Beckie Loewenstein

verbs ağlamak = to cry aldırmak = to mind çizmek =to draw denemek = to try denemek = to try doğmak = to rise dondurmak = to freeze durdurmak = to stop engel olmak = to stop erişemek = to access fark etmek = to notice gelişmek = to develop geri dönmek = to return görmek = to see görünmek = to appear kaplamak = to cover pırılmak = to twinkle sanmak = to think silinmek = to erase sürmek = to continue ulumak = to howl uzaklaşmak = to get away üzmek = to trouble yönetmek = to manage nouns cisimler = objects daireler = compartments fırtına = storm gök = sky hisler = feelings izler = traces kar taneler = snowflakes krallık = kingdom kural = rule ört = cover ruhu = soul rüzgar = wind sel = flood sınırlar = limits yapı = structure adjectives coşan = gushing kusursuz = flawless soyutlanm ış = isolated Karlar Ülkesi Frozen Aldırma Let it go Pırıldıyor kar taneleri ...

The alpine forests, waterfalls, rivers, hot springs, and snow-capped Kackar Mountains beckon trekkers to the coastal Black Sea region of northeastern Turkey. The lower slopes are accessible from mid-May to mid-September, and the upper slopes starting in July. In the second week of June the Camlihemsin Ayder Festival celebrates Hemsin culture, food, and dance. For treks and camping, bring a good tent, stove, sleeping bag, walking boots, and warm clothes, even in the summer. One possible way to get there is to first fly to the Trabzon Airport, take a bus to the Rize Otogar, a minibus from Pazar to Aydersen, and then finally an infrequent minibus to the villages of Camlihemsin and Ayder in the Firtina Valley. Firtina means storm in Turkish. Check with the locals for the exact schedules of public transport. At the edge of the coastal zone at 300m, Camlihemsin village has the only ATM in the Kackar Mountains. Shops have supplies for treks. In the Firtina Valley, winch wires lift goo...

our backs become our beds, too,   our backs become the soft springbox mattress that gives a little to mass and shape but gives it all back again.    our backs become the hard wooden slat that latches on the metal frame beneath and catches bones falling into gravity.   our backs become the thin foamy mat that collects the red soil beneath and absorbs the warm salty sweat above.   our backs become our beds, too, giving latching catching collecting absorbing our dreams.

i rolled out of bed this morning groggy but ready to go but i felt something was missing some important shape below i looked down upon my navel expecting to see a linty indent but instead a small gaping hole presented itself instead: the hole passes all the way through-- a pencil could slide from front to back. something dreadful has happened: it appears i have lost my center, but what must I do? i can search high and low for my center, have you lost yours, too? i looked inside my prayer book, and although i enjoyed the poetry, my tummy would not go to rest. i looked in my suit and shoes, even putting them for the interview, and although i enjoyed the professionalism, my tummy would not go to rest. meanwhile, the hole had grown larger, until my inside skin could fit a sphere. my center is gone. everything natural and normal melts away. i could not find my confidence, calm, or peace of mind today. people began to toss mail into my tummy hole instead of my mail cubby hole. mail about int...

Grey.  Grey skies.  Grey clouds.  Grey concrete roads.  Just grey.  I contemplate the golden soybean oil floating in the thai ginger soup.  Nice to drink hot spicy soup on a rainy day.  When it rains in Dallas, it pours.  The rain drops bounce off the grey roads.  Bouncing in all directions.  Like my brothers.  They bounce in all directions.  Down the path that separates the living family space from the bedroom space in the house. The layout of the neighborhood is a sea of roads with islands of houses.  The water pours off the roofs of the houses down the gutters down the slopes of the lawn down the sidewalks down the drains down the sewers. Down the alleys.  Down the creeks, too.  Yesterday Dad surprised us all with a tour of the neighborhood.  Luckily, us includes Bubba and Grandpa are in town.  Walk down sidewalks, crossing the main streets, until we find the entrance to an alleyway.  There are ...

