Istanbul Seviyorum

Its been a week since I arrived in Istanbul and therefore its time to update my blog with all my fabulous and exciting adventures. I have been on thought overload and therefore its made it hard for me to focus enough to actually get something written down. Not only on my blog but my journals as well. Its like I want to do everything all at once. All the cells in my body are in overdrive and jumping in all directions. They are so happy, and excited that they can communicated enough to actually made a decision. So let me try my best to update the last week of my life. I arrive in Istanbul last Monday Jan 17th. I was greeted at the airport by Hassan Abi the driver for the family I will be living with. He is such a nice guy. I was able to ask him some questions and get some of his life story out of him (although I didnt understand very much at all) I was so distracted by the sights ans sounds that is Istanbul. I really suggest that anyone who is coming to Istanbul fly in the SAW airport. Its on the Asian side and somewhat farther away but its newer, nicer and the trip from Asia to Europe across the Fahit Mahmet Bridge is amazing. I have done it several times and each time I am taken back by the rolling hills crowded with houses, flats, apartments, buildings old and new and all the zig zag streets. Then it will hit me what you are crossing over.... the Bosphorus Straight. This body of water that has been here, and split Istanbul for centuries is still here, flowing with its teal and blue color. It flows east to west from the cold waters of the Black sea to the warmer waters of the Marmara Sea. From this bridge you can usually see several of the old castles that I have visited and  you can read about by going back to Adventures in Istanbul  blog post. Ok enough of that back to what I have been up too. I meet the family and instantly fell in love with them. There are 3 kids Emir is 9 Elif is 7 and Zeynep is 5. They are all very special and unique and so far this week we have done everything from board games, hangman, hide and seek, pictures, cookie making, flashcards, videos, dance making, puppet shows, the park, the gym, arabic lessons, Hannah Montana  video watching, and story telling. Tons of fun. I could not have asked for a more perfect match of a family or a situation in general. /my location is one of my favorite places in Istanbul, Ortakoy. It is literally 10 minutes walk from my house just about 8 blocks or so. I have already had 3 visits there one to meet up with my love Leslie as well as some other au pairs I have yet to meet. Some shopping, and just life contemplating sitting in my favorite bench looking out over the sea. It was while doing the latter that I had somewhat of an epiphany. Which, if you have been following my blog at all, you will know that this happens often. Regardless, as I was sitting there listening to the sights and sounds that I love so much about istanbul ( the water slapping, the boats bobbing, the vendors and shop owners greeting people and the traffic ever so chaotic.) I realized that Istanbul means more to me then just a city that I love to visit. It makes me feel at home, it makes me feel like even though I know I wont live here forever it just that place I will always revert to and use as a happy place. Istanbul is my field of flowers, meadow of grass and blue skies. Its the place I will always think about when I am down. 

My next few days were filled with short adventures around the area I live. Thursday was market day and I was able to graba  couple new shirts since I packed so inefficiently this time. I thought I was going to be able to bring more clothes since I was coming with notice, well I forgot a lot of essentials. Like socks and t shirts.... it just means I can buy more stuff right? Friday was a fun day, after buying some games for the kids at Akmarkez Sibel and I had coffee and tea on one of her favorite streets near Ulus. It was busy full of coffee shops and cafe's, restaurants and shops and lots of people as well as traffic. Then that night was sort of a whirl wind of events. I just dont know how to give each one justice but basically we had 2 hours of Arabic lessons and then a birthday party with about 20 family members all in one night! Needless to say I was exhausted but so happy and ready for the weekend to start!