Going Home: Family, Friends and Food

Going home each year is a very important event on our calendar.  It gives us a chance to see face to face all those people who we have only connected with on FB, email, Skype and on the telephone.  Staying in touch is problematic, because out of sight is out of mind from our end and for friends and family in Canada.  So it's wonderful to have the opportunity to go home and reconnect.

With going home in mind, the dinner table conversation lately has been about the food we're longing to eat.  We get all the food groups here.  The produce in particular is second to none. We all have our Turkish favourites too.

 However, we are all looking forward to food from home.  Ham and bacon are on the list of course.  After 2.5 years, we've discovered some in country sources of bacon and Cam has a work colleague who brings us ham sausage from Ukraine.  The kids are all looking forward to pizza.  There's a pizza place in Gelibolu and we ate frozen pizza from the grocery store today, but it doesn't look or taste like home.  It has corn on it for one thing! Cam would like a steak I think.  Steak is available here, but you have to be on good terms with the butcher or he'll pound it flat while you're distracted. Sam would really like Mini Wheats once we get home.  He still eats cereal most days.  There are usually only three choices at our local grocery store: flakes with strawberries, plain flakes or round brown "chocolate" flavoured balls.  Last week I found some bags of Cherrios at a different grocery store.  They don't taste like home but they're a change.  I'm looking forward to a bag of Cheezies ... 

It'll be good to go home to touch base with family and friends, but I know it won't be long until the kids and I will be craving one of our Turkish favourites . . . pide anyone?

Two Weeks - so far so good

I arrived back to Turkey more than a little exhausted from three months in Canada.  Our first two weeks back have given us some time to settle and to enjoy the end of Turkish summer.  When we arrived temperatures were in the low 30's and there wasn't enough air conditioning anywhere.  We've all acclimatized a little and the temperature has dropped to high twenties so we're not needing the ac all the time.

Cam has been living at the rig these past two weeks.  He drops in every day or so to do paperwork or run us to town for groceries.  Speaking of groceries, I bought ketchup this week.  If we go to the big city, I can actually buy Heinz which is a familiar brand from home.  However, locally we usually buy Calve brand.  In Turkey, ketchup is available in regular and spicy.  So far I've carefully avoided buying spicy assuming it would be more flavour than our Canadian palates could bear.  So like I was saying, I bought ketchup since we got back.  In fact, I bought two bottles; both "acili". Ooops!  It certainly livens up home fries! The red swoosh under the word "ketcap" is actually a red pepper another flavour clue.

We've really enjoyed the ocean since we returned.  I did a few days of water aerobics and I've been snorkeling with Nicole and Sam.  I didn't really like snorkeling the first couple of times I tried it last year. I had trouble figuring out how to breathe and I found the water depth disconcerting. I've really enjoyed it since we returned though.  I like following the fishes and it gives a purpose to swimming. Speaking of fishes, Cam took me out for lunch this past week.  We ate fish at one of the restaurants at the harbour in Gelibolu.  When we were finished with our meal, the waiter stood beside our table and frizbee'd the left over toast into the sea. Before the fish were finished, gulls swooped down and carried the bread off.

Going Home?

It's hard to know where home is right now. Are we going home today or leaving home?  Either way there are things I am looking forward to and things I will miss.

I will miss:

My mom.  We've spent loads of time together this summer.  I am very grateful.

Hanging with my brothers.

My girlfriends - especially the laughter and the heart connection.

Singing worship songs to Jesus in a larger group.  While we do this as a family, I will miss the large group experience.

Crisp cool fall mornings and evenings.

My crockpot.

The clothes dryer.  Push the button and thirty minutes later clothes will be dry.

I am looking forward to:

Fresh fruits and vegetables from the market.

The feeling of accomplishment when I use a new Turkish word or phrase and a Turk understands!

The ever changing ocean view from the table where I eat breakfast.

Mercimek soup. Yum.

A full time husband.  Cam and I chat on he phone everyday, but it is not the same.

Do You Know Brains?

Around 11:30 or 12:00, while we were in Ankara this past Monday, we stopped for lunch at a pretty typical Turkish restaurant.
After we ordered our main courses the proprietor, the waiter and a minion (see our post on minions from earlier this year) came over with the customary large tray of salads. If you're eating in a sit down restaurant In Turkey expect to have at least one course before your entree arrives. As usual in broken English the waiter and proprietor told us what each of the salads was; beans, peppers and yogurt, just the usual. But one salad caught us all unawares, the proprietor picked up one dish and said "You know brains?" and sure enough on that plate was two or three pieces of what was probably sheep brain and some greens. Yes, we know brains alright. We elected not to have them for lunch though. 

What happened today...

 ...not too much really.  I woke up too early - before sunrise. I watched youtube TV for a bit and then spent a while sorting out the problem I made with my knitting yesterday. I picked up around the house a bit, emptied the dishwasher, and gathered Sam's laundry from the line. I surprised everyone and made pancakes for breakfast.  Cam is our usual breakfast chef - when we eat together.  However, lately we all fend for ourselves. We watched the end of Ben10 while we had breakfast.  Having the TV on during meals is a rarity in our house.

