I went to the UK for a wedding in November and then visited friends in Wales. It was a great time to catch up with loads of people and it was right at my one-year mark for being here. The wedding was two of my friends getting married to each other who I met on my training program in Wales. It was a perfect wedding.
I took the train down to Wales then and stayed another week and a half. That time quickly filled up with visits and dinners and evening plans. It was quite different to be back just as a visitor- I felt like I could fit back into life in Wales quite easily. It was also great to be back around so many people who knew me and wanted to hear how I was doing! It was the first time in a year I went to an English speaking country and that in itself was relaxing!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Neighborhood
wow, well it's been a really long time. I'm sorry I haven't kept up in the last well, three months! I'm not sure where to begin- if I should try and fill in all the spaces or just jump in where I am right now. Maybe a little of both...
September I moved into my new apartment. I love having the space of my own and knowing that I'm not moving around so much. I live with a Canadian girl who's been here 4 years and we have a local girl living with us for 6 months so she can take a semester of classes at University here. So it's great for my language! I do love living with locals because it's so easy to get language practice and see into culture! I feel like I'm cheating almost in language learning because I have live-in teachers!
We are slowly getting the house together. I just bought living room curtains yesterday and I just have the plain sheer and night time curtains in my bedroom (not fancy decorative ones like we just got for the living room) There's lots of things we don't have but it is a fully functioning house and has been for these 3 months since we moved in in September. I felt very handy yesterday when I changed the hose on the back of the washing machine. Our old one was leaking like crazy (i.e. do washing with a mop in the kitchen and run in every 20 min to mop up). Last night it didn't leak at all!
We have new neighbors upstairs and I think they are installing new kitchen cabinets. We're on the second/third floor (UK second/US third) so it's nice to have someone upstairs for insulation. Our building only has 8 apartments in it so it's kind of a small building. There's a lady who comes every night about 8pm to collect the garbage and she usually brings a 12 year old girl to help. Nilufer and Zarah are really sweet. I think they think it's a little funny to have foreigners in this building.
Our living room window looks out over the city and is really beautiful (when it's clear) to see the twinkling lights at night. 4 million people make a lot of smog but it is a great view! Across the street are little houses that people built really quickly so they could claim the land. They are full of character but don't match the tidy new apartments that are around this neighborhood. Today I chatted with S. a 10 year old girl who lives on the corner. We have friendly neighbors!
A bit random about the neighborhood, but I wanted to update on something!
September I moved into my new apartment. I love having the space of my own and knowing that I'm not moving around so much. I live with a Canadian girl who's been here 4 years and we have a local girl living with us for 6 months so she can take a semester of classes at University here. So it's great for my language! I do love living with locals because it's so easy to get language practice and see into culture! I feel like I'm cheating almost in language learning because I have live-in teachers!
We are slowly getting the house together. I just bought living room curtains yesterday and I just have the plain sheer and night time curtains in my bedroom (not fancy decorative ones like we just got for the living room) There's lots of things we don't have but it is a fully functioning house and has been for these 3 months since we moved in in September. I felt very handy yesterday when I changed the hose on the back of the washing machine. Our old one was leaking like crazy (i.e. do washing with a mop in the kitchen and run in every 20 min to mop up). Last night it didn't leak at all!
We have new neighbors upstairs and I think they are installing new kitchen cabinets. We're on the second/third floor (UK second/US third) so it's nice to have someone upstairs for insulation. Our building only has 8 apartments in it so it's kind of a small building. There's a lady who comes every night about 8pm to collect the garbage and she usually brings a 12 year old girl to help. Nilufer and Zarah are really sweet. I think they think it's a little funny to have foreigners in this building.
Our living room window looks out over the city and is really beautiful (when it's clear) to see the twinkling lights at night. 4 million people make a lot of smog but it is a great view! Across the street are little houses that people built really quickly so they could claim the land. They are full of character but don't match the tidy new apartments that are around this neighborhood. Today I chatted with S. a 10 year old girl who lives on the corner. We have friendly neighbors!
