I know I've been promising to get you all caught up on my adventures for a long time now, and I will. But sometimes, a gal's gotta blog about whatever's going on in her life right now. And if I wait to get caught up on the happenings of the last six months before I talk about "today," then it will never happen. That's why I'm introducing the all new kruublogs in real time. Oh, don't worry, the stories about my personal journey since last summer will still come, so you'll eventually see how I got to where I am. But in addition to that, I'm going to jump ahead from time to time and talk about right now. So the stories won't always be in chronological order. And in order to avoid confusion, I'll be labeling all the up-to-date blogs with my new tag: "real time kruu." So if you find yourself being confused about what happened when, or if you just want to pop in and see what I'm up to these days, look for the "real time kruu" tag.
Today's blog will be the first real time blog. There's not that much going on right now, but I was thinking that my life right now is different enough that it might just be interesting to one or two of you out there.
As some of you know, I just recently moved to Turkey. I'm living in a small city called Bartin on the Black Sea coast, about 7 hours east of Istanbul. My flatmate is a young, Turkish woman who teaches English. I met her last summer while I was traveling here. She was my hostess from the Hospitality Club, and we had a great time together. We have another flatmate who I haven't met yet. She's from Poland and is also teaching English here. Right now, she's in Poland for the holidays, but she should be back soon.
At the moment, we are living in a one bedroom flat with a living room and kitchen and bath. The flat is divided into two parts... let's call them the North Pole and the Equator. Both of the bedrooms are in the Equator, separated by a foyer containing a wood and coal burning stove which, in addition to a couple of electrical space heaters, are our only source of heat in the flat. Now, I know you are all thinking that Turkey is a hot country, but that's not entirely true. It's not all that far south (and I'm at the northern limits), and there are lots of snow covered mountains. We had a ton of snow on Christmas, so it's not exactly tropical... except when we have wood and coal burning in the stove... but only in the Equator.
There's a loooong corridor leading to the North Pole.... the kitchen and bath. And let me tell you, it is coooold at the North Pole. There's a hot water heater in the bathroom for showers, but the air is so cold that by the time the water hits your body, it's already cold. My first (and only) shower (so far) lasted about 5 minutes... just long enough to lather and rinse with my shampoo twice on hyper-speed... to hell with the conditioner. The next day, I went out and bought a jumbo pack of baby wipes. So, living here is a bit like camping out. I asked my flatmate, Esen, why we didn't just bring one of the space heaters to warm up the bathroom and take our showers one right after the other, but she said that running the heater at the same time as the water heater blows the fuses. So much for my brilliant suggestion.
Esen, thankfully, takes care of lighting the stove. I don't know how she has managed to do it for so long. She has to lug a big bag of coal and wood up the steps and then she dumps everything (including the plastic bag) into the top of the stove and lights it somehow. Every once in a while, she has to stir it with a poker, because sometimes only one of the chunks of coal is burning out of the whole pile, so if that happens, it could be giving off carbon monoxide, and as she explains it, "You could be dead in your bed."
I really do need to get a picture of her tending to the stove before we move. Did I mention that we're moving? Yes, we are looking for a three bedroom flat with central heating. Esen figures that it will cost about the same, since the cost of coal has skyrocketed this year. Once we move into our modern, centrally heated flat, with hot water in all the sinks (only the shower here has hot water... we have to heat up dishwashing water on the stove) we will each be paying about $66 for rent.
There is one advantage to heating the flat with a stove... we save on cooking gas. When the stove is lit, all we have to do is put our pots and pans on top of it, and everything cooks in a jiff. I wonder how popcorn would turn out. Hmmmm.
One of my favorite things about Turkey is all the cats on the street. Yesterday, I went for a walk and found a friendly cat that let me pet him. He didn't care for having his tummy scratched, though, and he let me know about it. There's a long dirt road leading to the only supermarket in town (there are plenty of little stores and fruit and vegetable markets, but only one supermarket), and it is lined with apple trees. The road is often closed to vehicular traffic, so it makes for a really nice walk.
Downtown Bartin is pretty lively.... lots of stores, hotels, restaurants, and seems like a million Turkcell offices (the leading Turkish mobile phone company). And there are always people out on the street. The other day, Esen and I were among those out on the street. Thanks to my having studied Turkish with my favorite language program, the Rosetta Stone, I was able to spot a tea room with chess (satranç) boards. We went in for a cup of tea, and I taught Esen how to play. Once she started catching on, she wasn't all that easy to beat. We played a second game, and for most of the time, it looked like she had me licked. At one point, I was down to just my King and a pawn. But then, my pawn made it to the other end and was crowned Queen, and I started coming back. We were neck and neck for the longest time. I took most of her pieces and put her on the run. I finally beat her, but it was never a sure thing. I'm thrilled that I have a challenging chess partner.
