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!
Showing posts with label Beykoz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Beykoz. Show all posts
5.11.2010
2.08.2010
Drivers
I.N.D.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.T. do you know what that means?
Because the Turks, apparently do not. It is apparent to me after only one week that Turkish children--especially girls--aren't nearly as autonomous as Americans. The girls have everything done for them. From zipping their coats to cutting their food. Well, ok, only the 8yr old needs help with her clothes, but the idea is, they are expected to do much less then the average American child. Where this sheltering is really apparent however, is in travelling.
In this family we have anywhere from 1-3 drivers at our beck and call at all times. When the drivers pick up the girls for, say, gymnastics, they come to the door of the house, walk us out, open the car door, walk us in to gymnastics, sit for the whole two hours, help us in the car, and when we get home, once again lead us up the walk and wait until the maid answers the door. Juxtapose this with my little brother and sister who scarf down breakfast, yank on their back packs often forgetting their coats and tear out the door to the bus stop where they push and shove until the bus comes.
Now you would think that the fact that they are being carefully accompanied by the Nanny who was imported all the way from the States for just this purpose would mean they don't need to necessarily dog the children's steps the 20 feet from the curb to the door. Especially in a tightly gated neighborhood like Beykoz Konaklari.
You would think.
I however, am chafing at the supervision. When I told the mother that I was hoping that I could have friday as my day off this week so that I could go out with the AuPair who lives with the girls' cousins who has been here for 5 months already she expressed worry about me going out on my own (even though I am going to be with the other nanny). That's very sweet. And it makes me feel like a beloved part of this home that they wory weather I am warm enough, have had enough to eat, and if I am safe riding a bus for 20 minutes until I meet up with the other AuPair but the truth is, I have been taking care of myself for a long time now. I think I can handle a little rain.
And to think: My parents were afraid for my safety!
Because the Turks, apparently do not. It is apparent to me after only one week that Turkish children--especially girls--aren't nearly as autonomous as Americans. The girls have everything done for them. From zipping their coats to cutting their food. Well, ok, only the 8yr old needs help with her clothes, but the idea is, they are expected to do much less then the average American child. Where this sheltering is really apparent however, is in travelling.
In this family we have anywhere from 1-3 drivers at our beck and call at all times. When the drivers pick up the girls for, say, gymnastics, they come to the door of the house, walk us out, open the car door, walk us in to gymnastics, sit for the whole two hours, help us in the car, and when we get home, once again lead us up the walk and wait until the maid answers the door. Juxtapose this with my little brother and sister who scarf down breakfast, yank on their back packs often forgetting their coats and tear out the door to the bus stop where they push and shove until the bus comes.Now you would think that the fact that they are being carefully accompanied by the Nanny who was imported all the way from the States for just this purpose would mean they don't need to necessarily dog the children's steps the 20 feet from the curb to the door. Especially in a tightly gated neighborhood like Beykoz Konaklari.
You would think.
I however, am chafing at the supervision. When I told the mother that I was hoping that I could have friday as my day off this week so that I could go out with the AuPair who lives with the girls' cousins who has been here for 5 months already she expressed worry about me going out on my own (even though I am going to be with the other nanny). That's very sweet. And it makes me feel like a beloved part of this home that they wory weather I am warm enough, have had enough to eat, and if I am safe riding a bus for 20 minutes until I meet up with the other AuPair but the truth is, I have been taking care of myself for a long time now. I think I can handle a little rain.And to think: My parents were afraid for my safety!
2.07.2010
Sabah Iki (Morning 2)
(This is from an email I sent my Anne (mom) early Thursday morning
Gunaydın--Good Morning!
My cup is full. From the moment I arrived this family (and their many retainers) have made me feel like a celeb. The cook, Döndü, who is an older lady, is tickled pink everytime I use a Turkish word and expresses to me everytime I am in the kitchen how excited she is to learn some english as I learn Turkish at the same time.
I spent all of yesterday making crafts, reading books, eating flavorful HEALTHY food, playing wii fit (ask justin what that is), watching Wizards of Waverly Place in Turkish (Tell Jordan I even watched an epısode of Hannah Montana for the first time), reading books and playing an itty-bitty guitar.
