Ok so we didn't really have potatoes, but I was invited to a small IMIAD (interior masters in arch design?) dinner the other night in celebration someone's birthday. Not mine, apparently mine is tonight. Anyways, Raed who sits across from me in studio cooked at his place a somewhat traditional Turkish meal: chicken wings, rice, lamacun, and taziki. Somewhat traditional, he's Syrian not Turkish though.
The rundown: 1 american, 1 lebanese born self proclaimed brit with a poor accent for english, 1 chinese, 1 syrian, 2 finnish, 6 german; it was a squeeze into the apartment. Fun though.
It seems most of the exchange students are German in my studio, although not all from the same school in Germany. We have a large studio close to 25 people consisting of a handful of Turks, a handful of Germans, a handful of Auburn, and a sprinkling of Finnish. Boring post, I know, but something needed to be posted.
The Turks my age are very nice and liberal. A few of us went to a house party with Ortune (not too sure how to spell it), he's a classmate and one of the Turks. It was good and not what I expected... they liked to party. It felt like an American one actually, and come to think of it other American people were there. Some American music. Wow, they even had cheese balls! People play fighting with crowbars, yes i do believe this is an American party. Wait, no my shoeless feet tell me that, in fact, I am in a different place. It was great everybody's English was excellent... my Turkish was horrible, but still somehow seems to impress people when I can count to 10. Made some new contacts. Left before the house was completely dead around 4 or 5am, which was surprising because we were told to meet at 8pm (it was closer to 9 or 10 i think) Took a taxi back to Taksim, ate a bowl of corn flakes and drifted off to sleep.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
WARNING: the end of this post may be disturbing to some, first part is OK tho
It doesn't look like i will finish telling my Greece story. School started up this week and most likely the posts will get even scarcer. It's all the same though, when school is in session nothing really new happens. At least nothing colorful and exciting. The weather here is still chilly and wet, but it will probably be warming up in a few weeks.
Our studio project was assigned to use Monday, and we are going along with the Mardin project. We have some kind of corporate sponsor or someone who is paying for all of our plane tickets out there. We are visiting the site(s) in Mardin at the end of February for 4 days, and should be a good chance to see the ancient side of Turkey. You can google image search for Mardin and see what I'm talking about.
I am still meaning to add pictures somewhere maybe here, but the connection is still pretty flaky. So maybe soon there will be some pictures somewhere.
The exploration of our little slice of Istanbul is going well, we are slowly finding the good places to eat and the cheap places to hang out at. It is truly a maze though, especially if the side streets are to be navigated. I saw something last night that must happen five times a day in this city, and truthfully I am surprised I haven't seen it sooner.
We were walking up the main high speed road going into Taksim (city center/ retail hub) heading back from dinner. When we heard tires locking up we looked up just in time to see the car slamming on its breaks. At first I didn't know what it was stopping for, but at that instance it hit something and then we saw the man's legs summer salting over the car. He landed and the car finally came to a complete stop around 20 feet down the road. The man hit the ground stiff and still with one arm involuntarily raised to the sky; he was half on the curb and half in the street.
We didn't have any phones to call, but the man in front of us was already on it. I started checking the area and almost ran across the street to help. After seeing that incident in full however something was holding me where I stood, and even though no cars were coming I was still unsure about crossing the street. By now a few were going to help and a crowd was starting to gather. We thought it better to stay out of the way and keep walking.
When it fist happened I was mildly surprised, I felt pain for the man and the driver. I suppose growing up in America with the TV shows and the movies we have become desensitized to traumatic occurrences. I can't tell you how many thousands of casualties I've seen produced by the entertainment industry, but thousands it must be.
I started to feel bad about not helping later on that night. I started to feel bad because I started to think of how to properly handle the situation. 1) make sure area is safe and in no present danger to myself. 2) approach site with caution 3) assess number of victims and level of stress each one is in 4) check for pulse and for breathing. The list goes on, I don't even remember the number to dial for an emergency, and if I did there it little chance that the dispatch spoke English.
I felt out of place and unable to help. Susie said that was referred to as the bystander effect, I don't know though. I only know my training is in Architecture and the last rescue class I had was 8 years ago. In any case, look both ways and use a crosswalk - he didn't. There is no way to know if he died or not, Casey thinks he must have. I think he probably survived given the size and speed of the car and how he hit it. I my head I think it was: legs, back, head. There were two distinct impact noises, but the landing on the ground could have done just as much damage. One thing is certain, the man and most likely the driver will never be the same after last night.
