Shopping Shenanigans, School Snaps, and Oktoberfest Omnoms

I've always liked going food shopping. For me, there's no anxiety associated with it like there is with clothes shopping (whywontanythingfitomgimsofat) and there are always opportunities to try something new (white asparagus? why not?). So naturally I enjoy food shopping in other countries where things are just slightly different. For example, they have a dried fruit and nut bar. I am a dried fruit fanatic, so this made me more excited than it probably should have. Here's a shot of the bar:

Niiiiice

And here's my reaction:


I love the "share a coke with (name)" promotion.  Here's what that looks like in Turkey:

I picked Ali so I could pretend to share it with Prince Ali.

The standard coffee consumption here seems to be instant. They do have drip coffee and Starbucks, but there is a LOT of instant in the supermarket, and my school is well stocked- it's definitely the norm. I decided to have a little fun while I was at the store and buy a couple little packets so I could have a taste test so I can find out what my instant coffee of choice is. No more will I say up late at night wondering, "which is the right coffee for me?" and spiraling into an identity crisis! The "3 in 1" packets seem to be the standard as well since they include sweetener and creamer.

Can't wait to have some of that ACTION!

I have no idea what this is but it looks like pineapple root beer which sounds amazing:

Efes is the Budweiser/Coors/Standard crummy but not too crummy beer here so naturally I got me some of that. I also bought the cheapest bottle of Merlot I could find. It's always good to have booze on hand at home- especially when grading papers.

Yep- got the tall cans.

Good ol' iksir!

The drinking age here is 18. I love the pregnant lady pic. Jeez her back is obviously killing her let her have a glass of wine!

The packaged meat here freaks me out a little bit. Everything is very pink. As in radioactive pink. But this was on sale and looked yummy enough.

I also got a delicious candy bar which did not last 5 minutes in my possession. It was amazing.

 I still absolutely love my school. Are my students perfectly behaved little angels all the time? Hell no! But they are respectful and genuinely like learning and school. They also love me and they show it. Here's some of my loveys:

Yesemin (yes-uh-min) rocking a sweet monster hat!

Deniz (Den-eez) on the left, Efe Deniz (ef-eh den-eez) on the right, workin them hats!

One of the playgrounds just opened up and here's where the kids run around like maniacs 3 times a day. Yes, 3 times! School is from 8:10-4:05 and the kids get two 15 minute breaks in the day, plus 30 minutes of recess and a 30 minute lunch. I love that for them! At Goldrick the kids got about 15 minutes of recess and a 15 minute lunch- that didn't seem like enough time for them to blow off steam.

Playground with a view! Too bad I took this on a hazy day.

That's part of our school- it's a lot bigger.

The school pays us half in US dollars, and half in Turkish lira. Everyone sets up 2 bank accounts to keep these separate, which I will get once I obtain my residency permit. Until then, it's fat stacks of cash. I got some blue Benjamins!

A few more months of this and I'll be able to line a suitcase.

I have some lira but I'm too lazy to take a pic of it right now so I'll post one later, or you can google it.

Oktoberfest was sooooo much fun! I had been looking forward to it for weeks and it was fabulous!

Me and Kristen outside the German Embassy

The band rocked!

Sure yeah food whatever BEER!

I had waaay too much beer, sang "Ein Prosit" a bunch of times, and danced until I fell down (I literally fell down but it was fine). Can't wait to go again next year- possibly in Germany!

I know, I know- Finally!

I'd like to try to highlight the most important impressions so far on my new adventure.

My school setting:
I love my school. No, I LOVE my school. I love, love, LOVE my school! The reason that the school had a delay in opening is because there was still construction going on- the elementary part of the building is brand new. It’s a large building built on a hill that overlooks part of Ankara. There are 3 parts- the high school, the middle school, and the elementary school- but they are all housed in the same building. It’s a bit of a labyrinth in there, but it’s really nice! There’s plenty of marble and it’s got a lot of windows for the natural light to come in.

