Note to self

Don't leave the erik fruits out thinking they are going to ripen. They don't, and they just get mushy and disgusting. Also, don't try to eat one in this state. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but....no.

New fruit

I decided to go out on a limb and buy this "erik" fruit I've seen so much of in recent weeks. Literally translated to plum, I couldn't exactly figure out what they would be like because they are so small. They are crunchy sort of like an apple, rather tart, but overall almost like an unripe, well, plum. I've let them sit in my room for a few days, and they've gotten a bit softer and a touch sweeter but remain rather tart. Because this fruit is all over and people seem to be buying it, I can't imagine that they would be really unripe, unsuitable for consumption. The fruit is sort of refreshing, however. And, also like a plum, it has a large pit on the inside of it. Anyhow, I've been snacking on these in recent days and we've all (well, most of us anyway) enjoy them. In a side note, they are also good for pelting your friends.

Sugarless sugary treats

BREAKING NEWS.... Even though I thought it was physically impossible, I found a pastane (pastry shop) in Istanbul that makes sugar-free Turkish delight (lokum) and sugar-free baklava! The prices are comparable to the regular stuff, and the baklava is quite delicious. The syrup is a bit less sweet, which is not a bad thing. In fact, a friend told me she'd almost prefer the sugarless version because it's not so toothachingly sweet. The lokum is a bit strange, particularly in that it's covered in something that resembles powdered sugar but can't be. It tastes a lot like a flavor of Turkish delight, albeit more bland.

And, in case you are interested, the old name for a diabetic in Turkish şeker hastalığı (literally sugar sickness), but now it is diabetik. I hope that I'll be able to handle such a difficult foreign word.

May Day in Istanbul

The first of May is always a volatile day to live in Istanbul. In 1977, an unidentified gunman opened fire on a celebration of labor solidarity, and by the end of the gunfire and the panic that followed, 36 people had died and 200 were injured. In 1978 and up until this year, city officials banned demonstrations on Taksim Square and Istiklal, where the horrific tragedy occurred, but riots and demonstrations still occurred, leading to many arrests and injuries, and to the use of tear/pepper gas and water to control the crowd, who often become violent. Last year, at least according to anecdotal reports, up to 900 people were arrested.

This year, the government actually opened the square for a march but kept a tight control on just who can take part and what they can do as forms of protest. Over 5,000 people have come to the historic square, and, according to some reports, only about 30 people have been arrested in Taksim at this point.

The U.S. Embassy in Ankara issued a warden message warning of impending violence and transportation delays all across Turkey, but particularly in large public places in Istanbul, naming Taksim and Kadikoy as two specific places. Now, just so everyone knows, Taksim is where we spend most of our Friday and Saturday nights because of all the bars and restaurants and clubs, and because today is a holiday, we went out last night to Taksim one last time before the demonstrations and the police presence was already more marked. Barricades blocked off all side streets, more police were around with their AK-47s, and the like. We have all committed to not going anywhere in downtown Istanbul today, and instead decided to walk up to the Black Sea, an hour or so walk down the hill of our campus, and far away on the other side of Istanbul.

The video below is footage taken from today about the demonstrations and police intervention for the May Day celebrations.

Hürriyet Video'larını izlemek için Flash 7 veya daha yüksek eklenti yüklenmeniz gerekmektedir. Yüklemek için tıklayınız!!!

Buttered Popcorn gum?

I got some chewing gum from the grocery store on campus and was absolutely appalled. Appalled, I tell you. I didn't really look at the flavor before I bought it, and when I popped it in my mouth, I tasted buttered popcorn, not wholly unlike the flavor you get in a Jelly Belly jellybean. I find it a disgusting flavor by the way, and even though it does taste like popcorn, there's something about the flavor-texture combination that repulses me. I looked at the flavor after this rude awakening and saw that it was rice pudding flavored. Yes, Turkey makes rice pudding flavored chewing gum.

Only here...

Princess Islands

Just an hour-and-a-half ferry ride from downtown Istanbul there exists several resort-like islands. Known here as adalar, or "the Islands," the Princess Islands are the perfect place for a trip outside the urban life that is Istanbul. For a mere 2.80TL (1.72 USD), you can hop on the ferry and visit one of the islands, all of which do not allow cars but instead have bike rentals, carriages, and donkeys. Palatial resort homes and condos line the streets, palm trees offer shade from the warm sun, and parks and monasteries flank the residential areas--great place to overlook the Marmara Sea.

A group of us went to the largest island (Büyükada, meaning "large island") for a day and decided to walk instead of spending any money on rentals (yeah, 2.50 US per hour seemed a little steep for college kids, even if we were only going to spend a few hours there). We walked up to a park and sat around for a while, then we continued our trek up a very steep cobblestone street to the top of a mountain with an Orthodox church on top. We found a large cliff that overlooked the sea, so we relaxed before we took our long walk back to the ferry.

We were shocked at just how CHEAP this place was, and just how very different it was from the city of Istanbul, visible from most locations with a view. As it seemed a tropical destination, daytrips are very common for local Istanbul residents, if for nothing more than having a nice picnic in a change of venue.

One of my friends had a friend visiting, and we were very happy that he could see this place, even though it was nothing like the Istanbul to which we are all accustomed. Funny how you just discover things out of the blue...

Canada, eh?

So I made a very recent discovery that was most surprising to me: apparently, my three favorite children's shows growing up were Canadian shows, and I didn't even realize it! Sharon, Lois, and Bram; Fred Penner's Place; and Under the Umbrella Tree are all products of the CBC. Who would have thought? Although, in retrospect, it totally makes sense as to why one of the quintessential S,L,&B's songs, "One Elephant, Deux Éléphants" includes both English and French lyrics. Perhaps this discovery was a long time coming...

Making the distinctions between Canadian and American cultures is actually an interesting pastime among my Canadian and American friends here. I now have picked up several regional slang from my friends, including the all-time favorite "deec." Derived from the word "decent," this word is comparable to "awesome" or "sweet." I have learned that I wear not a snowcap, a ski hat, winter hat (or, incidentally, a toboggan) but instead a toque/tuque (sp?). And, if I were to order coffee and want two sugars and creams, such a drink is commonly referred to as a double-double. Of course, this drink is often associated with the famous Tim Horton's--or Timmie's, as it is sometimes called.

Now, having had a fascination with Canada for years, I am even more interested for some reason in light of this realization. The U.S. and Canada are so similar in many ways but are also so very different. The relationship between the two nations, the politics, and the perceptions of each other are quite interesting to study, and my interest in doing so has been compounded by the fact that many of my relatives are or once were Canadian citizens. I have been to Ottawa once and absolutely loved it, but it is due time for me to take the road trip there that I've always wanted, and now I have many friends with whom I can stay!