I think I'm there now..

5A classroom

Fairly boring, but this is my classroom..

The cupboards were full of rubbish from the last teacher, so frustrating to have to clear out. I'm knackered! But it's looking much better. I had to do a bit of shifting of furniture around but I like it now

Summer was pretty good in the UK, while it lasted.. its too warm here, but don't suppose you'd agree!!

I've had a bout of Istanbelly :( I'm feeling a bit better, am only eating in the evening, just peaches and Coca-Cola during the day!

Getting adjusted

I'm settling in to life here in Istanbul, have spent the last week exploring and seeing some sights and trying to get through some of the bureaucracy of living in a different country. This week we're (about a dozen new starters) getting focused on the new school year, meeting new colleagues and preparing for the new term.

Here's Miss Mills, Miss Peacock, and Mr Mills on a ferry trip crossing the Bosphorus (from Eminonu to Uskudar, in order to get the ferry from Uskudar to Besiktas to get home!). Ferries are used exactly like the buses or trams or metros, and are therefore the same price. If you have an Istanbulkart this starts at 2,15TL, or about 60p, and goes down for each subsequent part of your journey: public transport is cheap!

The Grand Bazaar

Visited the Grand Bazaar today. Quite an experience. Think I'll need to learn a bit of Turkce to haggle..

View from my new apartment

(cok trafic, cok gurultulu!)

First view of the Bosphorus

After the bureaucracy of consulate visits, the stress of packing up a life and compacting it down into two suitcases and a holdall, the complication of being a last-minute attendee of  cousin's wedding, the tearful, heart in the mouth, I-want-to-throw-up goodbyes, I finally made it to Istanbul.

Definitely worth it.

Arrived

Flight was fine, and got through passport control and picked up luggage fairly quickly. I was one of 5 groups arriving yesterday, including a family of 4 with 23 suitcases! Journey into city took forever, traffic was mental, only 15 miles from airport but took 2 hours!

Anyway, I'm getting settled in to my apartment. It's in a fairly modern block (70s?) in the suburb of Etiler. It's also about 5 minutes walk to work which is great! Living room is huge. I have a spare (single) guest bedroom, but the sofas are massive and comfy so there's room for more. Need to get some more bed linen as sheets they provided are like sandpaper.

I'm having a leisurely morning as I'm still on UK time so although it's 10 already, my body is saying its only 8. Going to have an explore of the main street of Etiler, then wander down to the Bosphorus in Bebek.