I am (sometimes) so good at complicated things. But I will listen to a friend who said that we live the life in stages and (hopefully) learn and evolute. I am not so sure about the learning part, I must have been learning too slowly.
still, I am faithful to my slogan: Whatever happens, happens to the best.
Sunday, July 27
Saturday, July 12
What you should never do...
... in Eastern countries do not try to go to the Western places and don't try Western food
i have made this conclusion again and again and last time after the night-club in Diyarbakir. The bar was a bit better but that's not where the people go, and it in no way looks like in the West. But nargile and tavla places are nice...still it is not the culture to go out in the evenings. And not a culture to travel around stay at hostels/hotels. If they travel, they stay at their relatives.
I can advise the book by Tom Brosnahan 'Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea'
It filled in my siesta times and waiting times perfectly and blended with my own experiences in a new, better insight.
And I do miss the strong tea. Not that much the bright sun, maybe. And I miss our gang. Problems bring people closer together. It is true.
i have made this conclusion again and again and last time after the night-club in Diyarbakir. The bar was a bit better but that's not where the people go, and it in no way looks like in the West. But nargile and tavla places are nice...still it is not the culture to go out in the evenings. And not a culture to travel around stay at hostels/hotels. If they travel, they stay at their relatives.
I can advise the book by Tom Brosnahan 'Turkey: Bright Sun, Strong Tea'
It filled in my siesta times and waiting times perfectly and blended with my own experiences in a new, better insight.
And I do miss the strong tea. Not that much the bright sun, maybe. And I miss our gang. Problems bring people closer together. It is true.
Friday, July 11
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii - Part II
I will start with correcting myself a bit. The guy who was saying he speaks both Kurdish and Zazakish is not from a mixed family, but 100% Zazakish and does indeed speak Zazakish (witnessed today) and has taught me correct basic Kurdish (kids understand me on streets). His name is Aziz by the way. And he is a terrible driver (good by Turkish standards). He almost killed us on the way from the airport when we arrived. And today in the evening because the bus did not come at all (not more or less), he came with his minivan again to take us to the dorms... in his minivan of capacity = 5, we fit 11 people: me and Vahab on the front seat, 4 girls on the back seat and 4 guys in the trunk.
Driving at the red light is tolerated here. If the road is free (possibility to squeeze in, cross fast...).
Yes, another correction. We were not asked to take a headscarf for visiting the mosque because they give them there, but of course we needed to wear one. That is not so liberal as in Prishtina. I put mine on already when we were climbing the wall because my head was burning. And all the Turkish guys really liked it. They said it looks good on me and Vahab write on his mobile phone that I will make a good muslim wife.
Before the mosque we walked in the old King's Palace, which was a prison till last year when they finally recognized the touristic value of the palace and started the renovation works.
It is very hard to obtain any information here about the places we visit because the Turkish guys cannot explain well in English and moreover, they don't seem to know much about their city. Which is a pity because it is visible that it could tell a lot.
The interesting thing Serdar told us today was that the Kurdish kingdom in the beginning of the time was ruled by a woman. Amida or Ameda was the first ruler and that is also the name of Diyarbakir in Kurdish. The Mesopotamian nations at that time were all matriarchates, it seems.
Here is the 2nd dose of pictures from today.
Google is switching to Turkish time after time :)
Iyi geceler / şew baş
Driving at the red light is tolerated here. If the road is free (possibility to squeeze in, cross fast...).
Yes, another correction. We were not asked to take a headscarf for visiting the mosque because they give them there, but of course we needed to wear one. That is not so liberal as in Prishtina. I put mine on already when we were climbing the wall because my head was burning. And all the Turkish guys really liked it. They said it looks good on me and Vahab write on his mobile phone that I will make a good muslim wife.
Before the mosque we walked in the old King's Palace, which was a prison till last year when they finally recognized the touristic value of the palace and started the renovation works.
It is very hard to obtain any information here about the places we visit because the Turkish guys cannot explain well in English and moreover, they don't seem to know much about their city. Which is a pity because it is visible that it could tell a lot.
