The fasting during the lunar month for Ramadan is followed by a week of celebration called the Sugar Holiday. For that reason, we have had a week off in the middle of our preparations for school. It has been a great opportunity to explore more of the city, but I must say that the nerves are building and I am getting anxious to start.
On Sunday, I made my second voyage over to Asia (first was for the trip to IKEA) on a ferry with Metin, the head of IT and a fantastic tour guide. Most Turks don't like to call it Asia, but Anatolia since many people think of China when they hear Asia. Metin took me to Moda, his hometown, and Kadakoy, the bigger adjoining village. This side is a little quieter and more residential than the European side, but still filled with plenty of bustling stores. Just as on the other side, you could see many of the male storekeepers huddled together playing tavla or backgammon. If there is a national game here, that has to be it. I stopped and got some Turkish children's books and the storekeeper only got up from his game because he had to run next door for change.
On Monday, I took another day trip this time to the Prince's Islands, more specifically Burgaz Island. These islands are just a ferry away and in southern Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. The Prince's Islands are popular vacation spots for Istanbulites and I can see why. In just an hour, we were transformed to a tranquil world. I didn't realize how used to the insane driving I had gotten until I arrived there and felt so strange walking peacefully down the road. No cars except emergency vehicles or garbage trucks are allowed on the islands. Water delivery was being done on horse and buggy. I went with John and Tania, Jack-the other new math teacher, Sandra-math teacher, and Jenny-English teacher. We hiked to the highest point of the island for a spectacular view of the city. Istanbul seriously just spreads out forever, it's amazing. We also checked out a beautiful little church there. We returned for a fish meal on the seaside, a quick dip in the water, then a ferry back.
As an outsider, there are some myths that Turks follow that really seem quite funny. Traditional Turks are scared to death of drafts. You can be on a sweltering bus and see a mother close the window because she doesn't want the draft on her baby. Then you look at the baby and not a inch of him or her is showing from under the clothing because again, the fear of drafts. I heard that an American mom had her baby with her at the covered bazaar on a hot summer day and Turkish women kept trying to cover the baby up to keep her from any breeze. Additionally, any kind of perspiration or spill on you will cause immediate dire sickness and must be changed immediately. I may have told you that an American woman here had a birthday party for her son and brought out squirt guns. When the Turkish mothers saw their children had gotten wet, they rushed them home to change and won't let them come over to play any more. One I think that is particularly funny is bare feet for women is supposed to cause infertility. Although wearing shoes in the house is not customary for Turks, they will have slippers for them and their guests.