A bit random about the neighborhood, but I wanted to update on something!
Friday, August 14, 2009
The Lizard
As far as lizards go it was a cute one. Only about three inches long, kind of sandy cream colored like the color of my bedroom walls. I found this little lizard dancing on my bed though and my whack-a-mole attempts to capture it with a cup soon made me realize I am inexperienced at catching lizards. I honestly don’t mind being inexperienced at it.
I am also inexperienced at other things as life here in Ankara is pointing out. Like knowing how to start the electric for a new apartment. Or knowing what to do with the water and gas cards after I put money on them. Lots of things to learn still...
This week I attempted to start the electricity in our new apartment. First I had to find the office. Check. Then I had to find out what I needed to get a billing number. Check. Then go back the next day with the things to get the number. Except when I asked different people they didn't say bring a large sum of money to pay the people who give you your billing number or that only my housemate can get the number. So I'll count it as language and culture practice instead of successfully starting utilities...
and the lizard still runs free
I am also inexperienced at other things as life here in Ankara is pointing out. Like knowing how to start the electric for a new apartment. Or knowing what to do with the water and gas cards after I put money on them. Lots of things to learn still...
This week I attempted to start the electricity in our new apartment. First I had to find the office. Check. Then I had to find out what I needed to get a billing number. Check. Then go back the next day with the things to get the number. Except when I asked different people they didn't say bring a large sum of money to pay the people who give you your billing number or that only my housemate can get the number. So I'll count it as language and culture practice instead of successfully starting utilities...
and the lizard still runs free
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Celebration
So yesterday I celebrated my 8th month day here. Eight months into this and this week has been encouraging in little ways other than the natural passing of time to move me from new visitor to a person who can get around town feeling more like a local. Like on the bus yesterday I had this little feeling of ‘home’. I probably can’t explain it very well, it was just a glimmer, a little feeling of not just being familiar with the bus route but actually feeling at home. And I thought, “I’ve felt this before, a long time ago in a place far away” It’s actually starting to feel like home here.
I bought ice cream and corn & poppyseed chips and me and Amy (the girl I’m living with now) watched a little American tv (thank you itunes) and celebrated. I need to celebrate more here. I like that my friend pointed out (I think rob bell from the big church in MI did a talk on this that she heard) that God is serious about rest and celebration. I want to be serious about those things too.
I bought ice cream and corn & poppyseed chips and me and Amy (the girl I’m living with now) watched a little American tv (thank you itunes) and celebrated. I need to celebrate more here. I like that my friend pointed out (I think rob bell from the big church in MI did a talk on this that she heard) that God is serious about rest and celebration. I want to be serious about those things too.
Moving House
After six months (to the day) I moved out of the local family’s house into the American family’s house where I was my first month. I was quite sad to go and yet I knew it was time. The family were going to be in America for the summer and a gal by herself would be staying at the house. It was a nice exit for me to tell my local family I didn’t want this gal to be by herself for the summer and their university aged son was now home for the summer. It just made sense to move. I was also at a point where I needed some more space and time. I am grateful they let me stay with them for so long- six months with a stranger in the house!! I learnt language, tv shows, cooking, cleaning, interacting, hosting, making tea. I know I would not have learnt these things in my first few months if I hadn’t been with a local family. I would do it again. I would recommend it. I would do it differently. That is, I would take more regular time away with other English speakers, other people who I understand their culture. I only spent about 5 or 6 nights away from the house during my six months. I think I would take one night (and the days on either side) a week or every other week to spend time being understood and understanding. Fellowshiping, sharing, being me the American.
Sunday Picnic
This totally was not how I would have planned anything like this. I would have done it so completely different. And patted myself on the back. He knew that and so he beat me to it, and I’ll pat him on the back. Nice work!