The interesting thing Serdar told us today was that the Kurdish kingdom in the beginning of the time was ruled by a woman. Amida or Ameda was the first ruler and that is also the name of Diyarbakir in Kurdish. The Mesopotamian nations at that time were all matriarchates, it seems.
Here is the 2nd dose of pictures from today.
Google is switching to Turkish time after time :)
Iyi geceler / şew baş
Thursday, July 10
Hello from Diyarbakir
We are having a siesta again, so I took shower, changed my nail polish, epilated my legs and now I am at my computer again. I have been a lazy girl again with my blog, I know...
But after reading Laura's blog from ISUM (I have added it on the right side) I finally got the hmmm... courage, power, will to make an effort...don't know what you need to write your blog. But I got it.
So.... how is an AEGEE Summer University in Diyarbakir?
We were sitting on the concrete edge with some guys, after the swimming pool today and talking that we should change the name of this summer university from the current "The Guard Of The Dreams Diyarbakir Walls And The Others" (which I still fully don't understand, to confess you) to "Summer University - More or Less". We were told that the bus which was supposed to take us back to the dorms had already arrived. But it had just arrived "more or less", as well as any other part of the daily program here is always "more or less".
Mostly we eat and have siesta.
We were supposed to have a photography course but there is some problem with the teacher. He is just not. Or "more or less" not.
Yesterday, we had to go to the conference hall at the university to watch a movie about Diyarbakir and the great city walls, but we managed to see only the first 10 min because the battery of the laptop was low and the guy had forgotten the cable at the dorms.
But I had a great program for myself yesterday while the others were having the afternoon siesta. The first night my bags stayed in Istanbul because I was not informed that I need to take them out in Istanbul and check them in again. The girl in Prishtina checked them in for the whole way, but because there is no custom control here in the Diyarbakir airport, I had to check them in again in Istanbul... well, next time I will know if there is any next time. Of course.
The flights were perfect. I had almost 5 hours in Istanbul, but because of long queues at the passport control due to the many tourists, they were considerably shortened. Still I managed to go to the center and spent a lovely hour with Cherie. We were sitting in one of those fish restaurants under the bridge in Eminonu and I had a beer and cay. On the way back to the tram, a Gambian guy started to talk to me and I was in my happy-love-everybody-be-nice-to-everybody-be-tolerant-etc mood and we had a short nice talk. He was on vacation in Istanbul and was inviting me to visit Gambia because it is also very nice. Why not? I would love to visit Latvian ex-colonies, though I know it is bullshit...it was short and long time ago and we were rather under Germans. I gave him my msn address and my Turkish mobile number. But yesterday someone was buzzing me almost 30 times till I blocked the number and it was buzzing from a different number... ok, I don't mind to pick up, but I am not going to spend money on him. We can be friends and that's it. I made it clear and he seemed fine with it. Still he is not yet such a precious friend for me that I would call back and spend my money on him. There can't be anyone else to buzz me here in Turkey from a Turkish number...
Ok, about yesterday. After we picked up my luggage, which luckily was not lost and arrived in a good shape, we went to the driver's place because he wanted to change clothes. While he was changing clothes, we were sitting in the office of his dad's company, which sells all kind of IT accessories. The offices were a bit too big and fancy for a small shop, which sells comp-mice and USB sticks. But, as I saw some catalogs on the table, maybe they also accept orders for bigger (and more expensive) equipment. I really liked Serol's dad. He was totally cool and spoke a little bit of English. He did indeed look a bit Scottish with reddish hair and light skin with sunny-dots (I will look up the proper name later here...:P). Sooner or later of course we started to talk about the Kurdish question. And I liked their stance. He said if he could choose what to be born this time or next time, he would never choose to be Kurdish. They don't want independence, but they want just a peaceful, prosperous life were you can be what you are and talk what you think. After the movie at the university we were supposed to give a short introduction speech why we are here IN TURKEY and how do we like TURKEY. Please don't use the name KURDISTAN. And it was strange because we were just with the guys of AEGEE-Diyarbakir. But maybe the technician guy could overhear or there are bugs in the conference hall?
