Bıg day Wednesday, wıth 3 hours of tech stuff. (More on that in the teachers' sectıon later.) Another Turkısh lesson. Wıth some free tıme, I changed (as ıf for a run, but I wasn't even kıddıng myself), and walked up the back campus. The fırst 75 yards are so steep that I felt like I needed climbing equipment, but it gets easier. Out the back gate is a neighborhood called Ulus, where there are coffee shops and restaurants, but not nearly as nice as Arnavutkoy, which is down the hill and runs along the Bosphorus, which has more small shops and markets. But that means the tough walk is on the way back. Just a little further than where I walked is a large shopping center called Akmerkez, which I haven't seen yet.The excursion took about 40 minutes, which included some window shopping and a stop to introduce myself to the guards at the back gate.
I took a quick shower and dressed up. With the new teachers and some spouses, who live on or near campus, the headmaster John Chandler and his wife Tania, and various other administrators, a group of about 20, we took a boat up the Bosphorous, under the second bridge, and over to the Asian shore to the home of the president of the trustees, Nina Koprulu. She's an American woman, married to a Turk. `I think she's around my age. She was so down to earth and friendly. And the house, well, it's more than amazing. Here's a link to a New York Times article about the house: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/22/realestate/greathomes/22gh-istanbul.html
Listening to Nina and our headmaster speak and chatting with another trustee, another American woman married to a Turk, I had the feeling I might be at the best high school in the world.
Thursday a bunch of us were guided by boat, tram and bus to the Grand and Spice Bazaars and the area between them by Tania. She's a terrific guide and took us to a bunch of shops where she's established relationships and consequently we got "Tania lira" prices without bargaining. This was especially valuable at Adnan & Hasan, a wonderful rug place. Tania has brought them so much business over the years that it's like the Robert College home in the bazaar. Cecile and Kaya took a break there so Cecile could nurse and we all (10 of us) ate tosts there while resting. Then a couple of us bought rugs. Yes, I bought a rug. I had no intention of buying, but he pulled one out when Jen and Tyler were doing serious shopping and I really liked it. I've been starved for color in my apartment and the price was fantastic. He made it clear that the prices he was offering was "today only." He always offers RC people good prices and he'll be doing a show at Tania and John's house on campus when the prices will be the "rock bottom" show prices. And they're happy to take back or exchange anything at any time.
Thursday night involved furniture moving. With the new rug as the impetus, I shifted furniture in all the rooms and am very pleased with the result. My living room is quite cozy.
Friday was more information sessions and another Turkish lesson. Then 4-6 was Happy Hour at the alumni club followed by a dish-to-pass potluck/bbq on the Terrace overlooking the Bosphorus.
Since our first full faculty meeting is on Tuesday, the faculty is returning from vacation. It seems like most of them depart for most of the summer. So Friday was a chance to meet a bunch more of my new colleagues.
Today about 12 of us took a small bus, chartered by the school, to Ikea. I bought some more stuff to homeify the apartment. I tried not to buy things that I have coming in my shipment, but some stuff was so cheap (glassware) I bought it anyway. When I got home, I spent a fun time putting things away. Tried to put together the 2 small tables I bought but I need screwdrivers. About 5 I took a walk down the hill and headed south along the Bosphorous. Went to a grocery called Macro, a small version of Wegman's.
Made myself a nice dinner and am going to head to bed pretty soon. Tomorrow and Monday there's not much going on. Monday is an Istanbul holiday, Victory Day. Sim arrives on Tuesday afternoon, and I'm going with the school driver to meet him.
So that's it for now. Shoot any questions you have my way.
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