Apartment and School Update

We had a couple of normal walking around days so no blogging but now things are picking up.  We got the keys to our apartment yesterday.  It still has a lot of very used furniture in it which we will be getting rid of gradually.  It’s a new experience for us to have to have to start from absolute zero to set up a household.  I guess I did that many many years ago but it has left my memory.  We went to the new and used furniture store and bought two new beds, a slightly used wardrobe, there are no closets in apartments, a refrigerator, and a couple of chairs.  School started today, Wednesday, so we won’t have time to get anything else until Friday.  There is a big store a little bit out of the city that is described as a Walmart where you can get everything.  Our trusty sidekick and contact, Diane, is going with us to help with the packages.  Apparently you have to get to the store on your own with buses or taxies, but if you buy they will take you home, thank goodness!  We can’t say enough about how kind and helpful the people are in Turkey.  Our landlord doesn’t speak English but he has a neighbor who does and he came along to assist.  the neighbor gave us his phone # and said to call anytime.  Our “emlack” or realtor doesn’t speak English either but his son came over to assist us with the lease and commission payment etc.  This is a big networking city where you get to know people quickly.  We go to a few restaurants where they already know us and give us English menus.   Most people that speak a little English are happy to practice.  (Not very many restaurants have English menus)

Today was our first day at school.  There are 8 other Turkish English teachers at TED Koleji (private school) and one teacher from Wales who will be back in a couple of weeks.  Jerry got his assignment today  of teaching 8th, 9th, and 10th graders and Carol will be teaching kindergarten, 1st through 5th.  Right now Jerry will be teaching 14 classes a week and I only have 10.  Not sure if that will change or not.  All the teachers are wonderful and helpful.  A couple of others are new to the school and teaching but are Turkish.  I think I mentioned in an earlier blog that this school is only 2 years old and this is the first year for 10th grade.  It will soon be all 12 grades and they prepare the students for college exams which are very important.  We both hope we can be helpful to the other teachers and the students while we are here.

Jerry says pictures are still coming of the apartment and school.  As you can tell photos aren’t our thing.  More about school as it unfolds. This is Jerry talking and I just wanted to tell those of you in Tucson the we had a front blow in about three pm today and the rain started.  We sat at an outdoor patio for dinner and the had the heaters on and were handing out blankets to customers who wanted them. It is about 55 now.  I will do pictures tomorrow and Friday.  Took some of teachers today, but my usual and not worthy of posting.  Stay tuned and stay warm.