Our social lives are picking up. Two weeks ago we attended the Marine Corps Ball with some friends. It was held at the Conrad, a swanky downtown hotel. Lot's of embassy personnel attended, along with the five marines whose duty it is to guard the American Consulate. (A huge, fortress entrenched along the Istinye hillside, not far from our flat)

I don't consider myself particularly patriotic, but there was a poignancy to to seeing the U.S. flag and hearing the national anthem so far away from home. I wanted to bop the guy next to me who chose to sit through the whole thing while the rest of us were standing with our hands on our hearts. I think he was Turkish, so probably felt he was exempt, but if I were in a similar situation, surrounded by Turks, you can bet I would be standing up.

Jim and Devlin ran from Asia to Europe with Boy Scouts 

This past Saturday was International Day at Devlin's school. It is the big PTA fundraiser, and an appropriate one. The cafeteria was filled with representatives from different countries, all selling home made foods. I was behind the American Food Booth, selling chili, so I didn't get around to many others, but I ate some great samosas and jasmine rice from Pakistan, while Jim lurked at Switzerland's table, enjoying the tortes and apple pies. I purchased several pairs of slippers, hand knitted by some women in a nearby village, using age old techniques and patterns. And you know you are in Europe when the PTA sells alcoholic beverages at a school function. What a great way to loosen the purse strings. Not surprisingly, I didn't see anyone under the influence.

Michel Charouk, Jim & I selling American baked goods

Saturday night brought our first party--or, should I say, soiree, as it was given by a French couple. It was a lovely affair. She had asked everyone to dress in red, in celebration of the color of the Turkish flag, our new home, so the crowd was colorful They even served Bloody Mary's and of course, red wine. It was a very international group; Swiss, French, German, Australian and even a few Americans. What is it that makes the French so elegant? Laure and her husband, Mattieu, were stylishly dressed, with a home that was decorated with good artwork and well chosen, unusual accessories. An assortment of delicious hors d'oevres were served continuously by an unobtrusive staff. Conversation was lively, (if sometimes difficult to understand). Later in the evening, music for dancing was played, and people actually danced. At one point, a few of us were outside talking, and Laure came out with furs for all of us to put on so we wouldn't be cold. They lived in Russia for awhile, and picked them up there. It's amazing how quickly you can warm up wearing an ermine wrap!

What is even more impressive, is that Laure, (who just arrived in August also) discovered a few weeks ago that she has breast cancer. I am awed by her attitude. I would still be in bed, weeping and wailing and feeling sorry for myself. She put on the party of the year! In fact, I got the invitation just as I had hit a low point, and was questioning why I had thought moving to Istanbul had been a good idea. When I compared our reactions to life's hardships, I was good and truly ashamed of myself, and snapped out my blue funk. It's easy to see who has it rough and who doesn't--and I sure don't.

Life can be moaned about or it can be celebrated. Laure has shown me the way I want to approach it--with grace, elegance and determination.