Be safe and I love you guys!
Our studio project was assigned to use Monday, and we are going along with the Mardin project. We have some kind of corporate sponsor or someone who is paying for all of our plane tickets out there. We are visiting the site(s) in Mardin at the end of February for 4 days, and should be a good chance to see the ancient side of Turkey. You can google image search for Mardin and see what I'm talking about.
I am still meaning to add pictures somewhere maybe here, but the connection is still pretty flaky. So maybe soon there will be some pictures somewhere.
The exploration of our little slice of Istanbul is going well, we are slowly finding the good places to eat and the cheap places to hang out at. It is truly a maze though, especially if the side streets are to be navigated. I saw something last night that must happen five times a day in this city, and truthfully I am surprised I haven't seen it sooner.
We were walking up the main high speed road going into Taksim (city center/ retail hub) heading back from dinner. When we heard tires locking up we looked up just in time to see the car slamming on its breaks. At first I didn't know what it was stopping for, but at that instance it hit something and then we saw the man's legs summer salting over the car. He landed and the car finally came to a complete stop around 20 feet down the road. The man hit the ground stiff and still with one arm involuntarily raised to the sky; he was half on the curb and half in the street.
We didn't have any phones to call, but the man in front of us was already on it. I started checking the area and almost ran across the street to help. After seeing that incident in full however something was holding me where I stood, and even though no cars were coming I was still unsure about crossing the street. By now a few were going to help and a crowd was starting to gather. We thought it better to stay out of the way and keep walking.
When it fist happened I was mildly surprised, I felt pain for the man and the driver. I suppose growing up in America with the TV shows and the movies we have become desensitized to traumatic occurrences. I can't tell you how many thousands of casualties I've seen produced by the entertainment industry, but thousands it must be.
I started to feel bad about not helping later on that night. I started to feel bad because I started to think of how to properly handle the situation. 1) make sure area is safe and in no present danger to myself. 2) approach site with caution 3) assess number of victims and level of stress each one is in 4) check for pulse and for breathing. The list goes on, I don't even remember the number to dial for an emergency, and if I did there it little chance that the dispatch spoke English.
I felt out of place and unable to help. Susie said that was referred to as the bystander effect, I don't know though. I only know my training is in Architecture and the last rescue class I had was 8 years ago. In any case, look both ways and use a crosswalk - he didn't. There is no way to know if he died or not, Casey thinks he must have. I think he probably survived given the size and speed of the car and how he hit it. I my head I think it was: legs, back, head. There were two distinct impact noises, but the landing on the ground could have done just as much damage. One thing is certain, the man and most likely the driver will never be the same after last night.
Be safe and I love you guys!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Back in Istanbul After a Seven Day Raid on Greece, Part I
Some people decided to go to London, others wanted to go to Egypt, and still others wanted to go to India. I forgot that I wanted and previously mused about going to Greece. After a bit of research, however, Greece was back on the menu. I'm not sure who planned it or how it really came about, but I was headed the next day to the train station to catch the night train from Istanbul to the city of Thessaloniki. The ride was 12 hours from Istanbul heading west and another 7 hours south to Athens. The times given are for rail travel, but let it be said that all trains are not created equal - some are better, some are worse, and some are far worse.
Although there are two trains a day and nobody to ride from Istanbul to Thessaloniki purchasing tickets was a greater ordeal than expected. Our first attempt in getting information and tickets ended in failure when we were unable to acquire even a glance from the workers in the office. They huddled around a desk drinking tea in the dark as if we couldn't see them. Must be tea time? Or maybe some damn union. We went for lunch.
The second attempt was more fruitful, they gave us some attention and our tickets were being processed. What a process it was! After 10 minutes and just as many stamps, staples, and pieces of carbon paper one ticket was slid through the opening. No computers here folks, but anyhow, I left holding my one way tickets in hand. Yes, one ticket was comprised of four pieces of paper in two stapled packets. We later surmised that one packet was a ticket to the boarder, and the other packet got us the rest of the way there. Who knows if we were right or not but it seems like a logical explanation.
For most of us traveling by train was a first, I had taken a train to New Orleans from Birmingham before... so that of course makes me an expert in the field of locomotive traversal of the Earth's crust. Never been in a sleeper car though.
