Just some fun things in Turkey

 This area is called Hamanonu.  It is in the oldest section of Ankara.  During the Ottoman period these were all mansions and they were beautiful.  Recently they have begun restoring this whole area.  It is full of shops, restaurants, art places, galleries, and there is also a traditional Turkish bath here that has also been restored. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy or eat or shop.  Great place.

 This is the entrance and clock tower of Hamanonu.

 This is Zubeyda's family.  I call them my family away from Utah.  We had them over for dinner and I felt I was with my family.  As you can see they are as huggy as my family is. 

This is building going up just below us.  We watched them put this scaffolding up and though they surely wouldn't stand on it.  But, if you look closely you can see the man at the top putting something on the building.

 

 The melons here are so good, I think they are one of the things I will miss the most.  This is a cabbage.  It is huge.  Half of it is on the drainer and 1/4 is cut up in my bowl.  The cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower are as big as watermelons. 

 One of the vegetable pizar's.

 We took this picture only because of the big globs on the top of the meat.  For the life of me, I can't figure out what they are.  They look alien to me.  Wouldn't buy or try this one.

 I think Duard is beginning to get a little trunky.

 We found this in a museum.  It isn't a sleight.  If you look where Du's hand is there is a pole.  Two people, one at each end would carry this little chair with the pole to give people a ride.  Probably for important people.  Don't know that one for sure.

There are beautiful buildings all around us except for these little houses (?).  They call them Gece condos.  Most time they go up over night.  This is the way it is all over Ankara, beautiful buildings and right in the middle are these poor little homes. 

Hasanoglan

 Our dear friend Zubeyba is a math teacher at this school in Hasanoglan.  They had a celebration on Tuesday April 17 and she was partially in charge and invited us to come.  So we jumped in a bus and went about an hour East of Ankara to this community.  We hadn't realized it was such a big event for this school.  First of all we went to her classroom and watched her teach for a little bit and after she told them I was a dance teacher I offered to teach them a little tap.  They loved it.  This girl really took to it and could be a very good dancer. It was so fun.  These young people were very vibrant, energetic, smart, and happy.

 During the ceremony they asked Duard to speak.  He spoke about Turkey and how much he loved it.  He told them they needed to get the word out for people to understand how beautiful and safe this land is.  He told them the part he loved the most was the good people that live here in Turkey.  At the end of his few minutes, he was in tears and so were many others.  It was a very wonderful speech.

 This entire front row was full of the dignitaries of the community.  The Mayor and the representatives of all the ministries.  They had only asked the principal and Duard to speak.  Afterwards you could tell they all were very happy with what was said.

 This darling young man kept following me.  At one point he showed me his left ring finger and said I'm single.  So I showed him mine and said I'm married.  He was so cute. 

 While there they taught Duard how to water paint.  It is a process where you put the paint on top of this solution and make designs in it.  When you are happy with it, you lay a piece of paper on your design and lift the paper up.  It is harder than you would think and Duard's was very good. 

 Here is a picture of his painting.

This is Zubeyda with her class.  Such a great day.

Yozgat

This trip to Yozgat/Sorgan was quite a trip.  We went with another couple, the Canfields, and our interpreter Meric.  Our first night we stayed at a beautiful Hotel.  But, at about 9 pm, a dance in the lower conference center began and it was so loud our room was shaking.  Also on the next floor, a group of men were watching a soccor game on tv and they were very loud cheerers.  The hotel was beautiful, but no sound-proofing, and not a great design as far as sound goes.  Not a great night - but oh well.  In the morning we drove to Sorgut to distribute these wheelchairs.  The Mayor and dignitaries were very kind to us.  As always, we fall in love with these wonderful people we give the chairs to.

 

 I felt very fortunate to have these ladies let me take a picture with them.

 

 This grandmother was accompanied by her daughter and granddaughter.  Can you see the Grandmother holding my hand. 

 This little girl was so happy to have a chair that she just couldn't stop smiling (except for this picture)  They told us she writes with her toes. 

 These women are always so loving.

 Another happy child that loved giving high-fives to Duard.

 We were in a village discussing a water project in the Mayor's home.  I am sitting on the traditional type couches in their front room.  There was a stove in the middle of the room that the mother kept stoked with wood.

The Canfields, the Mayor, Duard and me, representative from Yozgut, and our interpreter, Meric (she is also our Relief Society President)

Beypazari

We were invited to a town west of Ankara to visit a handicapped school to see if we could help them with a rehabilitation room for their students.  This lady has done so much work in Turkey to better the lives of other people and we are so priviledged to be able to works with her.  We were in for a great treat at Beypazari!   Beypazari is known for its carrots, silver working, metals, and scarfs.  As you walk down the pizar, you can get fresh carrot joice that they make right there.  Very delicious!

First of all we were picked up by the Mayor's wife (Hamida) and driver, in his car at our apartment and taken to this city where we met with her and her husband, the Mayor of Beypazari.  He presented us with this beautiful rendering of the Historical part of the City in wood.  Afterwards we visited the handicapped school. Hopefully we will be able to work together.  

This is Engen, me, Duard, the Mayor, Hamida, and Seda our interpreter. 

This is the traditional dress of the women of this area.  I just had to have a pair of these pants, in fact I bought two.  They are very comfortable and I just love them.

They then took us to lunch in this very wonderful outdoor restaurant.  The food was so good.  I think I have found another recipe that I have to take home.  I wanted to leave the group and spend time in the kitchen, but probably would not have been appropriate.  The soup, carrot dish, and some other dishes are native to this area.

During our visit Hamida heard me talking about how much I loved butterflies and at the end of our visit she had gotten me a very lovely hand tooled beautiful butterfly necklace.  She is putting it on me. 

Everywhere we went they had a photographer with us.  That night we received an email that we were in the newspapers.  The article was very complementary about LDS Charities and was a beautiful article.  You won't be able to understand it because it is in Turkish, but it really is a nice article.

http://www.seyelan.com.tr/haber/1485/lds-hayir-kurumu-temsilcileri-engelliler-icin-beypazarinda.html