Trials & Tribulations

I can’t really explain my absence from this blog lately.  By lately, I mean the last six months or so.  I have a computer, I have an internet connection and I have things to write about… so why don’t I blog more?

For the better part of the last six months, I’ve been in a big ol’ funkidy funk funk.  I left Japan after living there for a long ass time.  I’m living with my parents for the first time since I was 17.  The love of my life broke up with me.  I turned 30.  I have no friends in the place I’m living – I don’t even know this place!  I don’t have my own room, or space to hang my clothes.  I don’t have my own bathroom.  I thought my family would visit me in Istanbul for Christmas – but now they’re going on a cruise and I wasn’t even invited.  (I couldn’t go anyway, but that’s not the point.)  I’m in grad school, which is great but very nerve-wracking.  I’m about to move far, far away and start a new teaching assignment – and I’m worried that I won’t do a good job.  I have no money.  I’ve gained too much weight.  I scream, cry and sleep waaaayyyy too much.  Reality TV has become my God.  

The thing that bothers me most is my relationship with my mother.  As much as we argue, she has been extremely good to me.  She sympathizes with my situation, she’s loaned me money, she’s taken me on a fantastic road trip to Canada, she’s complimented my cooking and crafting, she’s let me use her car, she’s taken me to the doctor and paid for the visit and the prescriptions.  She’s also been a complete bitch at times, but I won’t go in to that.  I love her more than anything in this world but sometimes I want to strangle her.  I think I’m going to kidnap her tomorrow after she’s finished teaching and take her bowling.  Maybe afterwards I’ll strangle her.  Depends on who wins, of course.  I’M KIDDING!!

The good news is that this funk is about to end… and a new one will begin, I’m sure.  My work visa finally came through and I’m leaving for Istanbul on Thursday.  I bought a one-way ticket for $344, all taxes included, from studentuniverse.com.  I’ll be living on the Asian side, a part of Istanbul that I’m not familiar with but I’m very excited about exploring.  I don’t know what my apartment looks like, but I know the location is quite good and it’s spacious.  I’ve spent almost $1000 on new-ish furniture and various accoutrements, but I’ve not seen any of it.  I bought them from the leaving teachers and my supervisor vouched for their quality.  I did, however, refuse to pay $800 for custom curtains – I’m not a TOTAL fool, you know!

I’ll be teaching at a private Turkish elementary school and I’m not really clear on my schedule or responsibilities.  I don’t know the level of English proficiency of my students, but I’ve heard it’s quite high because they’ve been studying English daily since the first grade.  Still, I wish someone would tell me what they are doing in class now and what the textbooks are like.  Oh well.

People, wish me luck!  More importantly, come to visit!  Istanbul – the whole of Turkey, in fact – is a fantastic place.  Additionally, I’m a good host and an even better guide!