Balcony and Differences

So I'm sitting on my balcony (! I still cannot get over that...) and the scene from Romeo and Juliet comes to mind... naturally, for your reading pleasure:

(it's long so I'll post a link...) http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/balconyscene/romeoandjulietbalconyscene.html

... You're welcome.  Also, I'm getting serious flash backs to Mr. Barrett's 9th grade English class.. anyone?  I found this gem online while I was trying to see if I spelled his name correctly: http://ckjh.cksd.wednet.edu/Student%20Webpages/Barrett/barrett.htm  Again, you're welcome.

In other- actually meaningful- news =)  (debatable, I know...)

It is just dusk here at 9 pm.. I just got done with a gym sesh, some yoga, and a shower... Life is pretty darn good right about now!  Today was my first day at school this week because I've been sick and I was nervous I would have to reintroduce myself to all the children.  Not so! One of the little guys even came up to me, gave me a hug, and proceeded to sit in my lap for part of one activity! (Granted, he should have been doing that activity, but! Overall, I count that as a success!)

Additionally, I've stopped being silent/trying to speak the few Turkish words I know and I've started just speaking in English and interacting with the kids as I would in the US-- Even though the language is a barrier, this worked better (today at least) because I am being myself.... time will tell...

A few words on "Culture Shock" ...

Obviously, I was/am still expecting culture shock... It is so funny though; for as different as life in Istanbul is, it's still life and we are all human, ya know?! Here are some differences

1) The language.  Yep. Turkish is hard.  I thought it would be easier to learn than it is because I have already learned Spanish...  Nope.  I am still in the learn-every-vocab-word-in-sight and then forget-it-all-the-next-second stage... oh well...

2) Metric system and military time.  Yep. Welcome to the rest of the world. Thankfully I had experience with this in Argentina...

3) Futbol is not really for women.  Again, similar to the rest of the world (sadly...)  Today, when I was at the gym, I asked the attendant if he had a soccer ball... he just kind of stared back at me... I repeated again, "Eğer futbol var?"  He said, "futbol?" And I nodded and started miming I was playing... he made a call and then said that they had given them all out already... he then looked me up and down and said "futbol?" once more... Maybe I just look really out of shape and therefore don't look like I play? Or maybe this guy just doesn't receive a lot of questions about footballs from females... lol.

4) There are doves (DOVES!) here.  They greet me in the morning on my balcony.  They sing to me as I get ready for the day.  I feel like Gisele from Enchanted meets Noah's wife on the arc or something...

5)  Turkish coffee is DELICIOUS. I don't like coffee.  But, Turk Kavesi is like concentrated coffee in an espresso shot amount. It's wonderful.

6) The climate! It's warm here! I am expecting to get quite a tan this summer!

Ok. Time for bed. Sorry there were no pictures; leave it to me to either upload 20 or 0 (livin' life at the extreeeeeeemes!)

Iyi geceler (Goodnight- pronounced EE- yee  Gay-jay-lar),
Hannah

Gokturk, Istanbul

Ok so it's about time that I post something on this blog about Istanbul considering I'VE BEEN HERE OVER A WEEK. baha. sorry.

But here goes... I already posted this photo on facebook, but I think it deserves a second go around because... come on... I have a balcony and this is my view!

The family I am staying with is wonderful.  The parents both speak English very well and the daughter, who is 2.5, is up for learning anything!  I an officially an "au pair" but I am also working at the family's school (yea... they own a school... it's called playorena.  It's a montessori-type school for young children).  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Au_pair  <- definition of an au pair...

 I take Lal, the girl, to school around 9, and we play, learn, etc until noon when I take her home for her lunch and nap.  She sleeps until 4 so sometimes I will go back to the school during that time or I will stay home, go for a run, swim laps in the pool, study Turkish, do yoga... I should probably write my blog during this time... yeah I could have done that =) When she wakes up, Lal has a snack and then we play until her parents arrive home and she has her dinner at 6!

She is the most stubborn child I've ever babysat! I love her to pieces already, but good lord, that child has a mind of her own! I am so excited to see how our relationship grows- especially as we begin to talk in English together.  My parents, I'm sure, are thinking this is pay back for my stubbornness as a child... They view it as an "in-this-lifetime-karmatic" experience =) But Lal has already learned her numbers up to twenty, the colors, and words such as "ball" and "doll."  We are working on asking for things and saying "please" at the moment (or at least we will be when she gets back... which brings me to my next point: )

The family is in LA and Las Vegas right now attending conferences and being on vacation! So, I have my first "vacation" week the week after I arrive!  I have been sick for the past three days, so it's great timing on my part! But I had wanted to use this week as a time to become more comfortable at the school... I will go tomorrow- I am feeling much better today!

