Fethiye, Turkey
Yes, I arrived here over a week ago (Friday, Oct 22 to be exact) and I have not written a thing in this blog.
I am remembering what Wm Irwin Thompson said in his book (The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light) about life's 'waves and troughs' (homo huber and homo faber ... I know how everyone loves these obscure references, lol). It just resonates for me now -- I have this rhythm myself. I play and interact, and then I need the quiet times of inward work. This past week has been very much play.
Filiz only knew me via couchsurfing, but opened up her house and life to me. This was actually only my second couchsurfing stay, but I know it was unique. We spent so much time laughing and talking that I feared for her energy (it must be so difficult to work so hard in a language that is still new). We cooked and walked and traveled on her scooter (!!). She introduced me to Tarkan videos (!) and to pide, Calis, Turkish dancing, how to ride the dolmus (minibuses), amazing cooking and spices and she worked so hard to help me form the right sounds for the language (I fear I am a disappointment to her in that regard ... more about that later).
The time moved quickly. We imagined opening a business together. She contacted friends of friends to get me a job interview at a school. We even discussed becoming flatmates. So, it is hard to say goodbye. I am still in Fethiye now - staying in town until I hear from other couchsurfers I hope to meet (or job offers - whichever comes first).
I expect to have dinner or see Filiz at least a few more times. Her life is quite packed right now (we both came to this hard reality last week when we agreed to cancel a weekend plan to lounge around at a friend's 'Butterfly Valley' villa). She is moving to a new place ("with a garden!", she would sing), so has to be out of her apartment by the 15th. Also, she has her mother's visit (tomorrow) and a holiday trip to India (on the 13th). Quite a bit of action for a short amount of time. I decided to do my best to help her pack up her stuff -- we worked all weekend and got most of it done. Now she seems calmer and ready to get on with her fun.
As for me, I seem to have moved into my 'homo faber' mode automatically (magically?). I am writing again! I don't think that would have happened if I had landed in the hostel with all the backpackers. This hotel found me (I must have a really pathetic look when I am lost ... this sweet man dragged me off the street and insisted he would get me a room for any price I wanted). This is a time for me to be inward, to write, to think.
It is early afternoon and I am sitting at a lanai table with a view that matches any I have seen in Hawai'i. I am mesmerized. Boats ( gulets!). Yesterday I spent hours taking photos of these boats (they will be up on flikr). How strange to be pulled back here today.
Tomorrow I must be on one.
I am remembering what Wm Irwin Thompson said in his book (The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light) about life's 'waves and troughs' (homo huber and homo faber ... I know how everyone loves these obscure references, lol). It just resonates for me now -- I have this rhythm myself. I play and interact, and then I need the quiet times of inward work. This past week has been very much play.
Filiz only knew me via couchsurfing, but opened up her house and life to me. This was actually only my second couchsurfing stay, but I know it was unique. We spent so much time laughing and talking that I feared for her energy (it must be so difficult to work so hard in a language that is still new). We cooked and walked and traveled on her scooter (!!). She introduced me to Tarkan videos (!) and to pide, Calis, Turkish dancing, how to ride the dolmus (minibuses), amazing cooking and spices and she worked so hard to help me form the right sounds for the language (I fear I am a disappointment to her in that regard ... more about that later).
The time moved quickly. We imagined opening a business together. She contacted friends of friends to get me a job interview at a school. We even discussed becoming flatmates. So, it is hard to say goodbye. I am still in Fethiye now - staying in town until I hear from other couchsurfers I hope to meet (or job offers - whichever comes first).
I expect to have dinner or see Filiz at least a few more times. Her life is quite packed right now (we both came to this hard reality last week when we agreed to cancel a weekend plan to lounge around at a friend's 'Butterfly Valley' villa). She is moving to a new place ("with a garden!", she would sing), so has to be out of her apartment by the 15th. Also, she has her mother's visit (tomorrow) and a holiday trip to India (on the 13th). Quite a bit of action for a short amount of time. I decided to do my best to help her pack up her stuff -- we worked all weekend and got most of it done. Now she seems calmer and ready to get on with her fun.
As for me, I seem to have moved into my 'homo faber' mode automatically (magically?). I am writing again! I don't think that would have happened if I had landed in the hostel with all the backpackers. This hotel found me (I must have a really pathetic look when I am lost ... this sweet man dragged me off the street and insisted he would get me a room for any price I wanted). This is a time for me to be inward, to write, to think.
It is early afternoon and I am sitting at a lanai table with a view that matches any I have seen in Hawai'i. I am mesmerized. Boats ( gulets!). Yesterday I spent hours taking photos of these boats (they will be up on flikr). How strange to be pulled back here today.
Tomorrow I must be on one.