This is easily done online.

The State Department now has a secure online traveler enrollment website which will allow you, as an American citizen, to provide foreign trip and residence information that the Department of State can use to communicate with you and assist you in case of an emergency. U.S. citizens around the world who travel or reside abroad can access this site either through a link located at Department of State Travel siteor directly at Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Doing so provides several benefits.  One of these benefits for those living in Turkey is that the “Ankara Warden” sends out regular email messages with warnings or information relevant to those living in or visiting the country.

The Embassy also publishes a monthly newsletter which is sent via email and may also be read online.  The January 2012 newsletter contains information on the following:

• A message from the Ambassador, Francis J. Ricciardone
• New Turkish Visa 90 out of 180 Days
• New Names for “Warden Messages”
• New iPhone App for Travelers
• Turkish Residency Permit fees
• Turkish Custom Regulation for Mailed Items
• Recent Changes in Filing I-130 Forms
• Diversity Visa Scam
• IRS Offering Fee E-Filing to U.S. Taxpayers Abroad
• Upcoming Primaries
• Security-Worldwide Caution
• Upcoming Holidays and ACS Office Closures
• Contact Info

You can read the entire newsletter by clicking here.

Newspaper delivery never even occurred to me. I stopped having papers delivered to my Philly home many years ago when I realized I was carrying them out to recycling without having read a single page. In this world of high technology, I found myself reading the news online. Although I certainly still enjoy the smell and feel of that fresh ink in my hands and definitely prefer to do the crossword puzzles in ink.

Recycling Bin

Today, I spotted my first newspaper delivery in Ankara. Let me set the stage . . .

In my hometown of West Chester PA, Mom has a twin brick home with a smallish front yard and a sidewalk leading up to the front steps. For as long as I can remember, there was always a kid on a bike with a heavy cloth bag over his shoulder laden with the morning news. I say a boy even though at one time, I was the newspaper “boy”.

West Chester Twin

He would toss the paper on to the porch on a daily cycle. If he missed and it landed in the yard, Mom would scold him. He was working for that weekly tip, so you know he was careful.

In more recent years, a man took over delivery of the paper. It was a little more difficult for him to hit his mark as he tossed the paper from his car window. It often lands in the yard, where Mom has to walk out in the mornings, donned in her bathrobe, go down the steps, open the gate, and retrieve it. I’m not sure if she has ever accidentally locked herself out while doing this. But let me just say that she is not happy about it.

It’s more difficult for her to complain about it to the appropriate authorities as the bill now comes in the mail. She rarely catches the guy to give him a good face-to-face talking to!

Things are much different here in Ankara. Although many read the papers online, the hard copies are still very popular. Every bakkal has a newspaper rack in front of the store.  In my neighborhood, I can’t walk for 3 minutes without passing 4 or 5 places to buy a paper.  I guess that’s why delivery of the paper never crossed my mind.

But alas, today I caught one of the scoundrels!  And believe me, they have it much harder than the West Chester man tossing the paper from his window.

While enjoying my morning coffee on the balcony once again, (not even the snow stops me there), I saw a car pull up in front of the neighboring building.  There were stacks of papers all over the car.  Since the living situation is very different in Turkey, his job was much harder for him.

My Corner Spot

In Ankara, and most of Turkey, Most people live in apartment buildings.  Even if they own their place, it’s usually in an apartment-style building. So this driver had to get out of his car paper in hand, walk up to the building, and stuff the paper into a slot designed specifically for this purpose.  By the time he got back to his car, his partner was also returning.  I assume he was delivering to another building.

An Asagi Ayranci Home

My readers will note that the newsfeed from my hometown paper is linked on the side of this blog.  The reason is that the paper links my blog to its website.  So maybe, just maybe, my Mom’s delivery guy will read this post!  That would really be cool if he not only read it, but also stopped throwing her paper in the dagnabbit yard!

Today, I’m going to give you my personal list of my Top 10 Favorite Blog Posts.  It’s so different from what my stats register.  I mean, my Kaese Spaetzle recipe is awesome, and has over 1000 hits.  But certainly some of my readers may want to know what other good stuff they missed besides my recipes and restaurant review.  So here goes:

1.  Furniture Shopping – Part 1.  A rant and rave, and comparison to shopping back in the States.  The story ends rather well.  And believe it or not, I have grown accustomed to many of the styles here.

2.  Press “1″ for English.  My take on how and why societies seem to become undone by foreign speakers.

3.  To Bake or Not to Bake.  After just one month in the country, I attempt baking a cake.  It was a hilarious roller coaster ride!

