US Teacher in Turkey

 Happy 2021 every reader of my blog!   I woke up today knowing the new year has arrived in Turkey, but not yet in the USA.  I felt anticipation, even though I am thousands of miles away.  My heart and soul are still in sync with America. I feel it's going to be a good year. We will appreciate small aspects of our life like never before - having drinks with a friend, going to restaurants, going to the movies, having visitors in our homes.  And big events will be even more memorable - weddings, family reunions, graduations. We will have a new president.  Thank God.  For most of my family and friends this is a "huge" relief.(Hope Trump doesn't mind me borrowing one of his infamous words from his infinite vocabulary.) My hope for the new year is civility and rationality will return to America and Americans.  America is a country founded on individual rights.  But that does not mean we have the right to degrade others for the color of their s...

 December 19, 2020 I am in Istanbul, Turkey lockdown.  Not what I imagined, but I'm okay.  I am visited everyday by my Turkish students and often my Turkish colleagues, as we meet in grade team meetings weekly.  I can walk to the grocery, and I even got a hair cut, manicure and pedicure yesterday.  But, restaurants are closed, stores are opened limited times on the weekdays, but closed on the weekends. And listen America, everyone complies!  I am busy all day. Unbelievable so.  Which is good because it wards off loneliness and homesickness.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm doing what I want to do, but I'm actually trying not to think of the fact that it's Christmas this coming week. It comforts me to think if I am ever going to miss Christmas, this is the one to miss.  The coronavirus is keeping all my children at home, and our always fabulous Christmas at Elsie's - my mother-in-law - is cancelled.  So sad since she thrives on holidays lik...

 One of the reasons I am (trying!) to keep this blog is to remember my Turkish experiences, as well as share them..  I had not written an entry since November 15 and today is December 12!  Besides Enka School keeping me busy, I've had a visitor this past month.  Jim, my husband, came to stay for a month.  The school's fall break allowed us to finally go out and explore Istanbul together! I will share a few moments and not bore you with the details of the Archeological Museum!  (Which was fascinating by the way.)We all have "moments" when we stop, look where we are, and sigh.  Just sigh.  And take it in. I will tell you about two such moments.   One rainy day during fall break, Jim and I were accompanied by my dear friend Emily, a teacher from Zimbabwe, and her fiancé, Mert, who is Turkish, to visit the Archeological Museum, the Hagias Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cisterns of old Istanbul. Mert, an architect, is a history buff...

  Yes.  I'll admit it.  I had no idea how much time I would spend, and how hard it would be, to teach English at Enka Schools in Istanbul, Turkey.  I climb out of bed at 5:00am and my day begins as soon as I sit at the computer.  The work day doesn't end until about 8:00pm.  But, my coffeepot is nearby. And I haven't far to travel to bed. We are totally on line now.   I can honestly say: I love the work. When I am extremely tired,  the grading mounts,  and I see no end to the planning, I must remind myself, "I wanted this."  And I did.   I am working with an extremely talented and professional group of teachers. Let me tell you about some of the lessons I'm currently involved in. 9th Grade - Students studied about racism and Apartheid in South Africa, now we are reading the play  "Mast er Harold"...and the boys .  This week I am moving into a project to look at the UN 17 Sustainable Goals, do a problem-solution p...

 November 15, 2020 Bless me reader for I have neglected my blog.   It has been two weeks since I last wrote, but I have good reason! Jim arrived in Istanbul!   I am so glad he’s here.   I love experiencing the new sights, sounds, and tastes again through his eyes.   His flight was flawless.   No delays.   No bumps along the way.   He arrived 30 minutes ahead of schedule. I was waiting for him at Door 9 of Arrivals.   No one is allowed in the airport except passengers and employees.   Everyone wears a mask.   Hear that America!   Everyone. Jim’s first taste of Turkey was a delicious pastry (sorry I don’t know the name!) a dear fellow English teacher – Ekmel – brought to school especially for me to share with my husband.   Since then, we enjoyed pide, Turkish meatballs, lamb shish, manti, and doner.   And of course we’ve had Turkish breakfast by the Bosphorus! Unfortunately, this week I left Jim alone to go work. ...

     I love and appreciate the little things I'm learning about culture.  Did you know in Turkey you can go in a restaurant, be seated and stay there as long as you like.  No one will hover.  No one will suggest you might like dessert.  There is absolutely no pressure to leave.  You can sit and sip Turkish coffee until they close I guess.(I'll never stay up long enough to test it out.) And my son-in-law Kevin would love this...no one bothers you.  In fact, you have to gesture to a waiter when you are ready to order, or if you want more water, or another glass of wine.  Some Americans would see this as "bad service," but the Turks see it as welcoming.  You're here in my restaurant, stay as long as you like.  Also, their wait staff does not expect to be tipped.  (I always do - American habit)  But, they are always pleasant and hurry when you indicate you need something.       I can find very little i...

 October 29, 2020      One of the reasons I wanted to teach overseas was to experience a culture more than just as a tourist.  I always say: Turkey was not on my radar, but here I am!  I'm settling in to the daily, weekly and monthly routine of it all --or as routine as it gets during a Pandemic!     I wake in the mornings around 5:00.  Shower, dress, drink coffee, check the news, grade a bit, or check and answer e-mails. (My students email questions during the night.  They're up.  I'm not.) Then I'm out the door to meet my regular taxi at 7:00.  I've always been an early bird.  I do not like to get ready in a panicked rush.  So I get to school about 7:15. My temperature is taken at the door and a new mask is offered. (Enka has an unbelievable number of staff for security.) Most other English teachers arrive about 8:00.  I like the quiet of a school in the morning.  I get chance to set my head on straight, a...