And we try to learn Turkish and we want Turkish music and we talk about Turkey. Of course. Because the Turkish guys are Turkish and they speak Turkish between themselves. Most of them cannot speak Kurdish or Zazakish. They called themselves "assimilated" the first night so much that I was even hearing it in my dreams I think. Which is kind of sad and I hope that terrorists (yesterday we read that 3 German tourists have been kidnapped on the Ararat mountain by the Kurdish terrorist group - the Workers' Party) are punished with justice, Turkey moves from a military-coup-formed country to a true democracy, and the kids of these "assimilated" turks will have the possibility to learn the language(s) of their ancestors. The Kurdistan (or we decided to replace it with piiiiiiiiiiii sound - so hereafter I am gonna do that) in the Norther Iraq gives these people a hope. One guy told me that his female friend is now studying in Arbil to become a primary and Kurdish teacher.
Zazakish - is a language related to Kurdish but they cannot understand each other. At least 3 of our Turkish guys are from mixed Kurdish-Zazakish families. In one case the guy speaks both languages and, of course, Turkish. At least that is what I understood from his poor English. Maybe he is just boasting about his knowledge of many languages. Because I can say that his English and Russian do not really count. And if his Kurdish and Zazakish are in a 1000% better level, they would still not really count. A more common case, represented by 2 out of our hmmm...7? guys is that parents speak Turkish between themselves and with the children. So they don't know the languages of their mothers and fathers. Maybe they also want to protect them and give them a better chance for a better life as truly "assimilated Turks".
We need to go soon to the city again. So I should stop writing about politics. The yesterday we were in the city for the first time because we live quite far outside in the dorms. The city is really special and beautiful. I have put some pictures on my webpicasa.
We visited some really old churches and maybe today we are going to a mosque. So I should redress and put long pants on, and some shirt which covers my shoulders and take a scarf with me, just in case. Though, I think it was not obligatory.
And, yes, the last comment about yesterday - we had a great improvised party here in the dorm with some crazy dancing. I twisted my shoulder again - though just for a second. But it hurts a bit today and I was more careful swimming.
Yes, and it is hot. But after Skopje and Prishtina I don't really feel the difference if it is hotter or not. The same about food. After Sheptim's mom's stuffed paprikas the food is very common and fine for me. The other girls are saying they are gonna lose some weight here.
As I am such a lazy writer, I won't promise a new post any time soon, but just some time "more or less"
But after reading Laura's blog from ISUM (I have added it on the right side) I finally got the hmmm... courage, power, will to make an effort...don't know what you need to write your blog. But I got it.
So.... how is an AEGEE Summer University in Diyarbakir?
We were sitting on the concrete edge with some guys, after the swimming pool today and talking that we should change the name of this summer university from the current "The Guard Of The Dreams Diyarbakir Walls And The Others" (which I still fully don't understand, to confess you) to "Summer University - More or Less". We were told that the bus which was supposed to take us back to the dorms had already arrived. But it had just arrived "more or less", as well as any other part of the daily program here is always "more or less".
Mostly we eat and have siesta.
We were supposed to have a photography course but there is some problem with the teacher. He is just not. Or "more or less" not.
Yesterday, we had to go to the conference hall at the university to watch a movie about Diyarbakir and the great city walls, but we managed to see only the first 10 min because the battery of the laptop was low and the guy had forgotten the cable at the dorms.
But I had a great program for myself yesterday while the others were having the afternoon siesta. The first night my bags stayed in Istanbul because I was not informed that I need to take them out in Istanbul and check them in again. The girl in Prishtina checked them in for the whole way, but because there is no custom control here in the Diyarbakir airport, I had to check them in again in Istanbul... well, next time I will know if there is any next time. Of course.