Birthday Cake

4.  Repressed Anger??  Arrogance?!  Turkish Drivers and Road Rage!!  The title says it all.

5. Dear Abby, dear Abby, you won’t believe this . . . A true favorite!  Answers to all of those searching my blog.

6. On Being Lucky – summing up my experience of how easy it is to be an expat in today’s world.

7.  Making Friends – A story about how language is no barrier when it comes to making new friends.

8.Windows, Doorways, and Walkways of Bodrum.  A pictorial of history in the modern city of Bodrum by the sea.

9. Community – a bittersweet story of how I became part of my neighborhood in memorializing the loss of two of its sons.

10.  And here it is, that Spaetzle recipe you all have been waiting for!

He recently visited his Canadian home and caught up with one of his friends, Suzanne Doyle.  She is a singer-songwriter, truly dedicated to her work, extremely talented and warm person.

Any Friend of Steve's is a Friend of Mine

Steve interviewed her.  You can see his work and listen to Suzanne sing and play here:

You can read more about Suzanne  by clicking here.

You can buy her albums  (or do we call then CDs now?) by clicking here.

Learn more about Steve, his band, his music, and his works by clicking here.

Their clothes are clean and always pressed.  No holes – not even in fashionable jeans.  Their faces are painted, often with eyeshadows in shades of blue and green.  Think 70′s.  They have full manicures and pedicures.  The hair is always in place and all other hair is removed.  All of it!

In this manner, I will never fit in.  My hair is always a mess.  It’s a rare occasion that I iron something to wear.  I let my psoriasis and rosacea run wild.  I am a minimalist when it comes to makeup; nothing while at home and only eyeliner and mascara when going out.  Sometimes I remember the words of my niece Tina, who insisted that I at least put a little lip stick on the big lips of mine, and I apply a little lip gloss.

The gloss has worn away by the end of the night!

In recent months, I have taken to wearing a lovely foundation by Armani.  It was recommended to me by a makeup artist for my wedding.  Lovely but God awful expensive.)  The reason is the rosacea.  Turkish ladies just can’t seem to control themselves when it comes to my red face.  Friends and family are always poking at me, asking what’s wrong.  One acquaintance, a dermatologist, actually offered a prescription for my “allergy”.  Ugh.  The worse was when getting my hair done, one of the workers walked up to me with her makeup in hand and offered it to me.  Seriously!  It’s totally annoying.  If I don’t care, why should others?

Luminous Silk by Armani sold at Nordstroms

So, every once in a while, when my face is very red and I am going out to see certain people that I know will be questioning me, I cover my face with Armani base.  I get through the day.  And have to do a good scrubbing before sleeping through the night.

The biggest difference to me is the obsession with hair.  Yes, we Americans are also obsessed with hair.  You can tell that from some of my prior blogs.  But things are a little different here.  While Americans are going for that “all natural fly-away” look, Turks go more for the “every hair perfectly in place” style.  They also prefer long hair.  Yes, like in the States, many older women cut their hair short.  But it is rare to see a radical short style on a younger woman.

And while they are focused on keeping that long hair looking just so, they are sure to have all other hair removed.  This does not vary by age.  It’s just seems nasty to them.

Now, I want to tell you about something I have not tried here, but I think I’m ready.  The threading of eyebrows.  I have seen it done.  It’s an ancient method where a cotton thread is twisted into an “x” shape, the hairs are caught between and plucked.  Funny story – on a visit home, I was telling someone about threading.  She said, “Oh, that’s what we do in prison. We aren’t allowed to have hot wax.”  Good grief.

When I was a kid, I had big beautiful eyebrows.  They were perfect for me, just like God intended.  Then one of my sisters told me I could start a forest fire in them.  Hmmmmph.  Needless to say, it stuck with me.

My eyebrows at age 21 (I cut my own hair too!)

I always hated plucking.  That shit hurts.  So in my late 20′s or early 30′s, I finally tried waxing.  I loved it!  My eyebrows were perfect.  I had found a little shop run by Russian ladies, where they only did nails and waxing.  Three generations of women who went back and forth between their native tongue and English, were harsh and abrupt, and knew what the heck they were doing!

Eventually, I tried an Asian salon that was closer to my office.  I lost the end of my eyebrows.  I also traveled quite a bit.  So from time to time I would try other salons while on the road.  Usually Asian salons.  My eyebrows became thinner and thinner.  So I decided I would stick with the Russians.

After over 10 years, I switched jobs and was no longer in downtown Philadelphia.  Not wanting to fight the crowds on the weekends, I found another Russian salon in the suburbs near the new office.  They also did a great job.

What I really liked is that they listened to me.  They did their work quickly and efficiently with great results.  No messing around.  In and out.  Seven dollars.

