August in Izmir

Where to start? These past few weeks have been jam packed with food, events, traveling. The first weekend the new teachers were all taken out to breakfast in a small town just about 40 minutes outside of Alsancak, the town we are living in, by one of our wonderful administrators. Our 5 star breakfast was over loaded with all types of food. Cheese, olives, tomatoes, figs, toast, eggs, sausage, and plenty of honey to go around. Once we had allowed the food to settle, we headed to a nearby cafe that sat right on the sea. There we relaxed, went for a swim, and had a lesson on how to play backgammon. After enjoying the warm weather, we headed home, only to first stop for some stuffed mussels and a fried anchovy sandwich, classic Izmir delights. As we pulled into Alsancak, we were taken back by the storm that came through town. The city had looked as if a hurricane came through. Mudslides filled the streets and under passes had been flooded. For Turkey, it hardly rains during the summer, let alone any kind of storm. Luckily the storm didn't hit where we were living, only along the bay. What a day huh?

The Monday after our fun filled weekend, we were introduced to the returning staff members at school. All the teachers were very warm and friendly and willing to lend us a hand while transitioning into our new roles. After a long day of meetings and prepping  our classroom, I was invited to play football (soccer) with a group of players that get together once a week for a bit of some friendly competition. After proving that Americans aren't as bad at football as the rest of the world, I was asked to come play again each Monday night.

The rest of the week was filled with orientation meetings at school and a light dinner to follow. A few times we headed over to watch the U21 International Men's Volleyball Championships. Fortunately, the arena is on the same block as my apartment so I have been able to watch some pretty great volleyball these past two weeks. Once the weekend came around, two other teachers and I took a day trip to Kusadasi, where we enjoyed one of the wonderful beaches of the Aegean. Although the beach was a bit crowded, the cloudless skies and clear water was something I could definitely get used to.

Along with some international volleyball, Izmir hosts an international festival full of vendors. Although the food didn't seem very international, it was pretty cool to see how they make Turkish cotton candy and other Turkish delights. The night after experiencing the festival, we headed to Izmir's own Bazaar like market. With all the shops and people walking around, it was a bit overwhelming at times, but a great experience and a great place to find almost anything you need.

We even experienced a few protests in Izmir, which were pretty cool. Never seeing a protest before, I was caught off guard and weary of the situation. Fortunately, everything was non violent so we had nothing to worry about.

So for the weeks to come, school will be starting, hopefully I will get Izmir lacrosse up and running, and plenty more of adventures out in the city.

Nice?

For those unfamiliar with the south of France, the title refers to the city Nice in southern France. When I first arrived here in Izmir a few days ago, I realized that the Turkish coastal town reminded me a lot of the city of Nice. Both have many restaurants, right next to the sea, similar styles of streets and alleys, and amazing weather. So far, my time in Izmir has been amazing. Once I had gotten over my jet-lag, I was able to explore the city with the other new teachers. We adventured to different restaurants and bars knowing the food would be delicious. Even though we tend to point to random items on the menu, not knowing what we are ordering, each one has been very tasty. While walking around the city shopping for food or simply eating at a restaurant, we have noticed how kind and helping the people of Izmir are. Everyone seems to lend a helping hand whenever they can, regardless of how well they speak English.

We also had our first day at school, where we had breakfast/lunch and started our orientation process. The school sits in a cozy campus that allows for plenty of outside activities and learning opportunities. I was able to go into the classroom that I will be teaching in. So far, there are only 7 desks in my classroom, tough right...? But with teaching 3 Economics and 2 Math classes, I am sure I will be plenty busy.

So for now, things are going at a bit of a slower pace with all of us getting back on the right sleeping schedule and resting after our long walks around the city. As soon as we venture out to the beaches and the various other attractions around Izmir, I will be sure to post plenty of pictures.