Sunday is my free day, along with the other au pairs in the area... For my first Sunday, I learned how to navigate the public transportation system and visited the "old city" = I GOT TO SEE THE BLUE MOSQUE, THE AYA SOFIA, AND THE BASILICA CISTERN!! ok, wow. that was the history- nerd in me =) 

The clothing restrictions for the Blue Mosque... Third from the right the sign says "No Kissing" (just in case!)

The Blue Mosque, or Sultanahmed Mosque

The Blue Mosque's courtyard walls

Inside the Aya Sofia!!! No flash photography allowed...

This is where the Byzantine Emperors were crowned... nbd...

Byzantium art!

repeating patterns on the ceiling of the Aya Sofia

Ok, so this looks more like hell than anything. But, I promise, in real life it's beautiful! This is the Basilica Cistern!! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Cistern

One of the two Medusa's heads below the pillars in the Basilica Cistern

Ataturk!!

We found kittens! So, naturally, we picked them up... (?)

Some of our group walking to the Blue Mosque

Inside the Blue Mosque! (dark, I know...)

About the protests!

I almost forgot... the protests! 

First, my safety:  People have been emailing me/facebooking me like crazy! And I am so thankful for your thoughts, prayers, and well wishes!  It is an interesting situation here... For your info, I am living in Gokturk, a suburb located 30 minutes to an hour and 30 minutes (depending on what form of transportation you take) outside of Istanbul.  I am far away from Taksim Square.  That said, the first night I was here, there were protests in the streets.  Now, the protests are more centralized in the city.

Second: I have been to Gezi Park.  I was there during the daytime and on a day of a religious festival (meaning there is less likely to be violence (by the police!)...)  People were rallying together, listening to speeches, laughing, dancing, going about their business, eating food, selling food... It was almost like a carnival!  There were people of all age groups, social classes, etc... It is a peaceful protest in favor of governmental reform.

Third: This is a big deal.  It's a big deal because of the quantity of people protesting.  It is a big deal because the government has been refusing to listen.  And it is a big deal because of the unification of what people want!  On Sunday, one of the subway stops from the old city to Gokturk was through Taksim.  People were chanting, clapping together, experiencing comradery together... It was like nothing I had ever seen before.  To be so focused on reform and so involved in the government on such a grand scheme was incredible to witness.  I am just so incredulous that Erdogan has not been listening... I am glad that he is meeting with protest leaders.

If you want to read up/be more informed, I suggest you go here:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/turkeyprotests/

But! Also understand that the rhetoric the government is using (and subsequently the press) such as "the environmental protests have been HIJACKED by anti-government organizations" is not true/is an over exaggeration... Yes, the protests started as environmental protests (over Gezi Park) BUT! It was not hijacked by foreign hands/terrorists.  The people are regular Turkish citizens protesting the government.  They are not a part of one specific organization or "leftist propaganda", rather, they stand for freedom and democracy...

Well there you go! Hope some of that was clear.

More soon!
Cheers,
Hannah

Egersund

Egersund was by far my favorite stop on our trip in Norway.  We stayed with host families and did more than sight see.  We were able to invest in the community and have the community invest in us.  It didn't have the perfection of Bergen, but it was more inviting, smaller. We arrived to a delicious lunch at the church's community building.  The mayor of the town came to welcome us and Karen, our coordinator, was so accommodating.  Karen ended up being my- and three other girls- host!  We were all incredibly excited because she is an amazing cook and is so kind.  

We went for a walking tour about the town...

this picture is taken from a bridge- I love the boat sheds! The water leads right out to the bay...

the church we sang in

Another view of the church...

City Park

After the tour, we met up with our host families to eat dinner and settle into the homes.  Karen and Thorfin were welcoming, accommodating, and genuinely kind!!!  Their home was located about 20 min ourside of Egersund overlooking the water... it was so peaceful and such a nice break from the hustle and bustle in the hotels/big cities.

That evening, we went to a concert.  http://www.hummingpeople.no/  Humming People, y'all. Check 'em out!!!  One of my friends, Anna, said she,"Just saw hipsters in skinny jeans singing Johnny cash in a barn... If I didn't know better i'd think I was in Washington" AND IT'S SO TRUE!!! Oh my gosh, you don't even know.  We were in a barn all decked out like everything was from pinterest and they were playing their own songs, Johnny Cash, and U2 in true folky/bluegrass/hipster style... Seriously, check them out!

http://vimeo.com/29229881

The next day, we had the privilege to sing in a local community gathering in Egersund in support of the developmentally delayed.  We joined in the festival with some of our favorite songs and got to plug our concert This day, though, was the day I was going to leave... That made everything especially poignant... During our free time, I went to a local coffee shop and ordered a mocha.  I proceeded to write thank you cards and cry my eyes our in a corner; I got some weird looks! aha!

