My warmest Christmas: hummus instead of noël turkey!

Yesterday it was Christmas according to the christian catholic tradition.

Me and my friend went to a daily journey to the near city of Hatay. It is located in the southern-easternmost point of the Country. Actually the latitude of the district of Antiochia tells everything about its origins: it was once a part of Syria.

And still the city keeps the arabic traditions, visible in little things starting from the food.

I tasted a delicious Hummus, in a small place within the historical centre called "çayircilar". It cost so much time to us to find this place and my afternoon turned into a mission in finding this precious meal.

I remembered the felafel eaten in my country and still I was sure to find a lot of it in Turkey but I was sadly surprised when I realized that the idea of a "turkish felafel" is just an utopia :) as here is meat everywhere apart from the special Nohut Durum, a sandwich made of spicy chickpeas and salad but still far from the idea of hummus and felafel. I learned so by experience that the food I was longing for was typical of more arabic countries, and here the chance to taste it: the trip to Hatay, in the arabic latitude.

So the man carefully prepared for me a take-away package - as the departure time was so close to arrive. Firstly, a stratus of the sweet hummus. It is a godly creamy paste made by pressing with a wood spoon chickpeas, sesame seeds, lemon, salt and olive oil. Upon it, some red pepper seeds were spreading and soon the olive oil, fresh tomato, persil and other vegetables prepared in a lemon juice and vinaigrette. Some bread to accompany this dish and it's done! 

Ready to taste the Hatay hummus while waiting that Yana finishes her visit to the Archeological Museum, located on one side of the river that cross the city.  What was inside the museum? I don't know and still remains a mystery to me so rather ask to Yana to reveal the content of this historical heritage.

How possible is not to mention, talking of the food in Hatay, the sweet pumpkin sold in Tatlaci where also the "churro" is prepared.

They both are very very sweet, the first made of a round bread fried in oil and sugar, the second is a slice of pumpkin put in sugar and cooked with that, also fried.

It is a popular snack and it is very tasty !

This last picture shows a special snack shop for pumpkins where everything is made to recollect to the orange Cinderella's carriage as also here a perpetual sense of Halloween is felt.



It's now time to be back to Antep, our turkish provisory hometown, and the last bus is going to leave in a few minutes, but not before having share with you this image: a frame of a poetical warm xmas-sunset, for the most exotic noel I have ever spent ! Merry Christmas!

Aşure

Amazing people sometimes live in the neighborhood. So our very old stone house, standing next to two more. In one there is a garden, but the residents do not, there is growing, grenades and many toys lying around the tree. In the dark, it may even seem that all this fruit. But in the second, a high wall fence lives a wonderful woman. Her husband has recently died, the children live in other places, so that it all alone. Despite all the troubles, this woman never ceases to amaze me. So much warmth and kindness in her eyes and words, so much love in her smile that every meeting with her makes me happy even for a minute.

The idea of ​​good people do not leave me on my way to work, and probably not by accident. So it's time to think about the salvation of mankind. Glues, or at the best part. Especially strongly this idea excites Muslim countries. Most people have heard the legend of Noah, and I'm no exception. 

But it turned out that I did not hear anything. Ashur word or ten, I heard only here. According to legend, after forty days of wandering, supplies ended in November. And then he heard the voice again, he and his family are the remains of seeds mixed in a vat. The result is a very tasty, which gave people the energy to survive until the fortieth day of travel and land on Mount Ararat. According to legend, the first Ashura had over 40 ingredients. Today, their number does not exceed 15.

Every Turkish city, in every Turkish village, every family has its own version of Ashura. Remain unchanged only chickpeas, beans, wheat and a variety of dried fruits. This week taken to be more kind and generous people. Though the kindness and generosity in this city always enough. Today on the streets of the city in the parks is free distribution of Ashur, the government share with people, and neighbors with neighbors. Perhaps I even manage to try it. However, this can be a sweet end of any dinner or just dessert warm on a cold day or night, when all of us do not have enough heat.

So last autumn days share with me a delicious new discoveries. And my heart is warm and cozy, as it should be in November, when the sun hid behind the clouds. Do not forget though to figure.

Kıbrıs part II . An International sense of hospitality!