And that's about all the news for now, and I know it's not too exciting, but I could use a little break from all the excitement. I'm going to be doing some traveling soon, so there's more to come. :)
kruuyai posted on Dec 29, 2008
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Comments
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beyondtheveil said on Dec 29, 2008....
kruugirl- This is truly amazing. I just wrote an almost rant post that mentioned you and here you are doing what I longed for. Do you read my mind? I love this. You've come through for me again, bless you.
I'm wondering how long it will be before you kidnap one of those cats and bring it home?
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diabolicdame said on Dec 29, 2008....
Wow that was such a fun read! Felt kind of like a travel show.. my favorite kind too! hehe.. very different from my world.. very interesting.. that walk you described lined with the apple trees sound beautiful! And baby wipes? Brilliant!! :-) -
Lucytorial said on Dec 29, 2008....
I love reading your posts Kru, there is such a tangible essence to them, I can almost smell the streets... :-P thank you! -
kruuyai said on Dec 29, 2008....
beyond: Nope, I don't read your mind, but I did just read your rant (after posting this). Thanks for the honorable mention... lol. And it's about time someone commented on this post... what's happening to this place? ;-)
Ah, the cats. Well, I've got catfood on my shopping list.. just to carry around in my purse with me so I can lure strays to my eager arms as I'm wandering about.
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kruuyai said on Dec 29, 2008....
diabolic: I'm glad you liked it. I love that apple tree road! I'm going to make it a part of my daily routine. And Baby Wipes... yep, they've been a part of my repertoire for a long time.. as well as baby powder for washing my hair when it's too cold to get it wet.
Lucy: Speaking of smelling the streets.... think of all those homes burning coal (and plastic bags), and you have a pretty good idea of what it smells like. You should see the black smoke pouring out of all the chimneys.
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Fallyn said on Dec 29, 2008....
i don't know if you can find it in turkey but a cousin of mine moved to turkey from america in the fifties and wrote a book on her experiences rather recently.
It's called "A Bed of Roses" by AnnaMaria Malkoc, my mother and I have been taking turns reading it to my grandmother. It's very interesting.
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kruuyai said on Dec 29, 2008....
Fallyn: I would love to read it. So far, I haven't even seen a bookstore here. How long did your cousin live in Turkey? Do you know what part of the country she lived in? -
kruuyai said on Dec 29, 2008....
One thing I forgot to mention was that going to the bathroom (or the kitchen) in this flat is a sure cure for hot flashes... so there's a bright side to everything. -
Fallyn said on Dec 29, 2008....
i know she lived on the black sea coast....but not sure where.
and she lived there for a very long time. her husband was turkish. she raised her family there for the most part.
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uniquely-ironic said on Dec 29, 2008....
Turkey sounds beautiful and nostalgic, but too cold! I'd be scared to death of that stove, despite the much needed heat. You have such an adventurous life! -
mobil said on Dec 29, 2008....
I forgot why you are traveling around so much, answer that for me if you will?Otherwise, Turkey? Who in the hell lives in Turkey? There are Turks over there in case you hadn't noticed?Hope you know how to get that coal cranked up young lady, takes allot more heat than a wood fire to get it going. -
pickersplock said on Dec 29, 2008....
I'd better stop in later, after I've gotten the pigs off my tail! -
Me-Myself&I said on Dec 30, 2008....
you are a remarkable person! i enjoyed reading your posts. to me you are a real time kruu all the time. Happy New Year! -
MissMimi said on Dec 30, 2008....
Kruu-ey, I'm so glad you're blogging again! You have the most interesting life. It's like adult story hour. I'm going to sit next to my friend beyond, and enjoy listening to you. -
queenparanoia said on Dec 30, 2008....
kruu i miss you my friend!!! i'm glad youre blogging about your adventures again... ;-) wow youre in turkey! i hope you enjoy staying there i heard that turkey is a lovely place... how's the food??? have you found any exotic pastries there? -
kruuyai said on Dec 30, 2008....
Fallyn: I'm definitely going to try to find that book. I'm sure I could learn a lot. And what's really amazing is that she went there in the 50's, before it became popular to come here...lol. How did she meet her husband?
uniquely: Well, you know, it's such a big country that living here is like being in New England (weather-wise), but down south in Antalya, where I started out, it's more like northern Florida. So there's a lot of diversity, not just with the weather, but also with the landscape, architecture and culture. I'm going to enjoy exploring.
mobil: Why am I traveling around so much? Hmmm, that's a very good question. I must be looking for something. Only problem is.. I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for!