I have a friend who’s a local. She’s knows I am a believer and has asked a little about what we do Sunday mornings. It’s never worked out for her to come with me. Until... one Sunday during the service she sends me a text message. I wanted to make sure I valued our friendship- she knew where I was at that time. So I texted back and told her we’re singing some songs. A few minutes later she called me. And as socially unacceptable as it was I answered and went outside. We were having a picnic afterwards so I invited her to come on out to it. She got directions and I told her it’d be about 12:30 or 1. I was excited to hang out with her again, she is very patient with my language and I like talking with her. I met her mom, too, who is lovely and we were able to laugh and joke. I went to her house for lunch one time and her mom said, “You aren’t eating very much” when we were on desserts (yes-plural). I told her I can either eat or talk. Her mom said laughingly with her mouth full of baklava dripping with sugar syrup, “No, just do it like this”. I said your language is hard enough for me without my mouth full of food. We laughed. So this friend is fun to hang out with and now she was coming to a picnic.
And He laughed. My friend got there at 12:10 just in time to hear a local girl share her story and be publicly brought into the family. My friend had to leave about ten minutes later but she heard it all. This local girl shared her story and my friend was there. I so would not have done it that way, even invited my friend to that service because usually everything is in English! Oh how he works! So think of my friend H. Thanks.
I have a friend who’s a local. She’s knows I am a believer and has asked a little about what we do Sunday mornings. It’s never worked out for her to come with me. Until... one Sunday during the service she sends me a text message. I wanted to make sure I valued our friendship- she knew where I was at that time. So I texted back and told her we’re singing some songs. A few minutes later she called me. And as socially unacceptable as it was I answered and went outside. We were having a picnic afterwards so I invited her to come on out to it. She got directions and I told her it’d be about 12:30 or 1. I was excited to hang out with her again, she is very patient with my language and I like talking with her. I met her mom, too, who is lovely and we were able to laugh and joke. I went to her house for lunch one time and her mom said, “You aren’t eating very much” when we were on desserts (yes-plural). I told her I can either eat or talk. Her mom said laughingly with her mouth full of baklava dripping with sugar syrup, “No, just do it like this”. I said your language is hard enough for me without my mouth full of food. We laughed. So this friend is fun to hang out with and now she was coming to a picnic.
And He laughed. My friend got there at 12:10 just in time to hear a local girl share her story and be publicly brought into the family. My friend had to leave about ten minutes later but she heard it all. This local girl shared her story and my friend was there. I so would not have done it that way, even invited my friend to that service because usually everything is in English! Oh how he works! So think of my friend H. Thanks.
Friday, June 12, 2009
A Visit
My friends from Wales came for a week. It was absolutely fantastic. It was great to see them and spend time with them. They were super encouraging to me and it was encouraging from a language perspective to be able to translate for them and share how much language I had actually picked up!
We spent some time seeing the sights of the city, my host family had some of the ladies over for tea one afternoon and we all went out to a tiny village (600 people) for an overnight trip. That was an experience! For me it was great to get out of the city again, and to really test my language. I have gotten the basics down so to have other people depending on my language and be in a different environment was quite refreshing.
We went in three taxis to a little city about 4 hours away where the taxis drivers were from. They had never taken foreigners to their town so they didn’t really know what to do. We were a group who had never done anything like this before and didn’t want to put our expectations onto the taxi drivers so I felt there was a lot of, “What do you want to do?” “I don’t know what do you want to do?” between drivers, the 2 of us language speakers, and the group’s leaders. So that freedom lead us be the first foreigners to visit a little town (maybe 3000 people), to meet the mayor, pray for him and the town, visit a few schools and say hello to (what felt like)several hundred school kids! Then we headed on to our destination.
We got into the village and I wanted to just get to the houses where we were eating dinner but the other taxis had the good idea to stop at the little school on our way into the village. There we were warmly received by 175 kids, 15 teachers or so and the English teacher got to practice her translating too. I’m so glad we stopped. They sang songs for us, wanted us to sign scraps of paper, gave us wildflowers from the field behind the school. Foreigners had come to their village!
