Before departing for an international trip, plan your wardrobe months in advance. Purchase clothing made from wicking, quick-drying fabrics, such as Tencel, silk, wool, or polyester. I like items from Patagonia, Title Nine Travel Smith, Winter Silks, and Smart Wool socks.
Make your bed, nice and neat. Then lay everything out you want to take. Put half of it back. Take another hard look, and put another half back. Now you are ready to go. Really, it's that easy. Do. Not. Pack. Too. Much. Stuff. Wash your travel-ready clothes at night in the sink, and you'll be ready to go.
Take a sleeping mask and ear plugs. Take a pair of comfy socks to wear on the airplane.
More later, now we need to go back to the library and download movies to the laptop to watch on the plane.
Dian
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Former US Ambassador to Turkey Ross Wilson visits Georgia
Funny how the world turns. And keeps turning. Yesterday, I went to the library and was pleased to see it was very full of all kinds of people, children and adults alike. Before traveling to any destination, it is always a good idea to learn as much as you can. The library was full of books, DVDs, and foreign language tapes. Yep, they even had "You Can Learn Turkey before you Land." I'll let you know how that goes.
The book that stirred my interest in Turkey was, This is My Life by Sakip Sabanci. Former President Jimmy Carter wrote the introduction. This where we see how the world turns. Former President Carter vacations with Joe Biden this week in the Virgin Islands. If Carter is in the Virgin Islands, who is minding Georgia while he is gone? We don't know today, but we know former US Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, spoke earlier this year at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum.
I think our former President still has a strong love for Turkey. Let's hope he shares a few books with the Vice-President for their beach reading this week.
More later,
Dian
The book that stirred my interest in Turkey was, This is My Life by Sakip Sabanci. Former President Jimmy Carter wrote the introduction. This where we see how the world turns. Former President Carter vacations with Joe Biden this week in the Virgin Islands. If Carter is in the Virgin Islands, who is minding Georgia while he is gone? We don't know today, but we know former US Ambassador to Turkey, Ross Wilson, spoke earlier this year at the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum.
I think our former President still has a strong love for Turkey. Let's hope he shares a few books with the Vice-President for their beach reading this week.
More later,
Dian
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Where is Turkey?
We are packing our bags. Meanwhile, a short geography lesson. Where is Turkey?
It was fun to note the World Atlas website lists only 3 points of interest. Really? In all the world, there are only 3 points of interests? So they say. You know one is Turkey, or I wouldn't point it out for you. What are the other two? Hawaii (geographically not part of the Americas, but politically, associated with the United States in North America.) And, European Russia (considered Europe, but serves as a dividing line between Europe and Asia).
So what makes Turkey worthy of distinction? Turkey has the geographic privilege of being the only country that rests within two continents. It is the bridge between Europe in Asia, resting on the Bosphorus Strait. Turkey's position as the good neighbor to the West and the good neighbor to the East, makes them a well-suited mediator of East-West political relations.
World Atlas - What continent is Turkey on?
Tomorrow, I will visit the library for a Turkish language audio book.
Learning All Things Turkey,
Dian
It was fun to note the World Atlas website lists only 3 points of interest. Really? In all the world, there are only 3 points of interests? So they say. You know one is Turkey, or I wouldn't point it out for you. What are the other two? Hawaii (geographically not part of the Americas, but politically, associated with the United States in North America.) And, European Russia (considered Europe, but serves as a dividing line between Europe and Asia).
So what makes Turkey worthy of distinction? Turkey has the geographic privilege of being the only country that rests within two continents. It is the bridge between Europe in Asia, resting on the Bosphorus Strait. Turkey's position as the good neighbor to the West and the good neighbor to the East, makes them a well-suited mediator of East-West political relations.
World Atlas - What continent is Turkey on?
Tomorrow, I will visit the library for a Turkish language audio book.
Learning All Things Turkey,
Dian
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Fulbright scholarship to Turkey and Adaptive Physical Education
The Fulbright scholarship sponsors encourage students to consider the opportunity of study and travel abroad. Pick a country, any country. My hand shot up, and I said, "Turkey!" Nobody else selected Turkey. Many people dream of the romantic destinations...France or Italy. Let's get outside the box, ok? TWU has a dynamic international student program. Learn more about the Fulbright scholarships here Fulbright - Turkey.
