Istanbul

On Wednesday, Michael and I decided last minute to meet our friend Molly in Istanbul, this decision quickly determined that we would also be meeting Shelby there as well.  The girls and I had started a countdown til we saw each other in Barcelona and it went from 12 days to 1 day very quickly.

Since, it was so last minute we left for Istanbul not knowing much of anything about it. I think I figured it would look like a twin of Beirut.  Wow, could I have been more wrong. Which is not something I like to say often!

We got off the plane, it was a quick 1 and a half hour flight for us and boarded a bus for downtown.  The bus ride took us through a part of Turkey, that could have been Centreville or Sterling set on the water.  I was shocked. There were apartments and chain stores everywhere. I had no idea that it would feel so suburban in Turkey.

The bus ride took us only twenty minutes which was great because I was jumping out of my seat to see Shelby and Molly and we had just limited time.  When we got off the bus in Takism square which is a huge location in Istanbul, everyone knows it. There are buses and cabs and the metro all right there.

So, then we spent the next two days doing as much as possible.  And I fell in love with Istanbul. It was super cold but it was so beautiful.  There were rows and rows of townhouses and apartments where we stayed and they each had such beautiful character and personality.  The city felt welcoming and open at the same time.  However, I have never seen so many people in my life, except for people in Times Square, but this is a much smaller space.  Shelby actually got stuck on a small man-made bridge that went over construction because there were so many people trying to cross the bridge no one moved.  I couldn't believe it!

The mosques were amazing, the views were amazing. I truly loved it. I was also surprised, although I am not sure why by the number of people that did not speak but a few words on English. I have gotten so spoiled that most people in Beirut speak English that I take it for granted. There was a lot of hand gesturing and motioning.  It was actually nice to see that as Americans we have not taken over all languages and cities of the world...=)

The Turkish Evil Eye Pendant or the Nazar Boncugu, which literally means the "evil eye bead", is actually a stone bead, which is worn to protect oneself from evil looks. The stone is an amalgamation of molten glass, iron, copper, water and salt. This particular combination of minerals and metals is believed to provide a shield from the forces of evil.

The Evil Eye pendant has the symbol of an eye worked upon it. The symbol of the eye is regarded as a potent amulet for protection against evil forces in almost every culture of the world like Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian. Thus, in Turkey, you have an eye for an eye.

It is believed that the Nazar Boncugu deflects the negative energy that is being directed towards a person onto itself, thus dispersing its powers.

The Nazar Boncugu is blue in color and the age-old Anatolian belief is that it is actually the blue color of the stone, which holds the real shielding power and absorbs the negative energy.

Quick One!

I got my first Lebanese haircut this week. I was nervous to go on my own, some people's hair here leaves something to be desired.  A lot of Platinum blondes and big waves. So, I had my friend Carla from school who is Lebanese call ahead and tell them in Arabic what I wanted.
So, I went to her hair place and first I got taken downstairs and then Carla told me that a Lebanese lady with the platinum blond was not happy that I was taken down first and Carla got an arguement for me, about how I made a reservation. So, she is a good friend to have..=)

Then who I thought was the hairstylist came and we again went over what I wanted. He putted to a blonde streak in my hair and said you want it this color? Yes! Perfect.

Then the real hairstylist came down and got to work.  Everything seemed to be what I was used to from the States so I was feeling at ease.  Then the Platinum blonde lady from before came down to get her hair done. She needed her roots to not be pitch black..=).. She was obviously curious about what I was having done because I kept hearing her and the hairstylist say highlights/lowlights. However, that is all I could understand and it was unsettling when they all laughed together. So, I decided I should call Michael and speak in Spanish, even if I am not using the right words because it is unfair that they can understand me in English and I can't understand anything.  Pretty mature, I think!

So, long story short. As the hairstylist was cutting my hair, he said I am going to cut away the blonde, its too much and it doesn't look good with your face.  First of all, excuse me! Second of all, weren't you supposed to be making my hair blonde, and if you are cutting it away, then I am either going to be bald or we failed to communicate appropriately.

I said "if not blonde what color did you make my hair, his response was the lightest shade of honey." What?? No one knows what shade that is.  So, I gritted my teeth and got very lucky. It does look great. I just think that this is really funny story. I might be the only one though, I also wanted it in my blog because this is also like a memory log for me.

IF you made this far, here are some pictures of our night out on Saturday

 Arabic Karaoke in case you were curious and one day thought to yourself..hmm I wonder what Karaoke sounds like in Arabic

 The sexy video pictures that go with French Karaoke songs!

