
(Dorm is not a Turkish word. In fact, one of my favorite things about Turkish is that the word for dorm is yurt, as in "Genghis Khan lived in a larger yurt than the lesser tribal chiefs".)
Although I was advised that "summers in Istanbul are not oppressively hot" the humidity compensates for the moderate temperatures. The twenty minute walk, half of which follows a busy street, feels twice as long on the worst days and leaves us flushed and sweating by the time we reach our classrooms. The Turks seem comfortable, somehow fortified against the heat. Worse than that, the women somehow manage to look chic, despite the walk and lack of air conditioning. I meanwhile look wilted by 10am.
Classes officially started yesterday. From nine to one I sit in room 475, save for the occasional trip to the language lab. The instructors rotate from room to room throughout the day -- each day, our schedule rotates so that no two days of the week are the same. For example, on Mondays I have two hours of grammar, followed by one hour in the lab and then one hour of reading. Tuesdays begin with two hours of reading,followed by lab and finally an hour of writing. I can tell already that this pattern won't sink in until week five our so. Until it does, every hour is a surprise.
Regardless of the subject, my classes are uniformly exhausting. No more than ten words of English were spoken today. All lessons are conducted in Turkish -- fast Turkish -- and even words are defined by using examples, rather than the English definition. Staying tuned in all day is perhaps the most intellectually challenging thing I have ever attempted.
I should also mention that my collection of Turkish books has increased exponentially. I am now the proud owner of fourteen assorted workbooks, dictionaries and instruction manuals. I have the begining of quite a collection.
2 comments:
Your attempts to explain the word 'yurt' have to been the nerdiest attempts EVER!!
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