Ms. Juanita Duenez-Lazo, is the Director of Texas Woman's University - Office of International Education and Admissions. She shared with me we had a Turkish professor on campus, and perhaps I'd be interested in meeting her. Of course I would. Dr. Dilara Ozer and I immediately enjoyed a warm relationship. She was at TWU to study with a pioneer in the area of adaptive physical education, Dr. Claudine Sherrill. How did that come to be? Years ago, Dr. Ozer was told she would be teaching physical education for special needs students. She wanted to learn more about it, and went to her Turkish library to research the topic. She found one book particularly helpful. It was written by Dr. Sherrill, of the TWU Adaptive Physical Education program These two professors found a mutual appreciation for the subject and collaborated on further ideas. The next International Symposium on Adaptive Physical Education - July 19-23, 2013 will be conducted in Istanbul Turkey. You too can meet Dr. Ozer and Dr. Sherrill.
Ms. Juanita Duenez-Lazo, is the Director of Texas Woman's University - Office of International Education and Admissions. She shared with me we had a Turkish professor on campus, and perhaps I'd be interested in meeting her. Of course I would. Dr. Dilara Ozer and I immediately enjoyed a warm relationship. She was at TWU to study with a pioneer in the area of adaptive physical education, Dr. Claudine Sherrill. How did that come to be? Years ago, Dr. Ozer was told she would be teaching physical education for special needs students. She wanted to learn more about it, and went to her Turkish library to research the topic. She found one book particularly helpful. It was written by Dr. Sherrill, of the TWU Adaptive Physical Education program These two professors found a mutual appreciation for the subject and collaborated on further ideas. The next International Symposium on Adaptive Physical Education - July 19-23, 2013 will be conducted in Istanbul Turkey. You too can meet Dr. Ozer and Dr. Sherrill.
Left to right: Marni Sadri, Dr. Dilara Ozer, Dian Jordan-Werhane, and Juanita Duenez-Lazo
We had a great little impromptu international party at my house to send Dr Ozer back to Turkey with the very best of wishes from Texas.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sakip Sabanci - ambassador to Turkey
Sakip Sabanci was the self-appointed Ambassador for Turkey. He relished the role, and enthusiastically promoted all things Turkey. I'm not sure I even knew where Turkey was (more geography later). He was a customer at a DuPont joint venture company I worked at. He and I always enjoyed our phone conversations, and he said he was "practicing his English." He was really practicing his selling me on Turkey. We did a little sales business, then we began chatting about business practices. We discussed why it was important to support rural areas,even at the expense of higher profits. We chatted about family. His daughter was about my age. We talked about culture. We were both raised by hardworking parents in a rural area. He assured me I would need to not only visit Istanbul, but also Adana. Not everybody would appreciate the small town charms of Adana, but he was confident it was the right place for me. I think when his company moved from Adana to Istanbul, a little bit of his heart stayed in Adana. We discussed all kinds of things, and I always looked forward to his sales calls. He spoke so lovingly of his homeland, Turkey. He insisted I must come visit, and I would stay at his home. "Everybody stays at my home when they visit." He enthusiastically told me his home was very nice, and just like a museum. He collected many beautiful artworks, displayed throughout the home. I learned later, the home really has been turned into a museum Sabanci home to "Horse Museum".
One day, he decided to come visit! Yes, in rural Oklahoma. He came to see our manufacturing plant. He brought several of his associates with him, maybe his brothers or managers. I am not sure. He gave me his autobiography, and signed it. I have read it many times. He has been an inspiration for my own business practices. See all the sticky tabs in the book? Those are important things worth remembering. The book is a bit tattered, as I lent it out to anybody that ever mentioned Turkey. I'd make them read it.
I still always dreamed of visiting the Turkey that Mr Sabanci so wanted me to see. He was as proud of his home, as I am of my country.
Fast forward twenty years. I was in a class, and struck up a conversation with a student I did not know. What are the chances? This person was from Turkey! What in the world could I think to talk about? What could we possibly have in common? So I say, "I know someone from Turkey. Do you know Sakip Sabanci?"
Incredulously, he looks at me. "Of course I know of Sakip Sabanci. How did you know him?" I tell the story of when he came to visit Oklahoma. I'm not sure the student believed me. A few days later, I showed him a letter Mr. Sabanci had written me, and the signed book.
This student also encouraged me to visit Turkey. And now we are.
More later,
Dian
One day, he decided to come visit! Yes, in rural Oklahoma. He came to see our manufacturing plant. He brought several of his associates with him, maybe his brothers or managers. I am not sure. He gave me his autobiography, and signed it. I have read it many times. He has been an inspiration for my own business practices. See all the sticky tabs in the book? Those are important things worth remembering. The book is a bit tattered, as I lent it out to anybody that ever mentioned Turkey. I'd make them read it.
I still always dreamed of visiting the Turkey that Mr Sabanci so wanted me to see. He was as proud of his home, as I am of my country.