sea anemone anchors for stability globs to discover

A big cupcake with white frosting regally awaits the birthday girl.  A tall pink candle squishes into the frosting.  Mommy lights the candle, asks her baby to blow it out and makes a wish.  The girl does not know how to make a wish.  Daddy explains, a wish is something you really want to happen today.  Okay daddy, she contemplates, I wish to swim in sprinkles. She dreams, jumps into a cup of fresh water.  Water tastes like wax.  Must be residue of the Dixie Cup.  Then she jumps into a bucket of sprinkles.  The colorful balls stick to her skin.  She carefully moves to avoid losing the sprinkles.  Stick to me, she whispers.  Some sprinkles let go.  Flick off into the breeze.  She steps gingerly.  The first footprint has the most sprinkles.  The second fewer.  Sprinkles remain along the rim of her foot. Sprinkles line the rims of her lips, eyes, and nostrils.  She smiles, rubs her nose against her lef...

Summer camping in the Munzur Valley National Park in eastern Anatolia brings splendid adventures in one of the most biodiverse ecosystems and endangered locales in Turkey. Glacial waters flow down from the glacier lakes at a higher elevation, carving out the valleys, canyons, and caves. Hiking trails lead up to waterfalls and hot springs. Locals pitch nomadic tents in the mountains while visitors generally camp closer to the banks of the Munzur River. Activities include mountaineering, hiking, and river rafting mostly at higher elevations and camping and picnicking at the lower elevations and near the entrance of the park Set up camp and hit the trails to see as much of the remarkable flora and fauna as possible. Birch trees grow along the banks of the Munzur River. Oak trees grow on the hills and slopes. Endemic plants and flowers include bellflowers, Munzur thyme, Munzur buttercups, mountain tea, and Munzur tansies. Brown bears live in the caves in the valleys, and lynx, wild boar, f...

Each of the districts of Istanbul offers unique opportunities for a first time visitor to Istanbul. Here are some main sights in some of the districts from A to Z. Adalar, or the Prince’s Islands in the Marmara Sea, give the peace and quiet of pedestrian, horse carriage, and bike paths through pine trees around the island. Arnavutk ö y, which means Albanian village in Turkish, has wide, smooth promenades with fishermen and fashionable families strolling along the Bosphorus. Ataşehir has futuristic, sci-fi skyscraper condominiums for suburbia on the Anatolian side. Bakırköy is a seaside retreat with pedestrian shopping, Greek and Armenian churches and schools, and the Veli Efendi horseracing track. Beşiktaş has the Dolmabahçe Palace with tours of the Harem and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk’s room, Yıldız Park with Istanbul’s green parrots, Çırağan Palace with common space on the Bosphorus, and the Ortaköy Mosque on the coastal pier square. Beyoğlu has Istanbul’s most vi...

As an American teacher residing in Istanbul, I seek to learn Turkish through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Small insights into the Turkish language, culture, and universal humanity always give me a happy buzz. First, I focus on listening to Turkish songs. Powerturk Taptaze and Pozitif Radio mostly play Turkish pop music, and can be found in the international category on iTunes. While writing this article, I hear a catchy song on iTunes radio station. It is not possible to know the singer or the song name so I have to catch a few words of the lyrics. I searched YouTube for “olmuyor eskisi gibi” and found the song “Bir Pazar Kahvaltisi”, or “A Sunday Breakfast” in English, by the singers Emre Aydin featuring Model. I listen to all of the songs of Fatma Turgut, the lead singer of Model, because of her mesmerizing voice. I listen to many Turkish singers on Spotify and YouTube. My playlist includes Ajda Pekkan, Aydilge, Bahadir Tatlioz, Bulent Ortacgil, Erdem Kinay, Eski D...

Tourists who would like to renew their resident permits this year must meet the new legal requirements that were put into effect in 2014. In addition to the local Turkish bank account, the renewal application process now requires a notarized proof of address and local health insurance. Fulfilling these requirements involves navigating the unwritten rules of tax offices, notaries, banks, health insurance providers, and foreigner police stations. The following guidelines may change depending on the person and situation. Before scheduling the resident permit appointment, arrange a hotel reservation document, a notarized rental agreement, or a notarized copy of the housemate or landlord’s identity card. If you have a rental contract, then you first need to pay a registration fee at a vergi dairesi, or tax office. Next, go to a noter, a Turkish notary office. You can find a notary office by looking up noter on Google maps or by keeping an eye out for a red square sign with a white number ...

