Cappadocia Pre-Blog

We went on a trip this past weekend to celebrate and simply get away. We went to the ancient Cappadocia region and stayed in Göreme. We threw this together last night to show some trip highlights. A full post with videos, pictures, and write up to come later tonight. 

kizilay and ulus

Happy Saturday! It is another beautiful Saturday in Ankara. The sky is actually pretty clear today, so you can see across the entire city to the mountains on the other side. I love it! Moving on...we made it through week 2 of school without any disastrous happenings. I am loving teaching, and I am beginning to see my students as little people to teach rather than little rugrats to round up everyday. They are so cute, and I am afraid I really love them already. I am starting to wonder how teachers can pass their kids on every year (excpet for those moments when they drive me crazy or do something so stupid and then I see how teachers happily let them move on to the next grade...i am kidding...a little). Anyway, school is good for both Bo and I. Thank you for all the prayers and support. I know we could not do this without all of ya'll.

Last weekend I was able to do some exploring of the city with some friends (two teachers at the school). Our plan was to go early Saturday morning to the House Cafe in Kizilay (a bigger and busier area of Ankara), and then we were just going to explore Kizilay for the day. Well, we did start out going to House Cafe, which is a restaurant that started in Istanbul and is delicious. We splurged getting fancy coffe drinks, an appetizer, and huge breakfast meals. It was wonderful, and the atmosphere was perfect. We sat outside on couches and every ten minutes or so a perfumed mist would spray from the ceiling (it sounds strange i know but it was so refreshing and acted like a free body spray for the rest of the day). After we finished eating, we started walking around the city. We found out Kizilay is more of a suburb where people live and shop and eat. It felt a little bit like walking around the suburbs of Chicago. It is really nice and clean, but there is only so much walking around you can do (especially when you cannot really ask anyone where to go or what to do because you cannot understand them or they you). We decided to hop on a dolmusch and go to Ulus, another area of Ankara that is more touristy and has more historic places and things to see.

Statue in Kizilay

Fountain in Kizilay

The House Cafe Patio

Brunch: Granola, Fruit, Tomato and Cheese Platter, Latte

Michelle, Brittany, and I at House Cafe

As we were riding to Ulus, we saw a huge crowd of people in a park and thought there was some sort of festival going on so we yelled "Enijectvar" (let me out) and got of the dolmusch to see what was happening in the park. We were pleasantly surprised to find out it was a wedding chapel and four wedding had just ended. We got to see all the brides taking pictures outside. They were decked out. It looked a bit like a scene from an 80's movie...lots of big hair and sparkles and poofy dresses and amazing bridesmaid dresses...we loved it. It was so funny because we were just walking among the wedding guests acting like we were suppose to be there. Brittany (one of the teachers) actually had the guts to take some pictures of the brides herself...I was too embarrassed to get out my camera but she said she would send me some of her pictures so I will try to get them on here...they are a sight to see.

The park beside the Wedding Chapel

Anyway, we decided we were probably very close to Ulus so we could just walk the rest of the way (even though we had no idea where we were going but we saw a sign saying Ulus and pointing straight so we followed)...we walked, and we walked, and we walked, and we walked, and then when I thought I might pass out from exhaustion we walked some more...We finally made it after who knows how long. We knew there was a castle (more like a fort actually but called a castle) on top of a hill in Ulus, so we knew we made it when we saw the castle. We were so tired of walking, but we knew we had to go up to the castle since we were there, so we started walking again. This time we were walking straight up some stairs because the castle is at the very top of the highest hill in Ulus. We took a picture at the bottom of the hill and again at the top so you can all see how sweaty and tired we were at the top...ha. We walked all the way up the hill (which was actually a really pretty walk because it was through an old village with old houses and roads and it looked like what I pictured Turkey to look like), but when we got to the top of all the stairs we could not find the castle. We saw it when we started, but we seriously could not find it anywhere. We saw some little boys playing, so we asked them "Castle?" and all they did was mimic us and laugh. That did not work. We looked up one more road, and then we just said forget it. We were so tired and my calves felt like they may catch on fire from burning any moment so we walked back down...defeated but elated to be going downhill. It was late, and we needed to get back because the school was having a dinner for all of us.

