A complaint free world

Another pretty easy week at work. I think I taught a total of 24 hours in 2 weeks. And since I am salaried for 24 a week, that is pretty damn awesome. But of course I still complain. Which leads me to my goal for March (I think I'm going to start having monthly goals or challenges):

I am going to go 21 days without complaining.

For those of you who know me well, this will be quite difficult. For that reason, I've decided to allow mental and written complaining but NOT verbal.

I got this idea from some other blog and as it turns out there is a whole Complaint Free Movement going on (complete with purple bracelets a la Lance Armstrong - they ship worldwide! - and a Complaint Free Cruise - dome wanna go? and even a Complaint Free Curriculum for Kids) The whole thing is a bit freakish if you ask me, but a good idea nonetheless.

I started to think about how many hours I probably waste a month complaining about things I can't change or will never change at work. Yes, maybe I could get a new job, but I'm sure I'd find something to complain about there too. (The average person complains 15-30 times a day.)

So instead, I'll find new things to talk about, hopefully break some bad habits, learn new things, and maybe even like my job more.

The reason that it is for 21 days is that allegedly scientists believe that it takes 21 days for us to form new habits, according to the CF website.

They say that complaining makes you unhealthy! I'm trying to be a healthier person. I keep a constant supply of apples and oranges in my fridge (they are about 100 times better here than in the US) and even turned down my favorite snack today. I've been doing yoga or pilates at least 4 times a week and have become slightly addicted. So, hopefully this will aid in my health quest.

So, I'm gonna do it. Starting tomorrow March 1 and for 21 days. Hold me accountable people. Don't let me complain on this blog. If I do, call me out. Sometimes I do think I am quite good at turning a complaint into constructive criticism so don't let me do that either.

In other news:

As you may have seen on the news, Turkey has invaded Iraq using ground forces for the first time. The US is all ticked off about this of course as they think they have the right to tell countries what they can and can't do (some say that Turkey had permission from both the US and Iraq for this operation and they are already retreating due to their success). The media here isn't so free, so I take everything I read with a grain of salt.

But, I did read a sad story about people relocating stray dogs from the center of Istanbul to the suburbs and then poisoning them! Allegedly the municipality poisoned them because people were complaining about the dogs! Many Turkish people either dislike or fear dogs. There isn't really a big pet culture like in the US. So, a councilperson said that she supported the poisoning of the dogs as that is what her constituents preferred.

I started going to Turkish class again. As my student said, this will greatly improve my quality of life here. Plus I miss learning things. 3 hours of class today! And I can't wait to study and practice.

Oh, did you hear that the tribal elders are pissed at Hillary for sending that picture of Obama wearing tribal garb to the Drudge Report?

I guess Hillary forgot about these pictures!

Finally, you can now subscribe to my blog via a reader or via e-mail! Please sign up today!

Searching

I'm searching for new tickets to go home in the summer for Sadie's wedding. Please leave comments with your favorite cheap ticket websites as I am having a rough time finding anything below $1000 :(

Damn July and the tourist season.

Thanks!

Innocents Abroad

As I explained before, I'm a member of Democrats Abroad. They sent me this interesting article tonight which I though I'd share:

Posted February 25, 2008 | 11:22 AM (EST)

Joan Z. Shore

We are the 51st state -- the State of Flux, I used to call it. We are the four million Americans who are living, working, studying or retiring overseas. In sheer numbers, we would be the 24th largest state in the Union. But we are the Forgotten People, the Lost Tribe, the Missing Link.

But not forgotten by the IRS! We are required to file income tax returns every year, whether our absence is short or long or permanent; whether we have chosen it freely or have been obliged to move for our job.

Incredibly, America is the only industrialized nation that continues to extort taxes from its absentee citizens! And, at the same time, suspend their Medicare coverage.

Furthermore, just try, as an absentee taxpayer, to procure an absentee ballot! While I was still registered in New York City, my request was either ignored or someone's else's ballot would be mailed to me by mistake. (Steve Rosenberg on East 86th Street -- who are you? Did you get my ballot?)

Now I'm registered in Florida, but my request for a ballot in 2004 was unanswered. When I finally got a ballot from the American consulate in Paris, and mailed it in, Broward County flatly disqualified it.

When I went to vote in Florida's unrecognized Democratic primary three weeks ago, I was armed with my Florida driving license and my Voter's Registration card -- but they couldn't find me on the computer! (This, after owning property here and paying property taxes for 12 years!) So they gave me a "provisional" ballot and said they'd try to work it out.

