Turkey is much the same as when I last told you – the weather is cooling (or I’m getting used to it) and it’s down to about 35 degrees during the day. I get goosebumps when i get out of the pool now! Generally everything is awesome here, and I’ve been offered a job for winter in Istanbul teaching English so I’m going to look at getting a residence visa and staying on in Turkey. Apparently not too difficult, but let’s see! I’ve been working pretty hard here, and playing hard too. Most days are spent waking up having a quick breakfast, coffee and cold shower before cycling to work. Evenings are spent working or drinking and I have started to put on weight again (oops) and am craving cardio exercise – time to find some running shoes I think!
The season is nearly over – Ramazan finished today and kicked off today and ends on Thursday so it’s going to be very busy. Yaayy… On top of that, my darling artist Annalisa is disappearing tomorrow for Kos having realised she’s massively overstayed her visa and might have a problem. Fingers crossed she doesn’t because if she does, I definitely will.
I haven’t actually seen much outside of the Torba/Bodrum area. I’m hoping I’ll get time at the end of the season. I’ve definitely had my eyes opened to how ridiculously wealthy people can be. CDA is very upmarket, and seems to host European rich and famous. The amount of money one can spend here is incredible, and the other night I watched a group of visiting Lebanese buy 30 bottles of Moet Chandon at 1000TLR a pop, and dance up a storm on the deck (they sure know how to party.) There was a birthday party for one of the Egyptian family members staying here the other day and a huge banquet lunch was prepared followed by acrobats, contortionists and jugglers and this thing:
The people here are really nice. In general as a foreign girl I’m treated differently, and I can’t quiiite work out what the norm is. This is partly because Bodrum is a big tourist town, and partly because the coast is very European, partly because I don’t speak the language and partly because Turkish women seem to be much more reserved and I don’t actually get to talk to many. I have two female Turkish friends but there are really not so many working at the hotel. Noticeably different things include fashion, and the high level of maintenance and grooming both men and women expect. Bling and bright colours, high heels, manicured (male and female), pedicured, tanned, blowdried, men’s hair cut and chins carefully shaved every week.
My brain has switched off here. I can’t even think about what to blog about! I haven’t been reading too much, haven’t seen much of the news, completely ignored the Olymipcs and the only tv I’ve watched has been the Turkish football – they are totally mad about and one of their favourite players is called Alex D’Souza so I get a lot of comments, especially since I have a ‘man’s name’.
I guess a 100th post should mention the previous posts, using Sarah as a starting point since I’m here in Turkey because of her - I met Sarah in Madrid over a year ago – and it’s turned out awesomely much like the weekend itself. Nepal was life changing and I would really like to get back there some day soon. Trekking in the Annapurnas was spectacular, and I will always remember the week in Delhi (though far from my favourite trip.) Arriving in London to a ridiculously cold winter almost drove me home again, but I’m very, very glad I stayed! A wonderful trip around Croatia and Santorini with Nana.Oh, and Berlin was excellent, as was Amsterdam, and then the World Cup Final, and dress-ups for Halloween!
I noticed that I put a lot of exclamation marks into my posts. I should find some photos too I guess, but man am I being lazy!
I think I’ve managed to reply to most of the emails lately, love hearing from you.
SIZI SEVIYORUM