Let's continue the story of the trip which now starts being pretty old...

This wants to be a tribute to the great and warm HOSPITALITY of Turkey and not only.

Thanks to Couch Surfing but not necessary I found wonderful persons during my excursions out of Antep.

For example in Nicosia I stayed three days in a little interesting house - a typical cipriot one - small and linked to other similar houses within a residential district. Onur my host welcomed me as if I were his far away living cousin and draw a fantastic map of the aerea which is a real labyrinth :-) Even with his help, I got lost several times during my trip to the greek side.

Because he is turkish, he cannot go on the other side which is so european, with all the negative that this word can include: international shopping centers, crowded and expensive bar and cafés, shopping offers and sales everywhere and the typical flux of a touristic capital on a summer day.

There is such a big presence of philippines on the other side! They were having lunch in the public street and they reunite to chat and drink in small squares. Also you can find philippines super markets with their products!

After the days spent in his flat, with the company of his goshty roommate and of the even more gosthy dark three kittens, I didn't want to leave but I had to !

In Larnaca I found hospitality in Inal, an indian generous and kind guy.
He is living out in a village called Athino, a few km far from the city centre. He and his indian friends are living all close to the others in a shared flat. They found a job as employers in a bakery and in a chicken factory. I ate an indian dinner and tasted the smells of this far and colorful country!

And, joke of the fate!, the following night I was with the company of a young journalist from Pakistan, in Girne.

That happened with a couch (desperate) request: I missed the boat to Mersin and needed a host!

He picked me up with his motorbike and brought me to the redaction in which he works. It was such an interesting experience for me getting to know a real redaction in such a strange place like the Republic of Northern Cyprus. And even more curious, to know an asian university student of journalism, that actually is what I have also studied.
Umair, this is his name, was very kind and open to explain to me the reasons of his departure to the Island and I found them interesting. First of all, I guess he wanted to move out of his Country and improve his language skills (English and Turkish in this case), secondly but maybe most important, he mentioned the salary. Yes, in Cyprus the salary is good, surely higher that Turkey and of course higher than Pakistan. And some links connect the Countries: Tueky and Pakistan have been allied in the past and still the alliance is alive.

Thanks Umair for the amazing breakfast on the terrace of Girne bay!

And then, it was time to be back, but not without mentioning a wonderful girl who saved my night in Mersin: Serra. An english teacher with a family of tradition in teaching, as all of her sisters (and we are talking of a turkish family, so veryyyy huge) are teaching some subject.
She offered me a nutritional breakfast including scrambled eggs, local cheese, olives, tomatoes and bread, and the new surprising Hurnup Pekmezi, that I bought immediately once back in Antep.

Here is a picture of the Gipsy horses that were resting that morning in Mersin. I hope to be back to shoot some more fotos of the incredibles hosts and persons of this Country and not only!!

Autumn in the easternmost point of Turkey

Autumn has come to Gaziantep. Streets gradually change their appearance. Instead of ice cream selling hot chocolate and lemonade instead sahleb. The sun was replaced by rain, it got cold. Rain and sun alternate in a derived order and cannot predict what will happen after. "Russian Roulette" weather definitely hinders the movement of the city. But the output can be found.

For example, salsa. When it's cold outside and the mood at zero ideal dance. So I thought about it and have not regretted. On campus twice a week, you can hear salsa and bachata, free to all comers. The lesson lasts two hours, and we're learning the basic steps. Despite the fact that I'm not the greatest dancer started not going to give up.

Autumn inexplicably brought changes in our lives, good or bad, but it brought. In our house, it became more per occupant. Little puppy selected Sarah lives in the garden. Now, every morning is a miracle brings "order" on the first floor and, of course, feeds secret passion for our shoes.

But the students in my class diminished, perhaps the weather does its job, whether toys have become complicated, feasibly I no longer relevant. But those who were wonderful and talented people, perhaps, these toys will be their warm on cold winter nights.

This week, the middle of the project and the strange thoughts overwhelm me, it's like a midlife crisis. I know what I've done and what is to be, but time to pick up a damn. Maybe it's good that we do not know his time.

