Turkish Delights

Turkey has been a very pleasant surprise. It's not that we were expecting anything bad--we just didn't know what to expect at all. But as it turns out, Turkey (Istanbul specifically) is incredible. Moral of the story: if you ever have the chance to frequent this country, do it. Plain and simple.

As has become the norm, our time in Turkey has flown by. It has been a whirlwind with people coming and going (so great having you, Tristan and Jessie), and our 3 weeks are down to days. It's unfair to clump a people group, but we're going to do it anyway :). The Turkish people are surely some of the most kind and generous out there (we are the grateful recipients of small gifts almost every day). The language barrier has put us in our fair share of uncertain situations, but it helps to know that our Turkish friends are laughing with us and not at us (or so we think...ha). With the aroma of fresh-baked bread around every corner and servers hired specifically to shout the specialties as people pass by, the food is dangerously delicious (and cheap, so it's not easy to turn down).

As you might know, the city is unique in that it spans 2 continents--we are staying on the Asian side, so a ferry ride to Europe is not uncommon in our daily commute. Our home is in the heart of a local area and we absolutely love walking to get our produce (or to run any errand, for that matter) in the nearby shops, where the lively and friendly atmosphere is thick in the air. Our weeks are varied and quite exciting. While some of our time is spent giving moms a break from their tots by doing crafts and teaching English, we have also inspected hundreds of beautifully handcrafted necklaces and bracelets. Other days, we practice English with some lovely adults--and make friends in the process--what a treat!

With weekends off to tromp around Turkey, we have been awed and amazed by the beauty and history with which this country is rich. Not only have we seen most of the major sites in Istanbul (mosques, bazaars,and palaces galore), but we have also bussed it to Ephesus and back (that's right, folks--home of the Ephesians)! And now, as we write this, we are sitting at a picnic table amidst the mind-blowing landscape of Cappadocia; it is truly a one-of-a-kind place full of cave dwellings and underground cities (seriously, if you don't believe us, google image that business). Plus, we were given the gift of Australian parents for a day. Debbie and Peter, if you ever read this, you are one FUN and all too generous couple.

Tristan and one of our many servers turned friends

Corie and Taylor dwarfed by the stadium in Ephesus. Capacity: 26,000.

A little sample of the heaps of fairy chimneys and other-worldly landscapes of Cappadocia.  These things used to  be the homes of people!!

The waterfront of Kadikoy, just a short jaunt from our apartment and where we catch our ferry to Europe .

As we head into our last week in Turkey, the whirlwind continues with nearly every hour mapped out. We will be sad to leave our newfound love of a country, but the beaches of Malta are calling us (pity, we know). So merhaba from Turkey and thanks for reading. Pictures may come at some point. Just wait for it.

Leaving the Pearl Behind...with a little piece of our hearts

Our month in Uganda has come and gone; it seems like we were just settling in here and now we are getting ready to leave.  In our first weeks here, we were learning to roll paper beads with some seriously talented and hard-working women in the I Choose You Microfinance Program next door. Otherwise, we were walking through the slums of Namatala with kids grasping every finger (actually, though), visiting Taylor’s friends from years passed, and cleaning/dressing wounds.  We also painted a church blue.  Really blue. 

Corie and Tristan stand in front of our masterpiece, 3 days in the making

The last two weeks were spent with 109 precious souls at Lulwanda Children’s Home, and with the wonderfully loving staff that cares for them.  Since the kids were on holiday from school, we got to partake in a plethora of fun activities and outings.

We went swimming with the 48 singers and dancers from the home, which basically meant that we served as lifeguards and flotation devices, but the kids had a blast—splashing and being shuttled around the pool for hours.  We baked cakes in preparation for the quarterly Birthday Bash, where we celebrated with songs, sodas, and goodie bags for the birthday kids.  Several field trips were taken to St. Kizito Baby Home, where we held, fed, and bathed babies alongside the Lulwanda children.  Afterward, we were rewarded with ice cream from the local supermarket (and for those of you who know Tay, you know how fitting such a reward is). 

Corie and little miss Bondina, one of many precious babes at the Baby Home

Elated Ugandan kiddos look skyward to the beach ball they have flung into the air

During the last 5 days, Lulwanda hosted a Christian conference for youth; our job was to

clearly enjoying the task of baking cakes for their birthday friends

organize and play games with the kids from surrounding villages and to be an audience for the singing and dancing (let me tell you—much easier here where musical talent and rhythm is far more abundant than at home).  And aside from all these things, we squeezed in soccer matches and learned (well, tried to learn) the countless rules of the kid-created card games.  So from baking cakes to swimming to visiting a baby home and playing every afternoon, our time at the home has been nothing but joy-filled—and full of hugs and smiles.  The sun setting over the lush African landscape was a lovely close to each of our days spent with the incredible children here—all before journeying home down the red dirt (or mud, given it’s rainy season), pothole-filled roads that our friend and host, Natalie, navigated like a champ. 

As usual, pictures will probably be able to show more than we can say, so from the cameras of all 3 of us,here are some snapshots from our time in Uganda, The Pearl of Africa.  Enjoy.

Taylor and Shadia clapping and laughing away the language barrier.