Pictures

 My office inside and out. yes it is a small box outside!

The Gondola's and our friend Emily at the Grottos

 At the top of the Grottos!

 The train I didn't get to ride..=(

 No idea!

Half of the Thanksgiving Day Spread!!

Thanksgiving and the Grottos

This is the lower cavern of the Jieta Grottos.

This is part of the upper-cave of the Grottos.

Last weekend we took a cab up to the Jieta Grottos. They are about a 20 minute drive up the mountains from Beirut.  We went with 6 of us and crammed into a hatchback (known to the cab company as the big car) and headed out.  The drive up was full of lots of traffic and since no one stays in a lane, there aren't even any painted on the roads, we spent a lot of time idling next to another car an inch away and enjoying their gas fumes! The Lebanese believe its good for the soul. Just kidding, they don't care either way.

However, when we got to the Grottos, we headed down a long road into a valley and the air immediately cleared and the scenery was beautiful.  There were lots of trees and some water. There were people with huts on the side of the road that walked towards your car trying to sell you stuff.

I saw two guys a week ago with crates in a big truck on the side of the highway and they were selling snails. It was super gross they were everywhere. I don't just not want to eat snails but I definitely don't want to eat ones off the side of the highway. I was with my mentor when I saw them and she spent 20 minutes explaining Escargot to me, she does not have a lot of faith in my American education or understanding of any culture but my own. =)

The Grottos have been turned into a bit of a tourist trap, we rode up to the entrance of the Cave in a Gondola.  It was very exciting until we got to the top and realized it just took us up a hill and we could have easily walked.  Normally, I would choose a Gondola over a walk, but in a country where there are minimal laws and regulations, getting in a device that suspends you high into the air, is a brave thing to do.  When was the last time this Gondola was serviced or taken in for repairs?  HMM, some questions are better left unanswered and if we died they would simply say, "its Lebanon, we have other things to worry about." We here this about everything from the trash in the Sea to the cat shit on the side of the road.

Thankfully we all made it safe and sound and the Caves were well worth it.  They were nominated as the 8th wonder of the world but got 2nd place to a place in China.  You can not take pictures inside so I suggest you google Jieta Grottos.  In the lower cavern you get to take a flat bottom boat and drive underneath the low hanging rocks.  Super fun!
There was also a train that took you down the hill but it took too long so we decided to walk. I was very disappointed in this.  I am a big fan of I paid for it, I will wait for it. However, I did think about the safety features again. Also, not even the kids riding it looked happy, so I think I won in the end.
We also got a to watch a 15 minute video that pretty much wasted my life.  I would like my money and my 15 minutes back from the creator.  It was one of the last remaining videos from 1970. They mostly just played trickling water, so all I learned was where the nearest toilet was.  I also learned that in a foreign country, toilet is always a more understood word than bathroom. *Fun Fact*

There was also a "zoo" that was really depressing. They actually had a squirrel in a cage with a tree in the middle.  It was so sad to watch him run up and down the tree over and over. It seems like it would have been better not to put him with a tree. I bet he runs it a 1000 times everyday, not remembering that it leads to nowhere.  Who needs a squirrel in a cage anyways. They are everywhere!!! It was so weird, but don't fret he also had two turtle friends.  I never thought I would see a squirrel in a cage for viewing. If I want to see one I just have to sit outside for 5 minutes.

With all that being said the Grottos were truly amazing!

We had a very nice Lebanese Thanksgiving.  We got the day off because it also happened to be the Lebanese Independence Day from France.  So, that was a nice coincidence.  We went over to the President of our schools house with the other foreign hires. It was about 30 people in total.  The Presidents catering staff took care of the turkey and we all brought a dish to share.  I made Michaels rice stuffing that Michael loves, it was not as good as hers but I will get better. Michael made his amazing pecan pie. It was really wonderful since we couldn't be with family.  We then did a white elephant gift exchange and I think Michael and I, not very shockingly, took the cheap gift limit a little too far.  Michael brought toilet paper and fiber crackers we have had since we arrived. I stuffed our broken soccer ball with a used oven mitt. In the oven mitt I put chopsticks from our junk drawer and coupons to our school cafeteria that I got for free.  So, I didn't even spend the $5 limit. A spouse from our school ended up with that gift so she can't even use the coupons, I found it all to be very hilarious. I ended up with a bottle of wine. Combses win again!
Then we watched some football and went to bed early because we had to work the next day.  Several teachers at school wished me a Happy Thanksgiving which was very nice.

