Turkish ants

We've discovered an ant infestation in our house. Its not HUGE as of yet, today we bought Raid insecticides to kill the damn things. But I think the Turkish ants are different from other ants I've seen before.

Why these ants are uniquely Turkish:
1) They only want natural sugar. They get all over the sugar cubes if left in a bowl and go for the raspberry jam. The jam here is very viscous, not like jelly, and doesn't have artificial sweeteners in it. They don't want anything else, only natural sugar.
2) They are the dizziest, most confused ants I've ever seen. I've watched these little bugs and they wander around in circles sometimes. I don't get it, they don't have a set path.
3) They're lazy and don't plan well. I have not seen them carrying food home.

"I am technology man."

Today has been a frustrating day.

For starters, when I put the clothes out to dry this morning I found that my new shirt, worn only once, shrunk in the wash.

Then, I thought I had the day off work. A told me to check my phone because I had recieved texts before I woke up. It was my boss saying I was supposed to work today. WHAT??!! But she had to cancel (whew!) but the other guy still wanted lessons (fine).

So I spend about an hour coming up with his lesson. Then 20 minutes before I'm supposed to leave, his assistant calls and says it will have to be later. 5 minutes later she calls and cancels them.

Annoying.

So we step out for a walk and meet his friend at a tea house. I leave early because it looks like its going to rain and the clothes are still on the balcony.

Hours later I hear a dripping noise and go to check the bathroom faucet. AND ITS RAINING IN THE BATHROOM!! OK, not from outside, but from the water reservoir mounted below the ceiling (for times of drought and water shortage). The bathroom was soaked, at least there's a drain in the floor, so its not a disaster. A told me to use an umbrella while taking a piss. I opted not to try that one, although it would have made quite an interesting photo.

Hours later A fixes it. I have no idea how. I asked him and his replies,"I am technology man." I've heard this explanation before.

So today was a bit of a bummer. Some days are like this.

surrealism: chapin & the imam

Sometimes I realise just how surreal my life is to myself.

Tonight I was drinking a glass of wine before dinner, listening to Harry Chapin. Chapin reminds me of myself, of my parents, of my home, of Saturday mornings when I was a kid, of warm Sunday afternoons at home with my brother and parents, with sunlight streaming in the living room window and the green backyard. Generally, Chapin is a 'comfort' music for me. Harry brings me back to myself. As a kid the music and words were just familiar, as an adult the lyrics take on a whole different meaning. Perhaps I've grown into it, the way you grow into your cousin's hand-me-down clothes.

The strange thing about Chapin tonight was that while I was listening to 'Taxi', the Imam was blasting the last call to prayer for the day, in his usual rough and ill-sounding voice. I realised the vast difference between the life I once lived and the life I now live. I know this Imam's voice, I hear it 5 times a day, and although I don't know what the words mean (they're Arabic), the words never change. I can't imagine that I will ever find the same kind of comfort in the call to prayer as I do in Chapin, I could be wrong. I have recently found myself humming the tune he 'sings' to myself.

Chapin and the call to prayer are a strange combination. Maybe its just me, but I don't think so. When I realise how different my life is compared to most people I know, I do quite impress myself. I still don't know where I'm headed, but I do know that I am accomplishing the things I've always wanted to accomplish. I always wanted to travel my ass off. And I have. I've always wanted to live in foreign countries and I am.

But patience is a virtue I have to work very hard at, and I want so much more than I have now. Such is my life.

Curve Balls

OK, so we all know life has a funny way of throwing curve balls at us. Yet it doesn't make it any less suprising when it happens.

I think it was 2 weeks ago that I got an unexpected email with a job offer. I hadn't applied to the job or inquired about the company even. I went in for a meeting with the HR Director. I planned to say no to the offer because I knew it wouldn't be enough money and the lucrative option would be for me to return to Chicago.

My expectations turned out to not be the case. She offered me what I would have asked for. The company's CFO, a former student of mine, told her that I am "the best" and his recommendation was all she needed to offer me the job.

This week was my first week on the job teaching English to the top managers of a growing media conglomerate. I was not sure of their expectations, nor how exactly to go about this job. But this week went well.

At the company employees and managers eat in separate dining rooms. And I say dining rooms because it is nothing like a cafeteria! There are waiters, a nice buffet with excellent food and even wine glasses used for water and soda. And of course, its all free. Guess where I eat? Yes, in the VIP dining room.

This afternoon I "taught" an hour with the CFO. I wasn't really teaching, we just sat and talked. I felt like a therapist. We sat in the leather chairs in his office and I gave him advice about his confidence and small things he can do to improve his skills.

Its such a big difference from teaching in at the English school. These people are very motivated to learn and keep me on my toes. They are already at an intermediate level and desperately want to improve. The other bonus and challenge to this job is that since I am teaching a high level of business, finance and HR English, in 6 months I will probably have equivalent to an MBA.

So like I said, its going well. Its a hell of a lot of preparation. I also have a lot to live up to since I'm "the best". But they really like me, so that will take me VERY far. So much of this culture is personality.

men good for shopping

Today I had to get a white shirt and a pair of shoes because its Spring. OK, well not JUST because its Spring, but I need shoes that are good for work and I can wear with a skirt. And a shirt that I can wear with Spring trousers.

It was a little difficult because of the sizes here. In the US my shirt size is usually a Large. Here I'm a XXXL!!! (Its the chest.) And as for shoes, I'm a 9 1/2 - 10, about a European size 41. Most stores only go up to 40.

So I went shopping, A's friend took us around because (somehow) he knows where to go to find the inexpensive places. It was like having 2 personal shoppers.

Finally we found a store with button down shirts that fit, on sale for 10 YTL. I got a pair of shoes in a size 40 for 30 YTL. (Not all size 40s are created equally.)

Plus, they carried my bags without a word. Whoda thunk that straight guys could be good shopping companions??? A's friend said he didn't mind because he got to look at ladies' bums in the stores.

FINALLY, finished, FINALLY!

My masters degree has been awarded and I am officially done with the damn thing!!!!

IDP Day!!!

Today is International Disadvantaged People's Day.

Please send an encouraging message to a retarded friend... just as I've done.

I don't care if you lick windows,
take the special bus or occasionally poop yourself...

You hang in there sunshine, you're frigging special.

Some days I have all the luck!

Some days I am so unlucky!

Last night while eating dinner my denture broke! WTF?! Yeah, just my friggin luck. I was so pissed. Its near impossible to teach English without a front tooth. PLUS, I have a meeting with a big media company at 2:00 today to discuss a position. So after relieving my pissed-offness on my only victim (hey, its part of being a couple!) I read my book and went to bed.

We got up early to go find a dentist. Found one dentist, she was out. Walked a block and lo-and-behold- A DENTAL LABORATORY! We climbed the stairs in the dingy building, rang the bell and when the young guy opened the door we were led to the "lab". The lab is a room with 3 men at tables making dentures. Not any more than a regular room.

We show the guy my broken denture and he says it will be ready at noon and will cost 20 YTL.

I can hardly believe it, the denture makers are 1 block from my house!

Some days I have all the luck!