Going on an adventure

So we leave for Izmir in about an hour. The bus trip takes 8 hours. I am hoping to sleep as much as possible to make the time pass. I have been battling a cold, but started coughing a little tonight. I am praying it does not get worse. I have been using my aromatherapy to keep it at bay. So far so good ;o). There is no internet where I will be staying, but I will have my phone. Call me if you need to get a hold of me. Take care everyone and much love!

Şeker Bayramı!!!!!!

So today is the first day of my blog dedicated to all things Turkish in my life, but it is not quite the first day Şeker Bayramı or "Sugar Holiday". This is the three day holiday following the end of Ramadan, which begins on Tuesday. However we did celebrate it at school today. My two classes of 4+ children visited the other classes and collected candy. It is a lot like trick-or-treating but you wear your Sunday best (not a costume). You are also supposed to kiss the older peoples hands and touch them to your forehead. This is what my kids are doing in the pics below. The couple work for the school and posed as "grandparents" to teach the children about this tradition. Also, I am told kids get money from their parents and relatives, and candy from everyone else.
I asked my teaching partner, Kezban, what the significance of this holiday is. In the US, we have reasons for holidays like Jesus was born, Jesus rose from the dead, America became independent, a president was born, and so on. She told me that it is a time to celebrate family and just be with them. If during the year there have been disagreements or quarrels with family or friends, this is the time you are supposed to make things right with them and start over.
This sounds like a very nice idea for a holiday. I will get to witness it first hand since I am going to Izmir with Murat tomorrow night. We are going to visit his family there, and his parents in Urla. I will also get to see Serdar (one of my best friends from Germany) and his family. We might even throw in a trip to Pamukkale and Aphrodisias at the end. We will see what we can see ;). Anywho...this is my blog about life in Turkey. I may write a little or I may write a lot. It may not have as many pictures, but it is more for finding out about my daily life here. Adventures, rants, raves, ponderings, and general info will all be found here. For blogs about my other travels outside of Turkey head to charbar137.blogspot.com . More to come whenever I feel like it.......hehehe.

I made the cool sign that is behind our faux grandparents.
Getting candy from our principal, Aylin.
Me passing out candy to a visiting class =).

Ela and Sudenaz