The day before Independence Day the preshcool dedicated the whole day to honoring their Lebanese heritage. It was very cool, however, everyone in the teachers talked in Arabic all day. So, I had little to no idea what was going on most of the day.  It was quite overwhelming.  They do a dance here called the Dobke, you should Google it, it is quite entertaining to watch. Someone did a flash mob of it in the airport and put it on Youtube, that is also fun.  So, some kids wore traditional hats(they look like fez hats) some girls wore traditional dresses. It was fun to be a part of.  Then at noon all the kids met on the playground and everyone danced and sang the national anthem and waved flags around. I think from now on in the states I am going to be much more enthusiastic fro the 4th of July. Look out everyone with all my free time I might just create a dance. The whole event just further confirmed my theory that the Lebanese love to dance and dance and dance.

In a side note to Tim, the Salsa dance night was cancelled so no more "look me in the eyes" and no more because "I am a good dancer." I am not sure why it was cancelled, I painted it in such a positive light. haha. Its a sad day in Lebanon for sure when Salsa night can't stand the test of time.
However, there is always a bright side and it rained really hard last night so today the sidewalks are free of cat shit! It is a great day in Lebanon after all.

On a another side note, everyone in the States that has a smartphone should download the app Viber. Then we can text message and call for free, as long as we both have internet. It isn't prefect but its a nice option.  If you have an Iphone we can text if you have your Icloud on.


Today I am going to go see the last Twilight movie. I am pretty excited actually and even if it is in Arabic, I think because of the high quality of acting known in the films that I should be able to tell what is going on and how people are feeling. They are just so good..=) Obviously, I am kidding. Mom keeps asking me what language our movies are in and once again English rules the world.  There are Arabic subtitles since they are the mast majority and should have to read that their movies, but I am not complaining!

Less than a month til Barcelona! Beyond excited!!!

Fun Pictures just because..

 Look how grown up I am!

 It has become a weekend ritual for us to go to a coffee shop and Michael grades papers and I read. We are so International and fancy!

 

Great News!

Thanks to all my hairbrush man blog supporters! Mostly my Mom because she might be the only one who saw my blog yesterday but the Hairbrush man is BACK!  So, glad he is ok. I guess it is true that you can get what you ask for!!

Finally, my Mom informed me that my pootp (thats slang for poo toilet paper) talk was embarassing since her friends read my blog. All I can say is that pay back is sweet for all the times you "accidently/intentionally" embarassed me in front of my friends..MUAHHHAHAHAHAHA.

However, the real moral of yesterday's toilet paper rant was a warning that you might not want to invite Michael and I to your houses this summer because we know longer know how to properly dispose of toilet paper! Just a friendly head's up!


I found out today that a student in the KGII (that is the equivalent) of Kindergarten wrote that her favorite thing about school so far was reading with me.  It was so sweet. I can't even remember when I read with her but I am glad she does.  It seems I am finally finding my niche here and it feels great.

It was also interesting to be in a forgein country during a Presidential election.  Several, of the teachers at the school mentioned it and seemed to be Obama fans.  Most however did not real feelings one way or another. Not surprisingly.  I know everyone complains about our government and our Presidents but maybe we should just be thankful we are even allowed to vote.  A teacher said today, "you think your government is unstable, you don't even get to pick ours." Let's all remember the privileges of being an American and stop bitching! I am pretty sure not many of us ran the risk of getting hit with a car bomb in America in the last few years!

Anyways, that is my rant for today!
I started a Christmas break holiday countdown today, it is a little farther away than I would like.
Can't wait to see everyone!

More pictures down this way, if you are still reading..=)
This is more of Byblos that our friend Tyson took and our awesome/insane new curtains

 This picture is a little close to my face for my liking but I thought my Mom would like it.

 The one house left near the castle in Byblos!

 Yes those are flower cut outs in the curtains

 These curtains a. match our bed perfectly (not!! yeah I brought not back) and b. are the shiniest material known to man. Michael could make a fine kings cloak or put on a drama theatre with them.

Randomness/Awesomeness

I was going to name this blog public announcement, help needed, but I was worried it would panick people.

In my around town slideshow I introduced you to this man....

 

However, no one has seen him in the last few weeks.  I am super disappointed and actually a little worried about him. I am sure he had the finest hairbrushes a person could buy from a folding table in the streets and now I will never get to experience one.

