Friday, March 19, 2010

Spring? Testing and Grateful Sentiments

It is nearly Spring Break! The temps are still in the 40's and I still see my breath as frosty puffs each morning as I get off the servis (teacher school bus) and again at night as I walk outside with friends. The nice thing though about the weather is that I have seen some stores carrying more flowers than they had been and if I really wanted to I could buy a potted tulip or two.

On a more educational note:
I have almost all my students tested and have scheduled their classes with me. They are quite funny at the end of a test or a testing session... they all say, "Thank you."
Never in all my years testing students at home did students say "thank you" for any test I ever gave them... I did hear them say "thank you" when I would reschedule a test... lol!

Well, my friends, there still remains some teacher tasks to do tonight... I better do some of them or I will not have any free time tomorrow.

Enjoy your first day of Spring and I will fill you in on how Spring came to Istanbul sometime tomorrow night or early next week! Please be sure to let me know how Spring came to you!



Sunday, March 14, 2010

Pi Day

Today is March 14th also known as Pi Day to those of us who (or have taught) teach math. If you will recall from math Pi is about 3.14... March 14th numerically at least where I come from is 3/14. However, nowadays, I right my dates the "European" way... 14/3/10. I say its the European way because that's what friends around here refer to this dating system as... back in February I was still dating the "American" way for my first 2 weeks or so, but at others I was European dating things. Now, I am always writing the European way. Which makes me wonder how I will be dating my checks when I get home after so much familiarity with the European way. Random thoughts I realize... but not too much has gone on here as of late. Testing students and teaching students are my norm.
Tomorrow I will do my first elementary staff inservice. All about modifying curriculum for students and especially how to do this in Elective Courses. I will also be explaining the link between learning struggles and behavior and how to address the behaviors appropriately. Should be interesting to hear what comes out of this inservice as I am not a 'talk at' you type of teacher... I am more like a talk with you kind of teacher... so it will be very much an open exchange of thoughts, questions and the like.
Gotta run... my timer just went off... think my lunch is done :)
Happy Pi Day!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Life and Times in Istanbul: Time, Teaching, and Ferry Travels

My days here are very full, but more than not they are a breeze. Testing, teaching and meeting with parents as needed... they seem to go by so quickly too. The nights of late are very windy and the mornings, late afternoons and evenings are quite cool too.

Its mind-boggling just how fast seems to fly here. Never has a day gone by so slowly that it felt unbearably long... quite the contrary days go so quickly its as if I have just gotten awake when its time to head home from work. At night, there have been a few days were a couple hours went so very slowly, but just as quickly as I thought this-- time sped up and before I knew it 3 more hours had passed and it was time for bed.

This city is so beautiful and both the Asian and European sides have things that make my journeys and explorations as exciting as can be. There is nothing quite like riding on a ferry with the sea breeze blowing through your hair and across your face. It is quite freeing and relaxing even as your eyes gaze across the waters, watch clouds flit across the sky, observe the seagulls who keep pace with the ferry's speed and take in the skyline of old and new Istanbul, history and present collide into one marvelous postcard type view and you see something new with each ferry ride.

This is experience both blows my mind and burns itself into the deep recesses of my heart and mind as memories are constantly being formed. What a blessing to be here, live here and to love what I do here vocationally as well as recreationally!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Official New Blog Site

Hey Everybody:
I have officially switched to this site as my one and only blog site. Please stop by often and get more updates about life in Turkey. You will find reflections on what I am learning, what I am teaching and sometimes the funny responses to my lessons that my students give, the food I am trying (eating and cooking), the sights I am seeing, and much more. Hope you stop by often and look forward to hearing your thoughts!