But all day I was listening close and ask ask askimg questions. "Bu Teurkçe ne demek?" --What is the Turkish word for this?--The eldest daugter, Selın who is my best teacher and closest friend so far, praises me and marvels at my ability to speak. "You can read Turkish!" sure I can say it, I just don't know what I am saying! I am carrying my little alien notebook everywhere and wishing I had a bigger one. The girls--even down to little Yasemin all love to write their favorite words ın my notebook for me. So I now have all the colors, names for animals like horses and bees, weather, food, etc.
But all day I was listening close and ask ask askimg questions. "Bu Teurkçe ne demek?" --What is the Turkish word for this?--The eldest daugter, Selın who is my best teacher and closest friend so far, praises me and marvels at my ability to speak. "You can read Turkish!" sure I can say it, I just don't know what I am saying! I am carrying my little alien notebook everywhere and wishing I had a bigger one. The girls--even down to little Yasemin all love to write their favorite words ın my notebook for me. So I now have all the colors, names for animals like horses and bees, weather, food, etc.
Well, I think thats about it right now. They all sleep until 10:30--thats rıght--10:30am now that ıts break so I have about another 2.5 hrs to sleep before Kahvaltı (a delicious breakfast of cheese, olives, tomatoes bread and tea) I think I will quick munch on a few more prunes and what I thınk are drıed fıgs, dates, and cherries; then head back up to my 3rd floor bedroom my kingsized bed, and the best part--the secret balcony I just discovered last night with an AMAZING view of Beykoz!
I love you. I love the family. Tell them so. This is SUCH an adventure!
2.03.2010
Gunaydın
I was brushing my teeth with my fınger (because I forgot my toothbrush in Michigan) in my third floor bathroom this mornıng when I heard it. I pulled open the strange mırror\window next to me only to discover a world that had magically been turned to winter over night. And through the stillness echoed the call to Salatu-I-Fajr, or morning prayer. I said to stuffed tıger: "Bangy, I don't think we're in America any more"
Rewind 18hrs< < <
We exchanged emails and with one quıck hug promised to talk soon. He was a guy from Ney York here for a semester of study abroad, I was a graduate from Michigan suddenly wondering what I was actually here for and what the hell I had just gotten myself into. I think both of us realized that this was the last vestige of Amerıcan companionship we would have for some time. I went to the Visa booth and was so shocked at how easy and fast it was that I think I may have just stood staring at the girl behind the counter for a few minutes after she grabbed my 20 dollars, slapped the stamp in my passport and thanked me. Then I shuffled sheeplike through the "Passport" queue and without so much as a moment of eye contact with the agent I was in the country.
So much for homeland security.
Baggage collected I walked out the doors into a scene from a movie. Or the SAG awards. Dırectly outside the airport doors there was a dividing wall holding back a crowd of men (I know, funny metaphor for something I've never had to do in my life). Many of them holding signs. I paused for the pap to snap my picture, posed, molehill of bagage trailing when I spotted my sign: "Vada Horse" with theH and an M hurridly scribbled in.
Meet Sami.
Loaded into the "VIP Car" sitting in the front seat next to our driver it takes me only seconds to realize that Turkish driving ettiquite and American driving don't even belong to the same Phyllum. "It's rainıng" both my driver and later the father point out. As if the the total and universal disobeying of traffic laws, traffic lanes, and common sense is to be excused by the weather.
Through a complex system of exaggerated pantomime, Turklish (self created term indıcating and basterdised mix of turkish and english) and writing in my holographic alien notebook, Sami and I soon dropped into a conversation about American NBA players and how many children were in our perspective families. It took only minutes for this 49yr old man to become my first friend in Turkey...
Washed, dressed ın pajamas and ready for bed hours later (after a whirlwind afternoon of unpacking, helpiıng the girls with homework and sampling Turkish dishes while both girls, the cleaning girl Ayşe and the older woman Döndü looked on and laughed at my apparently sad attempts to learn the Turkish names), I was in my room and gave into a few self indulgent tears.
