Gender Bender

Please see my personal thoughts about Gender at http://dae-o.blogspot.com/

The Shocker

Let's see...Well there are 2 thoughts that come to mind. I got my second huge culture shock when I was on the salad 'diet' here. Little did I know there were microscopic parasites fiestaing in my salad. I inadvertently moved their party into my stomach and baby we were a rockin! I was spooning the porcelain princess and they were doing the conga line down my large intestine. Luckily there was a Doc nearby. I got 5 needles in my arm for an IV but she just couldn't seem to find those veins (mental note, no heroin). Anyways I'm on some pain killers, anti-nausea pills and a party crasher for the P.sites. I now realize why the locals eat so much yogurt! From now on its yogurt once a day - minimum. Also apparently lettuce is the worst for bugs. Tomatoes are best when they are peeled.

The second type of culture shock (or maybe the first) was they way the men lovvvve to stair, harass, follow and make cat noises at women. Like Larissa said, it really started bothering me a few weeks ago. I sometimes find I cant look straight ahead if there are groups of men around. I keep me head lowered and my eyes down as not to attract more attention. I'm not scared but it bothers me. I feel like women who dont wear a head scarf in some ways get more discriminated against here and I know my colleagues have said the same. Women have a long upward battle here. Inshallah!

Enviro Foe

Turkey has the most amazing recycling program I have ever witnessed. The infrastructure the country has created is really second to none. Here's how it works... they gather all the poor people, refuse them any social welfare, and get them to collect bottles, cans and paper left on the street (unofficially). Perfection ;)

It really breaks my heart to throw all the bottles, cans, containers and newspapers in the garbage here. The other day I asked the volunteer coordinator at my office if there was any chance a recycling program would be started in the city - or at least in the office. She assured me the local authorities had started a recycling program, although in its infancy, but the pick up was based on call-in requests. She said she had called in 6 months ago and they still hadn't come by. The funniest part was when she showed me the collection of paper she had built up...... 6 months of paper waste. Oh this is gonna be good, I thought....and it was! She had 1 small plastic bag filled with a few sheets!! Like there wasn't enough paper in the garbage that day to fill up a small bag, let alone 6 months worth of paper. So much for the basement stacked with boxes of recyclable paper. I suppose there are only ghosts and the kitty litter down there.

People here constantly throw garbage on the street. It could be because there aren't any garbage bins around the city - a side of bomb please. Still, that's no excuse. And I always fight with people at shops when they try and give me a plastic bag, never mind the number or size of the items. Usually I say 'no thank you, no bag ..." then they hand me the bag, I take out my items and hand them back the bag. They think I'm crazy. I walk out juggling 8 items in my arms sans bag and feeling a little better.

On a side note, I do find it slightly hypocritical to judge other countries on their environmental initiatives when most of them lack the same infrastructure and advantages Canada has. However, Australia is a country that can be fairly accused of their poor environmental (especially recycling) programs. They had the same imperial advantage we did and yet they are seriously lacking in that department. Come on mate!

All in all, not looking good people. I recently watched 11th Hour with L. DiCaprio and it was really interesting and very sad. I would highly recommend it. We are screwed: you, me and the Turkey. Over and out.

http://www.endofworld.net/

Just like Jasmine & Aladdin... a whole new world

"I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

I can open your eyes
Take you wonder by wonder
Over, sideways and under
On a magic carpet ride"

Sorry I had to find those lyrics. Wait a second! I'm in Turkey if anyone can get a magic carpet ride it's gonna be me! Sorry Jasmine, you're out. Just because you can belly dance doesn't mean you have anything on me. Have you seen my running man....oh baby.

Well if we were to compare cities in an Ikea setting, Toronto would be a nice office display with everything strategically placed and Istanbul would parallel the kid's ball room at high noon. Every kid for themselves… Sane, Insane.

This place is amazing and grows on me every day I am here. The cobble stone streets and copious cafes really make the city very charming. Don't get me wrong, its crowded, hot and city like but once you veer off the main strip you can find just about anything. Aladdin??? For example, just last weekend I discovered there was an amazing 3 level bar/disco directly across the 4 meter alley from my work. Hello party. Luckily my associate was kind enough to introduce me to 'Owl' last Saturday night. I think Danielle and I were walking home on Saturday when the sun was coming up... and the streets were still full. Now that’s a serious difference right there.

Most people in the area I live in are quite modern. The women are dressed to the nines and people are quite liberal. On occasion I'll catch one or two women fully clad in their burqua's but that’s the exception. We also get serenaded by the lovely daily Muslim prayers. I sometimes wonder what they're saying. The mosques are truly beautiful and the architecture makes you marvel.

Oh I've also noticed the amount of stray cats around the city. Nobody owns them but everyone leaves food randomly out for them. It leads me to believe there is a sense of community and caring one might not detect right away. It’s something deeper than we have at home. I think people here depend on other people where as at home it’s every (wo)man for themselves.

Well that’s it for now… it’s 7:45pm on a Friday. I’ve got a date with Aladdin in 15!

Counter Culture

Culture for me is defined normally in each particular region of the world by shared patterns of living on a day to day basis. I believe many cultural attributes are based on socially constructed norms derived from historical ideas and attached values combined with a mix of contemporary ways of thinking. The communication era has definitely diluted culture for better of for worse and has left us as Canadians with a conglomerate of different ways to live.

Ultimately, my culture can be partially defined as 'counter culture', in the most innocent sense of course. =) I don't like to follow the crowds. I am individualistic. I look to nature, art and spirituality to guide my life and values. I have also realized there is a major divide between what Canadian society deems important and what I place value on. That epiphany has change my goals and in doing so has enriched my life, relationships and experiences (this being one of them). My culture can be described as contributing to society and taking the time to appreciate the people and animals in my life. I will always try and choose the morally responsible path.

I am constantly trying to break free from a culture that places importance on wealth over happiness, culture over nature, men over women, and work over play.