The Nutcracker

Above is the poster for the production of The Nutcracker that I went to see last night. I love the way they translate Tchaikovsky. It was the best production I've seen so far at AKM, though, like all Nutcrackers it had its own take on a few things. Most disturbing to me, but that's because I'm a bit of a Nutcracker purist, was that one of the dancing dolls in the party seen (to the faster, darker music) was a set of devils. I don't know how I feel about devils in The Nucracker but anyway... The costumes were beautiful, the tree grew, there were mice, and a live orchestra. There was a beer stein party dance with the men in the beginning. But there was no Sugar Plum Fairy, no angels, and at the end Clara/Marie marries the Nutcracker which I suppose IS how a little Turkish girl's dream might end but I wasn't so sure about ending the ballet with a big white veil. *sigh* Still, the dancing was at times absolutely excellent-- especially the man who played the Nutcracker. It made me happy.

Today I sent my CV out to a couple of companies/organizations I'm very interested in. I went out to pay a bill and by the time I came home I had already heard back from one of them, so I suppose that's good news. And I know that the man I e-mailed for the other job is out of the office for the week so I'm not expecting an instant reply. It's uplifting to be making progress.

Soon I'm going out to meet Kerstin for a beer to catch up about the holidays. I can't wait to see her, as she's one of my best friends in this city. Onwards!

Taksim Square

I took a picture of these pigeons on my way home from work Sunday. Last night Lars and I went to Deep, a restaurant behind the French Consulate. It has such a nice atmosphere-- I think we sat there for nearly half an hour after we'd finished eating.

Today I bought myself a ticket to see The Nutcracker on Wednesday at AKM in Taksim Square, the same place I went to the opera last winter. I love that's it's cheaper to go to the opera or the ballet than the cinema here.

Tonight, apparently, some friends are getting together and we are going to play Risk. I don't think I've played since I was about 9. My male friends are on a bit of a board game kick; I think I'll roll with it...

Snow!

I took this photo this morning around 8am on my way to work. It's been snowing for the better part of the past two days, although there hasn't been much accumulation. It looked beautiful this morning, but by the time I finished work it didn't look nearly as pretty.

Happy New Year!

Okay, it's January 3 and I am trying to be productive. I have decorated my room, uploaded my Christmas photos (a much greater feat than it should have been), started doing some spring cleaning, and now I really need to start working on cover letters.

Tonight is Matt's official going away party, though his actual last night is Saturday. We are going to Ritim and then My Moon for karaoke, so it should be large. Tomorrow I am going to try to meet up with Traci; I am also going to try to sell a few of my books at one of the used book places near Galatasaray. Knowing me, though, I will probably leave with at least one new one, despite having several books here I still haven't read, and despite the fact that the whole point is to have less stuff.

I have been greatly enjoying the peppermint tea I brought back from America and I plan on baking at some point tomorrow, possibly the No Pudge brownies but maybe oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Also I'll continue cleaning and decorating here before work Saturday morning. Happy 2008! More pictures soon...

I'm back!

I apologize for the lack of updates but I find myself now with more free time than I've had in quite awhile, so expect more. Also, I'm making it part of my New Year's resolutions to update my blog more often.

I'm back in Istanbul after a 12-day holiday home for Christmas. Actually, I just got back yesterday, and this morning had to teach my epic 5-hour English class, which started bright and early at 9am (or 2am New York time). Needless to say, after updating and eating, I may take a nap.

So tomorrow's New Year's Eve! Hurrah! I'm going to a party at Amer's house. Actually, we have fewer options as the public New Year's festivities here have been cancelled from Taksim to Kadikoy amid increasing security concerns. So no fireworks tomorrow night, but that's okay. We'll just have to watch them on television from other cities around the world as we party with style inside.

Speaking of Amer, last night he gave me his boss' card saying that there may be a position open teaching American culture to refugees at the International Catholic Migration Commission. It's good to have another job lead. After Jan 1, I am going to start seriously looking, which, frighteningly, is only two days away.
Happy New Year!
Mutlu Yillar!

New Things

Since Lars is back, I thought I'd publish a recent picture of us. Anyway, he's started his new job as head teacher at ET, and I have a new part time job teaching adults at Bilge Adam on the weekends starting the 24th! So we're both doing well (though I'm mildly apprehensive about working seven days a week). Also, Rachel and I have moved in to our new apartment (pictures coming soon!). I really like it. I feel like I'm super busy, though that all the updating I can think of right now. I'm still recovering from Svilengrad.

Svilengrad

On Thursday I went to Svilengrad, Bulgaria. I am usually a glass half-full type of person, I enjoy seeing new places, I am reading a good book.

I was dropped off on the highway, the only thing I could see was an abadoned post-Soviet factory, and a cat that had been run over by an 18-wheeler, or else several cars. I was so panicked I started to laugh. I walked 5 km into the town to find people with no teeth, no English, bad hair, past starving donkeys, piles of scrap metal, waste, deranged cows. The supermarket didn't take my credit card, the people laughed at me when I asked where and when the bus back to Istanbul was (hehehe, nyet, nyet). I found a pizza place and placed my order by drawing on a piece of scrap paper (above, bacon and mushroom). A bottle of beer (Tuborg) at the pizza place was 2 Bulgarian whatevers, which is less than 2 ytl. This was good.

I walked back the 5km past the starving cows, flattened cat, rubbish piles and saw a bus going by on the highway with Turkish on the side. I started running, flailing my arms, screaming "Don't leave me in Svilengrad!!!!" The bus let me on, though they asked if I was a gypsy.

Svilengrad is how I picture what Romania was like when my brother went there in 1989. I could have been in Chechnya, possibly. Actually, I want to go back there, out of some perverse desire to get photograpic evidence of Svilengrad (I had forgotten my camera). It was so badly run down, things were almost contrived-- old women with bizarrely drawn on eyebrows, orange hair, few teeth, indescribable clothes (maybe of the variety that could be purchased at the Tarlabasi Bazaar). I think Svilengrad must be like Brigadoon, a disappearing town stuck in time. Unlike in the musical, I did not fall in love, unless you count the pork section of the supermarket, where I indulged when I finally managed to find a working cash machine.

On the way home the bus past a new development, maybe 30 miles outside Istanbul called "Florida Sunshine Village." It was probably the most surreal day I've had, ever.