Update

Hi everyone,

Today is my last day before I start work tomorrow! Tomorrow at 2:30 I will start my training at Wall Street Institute, the place I was planning on working. I am SO happy that I will be working on the European side, not too far away. I will start out part-time because that is the only position they have open, and once a full time opens up I will move to that. So everything is working out well! I think starting part time will be good for me, so I can get used to the "working world". I'm quite nervous about starting a "real" and "professional" job but it has to start sometime and I think this is a good place for me to begin. I think my schedule will be different than I am used to - because it is a language school I will probably do more teaching at night so students can work during the day and then take classes at night. I think it will be okay because I like leisurely mornings. I just wonder when I will see Sinan because I am sure I will work weekends and then in the mornings he is sleeping. Hmm we'll see!

Unfortunately I have a good old fashioned cold now. It's the worst I've had in a while, but I have been pretty lucky the last few years of my life. But, it means I get to spend my last day in bed guilt free reading and watching TV shows. Hopefully I won't go to work tomorrow looking like Rudolf.

I guess I haven't really given you a general update on Life in Turkey. So far, so good. I'm frustrated by my lack of language skills, although I see improvement. I have so much trouble speaking it, I can't even have a conversation yet in my lessons, or even say simple sentences while out and about because I get so flustered. My living situation is still great, but I think I will move in June to a less expensive and a place more more air circulation and less cave-like. I really like it here though - a great kitchen and bathroom and roommates. I still don't really have any friends but I am continuing to meet people through various things I do, and I think once work starts that will help. I'm not lonely, but it would be nice to have a different circle from Sinan. And things with Sinan are doing just fine - I know my lack of writing about him is making some think he is out of the picture, but I assure you he is there and so far me moving here hasn't been an issue. We've found a good balance of together-time and alone time. I'm hoping he wakes up soon so he can bring me soup and company...

This is off topic, but one thing I love about the Turkish language and culture is they have little expressions for so many things. Two of my favorite that I have gotten used to are "Afiyet olsun" which is said around a meal time - I've heard Sinan say it to a security guard eating lunch, roommates say it to each other when eating dinner, I've heard it on TV, and also a response when complimenting someone on their cooking when you are eating it. It's like our "Bon Appettite" but much much more common. The other is when entering a house or shop the person in there will say "Hos geldiniz", which is like welcome. I've gotten so used to it it feels weird to enter a place and not hear it. There are things to say for taking a shower, things to say after sneezing, for when you buy a new product, for leaving places, for when you interrupt or leave someone who is doing work ("go easy"), oh man many more but I can't think of them. Anyway, I just think it is neat that they have specific things to say for so many activities.