Oh Happy Day! February 16, 2009

I am finally healthy again!  My prayers have been answered! No more cough, headaches, flu, cold, sinusitis, aches, or pains. They are all gone! So now what? I want more than anything to stay healthy. I dress appropriately for cold weather (including long-johns, cap, and scarf), keep my feet warm at home (since according to the Turks this is the cause of everything from a stomach ache to infertility), get enough sleep, eat healthy (lots of veggies and fruit), and have good hygiene. I do not exercise, but I am not overweight by any definition (5′4″ and 125 lbs). Other than the fact that “S” happens, I really should not get sick. If anyone out there in ‘cyber-land’  has any tips I would love to hear them. Please, do comment ….

In other news (better late than never), I had a wonderful time with my mom when she visited. I was still ill, and she was coming down with the same, but we had fun relaxing and doing little things around the city. We visited the Koç Museum of Transportation, bought head scarves in Eyüp, walked down Istiklal Caddesi, visited our favorite little painter in Ortaköy, and shopped for yarn at the Kurkcu Han. The rest of the time was spent in my neighborhood eating fabulous food, reading, and relaxing. Here are few pics from the trip (with my new camera!)…

Yeni Camii/New Mosque

The square in front of the mosque

Sun shining through…

Ortaköy Mosque

Me and my mom :)

100 Things To Do in Your Life January 19, 2009

I found this list on a fellow Raveler’s blog and it said “tag, you’re it.” The bolded things are the ones I have done.

1. Started your own blog (here we are)

2. Slept under the stars (Point Reyes and at my dad’s house)

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii (specifically Kauai)

5. Watched a meteor shower (on dad’s deck or the street in front of mom’s house)

6. Given more than you can afford to charity (not often enough)

7. Been to Disneyland (the happiest place on Earth)

8. Climbed a mountain (Alpspitze, 2nd highest of the Bavarian Alps)

9. Held a praying mantis (one lived in the marigolds and was kind of our pet)

10. Sang a solo (many times as a kid)

11. Bungee jumped (in Munich)

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea ( I was not at sea but the storm was so I will count it)

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (started watercoloring last week ;0)

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning (wish I hadn’t)

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train (too many times )

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitch hiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort (up at Sarah’s old cabin)

25. Held a lamb (recently one was let loose in my classroom and I had to)

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a Marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (waterbuses should count until you are older and can afford a gondola

29. Seen a total eclipse (in Utah when I was a kid)

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset (everyday I see the sunrise on my way to work)

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (went to Poland so one down three to go)

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language (one of my favorite past times)

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person (and climbed it! the strangest feeling ever)

39. Gone rock climbing (bouldering on Mt. Judah)

40. Seen Michelangelos David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant (bought a homeless man Subway once)

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud (we thought it was mud but it was actually manure :/)

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class (yellow belt in Tae Kwon Do)

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen (Loaves and Fishes, man)

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies ( I sure ate a ton!)

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (hit my gallon mark before I left)

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp (Dachau, the most depressing place ever)

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem (the most amazing place ever)

84. Had your picture in the newspaper (a lot when I was a kid)

85. Read the entire Bible (working on it )

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous (met Good Charlotte before they were famous)

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake (don’t think I want to)

97. Been involved in a law suit (for a car accident but I never had to go to court)

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

That is 55 for me. Tag, now you are it D !

Lyved in 2008 December 31, 2008

I recently found a great website called Lyved. I highly recommend checking it out. I decided against writing a “personal constitution”, but I did answer 75 questions. On the site it said there is an old proverb that goes “He that cannot ask cannot live”. So now, at the end of 2008, I am asking…

1. Why not me?

There are many things I do not deserve. I try not to dwell on those things and concentrate on being thankful for all the blessings I do have.