At the bottom, about to start the climb

View from the bottom

On the way up, peppers being hung to dry

Halfway: very sweaty already

View from halfway up

The castle seen from halfway up.

A of a pretty mosque

Here we are. This is as high as we could go.

We thought we would just catch a dolmusch or a bus back to Cigdem, but of course it was not that easy. We ended up asking around, and we ended up with our own personal bus finder. This Turkish man decided to personally help us find our way back. He even got on a dolmusch with us, told the driver we just needed to be dropped at the next stop, and told us not to pay. He stayed with us for about thirty minutes in total, until we got on our bus home. We probably exchanged about 20 words between all of us, but it did not matter to him. He just wanted to help us get home and never asked for money or anything from us. Maybe I will meet him again some day, and I will be able to thank him in Turkish (we started our Turkish lessons on Tuesday so I would like to think I will be able to have a conversation with a Turk before we leave...we will see...i am having a hard time with the pronunciations...i blame my lisp of course). He was the nicest man, and I am very thankful for people like him. We made it back to Cigdem and back to the dinner...but we did have to tell people we never made it to the castle...o well... we did not have to tell them we made it to the top of the hill but not just could not find the castle.

We love you and miss you lots.

-K and B

Mega Post

Ya'll....we're sorry. It is busy times over here. That being said, we're about to get down to business on this whole bloggin' thing. First week is over so we are ready to rock.

First week:
Kendall very much enjoyed her first week. She has characterized it as controlled madness. All her kids are around 5 years old and represent the Netherlands, Malaysia, Turkey, America, South Korea, Nigeria, Romania, Gambia, Japan, and Iran. They are silly and really fun. My room is on the same floor as hers and I get to watch her usher them in and out of class. They have a hard time changing from their shoes to slippers, getting water, unzipping jackets, tying shoes, and getting out their lunchboxes. So, it is comical to say the least. She is great with them. They listen to her and love her. Last week they started out with the letter A. She went and bought flat bread and cut it into the shape "A" and all the kids were A-mazed at the "A" bread. They told her how delicious it was. Who knew?

Here are some pictures of her munchkins.

Here are some more of Kendall's classroom. 

My classes have gone well so far. Something that is really cool is the enthusiasm of these kids. It is so different that the US. Kids here take so much ownership of their work. They are proud to do well, and know that their future is in their hands. We hardly have any serious behavior issues. I have kids from every country you could imagine. My high school ESL courses are essentially crash courses in English proficiency. They are offered to students who are capable in speech but need to understand grammar and improve their writing. We are moving from the most basic parts of sentence structure to varied syntax in writing, while trying to stretch their vocabulary. It is a huge challenge for me, because English grammar rules are so convoluted that I am having to revisit it from a completely new perspective. I keep looking at the language and saying to myself "OK, how do I separate myself from the fact that I understand these rules by default? How do I explain them?" It is more difficult than I imagined, but it is making me sharper and is really fun. My students are enthused and we are accomplishing a lot together.  I am also teaching a character course that is an alternative to Bible class. We're reading a scifi novel and talking about the morality and character traits presented. It's really fun. Also - Algebra. It's cool because my math course is also pretty much as ESL course and a lot of the kids in there are in my English classes, which is fostering growing relationships quickly. I am really enjoying myself. 

Here is my class. We meet in a converted lab.

 The view of the park behind the school. 

Here are some pictures of the school itself. 

The flags in the atrium are of countries the kids come from. 

Our mural of Ataturk. (The founder of modern Turkey). 

 Back patio and park behind school. 