After breakfast, Nicole cleared up (the kids take turns) and I started laundry.  Then she and I met in her room and discussed the novel she is reading (Christy).  We did some internet research related to the novel and she copied a few paragraphs from the novel that I dictated.  Then we discussed her last math exercise from Math in Everyday Life. She completed the exercise from yesterday, while I waited.  Then we discussed budgeting for a family versus a single person. We also discussed what she might need to earn and save in order to buy a used car in 3 years.

I checked with Johanna to see what she was working on. I don't remember - but usually Blender (computer animation), English 20 assignments or maps research.

I got Sam from his room and turned on the computer so he could do math facts drill (Math Rider). Just as the program was loading the power went out so we corrected his history quiz (Mystery of History I) from yesterday.  By the time we finished, the power was on so he was able to do the drill.

Afterwards, I worked on laundry.  We don't have a dryer but today there was quite a breeze so line drying the loads was very quick and effective.

Once Sam was off the computer I checked my email, cruised facebook, read the Three Hills Capital, and watched a video Johanna made. Then Nicole and I made lunch.  The fridge was practically bare so I made grilled cheese sandwiches while Nicole made fruit salad from one can of mixed fruit, a banana and a peach.

At lunch, Cam and I decided to go for groceries in the afternoon and to Silivre tomorrow to look at boats.  None of the kids were keen to go along this afternoon or tomorrow.  Nicole cleared up and I went to reboot the laundry.  Once the laundry was going around again, I used google translate to write down some boat shopping phrases.  Sam and I copied the grocery list from the wipeboard to a piece of paper.

Cam and I decided to go to Kesan for groceries instead of Gelibolu.  He wanted to go to the Technosa to buy headphones with a built in mic so he can Skype his boss and I thought we could stop at the Yamaha dealer in Kesan to look at their boats.  Johanna decided she would come with us because the Kesan Kipa has more interesting things to look at than the one in Gelibolu.

The road from Kavak to Kesan is still under construction, so we weaved in and around the pylons.  We stopped at the Yamaha dealer, but it turns out all they have for sale is 4.5m and larger used boats which we think are too big.  The other smaller boats they have are in storage.  While we drove to Technosa, I called our neighbour to ask where she bought her inflatable boat.  After Cam bought a headset we drove to the Kipa (supermarket). 

We got two carts and zoomed around. We always buy a little more at this Kipa because they have a wider selection of international products (HP sauce, Heinz Ketchup, SoySauce), things we can't buy in Gelibolu (large bags of cereal) and sometimes we find better prices too.  The downside of shopping at this Kipa is that it's sooo big compared to our usual grocery store that I find it distracting.  The other downside is that they rarely have fresh milk.  Today they had two 1 liter glass bottles - both expired by 6 days - bleh.  So once again we bought UHT milk in the box.  The kids don't care for it but there's no choice. Cam filled his cart with water.  We don't drink the water that comes out of the taps, although we use it for cooking.

Cam drove us home.  On the way the truck in front of us passed a wagon powered by an auger motor I think Cam said .... and then we did too.

This is the major highway which bisects the peninsula we live on. Right now this road is under construction so in many places it is a two lane undivided highway.  Eventually it will be a four lane mostly divided highway.
 Horse powered or alternatively powered vehicles (like this one) filled with farm products and families are a normal part of using this road.
There were at least five people on this one. Mom, Dad (driving), two older children and a babe in mom's arms.  The traffic is doing +-100K.

We came home and unloaded the groceries, unloading and putting away is an "all hands on deck job" so it goes quickly.  I went out to the line to continue with the laundry. Our neighbour came out to talk with me.  She found a 5" long "thousand legger" in her bed last night so she called her brother and he will pick her up and take her home to Istanbul on Sunday.  We knew she wasn't planning to stay for the winter, but I'm sad she's leaving so soon.  She showed me the bug in the alley (dead under a rock!).  I showed Cam and the kids.  It's pretty ugly.  We've had lots of centipedes (and other bugs!) in the house but nothing as big as this.

After we parted company, I went back to collecting laundry.  I took the basket up stairs and then sat at my computer for a few minutes. Cam and I skyped for a few moments so he could test his new headset. When I heard him finish his business skype call and put the steaks on the bbq, I went downstairs and chopped vegis  (radishes, carrots, red pepper, cucumber). Nicole baked potatos and set the table.

After supper I skyped my mom (yeah!). Johanna picked a movie for us to watch - Quest for Camelot and now Johanna and Sam are playing Chess on Johanna's computer - which is still connected to the TV - so Nicole and Cam can watch.  Before bed Cam and Sam and I usually read part of Two Towers (J.R.R. Tolkien) and a chapter in the Bible (Genesis right now) together.

It's bed time.  It's been a long day.