A visit to Istanbul would not be complete without visiting the Chora Church and dining at the Asitane restaurant in Edirnekapi. If you would like to arrive by public transport, take the tramway to Topkapi Ulubatli, walk along the Topkapi walls on Kaleboyu avenue, and take a right at Kariye Cami street. The Chora Church and Monastery has captivating mosaics, frescoes, marble decorations, architecture, and history. Emperor Constantine built this church outside the city walls during the Eastern Roman Empire period. Chora means “outside of the city” in Greek. After the walk in the church, have lunch or dinner at Asitane. This fine restaurant prepares 600 year-old recipes of the kitchens of the Ottoman Empire’s Sultans. These recipes used to be the top secrets of the palace kitchens. The menu gives clues about the tastes and spice preferences of the sultans during the year the recipe was originally made. The almond soup is flavored with nutmeg and pomegranate seeds. The winter terine ...

Windswept Bozcaada, one of Turkey’s islands in the Aegean Sea, has turquoise waters, sandy beaches, Anatolian vineyards, campgrounds, lighthouses, wind turbines, a Greek monastery, churches, mosques, baths, and a castle fortress. Swimming, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, trekking, scooter riding, and cycling are great ways to explore the island.   Since ancient Roman and Greek times Bozcaada has been growing grapes and producing wine for festivals. Wine festivals celebrate the grape harvest and collection on the first weekend of September. The Bozcaada International Taste Festival holds international food tastings and concerts on the second weekend of September. This year the Bozcaada Culture, Art and Vintage Festival will have wine tastings, concerts at the castle, beauty contests, and the best tasting grape competition on September 4-6, 2015. Other events include the International Half Marathon on the second week of May, the Greek’s holy Agia Paraskev...

In Istanbul, the district of Beyoglu stitches the neighborhoods of Galata, Karakoy, Tophane, Cihangir, and Cukurcuma together into a mosaic of Turkish and European identities. Geographically, Refik Saydam Avenue, Tarlabasi Boulevard, and Taksim Square define the northwestern limit and the shores of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus the southeastern limit of Beyoglu. Historically, Beyoglu carries the legacy of more than 2,000 years of human settlement, Karakoy’s Jewish merchants of the early Byzantine era, Galata’s Genoese merchants of the late 13 th century, Tophane’s mariners and cannon ball foundry of Mehmet the Conqueror, and the Ottoman Empire’s European consulates and trading centers moving economic power from the Grand Bazaar to Istiklal Avenue. This rich depth of geographical and historical influence evokes a lot of questions to ponder on a walk through Beyoglu. As a resident of Istanbul for the last three years, I have discovered my favorite walks, si...

I just translated a short article about Cyprus from Turkish to English, learning some new vocabulary along the way: amacıyla with the purpose of bağımsızlık independence baskı kurmak to pressure bayrak flag Bilincinde olduğumuz diğer bir konu Another issue to be aware of Bu memleketin gerçek sahibi   this country's real owners cumhuriyet republic elimizden alınmıştır it is taken from our hands göç yasalar immigration laws halkların kardeşlik the people's brotherhood hükümetler the governments illegal yerleşikler illegal residents inşa etmek to build işgalin ardından following the invasion of kabul etmek to agree kendi kaderlerini tayin etmek to determine their own destiny kimlik identity Kıbrıs milliyetçiliği Cypriot nationalism Kıbrıs’ın kuzeyinde ...

6 saat yürüp koştum. Bitap düşmüştum. I walked and ran for 6 hours. I fell exhausted. akıl etmek to mind Arkadaşım her zaman çok misafirperver. Haftasonları o evine ben davet ediyor. Geceler ben onun kapıyı çalabilirim. My friend is always very welcoming. At weekends he invites me to his house. At night I can knock on his door. bestelemek compose birikmek pile up bitap düşmüş worn-out Çalışma birikiyor. Work is piling up. çalmak knock, play, steal çekil withdrawn çıkılmak to exit cırcır böceği cricket dağlar mountains Dağlar, ovalar ve tarlalar çok güzel. Mountains, plains and fields are very nice. Dans onların doğası Dancing is in their nature davet etmek invite Deniz derinlikler çok. Sea depth is a lot. derinlikler depth dışarıda kimsecikler yoktu There was nobody outside d...

