I had a really big day an no pictures to show for it. I did one of those things I should no better by now, but still slip up and occasionally do - cram a whole bunch of things into one small day.
This morning, we all hugged and kissed Baba goodbye and got ready to go out. I brought Zuleyha and the kids to the American army base. It is within the Turkish military base and we go through a couple of sets of security checks to get into our seemingly very secure location within a secure location - a place I like to call little America because in there are American cars, a chapel, an American school, American foods and goods, lots of Americans, and green grass. All details that make you forget for a little while that you are in Turkey.
I've started going here Thursday mornings to join a women's Bible study. I love it, minus the fact that most people are only here temporarily. There are the embassy/military people, the missionaries, and the few married to Turks. I haven't worked out who's who yet, but I still appreciate the female, fellow mother and expat socializing. The group is going through a devotional together, and while I've joined in the middle of the book, I still appreciate the sisterhood. I need sisterhood.
I went to the Bible study, while the kids met up with Mina and played in the park. Afterwords we met at mini-cafe and I ordered a pizza that I paid with American dollars that I had leftover from our previous visit to the real America. I feel very confused at these stores because all the employees are Turkish, but they speak to me in English. I ordered a pizza for our crew: half pepperoni (because I can and I'm in little America), and half cheese for my muslim nanny. I should have known better. I do know better but I was being careless and justified me greed for pork with the concept of cutting the pizza in half for our nanny. When she arrived indoors I explained the pizza to Zuleyha, asking if it was okay, and she said it was fine... probably because she didn't know what to say. When the employees saw I was going to share my pizza with a covered woman they took it back from me. They spoke in Turkish to abla offering to make her two slices the proper way. She accepted and I was embarrassed for my mistake and relieved they had jumped in and fixed it for me.
We left the base and I had to hurry, but not before I ran through the store and bought to American treats: Reeces Peanut Butter cups, and a caffeine free coke for me.
I dropped Teoman and Tomris at home, changed clothes, and tool Zuleyha and Tuana to my 2nd interview at the school I was applying. Tolga had taken the phone call the day and I had figured something got lost in translation - schools usually don't do a second interview, but rather a demo lesson or an offer. However, this indeed turned out to be a second interview. My interviewers from last week had recommended for hiring, and the principals of the middle school wanted to vet me as well. They were two woman - Turkish woman in her late fifties, early sixties, wearing dress that was uncharacteristically short for a Turkish woman. She served as the Turkish principal, and a second woman in her fifties who served as the English principal. They asked me a few questions about what brought me to Turkey, to their school -- I can't really remember the specifics, but it was a half hour of easy conversation until Zuleyha called from the car to say Tuana had woke up and was hungry.
Yep, I brought the baby to the interview. I'm not ready to leave here anywhere, job or not - and fortunately the women understood and accepted this. They wanted me to meet the director, but the director was busy. The indicted they wanted to hire me, asked for my CV again, some references, and made an appointment for me to come back after spring break to meet with the director and Human Resources - and most likely give me the standard offer then. I had given the deadline of March 29th as the day my own school asked that I make a commitment so it seems most things will be clear by then.
I think this the right move - a good fit having an equally strong Turkish and English mix, especially for my own kids education, as well as my career (which I care much less about). But I'm not sure, and nervous about the choice - I don't really trust myself with the move - will I be sacrificing a good thing for something that looks better? Because with the move will come a lot more responsibility - a lot more work - is it something I really want?
... I guess ...
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