Alaskan Surprise

 

This little bit of science is supposed to show how the air bubbles in the cake and the merangue act as an insulator for the ice cream. So while we cooked it in the oven, the merangue and the cake stayed warm but the ice cream inside stayed cold. And it worked! 

 

 

 

This is the baking tray that came with the baking mix.

 

 

 

The cake we bought had a recipe for a some lemon icing so we decided to cut the cake in half so that we could make Alaskan Surprise and the cake with the icing.

 

 

 

 

 

New Mosque and Dinner Under the Galata Bridge

People watching on the steps of the Yeni (new) Mosque eating dondurma (ice cream).

Beside us kiosks selling bird food for the pigeons.

Under the Galata Bridge a few minutes later.  Lots of fishers above us.

Restaurants on the lower level of the Galata Bridge.

These are the fish we have which one would you like to eat?

Nicole and I shared fish caserole.  THE BEST THING I've eaten since I got here.

Johanna and Cam shared grilled fish - seemed more fried than grilled Cam said.

Sam chose kofte (mixed meat patties) often served with rice pilav.
 

Sam ordered Baklava for dessert and shared his last two bites with ME!

The restaurant owner sent one of the waiters with us to organize two cabs back to our hotel when our meal was finished.  The fellow offered to take one of our beautiful daughters off our hands.  Good thing he was talking to Cam who gave him a reasoned reply (NO!).  I might have punched him.



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Kebap with Remsi

Tuesday evening (June 26) Remsi came to our house and gave Cam a lesson on making and cooking Turkish style "kebap".  These are a mixture of ground beef and lamb, with red peppers and spices.  The meat is pressed around flat metal sticks and grilled over charcoal.  Once the meat is cooked, it is traditionally served inside flat bread with lettuce, cucumbers and tomatos. Remsi also cooked lamb "shish" and lamb chops.  The shish is purchased from the butcher already threaded on wooden sticks ready for the BBQ.

Supper was delicious.  It's amazing to me what adventurous eaters the children are becoming.  None of us care for spicy food, but our definition of spicy has changed since we came to Turkey.

Cam met Remsi through work.  He left for his home in Eastern Turkey today.  I'm not sure if we'll connect with him again because his work is finished here and he speaks no English. He and Cam communicate using Cam's Turkish, hand gestures and facial expressions - it's great fun to watch!

The Neighbours

Beginning in April we began to see more activity in the village where we live.  People would arrive at their houses Friday or Saturday and leave again on Sunday.  Many overgrown yards were transformed literally overnight as a husband and wife and sometimes a local helper would scythe and mow.

Our neighbours on all three sides of us have arrived.  They have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome. A smile, a nod, or a wave go a long way when you don't share the language. However they have done more than that, bringing us plates of fruit off their trees and one lady made me a shawl!

There are some kids around now and more coming nearly every day.  We were in the water at the swim dock a week or so ago debating in English whether the water was deep enough to jump into, when a young fellow, sailed past us and dove into the water.  As he went by he said in perfect English, "It's deep enough to dive."  I wish someone had captured the look of shock on our faces with a photo.  We've made the mistake a few times of assuming we're surrounded by people who don't speak or understand our language.  Turns out this fellow, his sister and parents are here from Georgia, USA, visiting their Turkish relatives.

Not sure what kind of berries these are. They have a peculiar green taste.

Cherries off the tree in our neighbour's yard. 
The plate was heaped when we got it but I didn't get the camera out quickly enough!

The shawl Itan made for me.

What can you buy for 72 cents?

1 kilo of green beans at the Gelibolu bazaar on Tuesday!

We've been talking about all the food we'll miss when we come home.  Fresh bread bought warm from the bakery probably tops everyone's list; then cheese, fresh fruits and vegetables round out the list.

Unfortunately nobody in the family loves green beans quite like I do.

Breakfast II

IKal Kangal /Breakfast Salami 0.552 kg x 24,00 tl/kg = 13,25 tl = US$7.28

Nescafe Instant Coffee / Klassic Kahvesi 17,00 tl = US$9.34

Milk 1L / Sut 1,72 tl = US$0.95

Honey Pops Breakfast Cereal 4.50 tl = US$2.47

Cappy Fruit Juice 1L 1,99tl = US$1.09




Turkish breakfast usually consists of cucumbers, tomatos, olives, cheese, bread, Turkish coffee, or chai tea. We prefer a more North American style breakfast and of course Cam still cooks!

Breakfast I

15 Eggs / Yumurta 3.15 tl = US$1.73

Loaf of Sliced White Bread / Ekmek 0.70 tl = US$0.39

Honey House / Pasturized Honey 7.25g 16,99tl = US$9.34

Nutella / Nutella 750 gr 11,99 tl = US$6.59

Smooth Peanut Butter / Calve 350g PRICELESS!

Gelioblu Kipa doesn't carry it - had to go to Kesan Kipa

Now I can't find the receipt!

Water

Water/ Su

for cooking and for drinking

12 x 500 ml = 2.49 tl or US$1.37

1 x 10 L = 3.49 tl or US$1.92