They wanted to show us their local mosque. 200 million dollars spent on a beautifully tiled mosque. I was surprised the kids were running around inside- I guess it’s more of a community hall than a sacred religious room. They let us take pictures of the bright chandeliers, the tiles, the kids and the old men who proudly pointed around the room. Then we asked if we could pray. So an old man prayed, then we prayed. While we were there we never heard a call from the minaret, don’t know if they have a religious leader in that village or not.
Then we (I felt- finally! my patience was not as long as others in my group!) got to the house were we were going to eat dinner. The village leader came and we chatted a bit. I asked where the kitchen was and a few of us joined the women (and about 14 kids) and started chopping vegetables and enjoying the company of villagers. I like that friendly silence is okay here and you don’t have to keep the conversation rolling. Although with 14 kids about you can go a long way with just a few questions, “What’s your name? (14 answers) What’s your favorite color? (14 answers) Do you have siblings? (14 answers)” etc. There was an 18 year old girl there and she was so sweet. I helped her get bowls from the neighbors house and lay the table.
After dinner then we split up and went to three different houses to sleep. We were all quite tired so were glad they didn’t want to give us another cup of tea when we got to the homes. I think I introduced myself to the same woman about 4 times before realizing it.
In the morning we taught some English back at the school and were on our way. I can’t wait to go back!
We spent some time seeing the sights of the city, my host family had some of the ladies over for tea one afternoon and we all went out to a tiny village (600 people) for an overnight trip. That was an experience! For me it was great to get out of the city again, and to really test my language. I have gotten the basics down so to have other people depending on my language and be in a different environment was quite refreshing.
We went in three taxis to a little city about 4 hours away where the taxis drivers were from. They had never taken foreigners to their town so they didn’t really know what to do. We were a group who had never done anything like this before and didn’t want to put our expectations onto the taxi drivers so I felt there was a lot of, “What do you want to do?” “I don’t know what do you want to do?” between drivers, the 2 of us language speakers, and the group’s leaders. So that freedom lead us be the first foreigners to visit a little town (maybe 3000 people), to meet the mayor, pray for him and the town, visit a few schools and say hello to (what felt like)several hundred school kids! Then we headed on to our destination.
We got into the village and I wanted to just get to the houses where we were eating dinner but the other taxis had the good idea to stop at the little school on our way into the village. There we were warmly received by 175 kids, 15 teachers or so and the English teacher got to practice her translating too. I’m so glad we stopped. They sang songs for us, wanted us to sign scraps of paper, gave us wildflowers from the field behind the school. Foreigners had come to their village!
They wanted to show us their local mosque. 200 million dollars spent on a beautifully tiled mosque. I was surprised the kids were running around inside- I guess it’s more of a community hall than a sacred religious room. They let us take pictures of the bright chandeliers, the tiles, the kids and the old men who proudly pointed around the room. Then we asked if we could pray. So an old man prayed, then we prayed. While we were there we never heard a call from the minaret, don’t know if they have a religious leader in that village or not.
Then we (I felt- finally! my patience was not as long as others in my group!) got to the house were we were going to eat dinner. The village leader came and we chatted a bit. I asked where the kitchen was and a few of us joined the women (and about 14 kids) and started chopping vegetables and enjoying the company of villagers. I like that friendly silence is okay here and you don’t have to keep the conversation rolling. Although with 14 kids about you can go a long way with just a few questions, “What’s your name? (14 answers) What’s your favorite color? (14 answers) Do you have siblings? (14 answers)” etc. There was an 18 year old girl there and she was so sweet. I helped her get bowls from the neighbors house and lay the table.
After dinner then we split up and went to three different houses to sleep. We were all quite tired so were glad they didn’t want to give us another cup of tea when we got to the homes. I think I introduced myself to the same woman about 4 times before realizing it.
In the morning we taught some English back at the school and were on our way. I can’t wait to go back!
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