Reminders to yourself

Does anyone ever call themselves and leave messages at home reminding themselves to do something that night or get something ready for the next morning? (ie. "buy stamps", "(insert name)'s birthday is today", "call (insert name)", tape "(insert tv show name)")? I do all the time, and I wondered if anyone else does. It's not that I am ashamed, because it's pretty funny, and it works. I was just wondering who else does it. : P

This is why the rest of the world is more cultured than the US

So on CNN, there was a story about how people were freaking out over the cover of "Babytalk" magazine. There is a close-up picture of a baby breastfeeding. Yup that's IT. Here is the link to the article-it's an interesting read. Here are some exerpts:

"These readers weren't complaining about a sexually explicit cover, but rather one of a baby nursing, on a wholesome parenting magazine -- yet another sign that Americans are squeamish over the sight of a nursing breast, even as breast-feeding itself gains more support from the government and medical community."

"Babytalk editor Susan Kane says the mixed response to the cover clearly echoes the larger debate over breast-feeding in public. 'There's a huge Puritanical streak in Americans,' she said, 'and there's a squeamishness about seeing a body part -- even part of a body part.' "

My anthropology professor used to breastfeed her baby right in front of me and pump her breast too. I thought it was great that she could be so open about it. When people travel to places like Espana, Turkey, wherever, you will see magazines with naked people sold right on the street and not covered up with paper like they do here. And you will see tv shows and nude art. Big deal. People are open and proud of their bodies. GET A GRIP PEOPLE! Comments welcome as always.

Personal hygiene

I am going to divert from talking about Turkiye for a sec and talk about gross people. I was in the bathroom today at work and this lady came in the stall next to mine. She sat down RIGHT ON THE TOILET SEAT (how did I know? because I saw her feet not on the ground) and didn't even put toilet paper on it (hello, there are germs and diseases!). THEN she peed, wiped, and DID NOT WASH HER HANDS. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to puke! I wash my hands sometimes two times PLUS put antibac on. It's for reasons like this that I do that. SICK! DISGUSTING! NASTY!

Conflict in Lebanon

I read something somewhere that some evacuees were being transported back to the US through Turkiye-the town of Mersin. I was just there in Mersin. : / It's just kinda surreal.

New singer!

Everyone knows I am always looking for new music whenever I travel. My new favorite music is from Tarkan... I call him the Turkish Ricky Martin. : ) He sings in English and his music is great. It has Turkish sounds blended with pop stuff... slow, fast songs, etc. He's awesome! Check him out. Photo courtesy of this site. This is the pic on the cover of his album "Come Closer". His song "Bounce" is great too, as well as the song with the same title as the album.

UGH

TRAVELER'S DIARRHEA SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sad and tired

I am back. : ( I think the sad face explains it all.

I don't think I have slept in 48 hours either. Tuesday was my last day in Turkiye and everyone there made it incredibly special! Serkan's whole family gave me presents. Funda (sis) gave me a handknit scarf that she made and a jewelry box she painted and designed, Hasan (bro) gave me the famous Turkiye eye that wards off evil, his aunt who I only met once for 10 min gave me a handknit shirt, his uncle gave me some shoe figurines, his cousin Ibrahim gave me a wire candle holder, etc. It was amazing!! These people are so giving and so nice... I didnt want to leave. Monday night Serkan's mom made me a special dinner too of breaded meat balls and salad and they were AWESOME.

Tues night Serkan, Ibrahim, best friend Tolga, and friend Fazli took me out to this traditional Istanbul-type restaurant. I can't wait for people to see the pics.... and then to a bar and we danced Turkish style. : ) I only got about 2 hours of sleep (if that) bc I had to be at the airport at 530.