And here is a little video of us hanging out Sunday. We miss everyone! Thanks for the support. 

on to day 3

We made it through day two, and then we came home and took about a 4 hour nap. I guess we will have to adjust to the energy level these kids require because I realized today I am nowhere near their level. They literally do not stop. Well, some times one student will finally calm down and quit running around the room, but only in time for the another student to begin his or her turn to run around the room. All in all, though, I really like my class. They can all speak at least some English, and I finally got all of them to talk to me today...phew! I will say, though, that I have to remind them of my name about every hour or so. So far I have been referred to as "Mrs. Fox" (by the same little girl over and over...o well...it has a nice ring to it I guess), "Mrs. Cox", and even "Mrs. Teacher" (I guess technically that is right). I also must admit I probably confused them a bit because the first day I introduced myself to them as Kendall...and it took me a few minutes to change that to Mrs. Knox...o well. Anyway, they are all a bunch of munchkins, and I already love them. I will try to take pictures of them later this week so you can meet them.

As for Bo's first days; he did have a crier. He said he was teaching one of his ELL classes when he realized one of the girls in his class was almost in tears. She is in the 7th grade and just moved here from Italy a few days ago. She speaks almost no English, so she must have just been completely overwhelmed. He went over to her and asked if she was okay, and he said the tears just starting streaming down her face. He told her she could go to the bathroom if she needed to, but of course she could not understand him which only caused more tears. He said he finally had to just lead her out of the room and point to the bathroom. He felt so bad for her, but he could not say anything to make her feel better. But today she was back in class, and he said she seemed much better. She even realized there was another Italian student in the class to help her out (Bo was so mad that this student did not speak up when the tears were flowing yesterday but at least he is now).

Anwway, I just wanted to let ya'll know that we made it through day 2...only 178 left to go! We will write again soon, but it the meantime you can be praying for our open house on Friday night. We have to talk the parents (I am already nervous of course...I would much rather talk to the kids). I also have some pictures of our classrooms, no students yet, but I figured these are better than nothing. We love you all and miss you so very much (I cannot even express how much). Lots and lots and lots of love,

B and K

Bo's Room

My Room

and a bonus picture...Bo found arbys at the mall...he was more than excited

1st Day of School

It's the first day of school. We are here and kids are starting to stream in. What have we gotten ourselves into? Just kidding... But really, pray for us. Not only are we both in a new place - we're both beginning new jobs that are actually new careers entirely. Please pray for the effectiveness of our school year, our nerves, and that the kids would be receptive in all ways to what is being taught at this school.

My Turn

We think the money looks pretty cool here, so we thought we would show ya'll (and, to be perfectly honest, it is my turn to post again so i needed something short and sweet). The money is short so here is my sweet: We miss you so very much and think about you all the time. We are specifically missing Boom's Day and Knoxville at the moment because it is coming up on Sunday. We would pay all this money shown to get to go to Knoxville just for Boom's Day (but really anyone would because it is only about $170 dollars, which of course would be an unreal price for round trip airfare from Turkey to Knoxville for two people...duh). Also, shout out to Marty...happy early birthday...we will miss "Martinpalooza"!

We will post more school things soon as school starts Monday, September 5. We (well most likely Bo) will also post some more fun stuff on what we have been doing lately around Ankara. Any-who, the point of my post...WE MISS YA'LL! lots of love, Kendall

The Demon Dogs Of Cidgem

        So, there are wild dogs here. We've been told roughly 300 of them live in our neighborhood and the surrounding woods. I love dogs; I have no intention of changing that. However, these guys are gnarly (and snarly!). They are descendants of wolves, most being roughly the size of a German Shepard with coloring to match. Some look like labs, some looks like mutts, but they are all scary when running through the streets in a pack. We've heard that several people have been bitten or attacked and to keep your distance.

"Don't mess with them when they're eating trash."
"Don't get around the groups."
"Don't get stuck with them at night."
"Stay away from the puppies."

PUPPIES? Someone said puppies. I don't care if they are the demon dogs of Cidgem (our neighborhood), puppies are puppies.

     In an effort to remind myself that I love dogs (because I truly do not want to come back to the US with a hard heart towards our noble companions) here are some pictures of some puppies we found behind the school, and a video of some wild dogs playing in the forest near our apartment.