Jazz...

So, I ended up attending the opening of the spring jazz festival here a little while back, it was at the German Cultural Centre in downtown Ankara. While I'm not particularly a jazz fan, I had a fabulous evening. The pianist (Jens Thomas, German) was outstanding! He used almost every part of the piano to make music, even singing into it with the chords vibrating back. Sometimes he'd be playing a melody on the keys with one hand, plucking the strings inside the piano with the other and then scatting away with his amazing voice. It was unique for sure, but didn't qualify as weird in my mind as the music he made was beautiful. Talented guy, well worth seeing.

This short intro. concert was followed by cocktails with the artist. We had wine, real cheese (Turkish variety is ever so limited) and crackers, plus hors d'oeuvres of various kinds served to us by waiters in white shirts while we mingled and chatted. And the whole thing was free! Trying to figure that one out...promotional I guess.

Nice change of pace from the usual.

Great teeth?!

So I went to the dentist the other day for a regular cleaning (it's been well over a year since the previous) and as this Turkish dentist took a look around (with state-of-the-art equipment I might add) I was informed that my teeth were clean already!! I have never, ever, been told that by a dentist in Canada, not ever.

I don't know if his comment was more a reflection of the type of teeth he normally sees on a regular basis here; or of the obsession we seem to have in North America with aesthetic perfection, i.e. perfect white teeth; or of the money-making industry that seems to be the dental industry in North America...perhaps it was a combination of all of the above, not really sure.

Whatever the reason, I have to say it was so very nice to go to a dentist and not be guilt-tripped or shamed about the status of my teeth but rather praised, praised for not smoking and praised for my efforts at taking care of my teeth:)

Day-in-the-life-of...

Simple blog entry today...'a-day-in-the-life-of-Amy'

Got up, showered, made breakfast (oatmeal) and headed out with Ryan (I live with a couple and their two children, Ryan is one of the coordinators of the school I attend) to catch a dolmush (minibus) to the church for class.

While waiting for the bus, our across-the-hall-neighbour stopped and offered us a ride. On the drive, I enjoyed listening to them small talk and then eventually begin chatting a bit about Alevi beliefs and practices, our neighbour is Alevi.

Arrived at church shortly after 8am, greeted everyone, drank Turkish tea, had devotions and worship time together.

Waited for our Scottish teacher coming in on the overnight train from Istanbul, waited some more, and some more, got a call asking me (I know him) to go and meet him at a nearby park as he'd gotten lost. Got his cell number, called him, found him, brought him to the church.

We all got to know each other then began our lesson on Christian morality/ethics. Learned some principles, some processes, discussed some case scenarios in small groups...

By 1:00pm we finished the lessons. Ate lunch and headed off (Monday is our free afternoon).

Hayat (the other single girl) and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and walk home, we've never done that before. 1 1/2 hrs, plenty of steep hills, and more than one stop to ask directions later we arrived back home. Stopped by a grocery store to pick up some 'Salep' (a favourite drink of mine, egg-nogish, but served hot, with cinnamon) and some active yeast. Borrowed money from Hayat as I had no cash and the machine didn't like my TDCanadaTrust Visa card (it happens a fair bit).

Arrived home and attempted to make some poğaca (Turkish mini stuffed bread things) for the first time according to a recipe from my married classmate, Funda. Very short recipe with instructions like 'add enough flour' and 'till it is right'. Nothing on how hot to heat the oven, how to make the filling...because, well, you should just know that sort of thing, didn't your mother teach you?! Despite all, the poğacas were relatively successful, 4 year old Ruby liked them anyways...

Did dishes, chatted briefly with 17 year old Sarah (from the family that Hayat lives with) who brought over brownies that she had made. Ate brownies, did some work on the computer, watched some Baby TV with Ruby and Jonah, did some more work on the computer...

Enjoyed dinner of mixed rice, lentils and squash c/o Ryan (fabulous cook, no exaggeration). Did dishes with Ness (Ryan's wife) while singing along to Fernando Ortega. Enjoyed watching Ruby dance with her daddy and Jonah with his mommy. Began listening to some downloaded American comedy program, didn't follow most, escaped to go hang laundry...

Got caught up on emails. Finished and sent out a prayer letter. Enjoyed a chocolate banana milkshake (c/o Ryan).

Read my Bible, chatted with God, prayed for people in my world, for my classmates, for the church, and for this nation in general...

Good simple day

Fun in the winter...

I'm not great at keeping this thing up to date. When you don't write anything for a long time you feel like you have so much that you should or could write and so you don't end up writing anything! At least, that's how I operate. So today's will be superficial but I'll get back into the swing shortly here...
We had a church picnic recently at a nearby ski center. There wasn't enough snow for skiing so the t-bars and such were not open but the place was packed. People were having fires and barbecues all over the place. There was sledding galore but I spotted only one plastic sled, the rest were wooden (like this one in the picture that these guys rented) or the plastic bag variety (our sled of choice in the shot below with the Turkish pastor's wife behind me and a Ukrainian friend in front.).

Also available, donkey and horse rides. The small 'lodge' was heated by a log stove and we ate lentil soup and kebab.

Yep, a far cry from Lake Louise, super fun day though!

Snow!

Yep, it snowed here...I'm delighted. This would be the view from our apartment balcony.