I added some thoughts about Employment on the topic, Something to Think About.  Please take the time to read it.  It’s the link on the left, under Page One.

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A few weeks ago, I had to do some work in Adana, about 6 hours southeast of Ankara.  When I worked in Ethiopia, all our constituent posts were reached by plane, but here in Turkey we take a vehicle.

It affords me a chance to see what the Turkish countryside looks like, from the mountains to the plains, including the second largest salt lake in the world.  Second only to what we have in Utah.

I took this trip three years ago and found it beautiful.  On the way back, we stopped at a restaurant that specializes in lamb chops.  I know for a fact I could eat a whole kilo and a half by myself. (About 3 lbs)  Outside the restaurant was a spice dealer selling his goods.

Everywhere in Turkey, you will find all kinds of nuts, (the food type) and they are not only plentiful, but inexpensive.  I do not see as many walnuts and pecans as much as all the rest.  At the Consulate in Adana, the back part of the property had perhaps 100 citrus trees, from lemons to grapefruits to oranges.  Some of them have been removed for construction, but they add an interesting effect to the compound.

Then this past week I traveled northwest to Istanbul for some work, and fell in love with the ancient and enchanted city.  I stayed at the Hilton on the Bosphorus Strait, which divides Istanbul – the Asian side and the Europe side.

Below is a sunrise picture through dirty windows on the 9^th floor.

Good Morning, Turkey!

Every place we sat to eat, food was brought out as soon as we sat down.

And at a restaurant in Adana, I had broiled fish served in a clay bowl.

You know, I could easily get fat in this country.  More Later.

Kick butt.     D.

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On November 10th, 1775, at the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia, the US Marine Corps was created.  Eight months before the birth of our Country.

This year’s 238th Marine Birthday Ball was Saturday night at the Swissotel in Ankara, and as always it’s hosted by the Marines themselves.

The special guest is the presiding Ambassador, Francis J. Ricciardone, Jr., our Ambassador to Turkey

A video was played of General John M. Paxton, Jr., the four-star General, who currently serves as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, extolling the rigors and virtues of the Corps.  He restates the common knowledge that every Marine is also a rifleman.  They are able to maneuver within hours and have no room for error.  You remember the saying:  If it absolutely, positively has to be destroyed overnight, call the Marines.  There is truth to that.

This guest speaker was the Commander of the Royal Marines of the UK, stationed in Turkey.  Their Marines Corps was established in 1664, a bit earlier than ours.  He spoke with the usual dry sense of humor found in the United Kingdom.

He states that Marines are difficult to command because of their raucous behavior, yet they are the most disciplined of the Military fields.  He said they will fight over which bar the Corps was formed in, but there is no argument they were indeed formed in a bar.

Since their inception, the Marines have served in every conflict America has endured.  In total, over 30 engagements, from the American Revolutionary War to the most recent, Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011.

After the speeches, a large flat birthday cake is rolled out.  The first piece cut, goes to the special guest, Ambassador Ricciardone.  The second piece is given to the oldest Marine in attendance, who then turns and presents it to the youngest Marine.  Every year, the youngest seems to get younger.

Both US and the Marine Corps flags are prominently displayed.  When the National Anthem is played, the Marine Corps flag is gently lowered to allow the American flag to remain in a position of honor.  While the Star Spangled Banner is sung by a soloist, you can look around and see who the Americans are and who are not.  The Americans will be mouthing the words of the anthem.

As with every year, a lone table is set at the entrance to honor those incredible soldiers who gave everything they had to ensure the freedom of America.  It is a solemn place setting with the plate inverted, to show that although they will not be able to share a meal, they are still in our thoughts and spirits.

The feasts at the balls are always interesting and enjoyable.  We were given a small plate of sliced duck on a bed of humus.  I could have eaten nothing but that for the meal.  The next course was bass for me and lamb loin for Terese, followed with a dessert of tiramisu.

Then the band played and people danced, and I slipped out into the foyer to visit with others.

I have worked with many of these Marines and have seen firsthand their courtesy and respect of others.  When you ask them a question, the answer they give will either be, yes or no.  If it’s not the answer you want, there is no way in hell that answer will change.

They refer to me as Sir, and I them.  When I get to know certain ones on a personal basis, I will use their first name, and they me.  Even with a more open camaraderie with them, there is still an acute resoluteness and respect they give me.

Many of these seem too young to be doing what they do, but when you meet them and visit with them, you see why they were chosen to serve at a diplomatic post.

… and I do indeed tell them to kick butt.   D.

I never really had much of an excitement for Halloween, as it just seemed to be something for the children and those who look for an excuse to party.  So I was rather surprised when my bosses (and many other offices) started preparations a month ahead for decorating the offices.  But, I guess it’s their thing.

Friday, November 1st, the Embassy hosted an afternoon for the children to safely scour the Embassy grounds for treats in lieu of tricks.  Many people pulled their vehicles into the parking area and had their trunks set up for the disbursement of the treats.  Below are some of the pics I took, although some didn’t come out very well, due to the low light.

  Don’t be scared, but here are some of the local ghouls.

Next year, I will be better prepared with a good camera.  D.

