I have a coffee maker I brought from the States in my office so I can make good fresh clean coffee.  I say clean, because Turkish coffee, thick and strong is known around the world and when you finish, the bottom is covered with something that resembles mud.  Comes in a small cup, just big enough to hold a golf ball.  That’s about all you want.  I notice most people put 3 or 4 sugar cubes in it.

I use Starbucks coffee purchased on the Internet, and once people have a taste of it they come by every time I brew it.  You can smell it down the hallway.  But it’s more than the coffee as it is mainly the coffee machine itself, because it is a Bunn.  A unique but simple coffee maker that brews a pot in about three minutes.

I have been using Bunn machines for about 20 years and every time I purchase something other than the Bunn, I end up going back to the best.

Our Security Office is just down the hall from us and sometimes we work hand and hand with its occupants.  So when I make a fresh pot of coffee, I send them an email informing them.  Several will drop by within a few minutes to get a cup and many times just to sit and enjoy not being in their office.

In an office near the Security office works two Turks.  One is a good-natured intelligent man, Sadot; and his assistant is a young pretty girl with long hair, named Selin.  Selin is a quiet person, who I later realized is that way because she sees us as Diplomats and feels should refrain from visiting with us.

One day I met Selin in the hallway carrying a coffee cup, so I asked her if she would like a cup.  “Yes, okay.”  She has a slight raspy voice that actually adds to her beauty.

She came in and filled her cup halfway and smelled it.  Then she asked if she can tell Sadot to get some also.  “Absolutely!”  He showed up and got half a cup also.

So, I add them to the email list for when it’s made, and they almost always come in for coffee.  They tell me that American coffee is so good and want to know why.  I explain the coffee I use, the coffee maker and how the coffee is filtered.  So, a few days later, they ask me how much is the Bunn, because they would like to get one.

When I tell then the price, there is disappointment in the faces.  They tell me they were hoping it was about $45.  So I told them I will buy one for their office, and that way I can come and get coffee from them.  It took a few days for me to convince them, but finally I ordered it for them.  I had actually ordered two, one for them and one for my wife’s office in the Consulate.

I showed them how to set it up and make it work, and soon Selin was sending out emails telling everyone fresh coffee was ready.  I noticed that every time I came in with my coffee cup, she had a smile on her face from the depths of her heart, that told me she was genuinely happy to be sharing coffee with others.  Even those in the Security Office came in for coffee, and the other day she told me, “I am coffee expert now!”

One Monday morning after getting coffee, I asked her how her weekend was.  She stated she worked very hard and was tired.  Turks are hard working so I assumed she had a second job on the weekends, but she said, “No, I teach dance to my students.”

“Dancing?  What dancing do you teach?”

“Salsa.”

Then I ask a stupid question.  “So you dance salsa?”

“Yes, and I am now taking hip-hop and ballet.”

A few days later, I ask her if she has any videos of her dancing.

“Yes, yes.  On YouTube.  Look for my name and you will see.”

Later that evening, I did a search for her and found hundreds of videos of her from all over the world!  Turns out this little girl down the hall from me, who was afraid to talk to me, is world-renown for her dancing.

There is an old saying: If you really knew everyone with their fears, joys, passions and dreams, you would hate no one.

When you have a few moments, go to YouTube and do a search for Selin Obekci.  Watch her energy and her movements, then watch the joy in her face at the end of each dance.

There are amazing people all over the world.  All we have to do is accept them as they are, and we will see their gift.

D.

There is a little Turkish girl who works on the Embassy cleaning crew, and once a day comes into our office to empty trash and clean.  I am impressed with her, because of her quest in learning English.  I have been told that if you enter her little area where she changes clothes and takes her breaks, you will find little stick-on notes of English phrases.

I mentioned her before, how she works seven days a week, cleaning the Embassy and then people’s apartments on the weekends.  She amazes me.  I guess it’s because I’m used to Americans who think the world owes them a living, and end up disappointed because they did not get whatever nonsense they felt should be theirs.

Her name in Nadia.

One day I was working on a piece of equipment in the hallway, and she walked by repeating the words:

“Take. It. Ea-sy.”
“Take. It. Ea-sy.”
“Take. It. Ea-sy.”

Over and over.  I realized someone told her the meaning of it and she was memorizing it.

A few days later, I walked past her in the hallway and casually said, “Take it easy.”  She had this enormous smile on her face and gave me thumbs up.

I am impressed with this little girl because she has the passion and determination to learn English, far beyond anything I would have.  She looks upon me like I am someone special because I am a diplomatic American, when in reality she is to be commended on her personal achievements.  I am humbled by her and many other Turks in the Embassy.

I realize, I am no one special.

I was a kid who grew up with a black and white TV in the house.  When we watched the Wizard of Oz, we never knew there was anything unusual about Dorothy entering the Land of Oz, other than the mess of midgets dancing and singing.  It was black and white whether she was at Oz or back home in Kansas.  So when color came to our TV it was such an amazing thing, I lost interest in anything not in vivid (or washed out) color.

Now, 40 years later I am watching TV one day and see an old Marx Brothers film.  I was hooked on the crazy humor.  It was only a matter of weeks until several DVDs arrived from Amazon.com.

To see the talent of the ever silent Harpo with his unique ability to confuse anyone he comes in contact with, and his amazing exchange of hats and deft pair of scissors that can remove any tie, garment or pocket in a heartbeat.  But then place him next to a harp, and he is able to make the strings sing like a choir of angels.

