Byzantium

Sorry for the slight delay in posting anything about my new adventures. The week has flown by in a flurry of lesson prep, meetings, Nescafe and jetlag. Suddenly, yesterday afternoon, I woke up and realized I was in Istanbul - walking over the Galata Bridge into Sultanhament (the old city) I had that moment I needed, when things clicked in and I felt the city get under my skin. It is beautiful, and there are people everywhere, and it is HOT and noisy, and smells invade every corner, and the flags of political parties whip and flutter over the walking streets. People seem to walk in a rhythm, and walking around this morning on Istikkal Caddesi, music buzzed out the doors of the music shops.

My colleagues and the other expats I have met are all an interesting, well-traveled bunch - the kind who can say, "oh yeah, when I was in Tblisi (or Dunshabe or Almaty)" without anyone batting an eye. Which, of course, makes for immediately riveting conversations of the kind that can only exist when a bunch of over-educated, displaced people get together. Really, really fun.

Before I ramble on too much, I will simply post a couple pictures. I still have a shocking amount of prepping to do, and there's a student welcome reception this evening yet to attend. Stay tuned ...