The Full Monty

On my recent trip to Mom’s, I made a last minute decision to get my eyebrows waxed while getting my hair cut.  Mom’s neighborhood has a big fancy salon.  I knew it would cost a little more, but I really needed it.  I was told Jenny was available.  Not knowing anyone there, I was fine with that until I met her.  She was Asian.  Now please, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Asians.  And there are alot of Asian shops doing very good business in the U.S. at waxing and nails.  I just dont’ want them doing my eyebrows.  They always seem to make them very thin, with a giant rounded arch.  Not my style.  (A gross generalization, I know.  I just don’t like playing the odds.)

Jenny was very sweet and so I asked if I might talk to her first about my eyebrows.  I gave her my spiel.  “I am a big girl and little eyebrows don’t look good on me.  My eyebrows are not the same and I don’t want them to be.  No two sides of any face are the same. While they are wide, there is not much hair, so if you pluck the hair on ends, I will lose them completely . . “  She smiled very politely and understood what I meant.

She then proceeded to wax and pluck and cut and pluck and snip and cut.  I finally stopped her and told her that if I wanted my brows plucked, I would do it myself.  I hate plucking!  My theory is that these fancy salons have to make up for the ridiculous prices by doing way more than is necessary to a poor defenseless eyebrow.  To my dismay, I walked out of there with thin matching eyebrows, a big rounded arch, and missing the ends.  Double Good Grief!  For the first time in my life, I even had one eyebrow that’s higher than the other.

More than three weeks have passed. and now, I am waiting for them to grow in.  If I could get back to those teenaged eyebrows, I would.  But I don’t think it’s going to happen.  So for now, I am being patient until it’s time to try threading.  Luckily, I won’t need to don those prison oranges in order to get it done!

Turkey charges Duchess of York over orphan film

Turkish prosecutors have charged the Duchess of York for secretly filming a documentary critical of conditions in Turkish orphanages, the Turkish media

ANKARA- The Anatolia news agency said the duchess, better known as Sarah Ferguson or simply as Fergie, is accused of violating the privacy of five children when she filmed with a hidden camera at an orphanage outside Ankara in 2008.
Britain has already rejected a 2009 request from Ankara for the duchess’s extradition.
A spokesman for the duchess said: “The Duchess of York has fully co-operated with both the Turkish and British authorities at all times on this issue.
“British ministers refused to accede to the further request for legal assistance from Turkey so from a UK perspective we have been told by the Home Office the case is closed.
“We were told the reasons for refusal were that the minister considered that to provide the assistance requested would have been likely to prejudice the sovereignty, security, public order or other essential interests of the United Kingdom.
“The action today reported by the Turkish authorities is news to all.”
A British Foreign Office spokeswoman said it was not government practice to comment on individual judicial processes, although it expected “high legal and judicial standards to be observed.”
“It would be premature and inappropriate to speculate on possible outcomes at this stage,” added the ministry.
Ferguson, who has recently struggled with her personal finances, was caught by undercover News of the World journalist Mazher Mahmoud in 2010 offering access to Prince Andrew for £500,000.
The documentary, screened on Britain’s ITV1 television channel in November 2008, depicts disturbing scenes at the orphanage for handicapped children, including one where a child is seen encased in a wooden box.
Turkish prosecutors are seeking a prison term of between seven and a maximum of more than 22 years. No date has been set for any trial.
Ankara has accused Ferguson of malice and trying to stain Turkey’s reputation as the country tries to gain entry into the European Union.

13 January 2012

One of my Faithful Readers

For one, while strolling through the snow-covered neighborhood last night, I found a new market on Güvenlik Caddesi.  A Migros Jet replaced the old Şok.  I checked it out.  It wasn’t too exciting, but it’s always nice to have another option.

I was also informed that one of my courses was abruptly ended.  While I enjoyed it and will miss it, I now have time to focus on new things.  As a matter of fact, on the very same day I was asked to write a column for the TAA (Turkish American Association) newsletter.  There’s no money in it, just fame and glory – at least in my mind – so I am looking forward to it!

I have also been toying with the idea of writing a book.  It’s something that has always been in the back of my head.  But upon time spent with one of my nieces over the holidays, I finally came up with an idea.  With more free time in Ankara, there’s no time like the present to get it started!

Aaaahhh, the holidays.  Busy, busy, busy.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in the States.  At the end of the weeks, my mother and I looked back over the things I had done.  It felt like the time passed extremely quickly.  But when we enumerated what I had done, well, it was just unbelievable!

In my first few days, I spent 8 hours at a city hospital with one sister for an unsuccessful attempt at a minor surgery.  I spent an hour or so at another hospital with another sister while she received a platelet transfusion.  I covered the front of the house with Christmas lights.  And my brother and his wife took me to Sovana Bistro for dinner.  We enjoyed ourselves.  But the food, prices and atmosphere, while nice, were nothing compared to the Birchrunville Store Cafe!

House Lights

With the rest of my time, I visited family and friends, including a lovely dinner at my brother’s home and meeting my sister-in-law’s niece.  Actually, I met her once when she was just a little kid.  But now she is a fellow expat, has the same birthday as me, and has become somewhat of a soul sister.

