About 1 week ago we were eating fish (of which I am not a fan). As I complained to the 11yr old she asked me: "but have you ever had Balik kofte?" Fish meatballs?!?!? Seeing my face of disgust at even the thought of fish being smashed into an attempted edible spheres, she told me to just wait, its SOOO good.
Tuesday of this week the girls and I get home late and sit down to the customary Tuesday dinner of patates kofte, or french fries and meatballs. One bite in and I realize this is the best kofte I've had yet. My somewhat talented palette begins to distinguish the red pepper and other spices used to flavor these meatballs, giving them a just slightly spicy and red tinge. The 11yr old then then turns to me and says: "This is Balik Kofte.See, isnt it good?!" Disbeleiving, I turn to the older maid who nods her confirmation. Despite all my best salivatory, optic, and olfactory senses I am forced to believe her and gladly heap my plate with seconds--its fish afterall, that means its healthy!...
This morning at breakfast, I happen to mention to the live in maid that we had fish kofte for dinner this week and I loved it. With only the slightest of smiles she tells me: "No fish kofte. Sığır" (beef) Apparently when they were little girls and they refused to eat beef, the maids would tell the older girl who loves fish that it was fish, not beef. And tell the younger girl who loves chicken that it was chicken, not beef. "Before, no kofte, wahh wahh. Ok, fish, chicken. Very very love. Four year, no problem." They have kept this secret pact and served ground beef to the children for 4 years with completely straight faces.
And that my friends, is why Ayse is my official Quick Thinker of the Week, and my personal hero.
5.27.2010
5.26.2010
My Country 'Tis of Thee
So....I was SUPPOSED to be starting a new job next week....but I renegotiated some terms with my current family and will be staying with them for the summer. I am very happy as I am very attached--especially to the older girl.
I have become surprisingly homesick for Americana. Barbeques and Country Music. Baseball and TV that is entirely in English....American men. Memorial Day came and went as little more then a blurp on my homesick radar. I fear that July 4th will be a surprisingly difficult day for me.
I have been a bit lax with my blog and I apologize. I have been fortunate enough to connect with other nannies--several of which were right here inside my complex the whole time! I am planning a trip to Croatia and Montenegro next with with one of the girls...so hopefully I will have an adventure to share with you all sometime late next week.
These are some images of places I pass often on my days in "Europe"...
The Ortakoy Mosque. Beautiful quaint but active area of the city.
And the walk between Ortakoy and Besiktas where one passes Galata Sarayi Univeristy, Yildiz Park, and Dolmabache Palace...
I have been a bit lax with my blog and I apologize. I have been fortunate enough to connect with other nannies--several of which were right here inside my complex the whole time! I am planning a trip to Croatia and Montenegro next with with one of the girls...so hopefully I will have an adventure to share with you all sometime late next week.
These are some images of places I pass often on my days in "Europe"...
The Ortakoy Mosque. Beautiful quaint but active area of the city.
5.11.2010
EXTRA Extra, read all about it!
News update, streaming ticker style:
1. FINALLY FOUND BEYKOZ (I thought that I was living in Beykoz, but I was wrong. The real Beykoz if gorgeous and quaint and by the sea) last week when I accidentally took the Mecidiyekoy bus in the wrong direction and followed the coast of the Bosporus north away from the Bridge. Reaction: BEAUTIFUL!
2. WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS - after making a joke about taking out a personal add in the local paper to find other nannies in the area (as my social circle is nonexistent in Asia), I decided it wasn't such a joke after all and actually put a want ad on the forum of one of the expat websites I am networked in (http://www.expat-blog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=31825). I have since been discovered by a nanny HERE in my very complex who has an entire group of Nanny friends here in the neighborhood. We all have a date to lie around the pool across from my house tomorrow. And I actually did get one hit on my post on the website from a South African girl who just got here, and will hopefully meet her one afternoon next week.
