The cold weather is settling in for the duration. Rumour has it that it's going to be a cold one this year. Already I've become accustomed to wearing a scarf and beanie.
Work is work. Nothing much to report there. In the time I've been there which is only 3 months now we've lost 3 head teachers and after 13 years our director of studies (head of teaching department) has thrown the towel in.
There's a clear divide in staff not only on an academic basis but also an ethnic one. The Turks are sales staff and the teachers are yabanci (foreigners). Actually this is normal. However at our school the Turks don't speak English which is peculiar given that it's an English school. As such, we don't communicate and there's a fair amount of animosity from them to us.
Thus, interaction with the other staff is often painful and to be avoided at all costs.
The teaching however remains challenging. I'm still learning every day. Sometimes it's how to teach a concept. Other times it's how to throw my students out of the classroom!
Pelin has work now which has changed her mood considerably and makes me feel more comfortable too. She's more tired, yet happier overall to be occupied. Free time was killing her.
Nothing going on on the friends front which means my sole friendly interaction is Pelin with a little bit from my fellow teachers. However the latter is limited.
Learning Turkish should be more of a priority than it is but I'm still adjusting to the programme of longer hours, less breaks and different conditions.
Overall things are good.
:)