This past week, we had a 4 ½ day Turkish holiday. Coupled with Columbus Day, we’ve had the whole week off. The holiday is Kurban Bayrami – a religious festival which includes sacrificing an animal in a special ritual. It is also visiting relatives and helping the poor. From what I understand, it’s like combining a bit of Thanksgiving with a bit of Christmas.

I worked in Turkey several years ago and one of the first things I noticed is the Turks are service oriented people. They make the best hosts at any dinner. The restaurants in Turkey (and elsewhere throughout Europe) are places where people come to eat, and usually stay for hours. Once you sit at a table, that table is yours until you decide to leave. None of this “Get the people out so we can put someone else there. More people = more tips.”

The first Turkish restaurant I sat at (above), the waiters brought several plates of salads, sauces, cheeses and breads, honey, yogurt (Turks eat a great deal of yogurt) and some stuff I didn’t recognize, before the menu was presented. After ordering, you enjoy the dishes and your drink while waiting for your food. When it does arrive, the waiters will take away your plates and utensils and return with clean sets. As you eat, if there is a pause in your dining, they will do it again. During the 2-3 hours you may sit eating, drinking and visiting with friends, you will have a three or four sets of clean dinnerware.

Now, with that in mind, I went to a barber shop the other day to get a quick trim. Using a fellow customer who could speak English, I told the barber just a trim all over and keep it above the ears. Afterwards, the barber asked through the interpreter if I wanted a shampoo.   I replied, No, thank you.

Shave?

No, thank you.

Perhaps some gel?

No, thank you.

Trim the eyebrows?

No, thank you.

Wax the hair in your ears?

No, thank you.

Neck massage?

No, thank you.

I notice your hair is quite thin on top. Would you like some hair growth product?

No, thank you.

It’s as if I was expected to sit in the barber chair for a few hours. In the States, a favorite hairstylist would cut my hair and be done in 10 minutes. Evidently not here. And after getting up and paying my tab and giving the barber a tip, I was asked if I would like some chai. (tea)   No, thank you.

Then as I was leaving, the barber sits at a small table outside and lights up a cigarette and has himself some chai. The next customer didn’t seem to be upset at having to wait, but just continued reading his newspaper. This is going to be an interesting three years.

D.

(and I’m not talking Turkey, Texas)

Oktoberfest is an annual Bavarian celebration starting back in 1810.  In Germany  (the land of my Forefathers), the celebration will last 16 days and has carnival rides and vendors.  I tried to determine the actual reason for the joyous merriment, but could only find a reference to drinking beer, eating great quantities of German food, and drinking more beer; all done while bands play.  My research shows the festival was often combined with other celebrations but the first was simply a agricultural show in Munich.  There were several years in the past when the celebration did not take place usually caused by a war, or a Cholera epidemic or the economy.

The German Embassy hosted Oktoberfest this last Thursday and Friday nights.  We hailed a taxi and arrived about 7pm.  The German Embassy has a large tent set up, probably used for various gatherings.  It would be hard to determine how many people were there, but I understand the tickets get sold out within a few days.

I was expecting this would be like one of the balls we had attended in the past, where many large round tables were set up for about 10 to 12 people.  Here, the seating is picnic tables set up end to end, filling the huge tent.  Each table had scatterings of pretzels and cheese.

Each of the four corners of the huge tent had a beer tap.  It was turned on and left running.  One man would take a tankard, (or mug) and fill it with another waiting under it.  As soon as one was filled, it was picked up by a waiter or passerby.  There was wine for the choosiest of the people and plenty of cartons of juices for the non drinkers.  Elsewhere on the tables were rows of bottle water.

I have never seen so many people, consume such great quantities of beer in the hours we were there.  Every now and then, I would see 4 or 5 waiters carrying kegs of beer to the taps.  About 8 o’clock, waiters started placing plates of potato salad on the tables.  Many plates.  The eating was family style.  You just found a place to sit and started grabbing the food.  About 15 minutes later, they brought out trays of sausages followed by chicken legs.  Everything was perfectly seasoned.  I ate a lot of sausages and chicken.  During the actual festivals in Germany, many other types of German food are added to the menu, most notably sauerkraut.

No one really sat at their assigned tables, so we gathered with others from the American Embassy.  At our table, there was an old couple who had been to many of these festivals, evidenced by the fact they knew all the songs and knew when to raise their tankards.  They did not speak English, but they smiled and toasted with everyone like we were family.

The atmosphere was eating, drinking and singing.  As the beer was consumed, the dancing began.

In truth, beer is something you never buy, it is simply rented.  So as is expected with the consumption of beer, you will also see a strong need for a urinal.  With the number of people renting the beer, the need for many urinals was great.  Someone in the Urine Industry has invented a nifty way for three men to use a pyramid shaped urinal at one time.  No need to use the porta-potties seen at construction sites.

Now, evidently it takes women longer to rid themselves of beer, so fidgety women are always standing in line waited to use their facilities.  As a result, many simply went into the men’s side and stole use of the porta-potties.  …  I saw no man complain.

To help put the celebration into proper prospective, several vendors set up booths selling clothing and souvenirs of the Festival.  So my lovely wife went and purchased a dirndl dress to help celebrate.

This was the first Oktoberfest we have attended, and as I research it, I find it is one of thousands across the Globe.  It was small by comparison to those in Munich where it originated, but we enjoyed it and will be going to the next one, and the next, and the next …

Man, that was some great food!