Getting going

We’ve gone full steam ahead into our new lives here. 

On Friday we went to a farewell at the Consulate General for Tim’s predecessor and then came back by metro. The streets were bustling and lively. One of the selling points of our hotel is that “you never have to engage with the city’s exhausting tempo” ...but surely that's the point of being in an exciting city?! All the shops had areas outside their doors where they displayed an amazing range of wares, from fresh fish to pearls. We bought rolls and chose our fillings at one of them – spiced tomato, spiced rice, beef, yoghurt (and for the children ‘salami’ made from turkey). That shop also had a random selection of imported goods such as hobnobs and Quaker oats. The oats were £8 for 250g! Miriam was really excited to see a tram go past, particularly since there were women with blue wigs dancing on an open carriage. She was also excited to see New Year (/Christmas) lights. Naomi very sensibly decided to sleep soundly through all the noise. We arrived home tired, but glad to have had a chance to engage with the wider city.

On Saturday we had coffee with some colleagues of Tim who I’d contacted because they have a child in Miriam’s class. They also invited Reuben’s new best friend William and his family. To continue the surprising recurring Christmas theme we had mince pies! Both families are also fairly recent arrivals and it was good to exchange tips etc. Tim went out with the men to a sports bar in the evening to watch the rugby and bumped into the person with whom he is sharing an office.

Today was a beautiful day, in which we started in winter coats and later realised that we probably should have had sun cream with us. We took the metro to church, back in the centre of Istanbul . They were enthusiastic in welcoming us, the kids in their Sunday School classes and us in church. They even offered to take Naomi in the Creche. We were invited to a lunch which is happening soon and a women’s bible study group which meets very close to where we’re staying.

This afternoon Miriam and I (and of course Naomi) went to a birthday party for one of the girls in her class. She was taken by the hand and led away the moment she arrived and was very happy. It was good for me to meet with other parents too. There were Brits, Canadians, Egyptians, Greeks, Russians, Swedish Palestinians and Maltese. Some of them I’ve met already through School and work. Another had come straight from the same church service as us! It may be a big city, but somehow I think we’ll still find it’s a small world.

Reuben and Miriam are looking forward to going to School tomorrow being picked up by the school bus. Tim is looking forward to getting his teeth stuck into his work. Naomi and I are going to help with our church’s “Mums and Tots” for asylum seekers, and then the following day going to bible study. We now seem to know our way to the places which will be important to us, have more than enough to keep us busy and have made a start on getting to know loads of people. We're soon going to have trouble fitting in any new activities.