I am not a big crier.  Or at least I wasn't until this trip lol!  During and after the concert I was a terrible mess! I finally had to tell myself, "no more tears" so I would stop dehydrating myself (and stop blubbering, of course)!!! But I said my goodbye's at the church and then the pastor drove me to the train station so I could ride to Stavanger to catch my flight...  He walked me through buying my ticket (everything was in Norwegian) and then, because there was still one hour until my train, offered to drive me out to the BBQ that the choir was going to. Sensing my hesitance (I didn't want to miss my train/bus/flight) he said that if I missed my train, he would drive me to Stavanger himself. His words: "trust me."  I said "ok" and proceeded to have a half hour more with the choir.  I did end up making my "train" (it turned into a bus that would take me to another train two hours away...) and I am so thankful for the pastor and Karen, who was the best host AND gave me money so I could purchase something to eat at the airport.  WHAT? These people were so kind. What a lesson in trust, receiving gifts, and Norwegian hospitality.  I am looking forward to the day when I can serve in this capacity for someone.

 This is an excerpt from my journal when I was traveling to the Stavanger airport to catch my 5:40 am flight: 

"Now, I am sitting in the Hotel Radisson in Stavanger writing this on a word document because I don’t have the guts to ask for the wifi password and I don't want to unpack my bags to get my actual journal…. The staff here was already kind enough to allow me to sit in here waiting for the 3:30 airport bus… I can’t even imagine what I look like right now… Vagabond extraordinaire comes to mind- I am wearing 2 scarves, my traveling boots, corduroys, and I haven’t showered in a while.  I've been crying and my eyes have large dark bags underneath them from sleep deprivation.  Add to that: I'm carrying my large camera, backpacking backpack, and side bag I bought in Mexico for something like 14 pesos... I am a sight to behold!!!"

I ended up taking a taxi to the airport, sleeping there, finding out my flight had been canceled (but it had already been rescheduled months ago, the computer just didn't realize it yet) so I walked back and forth from the baggage check to this one window... ah! it was a nightmare... but I did end up in Gokturk, Istanbul safely, tired, and on schedule after many an adventure on bus, train, foot, taxi, plane, another plane, then chauffeur. (Yes, chauffeur... the family I am staying with has two drivers...!)

But now, of course, I am playing catch up on my blog... haha sorry mom and dad!  I will try to keep you more informed!  More on the next post specifically about Istanbul! =)

Cheers!

Hannah

Stavanger

The trip to Stavanger was absolutely gorgeous.  The roads were winding and we crossed two water ways by ferry boat! It was almost like taking the ferry to Seattle =)  Norway, to my understanding, only has one highway!  So, it takes a while to go from one place to the next... However, I appreciated these long trips because, although bumpy and windy, I was able to see the countryside and look at the landscape...  This is something I forget to do when I travel 70mph on the freeways/highways back home.  It was a good reminder to be fully present.  Below are two pictures from the ferry boat...

On the ferry boat

I love being out on the water!

 When we arrived in Stavanger, we went directly to our hotel.  We stayed at an affordable place that happened to be attached to a hospital!  We ended up eating at the cafeteria for the majority of our meals in Stavanger and the food was delicious and super nutritious (rhyme!).  It was also fun to see all of the new born babies; conversely, there were sick people dining too... for me, this provided an opportunity for reflection... I am so grateful for my health and for the opportunities that life (my parents especially) has dealt me...  The refrain I kept saying in my head was,  "I am so lucky... I am so so so lucky... Thank you, God."

The first evening, we had the pleasure to hear a concert by the Stavanger Cathedral Choir.  They performed the same Bach Funeral Motet that we prepared and a string trio brought me to tears.  Music is so incredibly powerful.

The next day, we departed on our Fjord tour!!! We traveled from downtown Stavanger out to and up the Lysefjord--  A Fjord is:

<<Noun A long, narrow, deep inlet of the sea between high cliffs, as in Norway and Iceland, typically formed by submergence of a glaciated valley.>>

Downtown Stavanger

The boat tour to the Lysefjord! (Argosy Cruises, anyone?!)

On the boat ride to the Lysefjord...

Yeah... I'd live here!

Fjord wall.

Mountain goats fighting along the Lysefjord!!!

 Being out on the water was refreshing and seeing the massive cliffs was a dream come true.