Animals evoke strong emotions from Turkish people in Istanbul. Street cats and dogs reside on the sidewalks, corners, doorsteps, and entrances of Cihangir, a neighborhood in Beyoglu. Homeowners go to pet stores just to buy cat food to leave out for the street cats. Restaurants like Miss Pizza and the Pizza Factory leave leftover slices of pizza out for the street dogs. At closing time, the butchers put leftover meaty bones out on the streets for the street cats and dogs in the evenings. Walking a dog reveals even more about the locals. Walking an energetic Pomerranian quickly reveals the dog lovers and haters around Beyoglu. As I walk the dog on Istiklal, the main promenade from Taksim Square to Tunel in Beyoglu, we get an entire spectrum of reactions. Turkish people call out, asking for the dog’s name, breed, and age. Some look at the friendly dog and see a wild animal with giant teeth; they act afraid and back up in fear of an attack. Others are simply not used to seeing a pampered p...

More than any other public transport option, the ferryboat rides across the Bosphorus give Istanbul its grandeur. Find the timetables at the Sehir Hatlari website. The first ride starts as early as 6 am and ends as late as 11 pm. Interested in a short joy ride? The Kabatas to Uskudar line goes straight across the Bosphorus in just ten minutes. Sometimes the captain does not mind, and you can stay on the boat without even getting off. For a full day’s outing, follow this enjoyable circuit on both sides of the Bosphorus. Start the morning with Turkish breakfast at Namli, tea at Dem, or coffee at Karabatak in Karakoy, the rapidly gentrifying blue collar neighborhood near the docks. Buy an Istanbul card at the newspaper stand outside the ferry turnstiles. Next, ride the ferryboat from Karakoy to Kadikoy. Feed the seagulls with some of the bread you wrapped in a napkin and put in your pocket after breakfast. Feel free to have a cup of hot tea on the boat. Use your beginner’s luck to scan th...

Istiklal avenue leads to places that inspire and fulfill the senses. The stretch between Galata tower and Galatasaray highschool provide many places to explore. The view at the top of Galata tower gives a great orientation to all of the bustling streets below, the geography of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, and the magnificent skyline of all of the mosque minarets and towers of Istanbul. After taking in the breathtaking view, you could either get a cup of coffee at the Cherry Bean on Camekan street, just opposite from the tower, or grab a cup of freshly squeeze orange or pomegranate juice on your walk up the hill to Tunel, the square with the tunnel train stop to Karakoy and the Sishane metro. A cat may welcome you at the entrance to the Galata Mevlevihanesi, a museum on Sufi Islam. Green grass grows at the peaceful cemetery. Take a close look at the tomb inscriptions for Ottoman Turkish in Arabic script. Imagine spinning at the wooden whirling dervish hall. Read about the Ottoman ...

The local handcrafts of Istanbul find inspiration in art, design, jewelry, and fashion. Tophane and Cihangir provide a rich cornucopia of locally handcrafted products such as tailored clothes, earrings, necklaces, bags, wooden kitchen utensils, lamps, and furniture. Window shoppers are entirely welcome so feel free to daydream about interior design and architecture. Start the exploration at Bogazkesen Street. Tar Tar, a new arrival at 66 Bogazkesen, sells quartz necklaces and mono bangles with round, fabric-covered bands, leather pouches with wooden balls, felt hats with chin straps and snap buttons. The classic simplicity of this jewelry suits both casual and formal occasions. Next up, LaBoratuvar of the laB design studio at 72 Bogazkesen sells wooden furniture, leather wallets, vintage carpet footstools, beetle print fabric cases, wrap table lamps, and limited edition necklaces. Hane 78 sells wooden furniture crafted through excellent carpentry. Sit in the wooden chairs and imagine e...