And the world does not stand still and autumn stirs her golden wings and listening to this song I'm learning realize the fading city. Sunny days are perfectly suited for the flowers, and the magic of paint always diversify the city. So the Botanical Garden was the first of what I remembered. It is close to Sanko Park, a huge shopping center and is very cozy place. By the way, walking among the flowers, constantly come meet the wedding procession. The groom, the bride, friends and inseparable photographer company.

In the evening, when the city puts out the lights (and it is about 20.00) to our house come different people. I do not know them, Sarah usually invites these strangers. And we sit in the garden or in the "office" and talk and drink. In those moments, I sometimes wonder how amazing life here in Gaziantep, I meet so many different and similar people. People from other countries and cultures, people who never see when the door slammed shut behind them, and that's good. Everything comes and goes, like the flow of the river is changing and I definitely like it slow unhurried during the autumn river.

Trying all the goodies of the fall season, I believe that the autumn will bring many more surprises in this town at the crossroads of history.

Famagusta and Nicosia. A trip on the island during the Kurban Bayramı . Part I

The 24th of October the holiday time of Kurban Bayramı started. It is also called 'Feast of the Sacrifice': during these days (generally three days) the families meet and spend the time together with their relatives.
Here are more informations about the Kurban Bayramı.
Briefly, for some, there is the sacrifice of a domestic animal, according to the religious tradition coming from the order that God gave to Abraham to sacrifice his only son Ishmael: the animal in Gaziantep has been mostly a sheep, sometimes a cow, and it was divided into three parts, one to eat within the familiars, another part to be conserved and the third one to be donated to the poorest people of the community.

I was waiting for this ceremomy in Gaziantep: few weeks ago I had an anticipation when our neighbours brought a sheep in their house so I could hear it bleating in every moment of the day. I also saw some children walking with the sheep near some green area and other signs that the sacrifice day was coming were everywhere.

On friday morning, in fact, the smell of barbecue fulfilled the air in the city with intense tones of blood and mountain animals skin.

Walking around the street was assisting to a slaughter were open air people (generally men) was cutting and cooking the animal that few instants before was alive. From my vegetarian point of view, of course, this ceremony is hard to like and my only hope was to run somewhere.

So I went to Cyprus and that was also an adventure.

What can I say about the days spent in the island?

Firstly, that it is a very touristic place and, even if it was no season, tourists from Germany, Usa and different parts of Europe were everywhere. They were mainly attracted by the beach life and many old people and couples were there, to spend relaxed holidays. But another part of this tourists was also attracted by the historical places, that I had no time to explore enough.

Secondly, I must say that Cyprus is a fascinating place, both for the nature and for the history. 

I mean, an island which is shared into two different Countries is so special in itself and special are the people who live and were born there! I heard at many interesting stories about the facts that happened there: after romans, ottomans and greek occupations, the island was de facto governed by greeks and became part of the Euro zone in 2007, but only a portion of it. Why? Because in 1974 the turkish army,  claiming the right to own Cyprus (Kıbrıs), fighted against the greeks and obtain (better say expropriate) the northern part of the island. And what happened? A border was raised to separate the areas and nowadays the visitors have to pass thorough a check point each time they want to cross the island. The problem comes if you are a turk or if you come from a turkey-supporter country, for es. Pakistan : it is forbidden to go in the southern part, which is actually "Cyprus". The turkish side is called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" and is a kind of state, only recognized by Turkey itself.

The most beautiful city I saw in it is Famagusta. The city, famous for it harbor and its churches, was firstly governed by greeks, then genoans and venetians (italian) till the ottoman owning in 1570. During the turkish conquest of the island, Famagust was the last to succumb because of its strong fortifications built at the time by the venetian military Marcantonio Bragadin. After the official conquest in 1571, the city had an english period, because of the colonization of the island by the british empire.

You immediately notice the signs of the colonization by walking in the streets: the drive is on the right!

By the way the island get the independence the 16 august 1960.

What is most fascinating in it is the ancient wall that surrounds the port and the ancient centre of the city. I was talking about churches: well, Famagusta has hundreds of churches, no matter the religion 'cause for its different inhabitants, many beliefs were brought in the land. We still find catholic churches and mosques, entires, restructured, adapted to a new use or ruins. 

