Signs of summer????

The weather today is so gorgeous, really warm and sunny it makes living here worthwhile. Travelling on the bus I get such a stunning view of the Bosphorus as the sun reflects off the sea. I can't wait for summer to get here, our first summer in Istanbul, I can see it now - kids playing in the pool, walks along the harbour at night in warm evenings. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh come on summer!!!!

Unbelievable

Went to the local shop yesterday to get my fruit and veg and other things. Got to the till, had my handbag and rummaged through it - oh my god forgot my purse. Oh no what to do???

I said "Ben param yok" (I have no money) - I couldn't remember the word for purse/wallet for the life of me!!

She then said "Bu Akşam veya sonra, something something something" she was saying "this evening or next time" she then helped me pack my shopping and let me go with it!??!?!?! It was 30tl worth of shopping too, unbelievable how much trust these people have.......................

I then thanked her (in Turkish obviously) and walked away with my shopping. I sent Alex round with the money when he came home!!

Home............................

We were talking after our Turkish exam on Thursday about the UK and how different it is to here.

One of the girls is from Peru and visited the UK, London I think, and mentioned how she didn't feel safe walking around at night. I feel sad when people say things like this because it makes me realise how bad things are there. The hoodies and gangs make it this way and not much seems to stop them. What concerns me most is the fact that when we go back Alex will be 14 and Hannah 12 just the right time to become hooligans. I really hope we are able to instill some respect into them while we are here. We are also seriously considering private school in the UK for both of them because of our experiences with the school here. I've always been against private school thinking there is no need and kids, if given the right support at home, will do well wherever but hmmmmmmm seeing the difference in the standard of education has changed me!!!!

It is very sad that it is this way because generally I love my home country it has some really beautiful parts, Peak District, Yorkshire - I love Yorkshire, Dorset, Lake District, Scotland and more! Sigh, I guess I miss walking in the English countryside the most...............

There doesn't seem to be a 'gang' culture here at all I feel perfectly safe walking around at night here at 9pm in the dark. There also seems to be a lot of respect for the 'older' generation maybe too much respect in some ways.................

Still, better than no respect at all I guess!

I passed my Turkish Level 1!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAY I passed T1, I start T2 in April!!

I need to study now for the next four weeks to keep it lodged in my brain lol!!

Long time no see!!

Ok I know I haven't updated for ages now but I've been so busy with my Turkish, sorting out the house and other things going on!

I have been wanting to blog about how different things are here to the UK, everyday as I get my bus I see things that I must write down but then get distracted.......

As I walk down the subway in the mornings I see small children selling tissues, what are they doing there why are they not at school? They must be about Hannah's age and the thought of her sitting at the bottom of an escalator selling tissues fills me with fear and sadness. Obviously they are from very poor backgrounds, they are very dirty looking and everytime I walk past them I feel guilt, I mean should I give them money? At times I've been tempted to just slip them 10 lira but I, like everyone else, just walk past and carry on with day to day living.

Alex is home

Well Alex came home tonight absolutely shattered!!! He enjoyed himself so much though and wants to go again next year!!! That means we'll have to take out a small mortgage as next year they'll both be going eep!!

He came home with a certificate which is in Turkish ha ha.....................

Alex gone skiing

Alex has gone on his school trip - skiing for three days! He was so excited last night he didn't complain when I told him he had to be in bed at 7pm!! He needed to be up at 5am to catch the bus, far too early in my opinion but they have to travel quite a long way to get there! I bet he'll come back like a zombie.

I miss him when he goes away I don't really worry about him because I know he'll be fine but it feels strange not having him here................