Democrats Abroad has been actively trying to remedy these anomolies -- in other words, to give us back our vote, our voice. Around the globe this past month, they set up polling stations in such unlikely places as an Irish pub, a Parisian cafe, hotels in Amsterdam and Costa Rica, and a Starbucks in Thailand! Votes could also be cast online. The result was gratifying: 25,000 Americans abroad cast a ballot. Overwhelmingly, 65% of the votes cast went to Barack Obama; 32% went to Hillary Clinton.

Next month, at a meeting in Brussels, Democrats Abroad will begin choosing their delegates to the National Convention. One person has already been designated a superdelegate.

Republicans Abroad are lagging behind; don't ask me why. They organized no polls, and will have no delegates to the Convention. Do they feel cocksure of winning, or do they feel already defeated?

Americans abroad, whatever their political leaning, have always been regarded with suspicion and distrust by mainland Americans: we are renegades, deserters, traitors! The fact is, we have more awareness and concern for what is happening "back home" than many people living there. We may have lost track of the NFL and the World Series, but we have a broader perspective of what is happening on the rest of the planet. We are often called upon to explain America, so we must try to understand it ourselves. Sometimes we defend it; sometimes we criticize it. Unofficially, we are representatives and ambassadors of our country.

Many of our children have grown up overseas, and speak several languages. I like to think that they are our future leaders -- in business, in science, in education, in the arts, and in government. And that may be why so many of us support Obama -- he, too, has been an expatriate. He has been exposed to different places and different cultures, and like us, he must envision how great America can be, and grieve when it loses its way, and try somehow to make it great again.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-z-shore/not-so-innocents-abroad_b_88303.html

Some interesting points - Dems abroad are the 24th largest state! We have to pay taxes twice! The Republicans don't care about their abroad voters!

Other interesting articles lately:

Obama tribal garb - is this for real? The man is half AFRICAN for god's sake. He is allowed to wear tribal clothing...

Google Health - Instead of those outdated files that your doctor keeps alphabetized with those cute little pink and blue letters, imagine an on-line system! Easy for travelers, easy for the old folks spending the winters in Florida. P

Problems: HIPAA does not yet apply to this (or so I think) meaning our health information can be sold (which I'm sure it already is by our health insurance companies), the secureness (or lack thereof) of an Internet based system. Either way, it's a step in the right direction to eliminate these archaic and unreadable files. But will doctors be as likely to write that their patients are "difficult" like Elaine's doctor on Seinfeld did if they know that the information will be much easier to access?

Planes fly on nut oil! Awesome! But a round trip flight Newark-Istanbul still costs $750??

Other news: spring is around the corner! Had a lovely brunch near the water, I'll post some pictures next time.

In case you are having trouble deciding..

Well, I guess it's too late for that given that most of the primaries are not over. Or you could be deciding between Republican and Democrat? (I hope that choice is a clear one...)

Anyways, have a look at this wonderful post by Grassroots Mom about why she has decided to support (and donate to!) Obama.

Worth a read or at least a quick skim.

p.s. How 'bout Bush's 19% approval rating?

Finally :)

It's been snowing in Istanbul since last Wednesday I guess. On and off. Heavy bursts followed by a brief clearing then back to huge fat flakes. (I'm finally publishing this on Tuesday and the snow seems to have stopped for good).

We thought that the snow was finally finished last night. But instead, it was like a surprise White Christmas. I awoke to my street covered in snow, cars buried. I stood awestruck in the window while I watched the head-scarved ladies navigate the obviously unplowed street to buy their fresh morning bread. But I still had to go to work.

Slumming it, I threw on my track pants and rain boots and started the trek up Istanbul's K2 Mountain to meet the driver. It was rough! Normally it' quite tiring in dry weather, but covered with snow/slush/ice, damn!

We took off at a snail's pace. He kept saying, "Çok tehlikeli" (very dangerous). We couldn't see more than 15 feet in front of us. After he said "Çok tehlikeli" about 5 more times, we decided it was time to call our boss. It was agreed that it was way too dangerous to trek out to the suburbs for 2 hours of Business English! A smart decision, and I might have made it myself had we gone any further. I don't really think it's worth risking my life for a 2 hour lesson.

So we did what any yabancılar (foreigners) would do in this situation (canceled classes, snowy day) headed to Starbucks! While we were there, we received the great news that all classes had been canceled! So after a tasty lunch and a few hours in a nargile cafe, I'm finally home. And my morning student already canceled for tomorrow - the commute will probably be awful.