Stepping aboard the musty smell of worn metal and oil was instant and saturating. It reminded me of my tour on the USS Alabama stationed in Mobile - it's a museum now, so I mean tour when I say tour. This was an WWII era battleship that fought bravely in the Pacific and is now permanently moored to a dock in Mobile, Alabama. The train looked as if it shared much of the same story; old and full of character, I just hoped it was more rail-worthy than the USS Alabama was sea-worthy.
We snuggled into our respective cabins, I was rooming with chis and somehow our cabin was larger than the two on either side. So naturally ours was the hangout spot. As the train sounded its whistle and lurched forward a chill of nervousness and excitement came over me. The nervousness was from the fact that nothing is for certain in a new experience in a new country, and the excitement from the certainty that this will be a new experience in a new country.
The five of us - Cameron, Chris, Daniel, and Jamie - hadn't seen Walker and Sarah since the ride began. We sat in our car and passed the time, hoping to stay up for customs so that our sleep is not disturbed. Luckily for me some of our heads were in the right place while preparing for the trip; we had two bottles of wine and an assortment of liquor minis from the mini bar on the train. I, however, got a large tea and a snack before the train left and did not even think of grabbing a bottle of wine - foolish! That is why we are a team though, to pick up slack when others slack. I know that on the ride back we will be more prepared. Bedtime, back to your cabins! The weather is chilly and wet and I know this because the cabin is hot and the window is down. The rhythmic beat of the train rolling down the tracks is almost soothing if it weren't broken by horrible SCREEEEEECHs and the vulgar stench of sewage seeping out of the WC at the front of the car. I think it better to minimize the opening to a crack.
It's nearly midnight and hard as ever to write on this swaying beast tearing through the countryside. The occasional blast of the horn is a familiar sound, and I welcome it even as I think of sleep. The boarder police will be here soon checking passports, I'll nap until then.
*Sorry about the lapse in posts. Been gone and lazy. and yes i know that i must have changed tenses 10 times but i dont care and i dont think you do either. If it is present tense, most likely it was taken strait out of my notes and not from memory.
Although there are two trains a day and nobody to ride from Istanbul to Thessaloniki purchasing tickets was a greater ordeal than expected. Our first attempt in getting information and tickets ended in failure when we were unable to acquire even a glance from the workers in the office. They huddled around a desk drinking tea in the dark as if we couldn't see them. Must be tea time? Or maybe some damn union. We went for lunch.
The second attempt was more fruitful, they gave us some attention and our tickets were being processed. What a process it was! After 10 minutes and just as many stamps, staples, and pieces of carbon paper one ticket was slid through the opening. No computers here folks, but anyhow, I left holding my one way tickets in hand. Yes, one ticket was comprised of four pieces of paper in two stapled packets. We later surmised that one packet was a ticket to the boarder, and the other packet got us the rest of the way there. Who knows if we were right or not but it seems like a logical explanation.
For most of us traveling by train was a first, I had taken a train to New Orleans from Birmingham before... so that of course makes me an expert in the field of locomotive traversal of the Earth's crust. Never been in a sleeper car though.
Stepping aboard the musty smell of worn metal and oil was instant and saturating. It reminded me of my tour on the USS Alabama stationed in Mobile - it's a museum now, so I mean tour when I say tour. This was an WWII era battleship that fought bravely in the Pacific and is now permanently moored to a dock in Mobile, Alabama. The train looked as if it shared much of the same story; old and full of character, I just hoped it was more rail-worthy than the USS Alabama was sea-worthy.
We snuggled into our respective cabins, I was rooming with chis and somehow our cabin was larger than the two on either side. So naturally ours was the hangout spot. As the train sounded its whistle and lurched forward a chill of nervousness and excitement came over me. The nervousness was from the fact that nothing is for certain in a new experience in a new country, and the excitement from the certainty that this will be a new experience in a new country.
The five of us - Cameron, Chris, Daniel, and Jamie - hadn't seen Walker and Sarah since the ride began. We sat in our car and passed the time, hoping to stay up for customs so that our sleep is not disturbed. Luckily for me some of our heads were in the right place while preparing for the trip; we had two bottles of wine and an assortment of liquor minis from the mini bar on the train. I, however, got a large tea and a snack before the train left and did not even think of grabbing a bottle of wine - foolish! That is why we are a team though, to pick up slack when others slack. I know that on the ride back we will be more prepared. Bedtime, back to your cabins! The weather is chilly and wet and I know this because the cabin is hot and the window is down. The rhythmic beat of the train rolling down the tracks is almost soothing if it weren't broken by horrible SCREEEEEECHs and the vulgar stench of sewage seeping out of the WC at the front of the car. I think it better to minimize the opening to a crack.
