Quick Update

Hello from Turkey!  It’s been a while since I’ve written a post, and all kinds of things have happened.

Here’s a quick rundown:  I signed a lease and moved into my apartment, and
I got into the program I wanted at the graduate school that I liked best!

So, both of these major goals involve a whole lot of administrivia and taking care of business.  I’ve been running all over town doing interviews and making deposits at banks.  In Turkey, instead of sending a check, going somewhere in person and paying at a counter (like I used to do at University of Michigan), or paying online, you have to go to a bank, stand in line, and make a deposit to somebody’s bank account number.  It’s a little time consuming.  I think the workaround is to get a Turkish bank account, but that would add add extra steps for me in the process of moving money around the world, so I’m waiting on that. 

Here are a few pics of the new place:

The view is incredible and the first thing you notice when you walk in.  This is the living/dining room combo, and all the bedrooms have big windows like this.  Although initially I thought I could keep the windows bare, the morning sun schooled me, and now there are semi-sheer curtains hanging everywhere.The most important thing – a dryer.  Sure, it takes two cycles to get clothes to a reasonably damp state, but it’s worth it!The spikes are pidgeon-proofing  They remind me of Lady Liberty’s crown, so I’m pretty stoked every time I see them all over the place.  Even though on the bedroom balconies an entire length of wall was left unprotected, and I have pigeons stopping by every day!

So, there’s still a lot to do.  Right now I’m basically camping in my apartment with loaner furniture, but I think next week the landlord’s furniture and my own things will be delivered, and pretty soon I’ll have an actual home!