2. Am I nice?

I like to think I am. I know it seems cliché but I really try to treat everyone the same way I would want to be treated.
3. Am I doing what I really want to do?
Starting a life in a different country? Yes. Teaching English to kindergarteners? No.
4. What am I grateful for?
I am grateful for so much, but I will try to keep it short. I am grateful for the Lord, my family, my friends, Murat, my faith, and my health.
5. What’s missing in my life?
I have all the people I love and care about in my life, so just a puppy .
6. Am I honest?
I try to always be honest with others, even though I may hide the truth from myself sometimes.
7. Do I listen to others?
I listen to others more often than not. However, I have been guilty of not paying attention sometimes, and getting so excited about saying something myself that I interrupt the other speaker (oh so bad of me).
8. Do I work hard?
I work hard in and out of work, but sometimes feel taken for granted. I do not need to be recognized for my work, but when I need a break a need a break with out being hassled about it. Working half the day in two separate classes, I feel like my partners sometimes only think I work half as hard as they do.
9. Do I help others?
Yes. I love helping out. I should help out more often but have to find a good balance between helping others and myself.
10. What do I need to change about myself?
I am a top-notch procrastinator. I really need to allocate my time better so I am not racing to finish at the end of the day.
11. Have I hurt others?
Yes, but I am not intentionally cruel. Most times I have hurt people it was because I wasn’t thinking. I am definitely guilty of that.
12. Do I complain?
I complain a lot when I am sick, but not so much the rest of the time (unless it has to do with my school/work ).
13. What’s next for me?
In store for me next is more learning (about everything), more praying (about my future), more travel, and more following my heart.
14. Do I have fun?
95% of the time I am having a blast!
15. Have I seized opportunities?
Yes, but I should seize them more often.
16. Do I care about others?
Absolutely!
17. Do I spend enough time with my family?
Since I live thousands of miles away, no. If I still lived in the US it would be a different story.
18. Am I open-minded?
As a Christian living in a Muslim country I kind of have to be open-minded. I like to believe I am open-minded about everything, but I have very strong opinions.
19. Have I seen enough of the world?
Never!
20. Do I judge others?
I hate being judged, so I try to not judge others.
21. Do I take risks?
Yes, some of my best experiences and things have come from them.
22. What is my purpose?
I wish this question was more specific. I could write a whole book speculating about this, but in the end how will I know for sure. Only one being knows and He has yet to fully disclose this information to me. I will let you all know when He does .
23. What is my biggest fear?
Fear of the unknown is my biggest fear (followed by clowns and spiders).
24. How can I conquer that fear?
I conquer that fear a little everyday I get up and go outside. I try to be nice to the clowns at my student’s birthday parties. I let the lone daddy-long-legs live peacefully behind my bathroom sink.
25. Do I thank people enough?
I try to thank everyone. I have so much to be thankful for! If I have ever forgotten, please let me thank you now because even if I did not say it at the time I always appreciate the things people do for me.
26. Am I successful?
I am on my way. I have a faith that grows stronger everyday, a wonderful family, good friends (make that great), an amazing boyfriend, nice apartment, and a job (just not the job I want to do forever).
27. What am I ashamed of?
I often spend money on things I do not need and then feel strapped right before I get paid again. If I could just say no to things more often I would be much happier and less stressed. I have gotten better but still have a long way to go.
28. Do I annoy others?
I am sure there are those out there who are annoyed by me. All I can say is…oh well. I never force people to be around me.
29. What are my dreams?
My dreams are to make enough money to live with out worrying about it all the time, to travel the world, and to live happily, loyally, faithfully, and peacefully.
30. Am I positive?
I am a positive person if that’s what this question means. My glass is half full and often runs over the top.
31. Am I negative?
Only about the company I work for. There is really not much to feel positive about where they are concerned.
32. Is there an afterlife?
Absolutely.
33. Does everything happen for a reason?
I am not sure, but I believe that if certain things in my life had not happened I would never be where I am today or who I am today.
34. What can I do to change the world?
I am not sure, but to start I should get it out of my head that I am only one small person and can not do big things. Many of the biggest voices of change belonged to only one person.
35. What is the most foolish thing I’ve ever done?
Smoked for a decade on and off. How much more foolish a thing can you think of???
36. Am I cheap?
No. I have been told I have expensive taste, but I just say I like to buy quality

37. Am I greedy?
Only when it comes to books and my sleeping time!!!
38. Who do I love?
I love everyone I know to varying degrees. It may sound unbelievable, but it is so true.
39. Who do I want to meet?
Interesting people.
40. Where do I want to go?
Everywhere! I am totally serious.
41. What am I most proud of?
My family, boyfriend, and friends make me so proud. They are all amazing people who I believe can achieve whatever they set their hearts on (I have seen it over and over again).
42. Do I care what others think about me?
I guess so. I would like to say I do not, but I have to be honest. I do not stress about it though.
43. What are my talents?
My mom would say singing and writing. Kezban says I am artistic (at least more than she is . I like to think I have talent in aromatherapy and photography. I am not sure what others say I am talented doing.

44. Do I utilize those talents?
Singing-no, writing- just my blog these days, art- with my kids and decorations, aromatherapy- yes, and photography- needs work.
45. What makes me happy?
Knowledge, truth, and the people I love.
46. What makes me sad?
Ignorance, lies, and death.
47. What makes me angry?
Ignorance, lies, and traffic.
48. Am I satisfied with my appearance?

Yes.
49. Am I healthy?
I could eat much healthier, but I am far better here than in the US.
50. What was the toughest time in my life?
My first year of college.
51. What was the easiest time in my life?
Everything before that.
52. Am I selfish?
With my time.
53. What was the craziest thing I did?
Pierce my tongue and smoke cigarettes on and off for years. I no longer have/do either.
54. What is the craziest thing I want to do?
Travel the world!
55. Do I procrastinate?
Yes (commented on it earlier).
56. What is my greatest regret?