Things I Noticed About Snow in Istanbul:

1. Snow plows don't exist - Don't ask me how the roads get cleared. I know for certain mine won't. The packed snow on my street has already turned into a sheet of ice. I guess the big roads must have plows...but I personally haven't seen any. But they definitely wouldn't fit down my one-way (or sometimes two-way if you are a creative type of driver) street.

2. Snow shovels don't exist - People use brooms instead. I guess this works...kind of.

3. There are no people to shovel/plow the snow - In a city with about 1 million people unemployed, you would think that the government would invest in a few shovels and hand them out and pay people to shovel that stuff up!

4. There is no drainage system in Istanbul - Snow is only nice until it melts. Then it becomes nasty slush which turns to water. And this city was built on 7 hills (or 6?) so that means all the water runs down. Unless it's on a flat street. Then it just lays there, looking nasty and leaving no place to walk. (thank god for my rain boots which leads me to #5)

5. Turkish people do not adequately prepare for the weather - Turkish man shoes (pointy leather grossness) do not work well in snow. Nor do Converse All-Stars, nor ballet slippers, etc. LOOK outside before you leave the house and you will be a lot happier (and warmer !)

6. Hills + ice = Treacherousness - I almost died about 15 times walking home and saw numerous people wipe out which leads me to the next point

7. Salt and sand don't exist - Damn the Turkish government should hire me as their Winter Weather Preparedness Consultant. (update - I guess they do exist but they aren't used as much as in the US)

Despite the unpreparedness of the city, I loved the past days in Istanbul. It showed me that life goes on even if your road isn't plowed. People (but not me) still go to work. Mothers still make breakfast. People are still everywhere in this overcrowded city. But it had a sense of life that I hadn't seen before.

The first day of snow we went out for a walk at midnight. It was so quite and peaceful, not to mention stunningly beautiful. However, as we started to return home, I noticed that the number of people on the streets was steadily increasing. I realized that they too missed the snow. They too were nostalgic for their childhood days when you could just play in the snow all day. It showed a sense of humanity that is beyond language, ethnicity, or culture - just the plain old love of snow!

Voting from Istanbul

I've had my absentee ballot request form filled-out, signed, dated and in its addressed envelope for over a month now. I even went to the post office once (before I bought said envelope where I found out that they do not sell envelopes - guess the Turkish postal system isn't as capitalist minded as the US postal system) and then tried another time (lines were ridiculously long as the vast majority of Turks pay their utility bills at the post office - online bill paying is just taking off here).

So, I'd basically given up my hopes of voting in the primary elections. Then, I heard from a fellow teacher about an organization called Democrats Abroad. According to their website, DA is "the overseas branch of the Democratic Party." They are in over 100 countries. In 1976, DA became a "full Democratic state committee" meaning that they have voting rights in the Democratic National Convention.

For the 2008 election season, DA held a global primary. You could vote on-line (awesome!), by mail, or in person. The election, which took place in the beginning of February, is followed by a global caucus and the selection of delegates to send to the National Convention.

Last weekend I went to a nearby hotel where my passport was checked by the DA Turkey Committee members. Then I completed a registration form and voted!

They announced the results the other day:

32 - Barack Obama
18 - Hillary Clinton
4 - Uncommitted

(This does not include the on-line results which will be announced next week). The totals from all Democrats Abroad countries will be calculated. Because the delegate race between Obama and Hillary is quite close, many websites have started treating the DA Abroad primary like a primary from an actual state.

So, the future looks like this. Calculate vote totals --> regional convention --> global convention --> Democratic National Convention.

Pretty awesome that Americans living abroad are finally being given a chance to have their voices heard!

One of my students said that he thought everyone in the world should be able to vote for the U.S. President because "it effects us all." Interesting idea. Any thoughts about that?

A good week at work

Something of an abnormality lately...The administrative issues at this school are too many to count and I've decided to take an approach of only worrying/caring about things that I can change. Some things are just the way they are (i.e. disorganized) and if I can't do anything to change them, why waste my time and energy caring?

So, with that philosophy in mind, this week has been a good week at work. A good week should consist of the following things:

Cancellations - I have 3 private students at Vodafone and although they are all very wonderful, it's nice when cancel from time to time (I still get paid). So far this week, I've had 6 hours of cancellations (2 from me - food poisoning?, 2 from my student, 2 weather related - less than 1/2" of snow scared my students into canceling).

