Friends

Last weekend, my suite mate from Brenau came for a visit. Her and her family are now living in Germany and we have been trying to plan a get together. I haven't seen Jill since her first wedding. It was before Joel and I were married. In fact, I caught the bouquet!

Jill and I not only lived together, but we were also dance majors together. We were such great friends. We have so many amazing memories together. Partying at UGA, South Beach, roadtrip to Louisville, she was my sister. But we both went different directions (literally). And since this was before unlimited texting and Facebook, we did a pretty lousy job keeping in touch. But once we both joined FB, we reconnected again.

So that's Jill and I on the left. Liz, in red, was our other partner in crime. We went to high school together too. Anyways, I was so excited when she sent me her Itinery. She was really coming to visit! She has a new husband and two adorable little ones I was looking forward to meeting them. But you have to think, how are things going to be after so many years?

I guess sometimes you just makes friends that will be life long friends and no matter how many years pass, that friendship never changes. And that is how it is with Jill. It was like we never skipped a beat. She is the same girl from Brenau, but with less of a Southern accent and much more experience under her belt. I can truly say it has been a long time since I had that much fun. And it is so funny to see how our adult lives are so similar. LOVE her husband, Jim. And her kids were so cute! And my kids had so much fun with them.

 

It was a whirlwind weekend, as we tried to get in so many sites in. And we were able to give them a break from their kids. Being expats, you don't have the help from family to depend on. We have been so lucky here to have friends to watch the kids. And have the resources to hire help. Four days of feeling 18 again was just what I needed. I will make sure it's not another 12 years before we do it again. I have always wanted to see Germany in the fall...

Jill and I (with Milly) at the Blue Mosque

 

 

With our husbands enjoying some wine and Turkish music with our Jeweler.

 

 

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Getting a taste

The kids are off this week on holiday but with Joel's big week for getting OK to ship, we opted for a mellow week at home. Well, as mellow as four kids can be. The last two nights, Joel has stayed at the Guest house at work. And while it's not much different, man I am tired! How is it going to be for the next three years when it is just me with the kids all week long? I am hoping I am just still tired from the most amazing weekend with my friend Jill. More on that later. I am going to bed.... And yes it's 21:00

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I cried in the Carrefour

Yes you read that right.  Last Friday, I became the dumb American crying in the Carrefour.  I picked up a stomach bug last week and Friday was the first day was I was feeling OK enough to get out.  I was almost out of diapers and completely out of dog food.  I had arranged with my helper that she was to come in four days next week since we have company coming.  So I had to take the little two with me to the store.

When we arrived, I thought I would just grab money from the ATM before going shopping. I needed to pay for gymnastics and some other things.  If there is no one at the machine, you GO!  Or you have no idea how long you will get stuck in line.  I go put my card in, enter the number, try to hide my balance displayed on the screen (that drives me nuts!), hit the withdraw cash button and black.  The machine dies.  I try to tallk to the Security Guard, thinking maybe a circuit blew.  That didn't help.  So I called the number on the machine.  The lady asked me three times what my card number was.  IT'S IN THE MACHINE!!  Nate is running around and Milly is yelling because she wants to run around with Nate.  Then the lady asks me for my Turkish ID number.  I am obviously not Turkish with my last name!  So I finally admitted defeat and hung up on her.  Called Joel to tell him to deal with it and I just lost it.  It was the straw that broke the camels back.  I pulled myself together and thankfully, with my newly activated US bank card, got what I had to get.  I was stressed the whole time because travel alerts don't always work.  Love living in a country that the US banks classify restricted.  I couldn't handle getting up there with a basket full of groceries and not have a working card.  But it did!  And then I cried myself home.

Yep it was an awesome day.  Then the bank told me that they changed their rules and I can't have a new card on Joel's account.  I have to get my own account.  Hello, JOINT ACCOUNT?  I refuse to have to worry about Joel moving money over and worrying about what is in my account.  I spend most of the money, I want access to it all.  I told Joel, its time to go.  I spent the first few months without a card, I guess I will spend my last.  The bank is going to try to retrieve the card and reactivate it, but I doubt that will happen.  Turkey just doesn't work that way.