Ah, the trip home.... was awful. Turkish Air was fine getting to JFK from Adana and Istanbul (10.5 hour flight), but there were bad storms in JFK and we sat on the runway for 3.5 hours on the flight to ATL. I obviously missed my connection to Tally and had to spend the night last night in the ATL airport. That was fun. I didnt sleep a wink. I am exhausted and finally got home today (had to call in sick bc obviously I wasn't going to make work). Can't wait to sleep. The flight from JFK-ATL finally left at 1110 pm or something (supposed to leave at 730) and bc we sat on the runway so long, the fuel went down and they had to stop to refuel in Virginia. I had to pee there but someone took forever in the bano on the plane. A guy knocked and the lady answered back in a southern accent "I have diarrhea- I'm sorry". Great. So I held my pee until the seat belt sign was off, and we arrived in ATL at 140 am or something. To waste time all night, I basically talked on the phone til 3 am (thanks Mom), talked to Serkan probably 10 times after that, and watched Larry King's interview with Dan Rather. I didnt want to doze off b/c I was paranoid about someone taking my purse and carryon. The flight to Tally was great too-some dog was barking the whole time. UGH! I couldnt win. So the whole trip was about 36 hours total (Turkish time to Turkish time).

BUT totally worth it. : ) Pics coming asap.

Wow what a weekend

So we left Saturday to go to the seasıde and ıt was beyond amazıng. We went wıth Serkan,s cousın Ibrahım. In the mornıng though, Serkans mom made us such a nıce breakfast of eggs, sausages, bread wıth Nutella, and cucumbers and tomatoes (the staple here!). Hıs aunt came over as well as hıs nıece agaın, and we all played untıl we left for the beach. : ) And hıs dad showed me hıs grapes and plants.

The drıve was about an hour long and we ended up stayıng the nıght wıth Ibrahımis aunt and uncle (remember that Ib. ıs Serkans cousın from hıs dad,s sıde, and these people were from Ib.,s mom,s sıde). Theır apt. has an awesome vıew of the Medıterranean and the mountaıns all ın one. Plus the fantastıc pool. So we went swımmıng that nıght ın the pool and ın the Med. and then drank, and then came back and ate and went to sleep pretty much. Yesterday they (and Ib.,s cousın) took me to some castles about a half hour away. Whıle Ib. and the cousın drank beer, Serkan walked up wıth me to thıs castle used by the Byzantınes. THE BYZANTINES!!!! Well, let me correct that. The castle stands on ancıent ruıns and some stones are from the Byzantıne perıod, but really ıt ıs a medıeval castle. Stıll ıncredıble. It was buılt at the most brıllıant strategıc locatıon wıth a bırd,s eye vıew of the mountaıns and the sea. When I get home, I wıll do more research so I can label my pıctures accurately.

Only 2 more days and I really thınk I am goıng to cry. I started tearıng up yesterday at the thought of havıng to leave Serkan. Another trıp to Türkıye wıll be comıng soon....................... anyone wıllıng to come to the weddıng? ; ) Tonıght Serkan saıd that hıs mom was makıng a goodbye dınner and tomorrow hıs frıend Fazlı saıd he was goıng to make somethıng too. These people are amazıng!

Dream come true

On Thurs, Serkan took me to the mosque here ın Adana. I cannot even descrıbe thıs feelıng to everyone. Hıs mom gave me a scarf and long sleeves to wear ınsıde (dont worry, I have pıcs of me as a Muslım for a day-ıt felt so neat!). It was the most amazıng buıldıng I thınk I have ever been ın. Men were prayıng ınsıde, women were too (ın separate places), tourısts were takıng pıcs, and Serkan showed me the readıngs of the Koran translated ınto Turkısh. The mınarets were so hıgh, and the tıles ınsıde.......... all handmade and absolutely gorgeous. That was the hıghlıght of the trıp so far. : ) Serkan asked these two women to help me put on the scarf because he dıdnt know how to do ıt. hahaha

We also went to the area where the Amerıcan aır base ıs. That was ınterestıng. Yesterday we drove 4 hours to Neveşır (dang, I cant remember the spellıng) and to see Kapadokya (Cappadoccıa). I,ll tell everyone about that later ın the pıcs, but ıts one of the places I learned about ın art hıstory classes. Ancıent cıvılızatıon of people lıvıng ın caves and structures set back agaınst the Taurus mountaın range...... man, thıs place ıs just unbelıevable!!!! Centurıes and centurıes of conquerors and groups of people (and Alexander the Great!)!