Fast forward twenty years. I was in a class, and struck up a conversation with a student I did not know. What are the chances? This person was from Turkey! What in the world could I think to talk about? What could we possibly have in common? So I say, "I know someone from Turkey. Do you know Sakip Sabanci?"
Incredulously, he looks at me. "Of course I know of Sakip Sabanci. How did you know him?" I tell the story of when he came to visit Oklahoma. I'm not sure the student believed me. A few days later, I showed him a letter Mr. Sabanci had written me, and the signed book.
This student also encouraged me to visit Turkey. And now we are.
More later,
Dian
Saturday, December 17, 2011
End of Semester Flood Celebration with Asure Noah's Pudding
After 40 days and 40 nights of rain, the rains stopped. Noah's Flood receded. Many people want to believe the remains of Noah's ark are located on Mt. Ararat, located in Eastern Turkey. Tradition says, after the flood, there was very little remaining food to eat. Everyone was asked to bring whatever they had. Noah's pudding was made from a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
This story reminded us of the more than 40 days and 40 nights we have felt rained upon and flooded with homework and assignments. The semester finally ended, and the academic demands receded. Mehmet's lovely wife (I know she's lovely, we met her), and his mother-in-law prepared a traditional Noah's Pudding for our class celebration.
Noah's Pudding
Each student in Dr. Gullion's Qualitative Methods course brought a potluck dish to share. Let's just say, Mehmet was the star of the show. Thank you, Mehmet! Not only did he bring Noah's Pudding, he brought rice-stuffed peppers. The bright red, orange and yellow peppers made it an attractive dish. After the party, there were 4 leftovers. My husband ate all of them ;)
Rice stuffed peppers
If you would like to prepare a classic Turkish dessert, try Noah's Pudding. It's traditionally shared in January. It is almost January, so let's get started.
Noah's Pudding recipe
Noah's Pudding - video demonstration
This story reminded us of the more than 40 days and 40 nights we have felt rained upon and flooded with homework and assignments. The semester finally ended, and the academic demands receded. Mehmet's lovely wife (I know she's lovely, we met her), and his mother-in-law prepared a traditional Noah's Pudding for our class celebration.
Noah's Pudding
Each student in Dr. Gullion's Qualitative Methods course brought a potluck dish to share. Let's just say, Mehmet was the star of the show. Thank you, Mehmet! Not only did he bring Noah's Pudding, he brought rice-stuffed peppers. The bright red, orange and yellow peppers made it an attractive dish. After the party, there were 4 leftovers. My husband ate all of them ;)
Rice stuffed peppers
If you would like to prepare a classic Turkish dessert, try Noah's Pudding. It's traditionally shared in January. It is almost January, so let's get started.
Noah's Pudding recipe
Noah's Pudding - video demonstration
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Preamble to Turkey
To get in the mood for all things Turkey, we traveled to Richardson TX, just North of Dallas TX. (should North be capitalized?)
Destan restaurant was a great place to set the mood for travel to Turkey. We decided to learn about the food first. The restaurant has a salad bar, buffet or menu order. Take my advice, and take two scoops of the hummus on the salad bar. It's that good. Besides the best-hummus-you'll-ever-eat, we tried the Iskender kebab and Adana kebab. A fairly new restaurant, Destan, has opened in a strip mall. It's only a couple of blocks from the University of Texas - Dallas campus. Destitute students should eat at Destan's. Prices are fair, food is good, and portions are generous.
It's decorated with Turkish rugs on the wall, and the fanciest teapots you'll ever see. 4 big screen TVs are easy to watch if you don't like eating alone.
The owner, Burhan Kizilkaya, (yes, I had to ask him to spell it for me) and chef humored us and came out took pix with us for our scrapbook adventure.
We asked the chef to make us anything Turkish, and this is one of the dishes he prepared for us. I am still full.
Stay tuned. We're going to learn all things Turkey!
Destan restaurant was a great place to set the mood for travel to Turkey. We decided to learn about the food first. The restaurant has a salad bar, buffet or menu order. Take my advice, and take two scoops of the hummus on the salad bar. It's that good. Besides the best-hummus-you'll-ever-eat, we tried the Iskender kebab and Adana kebab. A fairly new restaurant, Destan, has opened in a strip mall. It's only a couple of blocks from the University of Texas - Dallas campus. Destitute students should eat at Destan's. Prices are fair, food is good, and portions are generous.
It's decorated with Turkish rugs on the wall, and the fanciest teapots you'll ever see. 4 big screen TVs are easy to watch if you don't like eating alone.
The owner, Burhan Kizilkaya, (yes, I had to ask him to spell it for me) and chef humored us and came out took pix with us for our scrapbook adventure.
Stay tuned. We're going to learn all things Turkey!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)