The administration:

 Is so wonderful. On my first day I met the director of the entire school(s), Chris, and he was unbelievably nice! All the administration and staff was so welcoming (I literally must have gotten 30 “you’re Kimberly! We’re so glad you’re here! Welcome!”) it blew my mind. At Goldrick (my school in Denver) I was technically an intern, and I was mostly treated as a slight annoyance by the administration. Chris let me know that I could go home at any time if I started feeling tired or unwell. He said he’d get a car to drive me and “don’t feel at all obligated to stay, I’m so impressed you came in at all considering how late you flew in last night.” The higher-ups are so down to earth and have this genuine concern for the happiness of their employees- world’s away from my Korean employers! After lunch on the first day, I asked Chris if I could go home and with genuine concern he said, “Yes, of course you should go home! I admire your work ethic for coming in this morning. Do you have food in your apartment? Do you have a way of contacting anyone if you need anything?” I told him that yes, there was food in my apartment (they stocked it with some general stuff- milk, eggs, bread, cheese, juice, apples, cereal… it was so nice!) and I had the apartment numbers of some of the other teachers so I could knock on their door if I needed anything. He said thanks for coming in again, and walked out of his office to chat with his secretary and I overheard him tell her, “I was just talking with Kimberly, and she is just exhausted. Could you call a driver to take her home please?” The concern in his voice! It’s too good to be true to have bosses that care about my comfort and well-being! I've also gotten to speak with the Principal of the Elementary School on several occasions (he actually picked me up at the airport) and he is the same kind of genuine, delightful person I enjoy working for. 

My students:

It’s so nice to be in a school that’s actually diverse! In Denver (or at the very least at my school, Goldrick Elementary), they were always soooo proud about the “diversity” of their 99% Hispanic district- what a joke. I have a girl named Greta who is originally from Serbia, lived in Italy, and has come to Turkey this year. The students were trying to say interesting things about themselves as we got to know each other and she said, “I speak Serbian, Italian, and English and I am learning French and Turkish.” I have a boy named Joseph who is originally from Tennessee and told me, “I also speak Arabic because my Mom taught me.” These kids are so accomplished! Thinking about where I came from, where the schools de-emphasize the importance of learning English to preserve the Hispanic culture- it makes me sick. The administration there does not want students to assimilate, and that’s just a recipe for those kids to work at Taco Bell. When I come here and listen to these kids I remember, “Oh yeah! Kids can learn other languages and preserve their culture and be successful outside of where their parents grew up!” I feel like many of the people where I was tried to brainwash me into thinking that Mexicans can’t learn English- it’s too hard and we shouldn’t expect them to. That’s doing that community such a disservice and thinking about my nice students there breaks my heart. But I digress.

This one of my students, Can (pronounced John). He is a badass/cutie pants. Bonus: he looks like Harry Potter.

My Turkish co-teacher:

Her name is Aysegul (pronounced Eye-shuh-gul). She is 30, has no kids, and is single. Sound like anyone you know? She's also a sweetie pie and helps me with anything and everything and is always smiling and positive. Love her. 

My apartment:

The most important detail: it's temporary. There are a few international teachers living in the temporary apartments with me while our real lojmans (Turkish for "apartment") are still *drum roll* under construction! This one is super tiny- but it's mine so I kind of love it anyway. Our new ones should be ready in a few weeks and they are supposedly much bigger.

View when you walk in.

My bed, with Pinkie Pie poster.

Just another angle.

Bathroom.

View from my room on my third day- good sign!

Life in Ankara:
It's still a little early to have much of an impression. My new co-worker buddy Kristen (she teaches 2nd grade and is from Denver) took me out on the town for a meal and it was fun being in the city. Kind of just typical city on a Friday night- lots of people, night life, etc. I've only been out in the actual city that one time so yeeeeah- not sure yet. My school has a social committee for teachers (yep-awesome) and a bunch of us went to Latin Night at the French Embassy last Saturday(it was at the French Embassy because it has a nice lawn... that's what I was told, anyway). It was an amazing, elegant party and it was incredibly fun. Food, drinks, dancing- hells yes.

French Embassy looking glorious.

Dance party!

Food and frivolity!

This weekend the social committee has organized a pub crawl and you bet your butt I'm going. Next weekend a bunch of us teachers have tickets for Oktoberfest at the German Embassy. Then we have a holiday October 3rd-7th, and my new friend Kristen and I are planning a trip to Istanbul.

So yes, I love it here. Honestly, I can't think of one negative thing to say. I'll try: I guess my temporary apartment is a bit small. GASP.