Interesting course topics - The text books my 2 group classes use (Market leader) leave much to be desired. So, this week we are doing the "Culture" unit which is so much better than "Markets" or the other boring crap they think students want to/should learn about.

No transportation nightmares - We are lucky enough to have drivers to take us to most of our classes that are in-company which is quite nice providing that they are no a) early/late/not there b) know that they should pick you up and at what time and c) are not driving like maniacs. I lodged a complaint with the HR Manager and now all of the cars *should* have seat belts soon (Mom don't read this).

Free food - Whether it be Vodafone lunch (which is good in one location, decent in the other), free coffees from your students or other such treats, free food always brightens a teacher's week

Talkative students - Nothing is worse than having to discuss a boring topic - like "Markets" with students who have no interesting in doing so. Just pretend a little, for me.

6 more hours to go this week!

By the way people - I'm waiting for your comments and e-mails. It only takes about 2-5 minutes (or less depending on how many words per minute you can type).

The New York Times

Today I read 2 interesting NY Times' articles. The first, which you can find here, advocates a "fairer" tax system. This fairer system would tax for obnoxious consumption (good idea!), sending spam e-mails (why didn't someone think of this before?), family and friends junk mail (YES! although my family/friends aren't that bad), and emoticon users ( :8) ). Finally, a way to pay off our tremendous budget deficit! (Thanks for the article Tracy).

Second, which you can find here, was sent to me as an alumna of Blair Academy. It details the life of a current female Afghani student and her soccer career.

I felt inspired and I miss writing things like this, so I wrote a letter to the Headmaster. See my response below. Please feel free to add your comments (but please don't correct my grammar - after correcting grammar all day my brain goes to waste at night).

I was very pleased to read the article in The New York Times about Ms. Kohestani. It's stories like these that make me proud to be an alumna of Blair Academy. I applaud both her for her courage and tenacity as well as the school community for accepting her and welcoming her in true Blair fashion. I'm sure it must be a difficult and fascinating, not to mention challenging, journey for her.

So often girls are denied the right to education for one reason or another. I've been living in Turkey for the past 13 months and have heard many stories about girls in the eastern parts of Turkey even being denied primary school education (which is legally required by the Turkish government) due to familial traditions. Of course, the situation in Afghanistan was drastically different from the situation in Turkey, but an overall theme can be seen: the lack of either options or opportunities for women in Middle Eastern countries to exercise their basic human right to education. Whether it be for political, religious or traditional reasons, women simply do not have the rights that we in the US take for granted.

Now is a historical time in Turkey. The Parliament has passed an amendment removing the ban on covered girls from attending university. This is causing quite an uproar as the secularists fear Turkey is headed towards Shariah law.

I, however, applaud this decision as a step in the right direction. A step towards keeping (many covered women flee to other countries for university) and educating intellectual, Muslim women. A oxymoron to some, but a necessity if Turkey wants to move forward in the world.

What is my point in writing this? One of the things I thought benefited me the most at Blair was the exposure to a multi-cultural student body. Coming from Blairstown, where just about everyone attends the same church on Sunday, does the same activities, makes around the same amount of money, has a similar ethnic background, and you can count the number of minorities on one (or maybe two) hands; I was starving for culture and diversity. And I found it at Blair. I regret not taking advantage of all the activities, lectures, and events that had a multi-cultural theme. I regret not making more of an effort to get to know the international students.

The most important thing that Blair gave me (or helped me develop further) was the desire to learn more about different cultures. I encourage the school to do more to find girls like Ms. Kohestani. To find more women who have had their right to education taken away from them for one reason or another. To find more Muslim students. To do more to increase the diversity that makes Blair so amazing.

That's enough for today. I'm recovering from being quite sick last night and should do some work before I go to bed.

My street

There is always a flurry of activity on my street. It's quite an interesting street. From what I hear, it used to be where the transvestite population of Istanbul lived. However, now, much of them have moved on to different neighborhoods, but a few stragglers still remain.

It's quite a diverse street for Istanbul standards. As far as I can tell we have Turks (of course), a good deal of Kurds, a few Americans, and maybe some French or Italians.

One thing that I really love about Istanbul is that people are constantly selling stuff on the streets. Not in an annoying way, but in a way that actually makes sense (for the most part).

Things that are sold on my street:

1. Simit - This is the Turkish snack standard. Kind of like a sesame bagel but without so much bread inside. There is a guy who walks down the street every morning screaming about his hot, fresh simit that was made in a stone oven.