It's nearly midnight and hard as ever to write on this swaying beast tearing through the countryside. The occasional blast of the horn is a familiar sound, and I welcome it even as I think of sleep. The boarder police will be here soon checking passports, I'll nap until then.
*Sorry about the lapse in posts. Been gone and lazy. and yes i know that i must have changed tenses 10 times but i dont care and i dont think you do either. If it is present tense, most likely it was taken strait out of my notes and not from memory.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Defeated for the Last Time!
I gave up on the Asia trip today after confusion aplenty at the ticket booth of the bus station and a very long time at TurkCell. Note to readers: Never, Never, Never assemble a group of more than 6 to do anything... it simply does not work. All is not lost however, the cell phone girls were very friendly and spoke some of the best English I have encountered, and through the marvelous tools of Google and the World Wide Web we were able to communicate without a problem. Also, my phone problems seem to have been fixed after an hour long international call to the states.
As for Asia, it will be mine! Soon enough, when the gods favor me and the winds are at my back, I will cross over. For now though, I think I will learn some Turkish to make life a bit easier... hey, at least I know I won't starve here (navigating the market is a different story).
As for Asia, it will be mine! Soon enough, when the gods favor me and the winds are at my back, I will cross over. For now though, I think I will learn some Turkish to make life a bit easier... hey, at least I know I won't starve here (navigating the market is a different story).
A Lesson in Geography
REVISION: I did NOT cross the Bosphorus into Asia the other day. It was the Golden horn I crossed.
Istanbul is divided into three landmasses and a small handful of islands. The Bosphorus, or Istanbul Strait as it is called here, connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara; the Golden Horn is a fairly large inlet that feeds into the strait. By way of the Marmara one can sail to the Aegean and on into the Mediterranean.
However, I have planned a trip today into the mighty continent of Asia - it will be conquered today! That is, if the rest of my rag-tag group of ruffians can get their asses out of bed and into the shower. I made the mistake of waiting on some, and as you know if that leniency is extended to one it must be extended to all. This also means we will be a fairly large crowd (all 12, 14, I don't know how many are here).
I have decided to forgo pedestrianism, and am braving the public transit system of Istanbul today by taking a tram to the water's edge and a sea bus across the strait. I hope it's an amphibious vehicle, or maybe a hovercraft! Yea! or possibly a WWII era landing craft used in the D-Day assault of Normandy. Oh how I love surprises!
P.S. I don't proof read these. If any misprints/ untruths are discovered feel free to let me know.
Istanbul is divided into three landmasses and a small handful of islands. The Bosphorus, or Istanbul Strait as it is called here, connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara; the Golden Horn is a fairly large inlet that feeds into the strait. By way of the Marmara one can sail to the Aegean and on into the Mediterranean.
However, I have planned a trip today into the mighty continent of Asia - it will be conquered today! That is, if the rest of my rag-tag group of ruffians can get their asses out of bed and into the shower. I made the mistake of waiting on some, and as you know if that leniency is extended to one it must be extended to all. This also means we will be a fairly large crowd (all 12, 14, I don't know how many are here).
I have decided to forgo pedestrianism, and am braving the public transit system of Istanbul today by taking a tram to the water's edge and a sea bus across the strait. I hope it's an amphibious vehicle, or maybe a hovercraft! Yea! or possibly a WWII era landing craft used in the D-Day assault of Normandy. Oh how I love surprises!
P.S. I don't proof read these. If any misprints/ untruths are discovered feel free to let me know.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Turistas Go Home
There is no better way to separate yourself from a population of locals than take a guided tour, especially when you're wearing headphones to translate; it is a basic law of nature. So we proceeded to take a two hour tour around Istanbul, and yes we were most definitely wearing translation equipment. I will admit it was a good way to have a quick view of the city and a little history sprinkled on top. For instance, one hotel in Istanbul "has had many famous people stay, including Agatha Christie." or one of the region's many cultures to inhabit the area were Martians. At least that's what the tour said.
