The Color Run was founded in March of 2011 as an event to promote healthiness and happiness coined as the “Happiest 5k on the Planet”. Two staff who previously participated in the Color run in Germany said it was a "must do" on our list of life experiences. So....about 15 other staff members joined us, and we experienced the car wash of color, followed by music afterwards. While we didn't get much exercise as the 5K ended up being about a 3K and most participants were engrossed with selfies and rolling in dye on the ground, we agreed it was a "happy" event and had a blast. Riding home on public transportation was a sight to see. Enjoy the pics!
Saturday was a day dedicated to art appreciation. We explored the graffiti exhibit at the Pera Museum with artists from all over the world and visited the Artisan Fair with craftsman from all over Turkey demonstrating their trade. Much of the graffiti movement and art stemmed from areas such as the Bronx in New York and L.A. There was also an exhibit highlighting the beginnings of skateboarding, some of the photos included my childhood roots- Del Mar, CA, as well as other beginnings of skateparks along the coastline. Aleah and I seemed to enjoy the Artisan Fair the most as we tried to decide which artist to support by purchasing their wares. Sadly, many of the trades are dying off in Turkey as the younger generations are hesitant to pursue the same career path. The sustained time and simplicity with the trade is what impressed me the most. The Turkish delight bowl I purchased took the artist 8 days to make. Starting with a hand-molded copper base, followed by a fine razor he used to etch the pattern and then he poured a silver coating on the outside followed by an oxidation process to seal in the design. Aleah bought a "secret" box with a hidden key all handmade from mother of pearl and carved wood. Of course, we both wanted to support every vendor, but finally settled on our one of a kind gems. Mike and I returned to work on August 1st to find the school in complete disarray. While typically, major school construction projects begin immediately when the school year ends, that's not the customary Turkish way. Instead, projects are completed at the last minute. Here are some photos of what the school looked like a day before teachers arrived on August 18th. Notice all the furniture on the playground, trash, boxes, and empty office space (which is where I'm currently working)- somehow it was all ready to go though on Sept. 1st (well almost), the first day students arrived. The Early Childhood Center was completely renovated over the summer, and furniture still hadn't arrived Sunday, the day before school was to start. Preschool and Kinder teachers were in setting up classrooms until late Sunday, sinks hadn't been installed yet, and there was no AC and only one functioning toilet. Somehow the Early Childhood center opened- this never would have happened in the states. Yet, miraculously, families arrived by 8am on Monday, and, for the most part we were ready to open the doors. Watching the construction projects was also quite an experience- the safety standards, attention to details (wiring, measurements, finishing touches) are definitely remiss. Standard hard hats, lung protection, and other rudimentary safety regulations are often bypassed. I kept thinking of brother Chad- he would be completely appalled. There are no such things as building codes, inspectors visiting each step of the way or an approval process. Even now, the Early Childhood Center is finished and we had our first rainfall last week. The drainage system pours out onto the front steps where students enter. Walking to the back of the building there's still loose wiring, plastic tubing sticking out and trash left behind from the workers (needless to say the kids aren't using the playground in the back). Projects that Turks think are completed would be about half-way compared to our standards. Also, when a project is completed a mess is also left behind with sawdust, tools, and scraps. While the differences in safety definitely stand out- what's equally noticeable is how hard the custodians work. Many worked 12 hour days and through the weekend lifting heavy furniture, scouring floors and walls and tending to all the loose ends in order to prepare for the first day. Through it all they show up with a smile. I'm continuously humbled by our Primary School custodians- Sadik, Hammide, and Iman- I'll include photos of all of them in a different posting. In Turkey there's more of an emphasis placed on academics than athletics and it's not uncommon for kids in Istanbul to spend a great deal of time indoors. Unfortunately, tech devices are commonplace and I notice more Turkish kids with weight issues. This is also why many families retire to the coast for the summer months. Nonetheless sports are still popular among a few and Ataturk believed in equally developing the mind and body- hence a National Sports Day was created. Swimming and soccer are probably the most popular among the sports. The girls attended this amazing facility- Enka Spor Club- with very modern facilities and a training camp for aspiring athletes. They were picked up by a bus at 8am for 5 weeks and brought back at 1pm. They swam for four hours a day. They definitely were in better shape as a result and their skills improved dramatically. Of course, they've now become my swim instructors as they critique my frog-like form and breaststroke. Camp culminated in a competition and both girls walked away with first place medals. We are proud of our girls! *The other girl in the photo with the medals is Thamina - a good friend of Sierra's. |
AuthorChrista Keppler Archives
July 2015
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