Serkan,s nıece just got here and ıs screamıng. haha She ıs peekıng ın the doorway. Englısh really ısnt a barrıer-kıds are all the same. haha I am usıng the onlıne Englısh-Turkısh dıctıonary rıght now to talk to hıs sıster Funda. : )

Well today we are goıng to the seasıde (Medıterranean Sea). I guess we are leavıng ın a bıt so I better take a shower. GO ITALIA tomorrow!! : )

Merhaba

That means hı ın Turkısh. : ) I am learnıng so many new words and I love ıt!! Evet ıs yes, hayır ıs no, dış hekımı ıs dentıst (a lot of Serkan,s frıends are dentısts), çıkış ıs exıt, bıra ıs beer. How great!!

Well on Monday, we went around the bıg lake ın Adana and he took me to see hıs unıversıty. It ıs always so cool to see other unıversıtıes and how they are set up. Then we went to hıs frıend Atıla,s offıce (dentıst) and I had Turkısh coffee. YES I ACTUALLY DRANK COFFEE for once. Maybe that ıs why my stomach ıs actıng up (Doubletree Marsha). haha They do thıs thıng wıth the coffee here-when you are done drınkıng ıt, the brown stuff stays on the bottom, and you have to spın ıt around and tıp the cup upsıde down for a mınute or so. Then you put ıt back the rıght sıde up and see ın what pattern the graın has fallen and that ıs your fortune. Mıne was good.... and ıt saıd that Hole and the baby were goıng to be fıne! Then we drank beer by the lake and the vıew was absolutely amazıng of a yacht place\marına. Then we stopped by Serkan,s store agaın to say hı to hıs bro Hasan and then Atıla and hıs wıfe had us over for dınner and World Cup. They made thıs INSANE kebob and pork chops and chıcken and tomato salad. I also learned that thıs alcoholıc drınk called rakı ıs nasty. hahaha At least Italıa won that nıght!!

Yesterday we got up wıcked late (lıke noon) and agaın Funda made us breakfast. She ıs such a great person even ıf we can,t understand each other! She sets out my towels ın the mornıngs... I feel lıke I am ın a hotel. : ) Then Serkan showed me all hıs pıcs from when he was a baby and the cırcumcısıon ceremony (yıkes) they have... he explaıned to me all about the people who sponsor you and presents you get and all that. Hıs nıece Ece came over too (she ıs 3) and she mıght possıbly be the cutest kıd not related to me. haha She was smılıng all the tıme and laughıng and she gave me kısses. Serkan then took me downtown to show me Ataturk Park and downtown Adana. BEAUTIFUL. Then I watched the World Cup wıth 7 Turkısh guys. LOL And Tolga Marsha! (Hıs gırlfrıend ıs so pretty too!)

OOH I guess breakfast ıs ready so I should go. I wıll leave ıt at that.................... more to come. : )

WOW, I am in Türkiye

Hı everyone.... I am here, and ıts absolutely ındescrıbable. I flew ınto Istanbul (passed over England, Germany, rıght over Vıenna and near Budapest, over Bulgarıa, the Black Sea, and then ınto Türkıye). : ) I CANNOT BELIEVE I AM HERE STILL.... ıt,s lıke a dream. And I am stıll tryıng to get used to these Turkısh computers. haha Look at these dıfferent symbols-ş e € ö ç ü ğ

Anyways, I made ıt sound so easy to get here, but ın realıty ıt was basıcally a freakıng nıghtmare. We were delayed 6 hours ın JFK (supposed to leave at 6 PM Sunday and really left at 1230 AM). Part of that was sıttıng on the runway for oh I dont know.... an hour and a half ın the hottest plane on Earth wıth people yellıng at the flıght attendants ın Turkısh. I also met thıs guy Tolga who ıs Turkısh but lıves ın Boston wıth hıs wıfe and kıds and so we hung out almost that whole 6 hours whıch was really nıce. Well we fınally took off, and of course I mıssed my connectıon goıng from Istanbul to Adana. I had met thıs guy Vıctor (people call hım Tor) who ıs ın the Aır Force, and he was goıng to Adana too sınce there ıs an Amerıcan base there. So we were runnıng to our gate only to fınd out that we couldnt board and had to take a later flıght. We drank a beer and we were on our way. After ten thousand gate changes, goıng through securıty twıce, havıng Turkish Aır mess up my tıcket, etc. ıt was a relıef to see Serkan waıtıng for me ın Adana... ıt made everythıng worth ıt!!! Poor thıng went to the aırport 3 tımes not knowıng when I was comıng ın... he had called Turkısh Aır and they saıd I mıght not be on the flıght I was on because ıt was full, so he had to keep checkıng. : (