Part one of the tour ended at the Blue Mosque and the earlier built Hagia Sophia, both very impressive displays of power and technology. For the second part, we crossed the Bosphorus into the Asian side of Istanbul, rode around and came back. It was alright, it was also my first time in Asia. That brings the total of new continents visited this trip to 2 for me (3 of 7 now.
The "Polis" presence here is pretty amazing; patrols with dogs here and there, motorbikes and cars carrying two officers drive by every now and then, saw one armored personnel carrier in front of the station, and no trash cans in crowded areas to prevent bombs. They seem to know what they are doing. As night fell though, helicopter patrols were flying shinning their spotlight as if it were a beam of guilt, and when it fell on me i felt like running. I thought better of it, I wouldn't even run for health here... too guilty, too strange, too much of a foreigner to do that.
Part one of the tour ended at the Blue Mosque and the earlier built Hagia Sophia, both very impressive displays of power and technology. For the second part, we crossed the Bosphorus into the Asian side of Istanbul, rode around and came back. It was alright, it was also my first time in Asia. That brings the total of new continents visited this trip to 2 for me (3 of 7 now.
The "Polis" presence here is pretty amazing; patrols with dogs here and there, motorbikes and cars carrying two officers drive by every now and then, saw one armored personnel carrier in front of the station, and no trash cans in crowded areas to prevent bombs. They seem to know what they are doing. As night fell though, helicopter patrols were flying shinning their spotlight as if it were a beam of guilt, and when it fell on me i felt like running. I thought better of it, I wouldn't even run for health here... too guilty, too strange, too much of a foreigner to do that.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Finally in Turkey, Finally Sick
It looks as if the deadly mixture of little sleep, cold temperatures, and non-stop Eurotrippin action has claimed its first victim... me. I felt a touch of a cold coming on yesterday, so what did I do? Went ice skating of course! I guess those last couple of rounds at the Augustiener doesn't cure colds after all. I bet you're thinking that this all sounds like my fault (mom and dad). Wrong, I knew I, and most probably we, was doomed when the last thing our wonderful (and I truly mean that) Korean hostel mate asked was, "Do you have any cold medicine?"
Damn, I knew he was too good to be true, I just hope it's not a mutated strain of avian flu. Maybe he lied about being from South Korean, is it possible that North Korea was covertly using him as a human incubator to spread a new deadly version of the rhinovirus? Nah, his clothes were to modern to be from Kim Jong-il's part of town.
Luckily our luggage was safe and intact when we picked it up from airport storage. Travel to Istanbul and to our apartments was flawless, and even traffic was flowing smoothly through the city - a rare occurrence I am told. A van did come within inches... no, this is Europe, centimeters from trading paint but we were both traveling the same speed and I wanted to see what might have happened. A quick sound of the horn and we were given some room. Our Turkish guides (three in all) turned to us thinking we might have some look of shear terror on our faces, but no we are veterans and this is Turkey dammit! Never let them see you flinch.
After our Mercedes-Benz limo bus some how maneuvered up our cramped street we were given the grand tour, and grand it was: three bedrooms and four beds, a kitchen, dinning room, living room, washer, and balcony overlooking our courtyard and the city beyond. All newly renovated and furnished in one of the world's largest cities (15 - 17 million according to the driver), amazing!
Damn, I knew he was too good to be true, I just hope it's not a mutated strain of avian flu. Maybe he lied about being from South Korean, is it possible that North Korea was covertly using him as a human incubator to spread a new deadly version of the rhinovirus? Nah, his clothes were to modern to be from Kim Jong-il's part of town.
Luckily our luggage was safe and intact when we picked it up from airport storage. Travel to Istanbul and to our apartments was flawless, and even traffic was flowing smoothly through the city - a rare occurrence I am told. A van did come within inches... no, this is Europe, centimeters from trading paint but we were both traveling the same speed and I wanted to see what might have happened. A quick sound of the horn and we were given some room. Our Turkish guides (three in all) turned to us thinking we might have some look of shear terror on our faces, but no we are veterans and this is Turkey dammit! Never let them see you flinch.
After our Mercedes-Benz limo bus some how maneuvered up our cramped street we were given the grand tour, and grand it was: three bedrooms and four beds, a kitchen, dinning room, living room, washer, and balcony overlooking our courtyard and the city beyond. All newly renovated and furnished in one of the world's largest cities (15 - 17 million according to the driver), amazing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)