Some things I learned today:
1. I never want to drive here. Ever.
2. Due to sıze, this city ıs going to be a lot harder to get around then I thought
2.5. Istanbul is beautiful and I love it already
3. The language is going to be a lot more of a barrier then I expected.
Rewind 18hrs< < <
We exchanged emails and with one quıck hug promised to talk soon. He was a guy from Ney York here for a semester of study abroad, I was a graduate from Michigan suddenly wondering what I was actually here for and what the hell I had just gotten myself into. I think both of us realized that this was the last vestige of Amerıcan companionship we would have for some time. I went to the Visa booth and was so shocked at how easy and fast it was that I think I may have just stood staring at the girl behind the counter for a few minutes after she grabbed my 20 dollars, slapped the stamp in my passport and thanked me. Then I shuffled sheeplike through the "Passport" queue and without so much as a moment of eye contact with the agent I was in the country.
So much for homeland security.
Baggage collected I walked out the doors into a scene from a movie. Or the SAG awards. Dırectly outside the airport doors there was a dividing wall holding back a crowd of men (I know, funny metaphor for something I've never had to do in my life). Many of them holding signs. I paused for the pap to snap my picture, posed, molehill of bagage trailing when I spotted my sign: "Vada Horse" with the
Meet Sami.
Loaded into the "VIP Car" sitting in the front seat next to our driver it takes me only seconds to realize that Turkish driving ettiquite and American driving don't even belong to the same Phyllum. "It's rainıng" both my driver and later the father point out. As if the the total and universal disobeying of traffic laws, traffic lanes, and common sense is to be excused by the weather.
Through a complex system of exaggerated pantomime, Turklish (self created term indıcating and basterdised mix of turkish and english) and writing in my holographic alien notebook, Sami and I soon dropped into a conversation about American NBA players and how many children were in our perspective families. It took only minutes for this 49yr old man to become my first friend in Turkey...
Washed, dressed ın pajamas and ready for bed hours later (after a whirlwind afternoon of unpacking, helpiıng the girls with homework and sampling Turkish dishes while both girls, the cleaning girl Ayşe and the older woman Döndü looked on and laughed at my apparently sad attempts to learn the Turkish names), I was in my room and gave into a few self indulgent tears.
Some things I learned today:
1. I never want to drive here. Ever.
2. Due to sıze, this city ıs going to be a lot harder to get around then I thought
2.5. Istanbul is beautiful and I love it already
3. The language is going to be a lot more of a barrier then I expected.
12.25.2009
How it all Began...GreatAuPair.com
The first thing you need to know is that i have wanted a Nanny job for over three years. I have been actively looking since January of this year (09). Late last winter I created a profile on AuPair.com hoping to find a position in a French Speaking family in Switzerland...To make a long story short, I got a whole lot of nothing but disinterest and creepy scams. (never never NEVER wire money to ANYONE you don't know!) June to November was a constant rollercoaster of thinking I would be leaving for Switzerland, England or France, only to have it fail at the last minute. Finally I gave up and tired of being unemployed applied for a job in my neighborhood...
Just when it started to look like I was doomed to spend the rest of my life right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan (my own personal Hell) an old roommate suggested GreatAuPair.com. With very little hope, I skeptically created a profile on Tuesday. Wednesday morning I had 7 messages from families all over the EU, one of which was a family in Istanbul Turkey. As soon as I saw their pictures on their family profile I knew they were what I had been looking for. I had found "My Family".
That was last week.
The mother, Sebnem, and I then began to exchange almost daily emails. Today, we were finally able to connect and talk face to face using Skype. I was able to meet both the mother and father, and they were able to meet a few members of my family (including my VERY relieved Mom) through the wonder of the modern webcam.
The date is set. We shall be buying a plane ticket from Chicago, IL to Istanbul, Turkey for February 1, 2010!
Just when it started to look like I was doomed to spend the rest of my life right here in Grand Rapids, Michigan (my own personal Hell) an old roommate suggested GreatAuPair.com. With very little hope, I skeptically created a profile on Tuesday. Wednesday morning I had 7 messages from families all over the EU, one of which was a family in Istanbul Turkey. As soon as I saw their pictures on their family profile I knew they were what I had been looking for. I had found "My Family".
That was last week.
The mother, Sebnem, and I then began to exchange almost daily emails. Today, we were finally able to connect and talk face to face using Skype. I was able to meet both the mother and father, and they were able to meet a few members of my family (including my VERY relieved Mom) through the wonder of the modern webcam.
The date is set. We shall be buying a plane ticket from Chicago, IL to Istanbul, Turkey for February 1, 2010!
Merry Christmas Eve to me and to you too.
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