, getting the necessary paperwork through the approval process has been a challenge.  Four weeks ago I stood in the Turkish Consulate in Chicago, turning in the last of what the Turkish government required to grant me a work visa.  I was told "four to six weeks."   Tomorrow, August 17, 2020, I actually begin my new job as English teacher at Enka School Istanbul.  But, I will begin at a desk in the "Harry Potter" room in my house in Lexington, Kentucky.  I will attend a welcome session at 2:00 AM,  followed by an Analysis ...