Haircut :)

My last haircut was one year ago... it was about time, I think. (This was the best of several awkward photos.)

Treading Water

Phew.... it's exhausting doing nothing, especially when that nothing must be done at a desk in an office. Since the middle of May, when the teaching part of the semester ended, I've been doing much too much nothing. I was actually grateful to spend the last two days of grading proficiency exam essays. The one good thing is that I had hours and hours to study Turkish vocabulary on this cool website, where I created a study file for myself with 2,851 words.
Yesterday we finally got the email of mercy which announced that we didn't have to come to work on Friday. Seriously, the exams are graded and the summer courses are planned, but no one knows their teaching schedule for the summer. There would have been even less nothing to do.
...and now, vacation. I can do nothing wherever I want!

Sadberk Hanım Müzesi

We finally visited the Sadberk Hanım Müzesi, a local museum which is full of interesting antiquities (from 8 thousand years ago, even) and other fancy stuff from Ottoman times. The gift shop had only a few postcards, so this image doesn't really do justice to the span of the collection:

From bottom left: 18th century embroidery, 19th century embroidery, 

16th century ceramic pitcher, 16th century tile

While we were there, another English speaking group was finishing up their tour, and the most important thing one man wanted to know was whether there was a McDonald's or Burger King nearby. *sigh*

How the Semester Ended

So Many Good Intentions Here

By far, it wasn't the hardest semester I've ever taught. It just didn't gel. So, the good news is that it's over. 

This weekend has been quite rainy, so I'm getting a slow start. I want to get out of the university zone, but I'm not thrilled about sloshing about in the chilly, wet air. Alex went to the archives today, and if all goes to plan we will meet later to have dinner at a Thai restaurant. Much better than pathetic green jello failure!