house and home

I met my upstairs neighbors. My first contact with them was when, like a moron, I was having trouble opening both the front door and my own door. I imagine I made a lot of noise, and eventually the husband (Murat) came to help me open my apartment door (I'd at least made it into the building by then). He introduced me to his wife, whose name I cannot figure out, said a long string of things to me in rapid Turkish, and quickly realized that I had no idea what he was saying (was it perhaps my blank expression that gave me away?). Later on he came back and expressed his dismay at my water damage (it's not the Ritz, I'll admit, but it works for me). The next time he came over, Gökhan (not my friend from the bar but a guy who works at the school by helping us teachers cope with Turkish life) was there helping me fix the kombi. They had a long conversation which I was left out of, as usual, but I knew it wasn't the last I'd see of the neighbors.

Two nights ago, Murat came over again (they are a bit like Kramer, I'm realizing) and said something about the internet in his house, and gestured for me to follow him upstairs. I was there for about an hour speaking haltingly to him and his wife, and downloading some antivirus programs for them. Often I got the gist of what they were saying but couldn't respond, so there was lots of scribbling and gesturing, which is what most of my conversations are like here anyway. I thought that was the end of things for a while, but last night around 11 I was settled on my couch watching Rushmore by myself when, bing-bong, the doorbell rang and it was Murat's wife with a plate of steaming grape leaves stuffed with delicious things, as well as salad and yogurt. I was so excited! I spoke to Turks at my school and they said this is normal, but still I was thrilled. Then this evening before I left to use the internet, I heard another bing-bong and this time it was Murat with a plate of banana bread for me. What the hell will I do for these kind people? I need to figure out how to say, "my mother will be happy that you are keeping me fed." Maybe I will get them some flowers. It is good to have people's pity while in a foreign land.

In other news, my newest student in the weather guy for CNN Turkey. He's pretty funny. I will try to find video of him online.

In other apartment news, I finally have the heat working and am sleeping in a bed. Hooray! Tomorrow (my day off) I am going to clear all the rubble (like I said, not the Ritz, not totally squalid either) out of my back "patio" so it can be a nice sitting area.

There are zillions of cats here, for whatever reason. They yowl all night. My coworker, who used to be a vet nurse, (haha, sounds like "wet nurse" with a German accent) said that the cats are "in season" and this is why they're making such a racket. It needs to end.

hope you're all well!