3. 3 MONTHS IS THE CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE THRESHOLD - for some reason, as of last week, all reservations are lifted about travelling alone and exploring here. I suddenly feel that I know enough of the city and language to move rather comfortable all by myself. Quel relief!
4. I'M THE NANNINATOR! - My long weeks of confusion and pussy footing around the family, children, maids, and drivers is over. I am now fully stepping into my role of teacher and ADULT with the girls. I AM in charge. I WILL have respect. And NO, you cannot have baklava for dinner!
1. FINALLY FOUND BEYKOZ (I thought that I was living in Beykoz, but I was wrong. The real Beykoz if gorgeous and quaint and by the sea) last week when I accidentally took the Mecidiyekoy bus in the wrong direction and followed the coast of the Bosporus north away from the Bridge. Reaction: BEAUTIFUL!
2. WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS - after making a joke about taking out a personal add in the local paper to find other nannies in the area (as my social circle is nonexistent in Asia), I decided it wasn't such a joke after all and actually put a want ad on the forum of one of the expat websites I am networked in (http://www.expat-blog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=31825). I have since been discovered by a nanny HERE in my very complex who has an entire group of Nanny friends here in the neighborhood. We all have a date to lie around the pool across from my house tomorrow. And I actually did get one hit on my post on the website from a South African girl who just got here, and will hopefully meet her one afternoon next week.
3. 3 MONTHS IS THE CONFIDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE THRESHOLD - for some reason, as of last week, all reservations are lifted about travelling alone and exploring here. I suddenly feel that I know enough of the city and language to move rather comfortable all by myself. Quel relief!
4. I'M THE NANNINATOR! - My long weeks of confusion and pussy footing around the family, children, maids, and drivers is over. I am now fully stepping into my role of teacher and ADULT with the girls. I AM in charge. I WILL have respect. And NO, you cannot have baklava for dinner!
5.07.2010
Bayramınız Kutlu Olsun!
Last Saturday was the Turkish workers holiday known as Labour and Solidarity Day
Here are some facts I got from a website called TimeAndDate.com:
"Labor and Solidarity Day in Turkey is an occasion for some people to demand better conditions for skilled laborers and union workers..Labor and Solidarity Day, which falls on May 1 each year, is one of the most controversial holidays in Turkey.
Some people in Turkey participate in demonstrations on Labor and Solidarity Day. They may demand better conditions for skilled laborers and union workers, or protest the government's policies. If the demonstrators gather in unsanctioned places, the police may try to disperse the crowd.
People who do not participate in political demonstrations try to avoid public gatherings on May 1 because demonstrations sometimes end in violence. Many people use the day off to have a picnic and spend time with friends and relatives.
Labor and Solidarity Day, observed on May 1, is an official holiday in Turkey. Administration buildings, schools and post offices are usually closed on this day. However, many businesses remain open. Public transport routes may vary in the event of street protests. Visitors should consider avoiding the demonstrations, as they may end up in violence.
* * *
8:15am Saturday morning Brittany and I left her apartment on Babil Sokak off and walked out of the alley onto the side walk to find a deserted Cumhurriyet Cd. in Taksim. We had been warned that today was a Bayram holiday and the metro might be closed, but still this was almost eerie. There was nothing. No buses. No delivery trucks. No cabs zipping and swerving around each other. There wasn't even anyone walking the random dog. The only people who were out were the people in business suits obviously on their way to the office, and police officers. Tons of Police officers.