That evening, we had our concert at the cathedral.  We sang two pieces with the Cathedral Choir and then afterward, they invited us out to dessert! Naturally, we said, "of course" and high tailed it to a delicious Greek Restaurant a couple of blocks away.  I had some wonderful hummus and a delightful chat with some of the members of the choir.  I love talking with people.  The human experience is so diverse but we all weave our lives out of similar thread...

This is the front of the cathedral!

I wish I could have captured this better, but it was a gorgeous sunset!

 When we left the Greek Restaurant, this overwhelming sunset greeted us.  A perfect ending to our last night in Stavanger.

Cheers,
Hannah

Bergen

Bergen is my favorite city looks-wise so far.  Quaint, adorable, and surrounded by hills and mountains situated right on the bay…  I was able to do some hiking here and rest a bit.  Also, we stayed in a hostel: it’s the best!  I did not take the first picture below! But it really shows what Bergen looks like!  The hostel we stayed at is located to the left of the church steeple that is visible on the center left!  Source: www.visitnorway.com!

Anna, Danielle, Bekkah, and I cooked our own meal the first night.  We went to a small grocery store and I’m pretty sure we purchased every vegetable in sight, some rice, delicious bread, and thai sauce. Oh my gosh. It was wonderful.

The next day, we went on a walking tour around town!  The tour guide was very informed about Bergen and beyond!  We were able to walk in the alley ways:

You can tell the buildings were built on the ashes of other buildings from a fire because the buildings lean!

 ... and see the backyards of the homes:

The back yard/plaza

gardens!

This is the backside of the houses- it's all beautiful!

 From there, we walked all around seeing the bay, famous statues/monuments...

Edvard Grieg! One of Norway's most famous composers.  What a pose!

Unreal.

Even the mail is quaint!  Also, I'm glad the blinds were drawn... I was being a creeper!

We had the afternoon free which was such a nice break.  I was able to nap and then a group of us took  gondola/train thing (called a funicular) up to Mount Ulriken to do some hiking.  It was a gorgeous day.  I didn't bring my camera with me because I wanted to hike uninhibited, but I am not kicking myself because everything was stunning and the view of the city was overwhelming...

But, that was my short time in Bergen.. after hiking we walked down the mountain to dine with the group and then the next morning we left.  Bergen was the only city where we didn't have a concert.  Next stop: Stavanger.

Cheers!

Hannah

Trondheim

Trondheim:

Trondheim was a delightfully hipster city.  Everywhere we would walk, there were people that made me think I was back wandering the streets of Seattle or walking down the hello walk at Whitworth… haha!  But really, Trondheim was lovely. 

This is behind the palace right across the street from our hotel!

This is the side of the summer palace!

We were able to take a walking tour of the city to see the sights.  Nidaros Cathedral was a highlight.
On Sunday morning we were able to attend church in the Cathedral to worship and hear the Nidaros Boys Choir sing.  It was incredible to see many people dressed up in bunads and traditional dress for such celebrations as baptism and first communion.  (Norway has a state church – the Lutheran Church.  It is really interesting to see how this has affected funding and perhaps even the liturgy? I wish to do more research into this topic; it could prove quite interesting!)

Nidaros Cathedral

The front of Nidaros Cathedral... Funny story: the sculptures have the faces of the architects who restored the church this past century.  The figures on the right are figures from the Bible, on the left are figures from Norsk history, and the angel in the top left corner has the face  of Bob Dylan... lol!

Just a walk down a path in Trondheim... nbd...

After the church service, we also sang a few songs to promote our concert…   It really is incredible that we get to sing in these amazing cathedrals.  The acoustics are phenomenal!  At first we were disappointed that we were not going to sing at this church, but it really is massive and unless all of Trondheim showed up, we would have been singing to a seemingly empty crowd. 

We did end up singing at Our Lady’s Church just two blocks away.  It has a great ministry with the homeless population in the city and is always open offering coffee and some treats.  It proved quite a contrast to the Nidaros Cathedral but both churches are in the same parish. 

This concert was touching to a lot of people.  Specifically to a Romanian man named George who, we presumed, was a homeless man using the services at the church.  He attended both our rehearsal and our concert and was enthusiastic and overwhelmed by our performance.  He was moved to tears numerous times and he served as an encouragement to the choir.  It’s so funny… whenever someone is visibly moved by our music, we cannot help but sing for that person.  He kept on saying that this was the most wonderful experience of his entire life.  This may have seemed cheesy to some, and given any other situation, I would have been a bit more critical, but he was sincere and so moved because he himself is a musician.  This situation served as a reminder that our music matters and connecting human beings to one another is profound. 

Next stop: Bergen!
Cheers!
Hannah