Well Christmas was always going to be different here in Ankara, and it sure was. Although I am not a great fan of the Christmas build up in the UK, which can start in August, I did miss it to some extent. We managed to get some decorations, as they decorate for New Year here, so we put up a tree and some lights. Getting the turkey was a challenge, but as it got closer to Christmas they started to appear in the shops, cranberry sauce was sourced, but Christmas spirit was somewhat lacking. There was some effort in work where we had mulled wine and Christmas cake on Christmas Eve, but the true spirit is with the family and friends back home, and this is the time of year that you miss them even more. A parcel from home was received on Christmas Eve, packed with gifts and treats from back home, some of which I have listed as the things I miss on a previous blog, and also some yummy Baravelli's chocolate for being the 500th follower on Twitter, and my parents had also added some of their Chocstix to the parcel!
So we are now in the last few days of 2013, and it has given me a chance to reflect on what a year it has been. May 2013 saw me hitting my 40th birthday, a milestone year for sure. The first half of the year saw me completing my degree, I needed my degree to follow my dream of teaching in Turkey, and this is what drove me to study when I didn't feel like it, when I was tired after a busy day at work. Working full time while studying for my BA was hard work, and sometimes I felt like giving up but I had my dream to follow. I also spent my spare time at the beginning of the year completing a photography course. Photography is a passion of mine, and I loved the course, and I do miss it. I haven't taken as many photographs as I would have liked to while in Ankara but that is one of my New Year's resolutions! And of course the other big thing that happened to me in 2013 was my move to Ankara. I was offered a job in June to start work in September, so I had a busy time packing up my belongings and moving out of my flat in North Wales which I had called home for a couple of years, and of course leaving my job, where I had made some great friends during my time there, and I do miss them. I arrived in Turkey with a couple of suitcases, moved into my new home, and a couple of days later started my new job.
I have enjoyed my time so far in Ankara. The city is cold right now, with temperatures hitting -15 some nights, but the people are warm and friendly. I already know I would like to stay in Turkey at the end of my contract, but am undecided which city, but I have plenty of time to think about that!
I will be welcoming in 2014 in Istanbul this year, a city I have always wanted to visit so I am very excited. I only have a short time there, but I will try and see as much as possible.
So looking ahead to 2014, my blog has been a little neglected so I will hopefully write a lot more often, and I will definitely spend some time taking photographs, as this originally was to be a photography blog! I also think its time to start learning Turkish. I can speak a few words and generally be understood, but I want a little bit more than that, so time to attend classes! I also plan on seeing a lot more of Turkey in the next few months.
