Istanbul update....and stories

I have almost been in Istanbul for a month. The time has flown by, and at the same time it is warped and I feel I have been here for months.....I have been researching job opportunities, and its hard when I dont know what is available, nor do I know what I want exactly, other than to be able to enjoy my life in Istanbul and the water...and I am aware that this is probably not possible, as once you get a job it takes you away from what you love....I have never supported this way of life, always hoping to create my jobs to be my life and not running my life....so this balanced with figuring out what I want as I go, has been an adventure these couple of weeks. I researched aupair, and tutoring...getting good responses with greataupair.com. Through a referrence I am currently employeed as an english teacher for a 2 year old girl. It is a first for both the family and me, and so we are both openly communicating as to the best situation...living out as they are over staffed in the apartment, the hours and such we will see how it all works out. I am also looking into a school in Kadikoy that just reached me about a job teaching kids and adults english there as well. 

I am currently staying with my new best friend Burcu (procounced Burju) who is the greatest support while I come home exhausted from the spoiled 2 year old, or freaking out about where I should stay...haha We have so much fun and support one another, its like we are sisters! So refreshing! 

The family I work for is in a ritzy area of Nisantasi. Their security doorman has asked me out for tea, escorted me to the bus stop, and we have shared in an embarressing miscommunication... where he was speaking Turkish to the girl I work with, Mabell, where I thought he was asking if I speak any Turkish, so as I am getting into the elevator I motion with two fingers saying,...I know a small amount...to see him taken aback and motion to me with his hands....biiiig.  ...Im like....huh?....as the elevator door closes....

And Mabell said that he was asking if I want a Turkish boyfriend.....lol I fell over in the elevator laughing, to Kayra's (the little girls amusement)...realizing that I just offended his manhood as a Turkishmen.......hahahaha...oops!

This is the first entertaining experience that has happened lately, the others are small and usually concern elderly Turkish ladies thanking me for giving them my seat on the bus, and before they realize I dont speak much Turkish they ask me all about if Im married or not...and to their sad amazement...I am not.

ooo I tried on sexy boots the other day! That was a highlight...I didn't buy as they weren't so comfortable and I was only looking....but it put an extra fun in my bounce as I left the store.

I enjoyed a cold walk around the Sunday market at Ortokoy. I had nothing to do as 2 of my 3 apartment searches canceled that afternoon, so I made my way to anywhere...ended up being Ortokoy, enjoying watching all the ladies constantly trying to get more business than their neighbor...I found a place to sit right in front to watch, which was perfect because I realized this grizzled old lady next to me seemed to be the runner of the whole event. They placed their booths in the small walkway from the boat port, so loads of people walk by at a time, and they are motioning with the cooking tongs...merhaba! merhaba! spinach..potato...cheese...sausage...over and over, and if the ladies are not motioning enough she yells out from her seat...and their tongs motion gets more enthusiastic.... as someone stops at a booth the old lady jumps up and ushers them to be the customer for the booth next door....or stands in front of the lady's tongs to get them to go to another place....it was all done very artfully and I enjoyed watching for a half hour...naturally being the customer for the lady she was not supporting.  :D  But as I left, I wondered if it was all for show, because they seemed to all be a team of some sort....

As I left, I looked up into a familiar face, which shocked us both. Anil, who helped me find my way home one night....It all starts on a bus through Besiktes...I asked the lady next to me if she spoke english, Im wondering if this bus goes to Etiler after Bebek...? and she doesn't understand anything except that she is getting off at Bebek and I should get off too and she will call her son for help because he speaks english....as I was getting off at Bebek anyway I got off with her, and was trying to tell her no no no its ok, I will get a Taxi, I dont need help ....but he arrived and helped me get a Taxi which was nice, and then ok, thank you, goodbye! (never to see eachother again, naturally as its a city of 18 million....) but there he was smiling at me in Ortokoy...I was startled at such a coincidence, especially thinking over all the random events that played throughout my day to have me standing here at this specific moment. We were both startled and laughing. We talked for a bit, he introduced me to his 7 guy friends, who were all startled and uncomfortably laughing about the foreign girl along his side at Burger King...and then he helped me find my next bus....it was a nice additive to the day of cold confusion...and bitter disappointment about an apartment in Osmanbey....but that is a story for another time.

Istanbuuuull.... :D