Teaching 18 undergraduate credit hours while living in a foreign country is definitely taking its toll on me. By the time Wednesday evening rolls around, I am just hoping I can stay up late enough to read the text that I must lecture on in tomorrow's classes!
In addition to teaching, each fellow is supposed to choose/create a project. I have decided to work with the Access scholarship students. They are low-income students who are going to receive two years of free English lessons through a State Department grant. This project is close to my heart because it helps even the footing between the haves and have-nots. Although education is virtually free in Turkey, students must past a grueling test at the end of high school. Their acceptance to the University is totally dependent on their results. Because of that, many enroll in darsani, or private schools throughout their high school years just to prepare for this three-hour test.
These private darsani courses are very expensive, so the families who are lower income cannot send their children. The students who don't prepare at darsani have a much, much smaller chance of "wining" the exam, as they say, and then will not be able to go to the University.
The student selection process is the first thing I have gotten involved in by preparing a questionaire that should help assess the students' families' economic status. Just asking yearly income wouldn't yield dependable information. Instead, I attempted to get at it by asking about parents foreign langauge skills, if the students has traveled outside of Turkey, if the student currently attends private darsani. . .I am working with the Turkish American Center that has received the grant to carry out these lessons.
Still no Internet at home. The person downstairs has the Internet, but I can't go ask her to "share" because of cultural issues.
On the bright side, I received three wonderful packages this week:
A huge box from my sister with my warm, warm down comforter. Finally I am warm at night-thank you!
Four pounds of honey from Kirk. I am not sharing with ANYBODY :) Well if you come visit, I will share.
Two cans of cranberry sauce from Craig at the embassy. I am going to attempt to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house, and he has access to the embassy/military shopping center where you can find any American food
Which brings to mind the things that America does best:
Peanut butter - After doing extensive market research, I can safely say that we have the best and the widest selection.
Sponges - the sponges here are crap. Synthetic gross things that don't really clean dishes at all. Beth sent me 20 good sponges, which I will ration.
Garbage disposals - Why doesn't everyone have these? Here we keep little plungers next to the sink which you use invariably, every meal, because the drain is so small.
Washers and Dryers - Our washers are fast and we have dryers. Yes, I know it is a waste of energy, but sometimes it is so nice. There are no dryers here. Really.
Anti-scald valves - You don't truly appreciate these until you don't have one. Ouch!
Unlimited Nights and Weekends - Local mobile calls here cost about 20-40 cents per minute, always
Admittedly, these are all things that one can buy which makes me a crazy consumer, but there it is.
