Negative Nancy

I'm in one of those moods. Three days left before I head home, and all the things that drive me crazy about living in Turkey are really driving me around the bend! I think I'll just list them. Maybe getting them off my chest will relieve some of the pressure.

1. You have to use scissors to cut the saran wrap off the roll--not just once in awhile, but every single time.

2. Milk can only be purchased in 1 liter containers. And fresh milk is rare. One liter is only about 4 cups, so we are always going to the store for milk. I find myself lusting after the gallons I took for granted back home.

3. The only aluminum foil I have found is the weight of tissue paper.

4. Street cats....especially irksome while eating out, trying to mooch off your plate.

5. Middle aged, mustachioed cab drivers showing off their driving skills (or lack thereof)

6. People in London and Paris always wait for the passengers on the subway to get off, before they try to get on. People in Instanbul do not.

7. It's impossible to regulate the heat in our apartment. We either freeze or we roast. So now run the heat, but leave the windows open to cool off.

8. We ate lunch at fish restaurant on the Galata Bridge Saturday. The owner welcomed us with open arms, sat us, gave us water, then sent a waiter over to take our order. The waiter brought a huge platter of different raw fish to select from--and refused to give us the price of the fish till after we selected. Too late then to back out, I guess. I don't even want to tell you how much we paid for that meal.

9.  Cobblestones are picturesque, but hell to walk upon.

10. Trying to outlast, outtalk or outwit any Turkish salesman. It's not possible.

11. It's accepted practice here to crowd in front of someone else in line. And I'll be damned if I can do anything but glare, as I don't know enough Turkish to say anything. (Although, If Jim's with me, I don't have to worry about this one)

12. 24 hour clocks. Good Grief, what time is 20:15, anyway?

13. Celsius. Do I look forward to a day that is 14 degrees, or do I dread it? And don't even get me started on figuring out the oven temperatures.

14. Truth in Advertising is a real issue. My hand mixer is supposed to have 5 speeds. Maybe it does, but they are all the same speed. My favorite however, is the set of Christmas tree lights we just bought. Here's what the package said: "steady burning or blinking" (not true...they only blink, and do that errratically) "One goes out, rest stay lit" (not true, one goes out, they all go out) "Included spare bulb" (not true. No extra bulb was included) "Full size" (so not true) I can only surmise about the "energy saver" statement.

15. Policemen carry machine guns. Or at least, they look like machine guns. And they aren't nicely tucked away at their side either. I swear they keep their fingers on the trigger as they swagger down the street. I generally avoid making eye contact, but if I have to, I smile warmly, and hope that I remind them of their mothers.

It probably sounds like I hate it here. I really don't. I love Istanbul. But, there really is no place like home. And in 3 days, I'll be there. I can't wait.