"There are Turks over there in case you hadn't noticed?" And that is exactly the reason I am here. The Turks are the most wonderful people I have ever met in any country I've ever been in. Last summer, when I arrived by boat and had to find my way half way across the country by bus (making many transfers to get to the bus station), without knowing a word of the language in a country where not many people speak anything but Turkish, I felt like I was carried along on a wave of love. Everybody that crossed my path actively helped me to get where I was going.. without me even having to ask for help! The Turks are the most hospitable people in the world. My hosts here last summer took such good care of me. They are very friendly and will start up a conversation with anyone. My flatmate told me that when you start out on a bus or train ride as strangers, by the end of the ride, you will end up knowing everything about the other person. And I saw that was true. People on the buses were always very chatty with each other. Even on my flight to Istanbul, the university that was sitting next to me, traveling with his 5 year old brother, talked with me the whole time... and it was a nice conversation. When we arrived, he asked me if I needed help with anything, and he helped me find the shuttle bus I needed, taking time out to do it, even though he was being reunited with his brothers at the airport after a long absence. So, that's why Turkey.
The coal... I don't know anything about it. My flatmate takes care of it, but hopefully, we'll be moving soon.
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kruuyai said on Dec 30, 2008....
pickers: Did you get them out yet? I know those pigs can be quite the hangers on once they get in your tail!
MM&I: Happy New Year to you, too! :)
Mimi: Hee hee... you two get cozy by the fireplace with a bit of eggnog, and I'll keep you entertained. :)
queen: Hey! I missed you too! And I'm so happy to see you're in a new relationship. That's great news. The food is great! So fresh. And I love the cheese and the bread. It's quite an improvement over Prague food. I haven't gone exploring for pastries yet, but I've seen a few pastry shops. I'll keep you posted.
And now, dear friends, it's time to go and enjoy the falling snow. :)
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pickersplock said on Dec 30, 2008....
Yeah, we lost them on a high speed car chase through Hershey Pennsylvania! -
mobil said on Dec 30, 2008....
Hey send me a couple a Turks will ya? I'm kidding, sounds like you're traveling for adventure, this is good.I liked your discription of the Turkish people too, I hope things work well for you there Kru. -
kruuyai said on Dec 30, 2008....
pickers: Damn, those pigs really knew how to give you the slip, didn't they? And you fell right into it! I hope it was extra dark and full of nuts. :)
mobil: Thanks, mobil. I hope to keep you entertained with stories of my adventures. ;-)
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Fallyn said on Dec 30, 2008....
i'm not really sure how she met her husband, the book starts after her first child was born and they were waiting for months in new york city for the steamer to get there to take them to turkey.
i'm sure the information is in the family somewhere.
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kruuyai said on Dec 30, 2008....
Fallyn: Wow, they took a steamer there! That would be so cool, wouldn't it? Don't you wish you could go back in time sometimes and have some adventures like they used to have? Traveling is just too easy nowadays.
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Fallyn said on Dec 30, 2008....
i do..i think it would be so awesome.
...they waited in NYC for like 4 months...and the steamer they had tickets for just kept getting more and more delayed.
then they were the only passengers who weren't cargo class....so they got to eat with the captain every night and stuff.
what i can't get past is having a baby on the ship...and dealing with all of that.
i think that would be so hard.
I think they were on the ship for at least a month. but i might be wrong.
a very interesting story.
i met her daughter a couple times, i don't think i ever met her.
i have quite an extended family, there are lots of stories in my family. i'm just glad she was able to tell hers.
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kruuyai said on Dec 30, 2008....
Wow, and I complain about having to arrive at the airport two hours before take off. Think of how expensive it would be to hang out in New York for four months nowadays. And yeah, dealing with a baby on a ship would be horrible. Sea sickness and all that. Yuck! -
Fallyn said on Dec 30, 2008....
the lease on their apartment ran out. and they had no money to keep renting.
they ended up staying with friends and wiring old school mates for money.
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kruuyai said on Dec 30, 2008....
Yipes. Well, I guess they were really desperate to get to Turkey, huh? -
cuppajava said on Dec 30, 2008....
I really enjoyed reading this,and i hope that you will be posting more soon.I was kinda thinking of doing a similar type of posting for the new year
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kruuyai said on Dec 31, 2008....
cuppa: I look forward to reading your updates. :)
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