I have done many things I am not proud of, but when I think regret, I think of something I wish I had never done. Even taking back on of those events would change the person I am today, and I would never want that. I have no regrets.
57. What has had the greatest impact on my life?
Becoming a true Christian.
58. Who has had the greatest impact on my life?
The Lord.
59. Do I stand up for myself?
Yes.
60. Have I settled for mediocrity?
Sometimes, but not often.
61. Do I hold grudges?
No. I forgive people way before I usually let them know they have been forgiven.
62. Do I read enough?
Some say I read to much, but I do not think it is possible to read too much.
63. Do I listen to my heart?
Yes.
64. Do I donate enough to the less fortunate?

Not at all.
65. Do I pray only when I want something?
No. I pray more about what I am thankful for these days.
66. Do I constantly dwell on the past?
Nope, but it comes up sometimes.
67. Do I let other people’s negativity affect me?
I try not to, but with some people it is hard to ignore.
68. Do I forgive myself?
For almost everything…
69. When I help someone do I think “What’s in it for me”?
No.
70. Am I aware that someone always has it worse than me?
Without a doubt.
71. Do I smile more than I frown?
Way more!
72. Do I surround myself with good people?
The best.
73. Do I take time out for myself?
Whenever I can.
74. Do I ask enough questions?
I thought so, but after all of these I guess I missed a few .
75. What other questions do I have?
Can I have more time to think about this one?

Have a very Happy New Year! May you all be blessed with peace, love, joy, money, and understanding in 2009. Thank you all for taking part in my life.

28 on the 28th December 30, 2008

I just had another birthday. Happens every year around this time. I am not the kind of person who gets all excited about it, but I do not loathe birthdays either. I received phone calls from my family and many messages on facebook. I am so blessed to have all of you as my friends and family. You make me feel warm and fuzzy in spite of the zero degree temp outside *brrrrrr*.

My birthday celebration began the night before when Mehmet, Suna, Kadir, Ugur, Bekir, and Murat met (my) Murat and I at a new place in Tünel called 23. It is actually part owned by Murat’s boss and is a very enjoyable place to go out with friends. Good music, not too loud or crowded, and nice atmosphere. I just wish Turkey would hurry the #*^! up and ban smoking inside everywhere (now it is just banned in government buildings and on the ferries). That is one fabulous thing about America, you do not have to inhale someones smoke when you go out on the town. I was given a beautiful new purse/bag as a gift that is made from 100% yak wool (I will post a pic soon). It is my new favorite fashion accessory.

On the actual day of my birthday Murat got off work early. He said he was taking me somewhere special for a surprise dinner. I was so excited when we arrived at TGI Fridays! Ahhh a little piece of home. Two years without broccoli cheese soup is too long. We both got steaks and proceeded to stuff ourselves. Afterwards we went to Kahve Dünyası (Coffee World) for some cheesecake and hot chocolate (with their signature chocolate spoons!). Murat gave me a beautiful delicate butterfly necklace. It is so precious and I love it. He also got me a few games for my Nintendo DS my sister gave me . I am not quite finished with Zelda, but next up shall be Assassin’s Creed. My DS is so cool and I am not even a video game nut! Overall I would have to rate this as one of the top 3 best birthdays ever. It could only have been better if my family and friends flew over for it.

Tomorrow is New Years Eve and I will be spending it in Bakırköy with Murat’s family. I have the 1st off of work so it will be a great time to get started on my 52 books!

Murat and I at 23

Benim Evim…My House December 21, 2008

I promised months ago to put up pictures of my current apartment. I have my lovely Christmas tree up, so I figured now was as good a time as any. A family came to look at my apartment today, and may buy it. I would of course live here until the end of my contract (July/August), but after that I may be asked to leave. That make me sad because I really love my apartment and would like to live here for another year, maybe longer. It is in a great location: 5 minute walk to Kadıköy central, ferry terminals, and a shopping mall, not to mention a bus stop at my doorstep. I have been thinking and praying about buying my home, but I have yet to find a possible way to do this. I can not take out a loan here or in the US (I have no job on paper), and I do not make enough money on my own. It would be a wonderful investment for the future due to the multi-billion dollar development plans they have for the area right across the street from me ( see the architect’s website ). Well… we will see, but in the meantime I hope you enjoy the tour!

Red square is my flat and the green is the development

My Christmas tree

More of my living room

My kitchen

Front door and hallway

My bathroom

My bed and wardrobe (on the left)

The patio and garden are out back

Storage/Second room