It ıs truly amazıng beıng here... so far I have met hıs mom who ıs the cutest thıng ever, hıs sıster Funda, cousıns, frıends. I was woken up thıs mornıng at sunrıse (517 AM) by the sound of the mosque and the man on top of the mınaret makıng the chants (I guess you would call them). That was unreal.... as everyone knows, Muslıms pray 5 tımes daıly. At sunrıse there are just chants and no prayer, but then there ıs a dawn prayer, noon prayer, afternoon prayer, sunset prayer, and nıght prayer. So I wıll be hearıng these every day 5 tımes a day. AMAZING........ I cannot descrıbe thıs. Last nıght Serkan drove me past the mosque ın Adana all lıt up at nıght and I couldnt take my eyes off ıt. My dream come true.

Serkan ıs just as gorgeous and wonderful as he ıs on the net and on the phone. And shy too. hahaha (he just told me to wrıte that) When he pıcked me up at the aırport and we met for the fırst tıme, ıt felt lıke a movıe. It's meant to be I thınk. : ) Hıs house ıs sooo cute, and hıs sıster just made us breakfast of bread, tomatoes, cucmbers, berrıes, orange juıce, and thıs sweet bread made from the oıl of sesame seeds.

Okay well we are off. Happy 4th of July! Untıl next tıme. : ) I wıll be havıng the tıme of my lıfe here.......................

The WB

So I was watching one of my all-time favorite shows, "Cheaters" (Saturdays at 9 on the WB) this past weekend, and I realized that all the commercials were aimed at people they thought were... I don't know how to put this.... lower class/uneducated?? By that I mean that the commercials were advertising help with credit card debt, erection problems, local chat lines, etc. as if to say that the only people who watch the WB are losers or something. That is really bad because that is not true! I love "Cheaters". I really don't know how to explain this....... maybe someone can help. I am really out of it today-maybe I will add more to this when I can think clearly.

The plight of Guatemala

This is an email I received the other day from Casa Alianza's distribution list. Casa Alianza is an organization located in Central America and is a branch of Covenant House New York. It works to protect the rights of children.


CONTINUED HARASSMENT AND AGGRESSION ON THE PART OF GUATEMALAN SOLDIERS AGAINST STREET CHILDREN AND EDUCATORS OF CASA ALIANZA

For the second time security forces assault an Educator from Casa Alianza

On Wednesday the 14th of June a group of street educators were conducting their daily activities with the street children. When they arrived they were surprised to find that a group of soldiers, who make up the “City Security Squadron”, had a group of street children standing up against the wall. They were searching them and, at the same time, giving them blows to the chest. The military were traveling on the motorcycles of the National Civil Police, as part of the combined operatives of the two governmental institutions.

An educator from Casa Alianza went to their defense and in response the soldiers assaulted him too. They put him against the wall, searched him and took his name down in a notebook. The educator explained to them that he worked for Casa Alianza and showed him the respective identification. The soldiers responded with crude language, giving them to understand that this did not matter to them. One of the soldiers said to them, “stop interfering in things, we could find ourselves meeting when we are not in uniform”, which was taken to be a clear threat.

Casa Alianza, along with various other organizations that work for human rights, are becoming greatly concerned recently, due to the fact that they hear daily of harassment of street children and street youth by the military forces. Such preoccupations were made greater when it was officially announced that the army and the police will strengthen their work together, and that the soldiers, as much as the police, will be equipped with support materials such as electric immobilizers and pepper spray. With the situation as it has been in the last month, this greatly concerns Casa Alianza, due to the possibility that it could increase abuses committed against children and adolescents.

On the other hand, the Prosecutor of Violent Crimes reported that up to May 86 bodies had been found with evidence of torture, of which, 60% of the victims were registered as having criminal records, and that the statistics indicate an increase in violent deaths.


