I'm back!

Merhaba!

I know it's been a while. I've had a busy week. I started work, got an apartment, learned how to work a kombi (hot water/heating system), and met some new friends. Today I had my first hot shower in four days - that in itself is an accomplishment.

After a lot of thought, I decided to live in Bakırköy, where my school is located, even though it's a bit on the boring side and a bus ride away from the places I'd come to enjoy in Beyoğlu/Taksim. I looked at some unfurnished places but decided that it was better to get a furnished place and pay a little more. I found a basement apartment with a sliver of a view of the Sea of Marmara. When I look out my back window I can see cargo ships going by. Not bad! I'm still working on getting the heat to work, so for now I'm sleeping in the living room, but that's alright. At first I felt lonely living by myself, but as work gets busier I'm beginning to enjoy having a place nearby where I can escape.

While I was still living in the hotel in Beyoğlu, I went to the same bar every night because it had wireless internet and also the people there were kind and welcoming. After several nights I met a couple Turkish guys, Aslan and Gökhan, doing their PhDs (one at Istanbul University, the other at a university in Sweden) who were looking for someone to edit their papers before they submitted them to journals. We quickly became friends and though now I won't let them pay me for editing, they have colleagues who need help with writing academic English (who doesn't, really), so I might have some extra work lined up. More importantly, I have some new friends who care about me, speak great English, and will teach me how to cook. Yesterday I had an appointment with Pelin's (my Turkish teacher's) sister in a neighborhood very far from my own, and Gökhan and his girlfriend invited me to stay at their house, which was much closer. We sat up late into the night talking and listing to music and I realized that I'm going to have a great time here.

Work is going pretty well. I was nervous about starting in a new school but I've been impressed with my students so far. I only have one-to-ones at the moment, a few of which take place at a company about 30 minutes from the school. The company, Vodaphone, has a deal with my school where a car comes to get us and whisks us away to their high-security office building. As a novice at international teaching, I was surprised at all this hoopla, but apparently it's quite common. I hope my schedule doesn't change much - at the moment it's light and that's the way I want it until I really settle in.

That's the news so far...I miss everyone and promise to take more photos.
Also, I have a cell phone (cep telefonu!) - email me if you want the number.