 

Unless we find him.  So, everyone out there reading this ludicrous blog and finally understanding just how much free time I have at work.  Think good thoughts and hope one day that my sidewalk hairbrush man will return!

 

Another sad note the club that did our Salsa dance lessons on Friday nights cancelled the last one. I hope this is not a premenant thing because that would mean no more time with my "I am a good dancer," friend and I am not sure a world without him is a place I want to be.

 

In other news Michael and I are thinking about our trips this year and its looking pretty exciting!  The reasons we came are more evident when you think of all the traveling.

 

First its  Barcelona and Paris in a little over a month.

Then for our second winter break in Feburary we are going to Istanbul!

One of the spring breaks we will be going to Greece.  We have not decided about the weekend one yet. Yeah thats right two spring breaks! If I was still in college and had two spring breaks I might have died...haha

Then this summer we are doing Portland, Va, and hopefully, if we can handle being in a suitcase that long, Croatia, Vienna, and Prague.

 

Kinda loving life right now!!!

 

Final news! I have managed to go a whole month without accidentally putting toilet paper in the toliet.  However, I have not been able to go a whole month without wanting to throw up in my mouth when I have to put poo paper in a trashcan and co-mingle it with my husbands.  There is just something inappropriate about spouses poop hanging out together in the trash.  Its even grosser when you have to share your poop trashcan in public places. I would not want to ever work in a restaurant here for that fact alone. Its bad enough you might have to clean up someone's drunken vomit but their poo trash too...unacceptable!

Its been a bit!

So, let's start with the bombing from two weeks ago.  I wrote down all my feelings and thoughts after it happened, but I am not sure about posting it because of the lack of freedom of speech in Beirut. So, I will try and sum it up.

We didn't even know the bombing happened until we read about it, we did not feel it at all. It occured about 15 minutes away.  We stayed in our building and in our local area for the weekend.  There was no reason to get ourselves in any potentially dangerous situation.  There was a lot of tire burning and protests.  Once and awhile the smell of burning rubber would waft its way to our building.  2 days later the city was back to its busy, loud self. The Lebanese recover very quickly!

I have decided that since this new job allows me a lot! a lot! of free time that I would try and set some professional goals for myself.  Please notice that none of my goals involve working out which is ridiculous since I get done with work everyday at 2.

My number 1 goal is to be complimented on an outfit I wear to school.  Not by an American.  I am definitely the nerdy American teacher at the Preschool.  The local teachers wear outfits that I would wear out for a nice dinner or for drinks with a friend.  A woman the other day literally wore a tube top! Needless to say a tube top and my Ann Taylor loft wardrobe do not match. Since, I no longer own tube tops, I have to think of something else.  I have been banned from Pajama jeans from my husband, but I am pretty sure they would get me the win in this goal.  Shelby and Molly have banned me from diaper pants so again, I am way behind.  I think I have the shoes nailed down because almost everyone owns a pair of converse shoes with spikes on them..no joking! So, I just have to find the longest spike shoes possible! Any other ideas is appreciated. I will keep you posted on my progress.

My number 2 goal is to get my 5 year re-certification done for Virginia and begin working towards a General Education endorsement. I am really excited about this but the time change is making things a little more difficult because I can't call and ask questions whenever I want. But, I am confident this will work out. Although my track record with getting things done in the teaching world isn't great.

My number 3 goal is to learn how to make cake balls. They are a delicious treat sold in a bakery here and I am obsessed with them and they make me giggle whenever I talk about them.  They are small, round balls of undercooked cake in a multiple of favors. I am pretty sure this goal is impossible but I am going to do my best to try!

Finally,
This past weekend we had a 4 day weekend and we made the most of it.  On Friday we created a building wide decathlon and had a blast. There was beer pong, flip cup, and roof drop just to name a few.

Then on Sunday we went to Byblos which is an amazing fishing town about a half an hour away and had a great time.  There is a crusader castle there that is over a 1000 years old.  Oh the stories it could tell and the amount of people that have been there.  Crazy! It was also super nice to get out of the city for awhile and not hear honking horns every 5 minutes. 

Pictures from all weekend events are below

                                            Rooftop Drop. We dropped napkins rings from the roof into a bucket!

                                          The black raincoat team!

                                         The columns in Byblos

   This was found after an earthquake. There may or may not be a dead body in there..=)

                                         Byblos!