STUFF LIKE THIS IS HAPPENING ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND WE NEED TO BE MORE EDUCATED ABOUT IT!

I DON'T GET IT

WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR SWEATERS OR SWEATSHIRTS WHEN IT IS 94 DEGREES OUT?!?!

In no particular order...

These are just things that I have thought about lately.

1. I did laundry today and it's great that the machines are so nasty that my clothes (specifically a pretty red dress I have) come out with more stains on them than when they went in the washer.

2. I saw "The DaVinci Code" on Thursday and loved it! I guess I am in the minority though b/c most people said they didn't like it (the ones that read the book BEFORE the movie at least). At work the other day, some people said I would like the movie so much b/c I didn't read the book first. By that I assume the book is better, and that the movie ruined it. (?) Either way, the movie was amazing. On my grading scale of A to F, I give it an A-. (As opposed to my favorite all time movies like "The Gladiator" that get an A+).

3. I also saw "The Breakup" today (Aniston and Vaughn). It made me laugh all through the movie, but the ending left little to enjoy I think. I give it a B-/C+.

4. I came to realize that in one year (November to November), my international travels will have taken me to Western Europe (Espana last Thanksgiving), Central America (Costa Rica a month ago), Eastern Europe/Middle East (Turkiye in 2 weeks), and Northern Africa/Middle East (Egypt in a month and a half). Damn. I am so lucky!! I can't sit still! : ) : ) I cannot imagine how many pics I will take on the two upcoming trips. Don't be surprised if there are 1,000 total.

Recent happenings

Wow, thanks for your comments on the high school major thing! That seemed to spark some debate. : )

So I decided to check out that new show on CBS on Tuesdays called the Tuesday Night Book Club. I could only watch it for 20 min though b/c it was just so made up.... despite the fact that it was supposed to be reality. Seven women from Arizona who meet every Tuesday for a book club end up talking about their marriages, sex lives, jobs, and kids and don't even read the books. There is a divorced mother of 3, a newlywed, a woman who has been married since 19 and wants to leave her hubby, a woman who had a husband with an addiction, a party girl (single), a trophy wife, and another I can't remember. Basically they all talk about how bad their lives are and cry about it. The newlywed and her hubby moved into a new house and she claims he won't help her with anything, while he says she nags. Usual stuff. It was good at first, but I still felt the whole thing was staged. Then I turned the channel. I may tune in again next week to give it another try, but I can't guarantee anything.

Other than that, the World Cup is going on.... Spain kicked a*s and poor Costa Rica keeps losing. I love the Cup though!!

Going to see DaVinci Code tonight-perhaps I'll put up a commentary about it.

Picking majors.... in high school?!

Sorry I haven't posted-I intended to yesterday and the day before, but when I tried to get onto Blogger, it didn't work. Anyways, here is a new law in the state of FL and I really don't know what to say about it...... other than it will affect my job a lot.

Jun 5, 5:05 PM EDT
Bush signs education bill requiring high school majors
By KELLI KENNEDY Associated Press Writer
DAVIE, Fla. (AP) -- Florida high school students will be the first in the nation required to declare majors and minors like college students, as part of a sweeping education overhaul bill that Gov. Jeb Bush signed Monday.
The provision, to begin during the next school year, is designed to bolster poor graduation rates by allowing students to study subjects that excite them.
A major could include traditional academic subjects like English and math or a vocational field such as carpentry or auto repair. Students still have to pass a core curriculum.
"Not all students are the same," the governor told a group of students from McFatter Technical High School in suburban Fort Lauderdale, where he signed the bill. "Some struggle with certain subjects while others excel. Our education system should not be a one size fits all system for every student, but it should adapt to meet the needs of each student."
Students are making great strides academically in elementary school, Bush said. But by the time they reach middle school, their interest starts to wane. By the time students are in high school test scores start to plummet.
"We see major declines in reading and math in 10th grade and that is not acceptable," he said.
The governor said all the provisions in his "APlus-Plus" plan will increase rigor and relevance at the middle and high school levels.
Yorlenis Rodriguez, 16, who has decided to spend her senior year studying nursing at McFatter, praised the program.
"It's better because you get an opportunity to work outside (high school) and make money, and I get a start on my college career," Rodriguez said.
Critics contend the education bill does little to address the real problem - a system that relies too heavily on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test.
"Florida has the worst high school graduation rate in the nation and it's only gotten worse under the A- plus plan," said Rep. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, who voted against the bill. "Rather than repair a flawed policy, we simply continue down the same wrong kind of path. I thought there was very little in the bill that would meaningfully change anything."
Rep. Shelley Vana, D-Lantana, applauded the vocation component of the bill, but said the plan overall is still fundamentally flawed.
"The A-plus-plus is attempting to remedy the fact that long term the A-plus plan doesn't really work," Vana said.
The bill (HB 7087) requires high school students to take a fourth year of math, as well as career planning instruction for middle school students.
Additionally, middle and high school students who perform poorly on the FCAT, must enroll in an intensive reading course. Teachers who fill vacancies at low performing schools or in subjects where there are shortages will receive higher compensation.
The bill also prohibits local school districts from starting the school year earlier than two weeks before Labor Day.
The starting date limit is a response to complaints from parents and the tourism industry about starting dates steadily creeping into early and mid-August, instead of later in the month - a move prompted by a growing emphasis on standardized education.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.

