My thoughts

I have been here for a week and what I have discovered about the daily lives of the people in Kocaeli are very interesting.

It was not so difficult adapting here. We are now in Autumn and the weather is still mild save for some rain.
 
Food is quite different. They eat more vegetables than meat and most of the preparation are tomato-based poured with a generous amount of yoghurt on top. They also divide their meals into different "courses" if you may call it at that. Say for example for lunch or dinner the usual meal is corba or soup served with yekmek or bread, followed by a tomato-based dish usually with potatoes, capped with boiled macaroni where you can put either yoghurt or ketchup or both to taste. At first, I found the food very interesting but now I am eating them just like everyone else.

Turkish people also don't speak English. In my one-week stay here, I can count in one hand the people I have met who can speak the language. A lot of hand gestures and body language are needed to get my point across. Now, I am trying very hard to learn their language and I am trying to teach English as well to those who are interested to speak it so I can have a sensible conversation somehow in my upcoming months here.

Despite the language barrier, Turkish people are always ready with a smile. They are very helpful and kind and you won't feel afraid dealing with them. I tried walking to school alone twice and never felt the least bit scared. I must say I even enjoyed it. It was very relaxing and the best part is that they have sidewalks! But of course, like any normal foreigner in a new country, I shouldn't let my guard down for I only have myself at the end of the day.

Other observations will be written in Filipino.

Hindi sila madalas magpalit ng damit. Yung suot nila kahapon pwedeng suutin uli ngayon at bukas kahit madumi na. I swear. Wala naman masyadong amoy kasi malamig nga ngayon pero nakaka amaze lang na parang hindi nagpalit ng araw kasi yun uli ang suot nila.

Kung hindi sila mahilig magpalit ng damit, malamang hindi din sila mahilig maligo. Dahil Pinoy ako, naliligo ako sa umaga bago magpunta sa school. Sa tingin ko may dahilan naman kung bakit tamad sila. Tatlong araw pa lang ako dito masama na ang pakiramdam ko, may sipon at p*e*a, masakit ang ulo at parang lalagnatin. Sa South Africa sinabihan na ako na bawal lumabas ng bahay ng basa ang buhok. Deadma lang ako kasi ginagawa naman natin to palagi sa Pilipinas. Pero alam ko na ngayon kung bakit. Magkakasakit ka talaga pag napaspas ng malamig na hangin ang basa mong buhok.

Hindi din sila maagang gumising. Sa bahay namin, 5 AM pa lang gising na ang mga magulang ko. So ang aga ko ding gumising nong mga unang araw ko. Like 6 AM ligo na ako at ready to leave. Aba, 7 AM wala pang gumagalaw sa bahay, 8 AM wala pang naglalakad sa labas. 8:20 saka pa lang mag-aaalarm ang phone nila at kikilos. Diretsong bihis na to, minsan ng mga damit na pinaghubaran nila kahapon. Nakakaloka lang.

Ang umagahan ay hindi sa bahay. Sa school na madalas kumakain ng breakfast ang mga students. Naloka na lang ako kasi walang konsepto ng kape sa umaga. 9 or 10 AM ang breakfast pag may pasok, 11 AM naman kapag wala. Isipin niyo na lang kung gaano nanibago ang tyan ko nang mga unang araw.

Ang pre-school dito whole day. Sa Pilipinas mga 2-3 hours lang, dito one to sawa at kung kelan gustong ihatid at sunduin ng mga magulang ang anak. Pwede ding twice a week lang ang pasok o kung kelan nila gusto. Parang hinahabilin lang ang mga anak. Isipin niyo mga 7 months na bata iiwan ng 8 AM at susunduin ng mga 6:30 PM.

Sa ngayon yun muna. Nakalimutan ko na siguro yung iba o baka hindi ko pa lang masyadong naiisip.

Hanggang sa muli.