Halloween Shopping

I love that my sister finds a way to shop, even on Halloween. She was such a trooper carrying my son's candy bag, my camera, my son's sword, and even my sister's dog. That's love.

(post-picture - nothing was purchased, but things were tried on and brother's wallets were offered)

Storage

I loved the day when Pete and I were extracting our things from my mother's home and implanting them into the place we are in now for storage and living for a little while, I came across the following pictured items:



They have been waiting for the exhibition that was promised by my 5th grade art teacher, Ms. Rabinskis, for the past 15+ years and I decided it was time to set these pieces free. Like Calvin's crafts, they have been photoed, digitally documented and then trashed. Now I can produce more art, since there is room.

Ship It

Calvin played with the movers as they finished boxing/bubble wrapping our stuff. They played with his too. These sweaty, tired men who carried 22 boxes down a flight of stairs and then back up a flight of stairs, tickled Calvin with their markers and put tape on his arm and even gave him some bubble wrap to play with. I am not sure I can expect that kind of treatment from some American movers on the other end. They really really love children.

All we have left is what will be in our suitcases. Almost there.

Plagiarbusters

Coming soon to a theater near you -- a way to encourageTurkish students to do their own work. The movie that will be the summer viral buster of the century -- Plagiarbusters!

on a blog or youtube or facebook site near you
September 2009

hilarious

Final Sunday

Pete with Clavin, Ara with Sejama, Nadia with Harrison, and Me

Our last Sunday in Taksim. Calvin has really enjoyed his Sunday routines. He loves going to church because it always meant some interactions with new people and new experiences each week for us. Living on campus can be very isolated at times and the contact we have with people outside of those on campus is quite limited, so going to church has been, in a lot of ways, like stretching our arms in the morning. It gets the juices flowing and reminds us we are alive and part of the bigger world.

Nadia with her "Canım"

The church here is only a branch, but it is quite strong. The people who come in and out of the ward are quite transient since many come with contracts to work and don't always stay past a few years or so. There have been some great families and individuals that we have interacted with while we were here and I don't want to forget them: The Burgess Family - Chris, Lesa, KelliJo, Zoey and Ava(who was born in Turkey after they left and returned) ; McCollums - Johnathan, Christine, Atticus, Sherman, and Cincinattus; The Reed's - Jill, Dave, and Sarah; Eliason's - Aimee, her husband and her 2 beautiful daughters; Palmer's - Jason, Elvira, Sejama, and Zelanda (and one on the way); Dillard's - Joanna, Justin, Kaylee, Justin, and Allison; Margaret; Ara and Nadia; Mine; Amy; Ceker's - Susan, Murat, Leah, Sarah, Ece and the two older boys -- I think that is it. I am not sure I used commas properly, but you know what I mean. There was also David from the Canary Islands last year and Olam from Iran. There is also Cookie from Eritrea and the new girl Sarah as well. Alsp Asli and then the Mexican man whose wife is Turksih and whose son is adorable, but I can't remember their names Brother Yilmaz will always be remembered fondly -- he gave Calvin this awesome hat with a fan in it that we just gave away.

There are other people (not many) whose names I don't know or faces passed so briefly that I can't recall them. When we arrived the Millet's were the Elder Missionaries here and then the Loosli's came and recently went and now the Pasquete's (sp?) are here. It is interesting seeing the Elder missionary couples have such great experiences and how they change from when they arrive to the point when they are ready to leave. I am sure someone is watching us and thinking the same thing.

Justin seeing if Harrison can eat a biscuit.

Our Sundays will be so different from now on - but so much the same. I am so thankful to have that consistency in our lives.

the church building

the front door of church

Tradition

Our current boss started a new going away tradition this year and had colleagues write poems about each other as a sending off. We read them aloud and laughed at them before each of us opened our gifts. Most of them were humorous and definitely demonstrated a prolific use of rhyme.

But what do you say when someone who has known you for less than a year writes something like this about you?

A Juggling Act

As a mother she is always equipped
with barely-bald baby Harrison
hanging contently in her pouch
And crazy Calvin charming the masses
by impersonating a friendly doggy
while wearing his imaginary headphones
The matriarch of her pack
leading her boys
to their next adventure

As a friend she is considerate
constantly searching for the
excellence embedded in all of us
Giggling in appreciation at our
idiosyncracies
and embracing our individuality
A gatherer of strangers
Befriending all
who pass through her threshold

As a teacher she is on point
Breaking through language barriers
to inspire creativity and innovation
In the tongue-tied Turkish students
who grasp for the nuggets of knowledge
that she openly extends towards their reach
A natural-born teacher
Connecting content and culture
To equally access the students in her class

As a colleague she will be missed
Her chair will remain empty
Irreplaceable
Holding her place
and wishing her well in her future home.

I am thinking I should keep this person around in case I need a pep talk. This poem will keep my self-esteem running for at least 10 more months.

Throwing Pigeons

This kid is covering his face, so the pigeons can't see him (maybe they have not gotten past the object permanence stage) but he can still see them. I asked he and his friend if they cook the pigeons and they said, "Hayır, atacak," which means, "No, they will be thrown." I guess it could be worse.

Pete and Calvin watched the boy catch the pigeon and then take off like a linebacker who just recovered a fumble. I am not sure where they were throwing it, but it was thrown.