Here is the link to the article. I just don't get why we have to push students to pick a major in high school-they can't even pick one in college b/c they are so many opportunities.... I don't know if many 15 yr-olds know what they want to do until they are 60 yrs old. : ( Opinions????

I know, I know

I will post more Costa Rica pics when I get them developed.... what I do on every trip I take is take emergency cameras (disposables) in case my digital doesn't work (like if I forget to charge it, which happens RARELY). I want to save the disposable pics on a CD but CVS was out of CDs when I asked, so I have to wait to share the pics. They are good ones too... in due time, in due time. : )

Meanwhile.... the French Open continues, and Nadal gave me a little scare today vs. Frenchman Mathieu. Nadal dropped the first set, but won 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Phew. And on his 20th b'day too. Now his clay court streak is 56 consecutive matches won. The longest in the open era. My dilemma is predicting who will win the French. Everyone is saying Nadal vs. Federer... do I want to go with that? I think so. I actually don't know what to predict here for the winner. I think I will say Federer b/c he wants it so badly. But I don't know-Nadal fought back today. If I HAD to put money on it, I'd say Federer. He just has to contend with one of the most feared forehands in the game and the speed of Nadal. It'll be quite the match to watch.

And Costa Rica opens up vs. Germany in the World Cup. Vamos ticos!! (And Espana too of course!) I cannot wait for this!

Fotos de Costa Rica

I already posted the pic of the mariposa y flor, and here are some more. I will send out the whole album once I have them all uploaded. : ) The first is my all-time favorite view of any town we have been to... this town is Juan Vinas. The second pic is a demonstration/chat we had at a banana plantation. The third is the 2nd of 3 poisonous snakes we saw on the trip (we didn't see ANY last year!). This snake was later chopped up by our hiking guide Marcos b/c the group was scared of it. Someone almost stepped on this one. The last pic is of some Univ. of Costa Rica students skipping classes to watch Barcelona vs. Arsenal European League Championship. hahaha

Soy una "tia"!

I am an aunt. : ) Well, not through my brother, but my best friend in the world had her baby tonight!! Right on the due date too!! That is so crazy. I am entirely excited about this and extremely ecstatic. She has always wanted a baby and I remember when we used to talk in high school about how she wanted rosy cheeks and to wear overalls when she was pregnant someday. haha And now that dream has come true. Her mom called me at 1105 PM tonight and her first words were "I am a grandma!" and I went nuts. Jen had called me earlier today at around 1030 AM and said she was having contractions 10 min apart, so I knew it had to be close. When her mom called me tonight, I heard the baby crying in the background. How amazing.

One of my best guy friends Phil also called me tonight and officially asked me to be in his wedding next May 2007 (he had mentioned it before, but tonight was the official invitation, as I have been away in Costa Rica). I am very honored he asked me and so happy I can stand up there when he marries the great woman that his fiance is. : ) (Right Jess!)

My friends are having such incredible lives and I am so lucky to be a part of everything. I would never want it any other way.