Re-entry!

Entrance to our flat: Kamelya B

We are back home in Istanbul after a lovely 8 week summer break. What a difference a year makes! Instead of feeling amazed and awestruck, yet disoriented and disconnected, we feel ourselves in comfortable and familiar surroundings. When we moved into Istinye Park last year, there were two other expat families living here besides ourself. Over the past 6 months, several new consulate and world bank families have arrived. I think the total is closer to 25 now. I find myself in the delightful position of being an old-timer, and not a newcomer.

Last year, I forced myself to go to every newcomer's social event held, hating every minute of it. Walking in alone to any new group is daunting for me. You look around at all the groups of merrily chatting women and try to determine which one is most accessible. Then you go through the necessary introductions, and hope that the small talk coming from your lips is witty, or interesting or at the very least, articulate, and not just desperate babbling. After all, your intent is to find friends, not have them roll their eyes and run for cover. I would come home from every new social outing absolutely wiped out.

But in the long run, the effort paid off. By the end of the year, I had made a few close friends and several amiable acquaintances. I even hosted an impromptu girl's night out party at our place for all the ex-pat women in our complex, which was tons of fun. I left Istanbul feeling upbeat and optimistic.

We landed Tuesday night, and were promptly thrown back into life Wednesday morning, despite only 4 hours sleep. Jim went back to work, Devlin went back to school, and I had a PTA committee meeting to attend. Friday, I was at school welcoming newcomers to the IICS PTA, conscripting willing volunteers to serve on committees. Saturday was the school Welcome Picnic. I had great sympathy for those newcomers walking in, with that slightly bewildered, deer in the headlights look in their eyes, due to jet lag and new culture indoctrination. And so thankful that I wasn't one of them! I worked hard at meeting as many new families as I could, and that evening I was again wiped out--but in a good way. I was exhilerated and excited about how much more fun life was going to be this year. A year filled with friends, with laughter and with purpose.

It's going to be a great year!