And to watch Chico sit at a piano and play is so incredible, that I have come to realize the ones who most enjoy his performances are his hands, with the fingers that literally dance across the ivory, skipping and jumping like a child fresh out of school for the summer.

And to see the antics of Groucho with his continuous attempts to marry Margaret Dumont who played: Martha Phelps, Mrs. Dukesbury, Mrs. Upjohn, Mrs. Claypool, Mrs. Teasdale, Mrs. Rittenhouse and Mrs. Potter and others.

Groucho with his one-liners are memorialized by many people in the entertainment industry.

“I once shot an elephant in my pajamas. What he was doing in my pajamas I’ll never know.”

Female: “Hold me closer …”
Groucho: “If I hold you any closer, I’ll be behind you!”

Here’s to our wives and girlfriends… may they never meet!

I never forget a face, but in your case I’ll be glad to make an exception.

Die, my dear? Why that’s the last thing I’ll do!

And many many others.  They’re nonstop in the movies.

You can’t help but notice that everyone in the films are having fun as well.  Many times you will see an actor trying to hold back a smile.  I have a bit of my mother’s curiosity, so as I watched these movies I became more in awe at these men, until I had to jump onto Wikipedia to find out more about them.

I knew there was a fourth brother, Zeppo that played in the earlier movies, but I find that there was also another brother, Gummo, who left acting before his brothers entered the films.

But I also see there was actually a sixth brother, the first born, Manfred, who died at 7 months, probably a victim of influenza. – what a great trivia question!

The four brothers, compliments of Wikipedia.

I have since ordered a book titled, Harpo Speaks, which is a biography of the Marx Brothers through the eyes of Harpo, the one who never spoke in the films, who supposedly only had a year and a half of schooling.  Ironically, it is said he was the best at words.  I am assured it is good reading and when finished, I will add its book report to the I’ve always hated book reports section.

It is a good thing to delve in the past humor of Hollywood when it was truly funny and worth watching, to clear your head of the convulsions and bias of the modern film world.  My hats off to those zany men and their antics.  Heaven must be a really funny place at times.

Keep kicking.  D.

I’m not an athletic person, so when the Embassy decided to host its first Olympic games, I pretty much crawled into a corner and kept very quiet.  Terese on the other hand, said, “Sure, why the hell not?”

Well, I can tell you, “Why the hell not.”  The old woman spent many years of her life twirling around like an spinnin’ phonograph record during her days of ballet and has the worn out joints to prove it.  Myself?  I see the day a success if I can get out of bed to walk to the bathroom without falling over.  It’s the creaks in my joints that wakes the damn cat up.

But before I knew what happened, I was signed up for several events that do not require athleticism.  Such as the blindfolded obstacle course, the egg carrying relay, volleyball and the final tug-o-war.

Terese on the other hand, performed the blindfolded cupcake coloring contest, the egg relay and believe it or not, actually tried her best at the slip & slid competition.  It’s was exactly as you would imagine.  Run as fast as you can, land on your belly and slide as far as possible.  Which she did.  As far a possible.  About that far.  … and no more.  But the ol’ gal gave it her best and never looked back.

Now, the whole fiasco was divided into Teams from the offices in the Embassy.  Terese was on the Consular Team, and I was on the RSO Team, which is the people in my office, the people in the Security Office and the Marines.

There were many of the healthier people who took part in the 4×400 meter relay, broad jumping, sack race, three legged race, the mile run, soccer kick, dodge ball, and others I try not to remember.  There was one little athletic girl whose body reminded me of a jaguar.  Ever step on a packet of ketchup on the sidewalk?  She was as fast as that squirt.  We had several young marines on our team that makes the Hulk look like a wimp.  You would think that we would win every competition with them, but they are not that good at blind-folded cake decorating, blind-folded obstacle course and running with eggs on spoons.

About the best way to describe this mess, is with the few pictures I took. First have a look at Terese’s blindfold decorating entries.  The woman is a born artist.

And the Master Cake Decorator herself.

One of the best aspects of the gathering, was the food available.  I chowed down and would have continued, but I had the volleyball contest right after eating.

… and assorted spurious pictures taken of the unsuspecting.

And I am slipping in a picture of my boss and co-worker who took part of the arduous games.  My boss is the thinner of the two. Below is the team Terese was on.  Yep, that’s her hold the banner.

And here is the Team I was on.  I’m not holding the banner.

 – well, actually, I have not been able to track the picture down. When I find who has it, I will post it.  Just pretend it is a bunch of hefty guys with one little thin girl, celebrating winning First Place. –

And here is a pic taken by a friend who allowed me to post her picture of the final competition, the tug-o-war.  I’m on the team on the left.  The winning team.  –  There was some horse power there.

Which team won?   Well, it was not a pretty win, but the team I was on took first place, with very little help from me.  The score was tied between our team and the team Terese was on, but her team had a point deducted because of an illegal substitution.  So, RSO Team won.

It was probably the most exercise we had in years.  We both ended up with aches and pains.  My face and blonde spot were sunburned in addition to irregular bowel movements throughout the night.  Did we have fun?  Ah, yeah, I guess.  Next year, I will be better prepared to find somewhere else I need to be, like a horse auction or a basket weaving class.

Kick butt in the Olympian way.  Dwaine