We approached the first officers we encountered, and luckily between the 5 of them there was enough English to tell us what we wanted to know: There was no Metro in Taksim that day. So Brittany had a 25minute walk in one direction to catch a taksi to Sultanahmet, and I had a 4km stroll all the way to the bustop at Mecidiyekoy: aka along the entire parade route of the Labor and Solidarity Day demonstrations. (good thing that at the time I was only mildly aware of the torrid and violent past of the holiday) Luckily it was early enough in the day, that demonstrators were just beginning to collect and organize themselves into the various parties holding flags or wearing colors that represent the party or union for which they were advocating. Aside from the militaristic music being played everywhere, the empassioned chants through megaphones and the hundreds of police in riot gear it was a safe enough if crowded walk as I pushed and wove my way upstream to Mecidiyekoy. It took me just under an hour to walk the 4km, I got to my bus with very little trouble, and aside from a sore knee, arrived safely home in Beykoz 4 whole minutes before my 10am "curfew"
(These photos are all off past May 1 "celebrations" in and around the Taksim area--good thing I didn't see these till later)
Bayramınız Kutlu Olsun Everyone!
Here are some facts I got from a website called TimeAndDate.com:
"Labor and Solidarity Day in Turkey is an occasion for some people to demand better conditions for skilled laborers and union workers..Labor and Solidarity Day, which falls on May 1 each year, is one of the most controversial holidays in Turkey.
Some people in Turkey participate in demonstrations on Labor and Solidarity Day. They may demand better conditions for skilled laborers and union workers, or protest the government's policies. If the demonstrators gather in unsanctioned places, the police may try to disperse the crowd.
People who do not participate in political demonstrations try to avoid public gatherings on May 1 because demonstrations sometimes end in violence. Many people use the day off to have a picnic and spend time with friends and relatives.
Labor and Solidarity Day, observed on May 1, is an official holiday in Turkey. Administration buildings, schools and post offices are usually closed on this day. However, many businesses remain open. Public transport routes may vary in the event of street protests. Visitors should consider avoiding the demonstrations, as they may end up in violence.
May 1 became an official holiday, called “Workers' Day” (İşçi Bayramı), in Turkey in 1923. The event was marked by mass protests and occasional violence. This led the Turkish authorities to ban the participation in the May 1 demonstrations in 1924. The protests continued and the government banned the holiday in 1925. May 1 returned as the “Spring and Flowers Day” (Bahar ve Çiçek Bayramı) in 1935. It was a peaceful day until 1976, when workers organized their first May 1 demonstration in many years. Even bigger demonstrations followed in 1977, and someone opened fire in the 500,000-strong crowd in the Taksim Square in Istanbul. Thirty-four people died in the resulting stampede and more than 100 people were injured.
The Turkish authorities have since banned the May 1 demonstrations at the Taksim Square. In 1981, the government banned the holiday for the second time. May 1 returned as an official holiday under the name of “Labor and Solidarity Day” in 2009
* * *
8:15am Saturday morning Brittany and I left her apartment on Babil Sokak off and walked out of the alley onto the side walk to find a deserted Cumhurriyet Cd. in Taksim. We had been warned that today was a Bayram holiday and the metro might be closed, but still this was almost eerie. There was nothing. No buses. No delivery trucks. No cabs zipping and swerving around each other. There wasn't even anyone walking the random dog. The only people who were out were the people in business suits obviously on their way to the office, and police officers. Tons of Police officers.
We approached the first officers we encountered, and luckily between the 5 of them there was enough English to tell us what we wanted to know: There was no Metro in Taksim that day. So Brittany had a 25minute walk in one direction to catch a taksi to Sultanahmet, and I had a 4km stroll all the way to the bustop at Mecidiyekoy: aka along the entire parade route of the Labor and Solidarity Day demonstrations. (good thing that at the time I was only mildly aware of the torrid and violent past of the holiday) Luckily it was early enough in the day, that demonstrators were just beginning to collect and organize themselves into the various parties holding flags or wearing colors that represent the party or union for which they were advocating. Aside from the militaristic music being played everywhere, the empassioned chants through megaphones and the hundreds of police in riot gear it was a safe enough if crowded walk as I pushed and wove my way upstream to Mecidiyekoy. It took me just under an hour to walk the 4km, I got to my bus with very little trouble, and aside from a sore knee, arrived safely home in Beykoz 4 whole minutes before my 10am "curfew"
Bayramınız Kutlu Olsun Everyone!
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