The flights were perfect. I had almost 5 hours in Istanbul, but because of long queues at the passport control due to the many tourists, they were considerably shortened. Still I managed to go to the center and spent a lovely hour with Cherie. We were sitting in one of those fish restaurants under the bridge in Eminonu and I had a beer and cay. On the way back to the tram, a Gambian guy started to talk to me and I was in my happy-love-everybody-be-nice-to-everybody-be-tolerant-etc mood and we had a short nice talk. He was on vacation in Istanbul and was inviting me to visit Gambia because it is also very nice. Why not? I would love to visit Latvian ex-colonies, though I know it is bullshit...it was short and long time ago and we were rather under Germans. I gave him my msn address and my Turkish mobile number. But yesterday someone was buzzing me almost 30 times till I blocked the number and it was buzzing from a different number... ok, I don't mind to pick up, but I am not going to spend money on him. We can be friends and that's it. I made it clear and he seemed fine with it. Still he is not yet such a precious friend for me that I would call back and spend my money on him. There can't be anyone else to buzz me here in Turkey from a Turkish number...
Ok, about yesterday. After we picked up my luggage, which luckily was not lost and arrived in a good shape, we went to the driver's place because he wanted to change clothes. While he was changing clothes, we were sitting in the office of his dad's company, which sells all kind of IT accessories. The offices were a bit too big and fancy for a small shop, which sells comp-mice and USB sticks. But, as I saw some catalogs on the table, maybe they also accept orders for bigger (and more expensive) equipment. I really liked Serol's dad. He was totally cool and spoke a little bit of English. He did indeed look a bit Scottish with reddish hair and light skin with sunny-dots (I will look up the proper name later here...:P). Sooner or later of course we started to talk about the Kurdish question. And I liked their stance. He said if he could choose what to be born this time or next time, he would never choose to be Kurdish. They don't want independence, but they want just a peaceful, prosperous life were you can be what you are and talk what you think. After the movie at the university we were supposed to give a short introduction speech why we are here IN TURKEY and how do we like TURKEY. Please don't use the name KURDISTAN. And it was strange because we were just with the guys of AEGEE-Diyarbakir. But maybe the technician guy could overhear or there are bugs in the conference hall?
And we try to learn Turkish and we want Turkish music and we talk about Turkey. Of course. Because the Turkish guys are Turkish and they speak Turkish between themselves. Most of them cannot speak Kurdish or Zazakish. They called themselves "assimilated" the first night so much that I was even hearing it in my dreams I think. Which is kind of sad and I hope that terrorists (yesterday we read that 3 German tourists have been kidnapped on the Ararat mountain by the Kurdish terrorist group - the Workers' Party) are punished with justice, Turkey moves from a military-coup-formed country to a true democracy, and the kids of these "assimilated" turks will have the possibility to learn the language(s) of their ancestors. The Kurdistan (or we decided to replace it with piiiiiiiiiiii sound - so hereafter I am gonna do that) in the Norther Iraq gives these people a hope. One guy told me that his female friend is now studying in Arbil to become a primary and Kurdish teacher.
Zazakish - is a language related to Kurdish but they cannot understand each other. At least 3 of our Turkish guys are from mixed Kurdish-Zazakish families. In one case the guy speaks both languages and, of course, Turkish. At least that is what I understood from his poor English. Maybe he is just boasting about his knowledge of many languages. Because I can say that his English and Russian do not really count. And if his Kurdish and Zazakish are in a 1000% better level, they would still not really count. A more common case, represented by 2 out of our hmmm...7? guys is that parents speak Turkish between themselves and with the children. So they don't know the languages of their mothers and fathers. Maybe they also want to protect them and give them a better chance for a better life as truly "assimilated Turks".
We need to go soon to the city again. So I should stop writing about politics. The yesterday we were in the city for the first time because we live quite far outside in the dorms. The city is really special and beautiful. I have put some pictures on my webpicasa.
We visited some really old churches and maybe today we are going to a mosque. So I should redress and put long pants on, and some shirt which covers my shoulders and take a scarf with me, just in case. Though, I think it was not obligatory.
And, yes, the last comment about yesterday - we had a great improvised party here in the dorm with some crazy dancing. I twisted my shoulder again - though just for a second. But it hurts a bit today and I was more careful swimming.
Yes, and it is hot. But after Skopje and Prishtina I don't really feel the difference if it is hotter or not. The same about food. After Sheptim's mom's stuffed paprikas the food is very common and fine for me. The other girls are saying they are gonna lose some weight here.
As I am such a lazy writer, I won't promise a new post any time soon, but just some time "more or less"
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