Friday – Dec 10 Catch up time!

I guess I have some catching up to do. 

Our trip from Rome went well…uneventful really.  Only a 20-minute delay for our flight from Munich (doubt you can even count that as a delay) and no lost luggage!!  Yeah!!

View from our room overlooking Ankara

We arrived in Ankara about 4ish in the afternoon on Monday.  It was so nice to see Pam waiting for us when we got through customs.  We were one of the last ones through immigration so she was beginning to wonder whether we were on the plane.  We had an hour-long bus ride and then a short taxi ride to their home.  Wayne was home from school (it was close to 6) when we got to their apartment and it was nice to just sit and chat for a bit before a wonderful beef stew dinner.  We have enjoyed the fellowship so much.   Pam has been spoiling us with yummy dinners and we have talked a lot…played games.. had fun roasting chestnuts on the grill (something new for us to taste) and going to the school where Wayne is a guidance counselor. 

Waiting at the bus stop

On Tues Roger and I had the grand tour of the school.  It is in a very nice building..approximately 250 students from 4K to 12^th grade.  49 different countries are represented in the student body.  I thought that was impressive.   Wayne had told the teachers we were available to help in any way so we got to read to a couple of the classes and the 4 and 5’s have needed “help” every day.  They love Mr. Roger and his craziness.  He went and helped paint germs one day which was a painting project for 4’s and quite interesting.  And yesterday he went and helped with another paint project with the 5 yr. olds.  He is ready to move into the 4 yr. old class and just pretend.

Roger and Wayne went to a men’s study on wed. evening.  To get to the place on the other side of town where the study was could take 2 hours.  So we ate an early dinner and they headed out and said somehow there was not much traffic and they did not have to wait for either of the 2 buses so they made it there an hour early…stood on the street talking and eating peanuts while they waited.  You just never know when you will just miss your bus and have to wait 20 min or when the traffic will be bad and you sit in it an extra 45 min. 

The next morning (thurs) Pam and I went to a  bible study for the women in the area.  Most go to the chapel that they go to.  There were about 20 women and they welcomed me so warmly and it was so nice to just feel connected because of a common bond of the Lord in our lives.  Some of the women’s husbands worked with the embassy, FBI, defense dept…some were workers like the Elliot’s; some worked for Boeing…a big company here and some  other companies.  The cool thing was we were able to get together for fellowship with other women with common interests.  We take so much for granted in the states.

After the study Pam and I went to a mall for fast food lunch.  They had burger king, Popeye’s, sabarro”s pizza and some other more local places.  Pam opted for fried chicken and I had a sandwich with gyro type beef in it which was good.  Then we walked about 15 min to a place where she got a haircut and then we took a bus downtown to catch another bus at the terminal that would take us home.  We were fortunate it was getting ready to leave so did not have to wait to long and were home at 4:15!!  A long day but that is how it goes here.  When you use public transportation it takes a long time to get around and run a few errands so you plan to try to do what ever you need done in that area you are going that day.  Like Pam bought bus cards (like tickets) while we were there since it is the only place to buy them and we grabbed some eggplant for dinner while right there by the station.

View of Ankara - multicolored buildings

Ankara is in a valley so smog collects but overall it is much cleaner and more modern then I imagined.  The apartment buildings are often painted blues, pinks and orange colors and they have “green” areas all over the place. Most of the areas have little walking paths, playgrounds, flowers…lots of roses…and fountains.  The area Pam and Wayne live is quite hilly so to go out anywhere you are sure to get a good workout on the hills.  The walk to school is about 15 min and most of it up hill.  Which sounds good when you think of coming home except for the killer hill up to their apt.  They are in good shape!