Allie & Me

Me & Billy

Soul Sister Meaghan

I decorated the Christmas tree and the house.  I took Mom shopping for Christmas gifts, groceries, and everything else.  I wrapped and wrapped and wrapped.  I cooked and cooked and cooked.

3000 Tree Lights

Erik!

Angela, Me & Christine

Angie & Dan

Veronica - just can't decide on a chocolate cookie!

Brianna & Emily

I filled out disability paperwork for my sister.  I attempted to repair a computer.  I celebrated a great-niece’s birthday.  But mostly, I celebrated life with my Mom, my siblings, and my nieces and nephews.

Mary & Mom

Rich & Shae

Tom & Carol

John & Shae

I miss you all already!  Thanks for the fabulous vacation!  Man, I’m tired!  Did I just say I’m adjusted?  86 that!

???

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Just imagine the absurdity of two openly gay, recently ‘married’ middle aged, middle class men escaping the  liberal sanctuary of anonymous London to relocate to a Muslim country.

Jack and Liam, fed up with kiss-my-arse bosses and nose-to-nipple  commutes, quit their jobs and move to a small town in Turkey. Join the  culture-curious gay couple on their bumpy rite of passage in a Muslim  country.

Meet the oddballs, VOMITs, vetpats, emigreys, semigreys,  debauched waiters and middle England miseries. When bigotry and  ignorance emerge from the crude underbelly of Turkey’s expat life, Jack  and Liam waver. Determined to stay the course, the happy hedonistas  hitch up their skirts, move to the heart of liberal Bodrum and fall in  love with their intoxicating foster land. Enter Jack’s irreverent world  for a right royal dose of misery and joy, bigotry and enlightenment,  betrayal and loyalty, friendship, love, earthquakes, birth, adoption and  a senseless murder.

Perking the Pansies will make you laugh out loud  one minute and sob into your crumpled tissue the next.

“An entertaining story, told with wit and insight.” Paul Burston, author, The gay Divorcee

Read more and learn how to order it  by clicking here.

In 2011:

• I forged and enforced my friendships in Ankara with Jules & Bulent, Leyla, Steve & Beyza, my friends at the Pastane, the ladies in the English conversation group, and with so many more in the community.
• I kept in touch with my U.S. friends too – especially via FACEBOOK!
• I learned to communicate better in Turkish, and became closer with my Turkish family, especially with my mother-in-law Emine and my brother-in-law Koray.  (Give me any sentence.  I will translate it into Turkish baby-talk for you!)
• My husband and I finally celebrated a wedding anniversary (our second) together.
• I found contract work pretty steadily all year.
• The Henson family welcomed a new great-grandbaby into to the world, Nathaniel.
• I had many visitors to Ankara: Mom, Amy, Eileen, Uncle Rudolf and cousin Christina who came from Germany, and my nephew Kevin who was studying in Spain.
• I saw a great movie, Almanya Wilkommen in Deutschland.
• I continued to develop closer relationships with some of my siblings nieces and nephews, and other relatives.
• I finally tried (and enjoyed) Kokoreç.
• I saw the Black, Aegean, and Mediterreanean Seas.
• I enjoyed a full two week vacation with my husband.
• Barış completed a 15k at the Eurasia Marathon.
• I visited my home in the States not once, not twice, but three times!
• I enjoyed one of the best dinners with my sister-in-law (and good friend) Allie.
• My health remained rather steady with no major problems.
• My mother-in-law gave me a tiny piece of an orchid, that came from a plant I bought 14 years before.
• Barış and I adopted little Lucky, the crazy but sweet cat.
• My sister lived.

That’s all I can think of this morning.  Let me know your good news from the past year, and I will add more as I remember mine.

Don’t feel badly for me though . . . I spent a lot of quality time with my mom and siblings.  And I ate well.  Oh yes, I ate well.

But three weeks is a very long time to be away from my Ankara home and my love.  He has been a trooper, taking care of little Lucky, watering plants (I hope), and keeping the home nice and warm in preparation of my return.

Sadly, I will miss my kanka when I return.  Her father is not doing well, and she has decided to fly back to the States two days before I return to Ankara.  She is my BFF in Ankara.  The almost 20 years difference in age doesn’t matter.  We get together and moan, groan, and complain about life there.  Then we have a little drinky winky of wine, and decide that life is marvelous in Ankara and get out there and enjoy it together!

Last night, my husband went to dinner with her and her husband.  She joked about ordering a table for 4, so that I could be there in spirit sitting at the table.  Lo and behold, there I appeared – Mini Flat Terry, squeezing in between her and her man — just where I belong!

Safe travels to you my friend!  My good karma travels with you.  Love to you and your family.