I was impressed by the Gothic Cathedral of St. Nicolas, built in the IV century, it was damaged in 1571 by the turkish army and then converted into a mosque and became the Lala Mustafa Pasha mosque.

... The second part about Nicosia is coming soon...  stay tuned ;)

More Young for a Better Future!

From Monday the 8th to Sunday the 14en Tasev held a training course for EVS participants, called "More Young for a Better Future".

More than 14 participants mainly from the Balcan Countries took part at this interesting and happy training and enjoyed the city where I live.

Me and Yana were part of the staff. We helped Ozgur, Jale, Fevzi and Mahmut in taking pictures during the activities, inventing new energizers games, caring out some bureaucracy tasks...

Every day we had the chance to deepen our relationships from one hand, and the knowledge of the EVS project on the other.

The first day we introduced one each others and then we started with some important topic such as the Youth In Action program, whose EVS is a part of.

I realized that many information were unknown to me and a clear exposition helped me to fix them in my mind.

The following days, we had time to express our individual expectations and ideas about our volunteering program. Most of the participants had never leave with the EVS program but anyway they had many experience in the volunteering field in their own country.

The organization which attracted me the most was ACTOR from Bucarest - Romania, which is a NGO  focused on theatre activities such as the shadow theatre and their main art is the japanese Origami.

On the third day, we brought the entire group on a visit at the Tasev office. They were so surprised to see how many activities are taking place in this building!

I hope that some of them will come to Gaziantep again, a city that they had the opportunity to explore in a 7 days program which included also a short trip to the Zeugma museum (where the ancient mosaics are) and at the underwater Zeugma site, located on the Euphrate river, in which I swam !

Some pictures of the happy training will come soon.... :)

Sara

Gaziantep last week met the guests. Trenig for trainers. Georgia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Macedonia, Ukraine, Romania, Italy and of course Turkey. 

Only one week, but the impressions and information would be enough for a month. First day, and we all know and we hasten to know each other better, because we did not have much time. Ideas, projects and useful information comes to us every minute. The training course is the place where you can envy business relationships, find new ideas or new partners. And maybe a romantic ...

Our week was strict planned out, but plans have changed and we do not always know what will happen next. Invariable there was only time of a lunch and our fighting spirit. Cameras photographed without stopping and now we have preserved about 42 GB memories. Unless of course the memories can be translated into GB.

Didn't do without surprises. During training at Jale, ours trainers and the coordinator was birthday. And all participants decided to prepare a surprise. To Jale waited all day, and we behaved as usual. She even was upset. Not congratulations on facebook, anything. But we waited for a dinner, and began: the pie of a congratulation and is a lot of warm words. To tell that she was happy, means, to tell nothing.

Information was quite, monotonous, but the form is filed, was chosen correctly. Although it is possible repetition of the mother of learning. Especially worth mentioning independent work on writing projects, once again, it became clear that the practice is better than any explanation. Besides disclosing our ideas contributed to their early implementation. The more supporters we collect, the faster and better it will work our project.

Entertained, we also do not forget ........

Last week went on-arrival training near Istanbul. I want to say thank you coaches. You are very funny guys! It was held at altitude!!!!
What can I say, Istanbul huge city, and 10 hours is not enough, that would bypass it and see what should be seen.

So I made a personal top places that wanted to go. Alas, I was able to see the scheduled only st. Sofia.

The training course rearranged a clear statement schedule of activities. Five days of fun activities and socializing. Great food as well. Classes overlap with games, information filled images. Thus, all of our working memory. The first day of the traditional game "icebergs" in all possible variations. And of course familiar in all variations, allowing a wonderful lesson clearly and concisely express ideas leaving the main thing. The second day was under the EVS and cultural visit to the tourist center of Turkey. The third day filled albatrosses. And on the fourth, I wrote an email. And send it to the future. Their uncertain future.
It is hard to ignore the culture of the albatross. Plain fun clearly demonstrated our stereotypes. And for me, the people opened the other. Equality in society, the pursuit of globalization and cultural otherness. Very often, we forget that we are all different.

The last day for me was painted black. Who would not say that, but many of them I will not see anymore. Is that photo. I wanted to cry. After all, these guys have left a deep imprint on my memory. So thanks to all of them.