Matt and I are packing up the family and moving to Istanbul. Since erratic behavior always raises questions, I thought I would start documenting our trip with an FAQ.
WHEN: Well, the girls and I leave on February 1st. Matt and Philip follow on Feb. 5th. Or maybe its the 4th. (Who the hell knows? I am lousy with details.) He mumbled something about a conference he has to attend the end of January, but it might be so he can chicken out when I am already over there. We all return July 25th.
WHY: Please don’t expect logic here. It is our “mid-life recalibration.”
I wanted to learn a language of which I didn’t know a single word, but an alphabet similar to ours. A country with mountains, sea and a non-Judea-Christian culture. Turkey met all these criteria, including being near Europe. Now all my long-neglected childhood friends can jump on cheap flights from Germany, Belgium and France and watch us live on yoghurt and stale bread in a 2-bedroom apartment.
Added bonus is that Turkey will self-correct any issues we have (hypothetically) with some fashion choices of some our family members. Matt, for example, will no longer be able to wear micro-mini skirts and spaghetti strap tops in public.
WHERE: We have rented a 2-bedroom apartment in Istanbul, in the Taksim section of town (European side). Renting from abroad is sketchy business. Some of my anxiety attacks have revolved around the following questions:
What if the place is a complete dump? You can photograph anything and put it on the internet. Hell. I’ve done that.
PayPal’s return policy is utter nonsense. I have no recourse for my deposit.
Does the guy who is renting us the house actually OWN the building? For all I know, he is running around Istanbul, photographing other people’s stuff, posting it on a web page, collecting money from idiots like me and sending out leases. How would I know?
Should I be alarmed that there is an entire website dedicated to what a tool my future landlord allegedly is? ( http://bewareofguzel.blogspot.com/2009/07/murat-guzel-murat-guzel-blue-house.html). Of course not. I decided to look at the bright side: he owns the place. I signed a lease with a guy that actually owns the place. He also has been extremely helpful and prompt in responses and gently pointed out that he has never had sooo many email exchanges for the mere rental of an apartment.
SCHOOLING: Nugget will be attending a virtual high school through her current school. Ella’s team teachers have been awesome and are accommodating us to work out a plan and Philip, well…he was always headed for a life of crime. Why waste an education on him?
Matt will be writing his thesis while Nugget and I take intensive Turkish classes, 3 hours a day, 5 days a week. Ella has her sights set on breaking the baklava-eating record, and we are making Philip watch Midnight Express, in hopes that he will heed our warnings.
In the meantime, I am tickled I have a husband and kids willing to do anything, and to be able to say “Hey, guys. Let’s go eat lunch in Asia.”
Dude! That’s awesome! Be sure to update often. I can’t wait to read about your adventures!
Ella, I LOVE YOU! Baklava is really THE BEST! I gave your mom a tip where to go but quite sure you’ll have an even better address for me soon. Go girl…