2. Fruits and vegetables - Another neighborhood standard. Every day around 3pm, 2 guys with a pickup truck full of fruits and vegetables comes to the neighborhood. They walk up and down the street yelling about what they have and how much it costs. The housewives then buy the fruit by yelling their orders out the window, lowering the baskets down to collect the produce, pulling them back up, and sending them down with the money. Pretty convenient!

3. Boza - Boza is a winter drink made from fermented wheat. I haven't tried it, but I'm certain I won't like it. There is a bozaci who roams the streets at night wearing an excellent costume with 2 golden pots hanging from his shoulders. I want to buy some just so I can take his picture.

4. Socks - Occasionally a guy comes around and sells socks. Bay! Bayan! (Men! Women!)

5. Blankets - There is a blanket van. They have a megaphone-type set up and they yell about their blankets. Wool, cotton, 15 ytl. Again, very convenient.

6. The guys who buy old stuff/scrap metal - There are a few guys who prowl the 'hood looking to buy your old stuff (apparently they will take anything) or your scrap metal (should you hoard it in your house). They have very distinctive voices and use them to make their presence known.

7. The accordion guy - While he is not actually selling stuff and I only saw him today for the first time, he is quite excellent. I really should charge my camera battery. He was walking with his toddler-aged son and wearing neon pink fingerless gloves and playing the accordion.

8. The belt seller - Should you have a desperate need to guy a belt (Bay! Bayan!), don't worry. He comes around about once or twice a week to fulfill your belt needs.

I guess that's it. I'm sure I'll think of more or I'll hear a new one later.

Here I go again...

I haven’t been writing lately, at least on my blog. Not since December 2007!

After spending some time wondering why, I decided it was because I just wrote about my life. In all actuality, my life here is quite normal and at times, boring.

So, I’ve decided to take a slightly different approach and not just write about my life, but other things that interest me - politics, cultures, different articles I stumble upon on the lovely Internets!, links to interesting things. Writing about these things will not make me feel compelled to write such long posts.

Instead, I will post short, interesting things and hopefully I will do so more frequently. And I hope to encourage discussion by encouraging comments. Comments also encourage me to write more since I know that someone is reading. Post anonymously, I don’t care, just write something!

So, on to my interesting finds of the day. As many of you know, I have a slight Internet obsession. Mainly reading political and social commentary with some more nerdy stuff thrown in occasionally. I have a daily round of blogs and other websites that I read which often provide links to interesting stuff. We’ve been talking about “The Web” in my Elementary Business English class and it’s rather shocking to me that these 4 women don’t seem to find the Internet a) interesting or b) necessary because to me it is both of those and way more. I hear about something or read about something and immediately I want to find out more.

Side note: if you disagree with what I say, great! I’m not here to be preachy or try to make you think like I do, because I value debate and alternate opinions. Please feel free to voice them here.

This picture is quite powerful I think. Living in a Muslim country is a wonderful experience. I have learned so much and I am grateful for every second of it. The blind discrimination and prejudice by many Americans is only due to ignorance and unfounded fear. I’ve been here for 13 months and not one time have I met someone who I thought was a “terrorist.” Not one time did I fear for my life. Not one time did I feel uncomfortable because of religion. Instead, I found the complete opposite. I found a country of warm, hospitable people who are willing to bend over backwards to help you, who want to educate you about Islam, who are confused and scared because much of the world doesn’t understand them and their peaceful religion.

Of course, there are Muslim terrorists. But there are also Christian terrorists and Jewish terrorists and so on.

Asking for the world to live in peace is too much to ask I have learned. But I won’t stop educating myself and learning more and being tolerant. And I encourage you to do the same (ok I’m being a little preachy).

Onwards....to this article - a very interesting piece which explains that Google is going to OUTSPEND the US government on the environment in the fiscal year 2009. I always use Google as an example in my classes (creative company culture, flexible work environment, unique perks) and here I have another example - the social responsibility of a private-sector company outweighing (and outspending) the responsibility of the public-sector.

This leads me to a few questions. What can we do to further encourage the private-sector to develop environmentally-friendly products? What role should the government play with regard to the environment? Can we trust that governmental policy is actually going to benefit the environment and not merely for political and/or economical gains?

Ok! That was fun. I managed to combine a bit of my work life, my regular life, and 2 interesting issues into 1 post. And it wound up being a long post. Now I’m just waiting for the comments to keep me motivated...Sadie - that means you! And thanks to Tracy for the photo!