Halloween

One of the strange things about living overseas, is how easy it is to let our native holidays pass unobserved. You have to work hard to celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving, because no one else around you is. It's also when you notice how big a role the media really plays in promoting holidays. There are no newspaper ads for costumes or candy, no sales on Butterball turkeys, no magazine covers displaying scrumptious pumpkin pies. Absolutely nothing to warn you that a holiday is coming! So last year, Halloween was just another day on the calendar for most of us--especially those of us who had just arrived and were still in culture shock.

Tara at left, snapping a photo

My friend Tara, who is from New York, and has 3 small children, decided to change all that this year. She asked a few of us to help plan an "Istinye Park Halloween Trick or Treat" party, because last year, being new herself, she let it pass by unobserved as well. When Ella and Michael asked her in December, "When's Halloween going to be here, Mommy?" she was consumed with guilt, and vowed to change things in 2010. Since we've had several new ex-pat families move in, we knew there would be interest. What Tara did differently, though, that was a stroke of genius, was to include the entire complex, not just the people we knew.

Shakila's girls and Boo Boo, Jim behind them.

Invitations were created and delivered to every door in Istinye Park. It explained what Halloween was, how trick or treating works, how to participate--or not. We weren't really sure if the Turkish families would choose to participate, but we knew that extending the invitation was the right thing to do. We also included any other families in Istanbul that we thought would be interested. We invited everyone to gather at 4:00 at the pool for pictures and, the trick or treating would get underway by 5:00. I figured we might have 50 people show up.

People started pouring in by 4:00. The bar next to the pool was quickly covered up with all kinds of halloween snacks, cakes and cookies. 

Within a very short period of time, the kids deserted the bar to play outside, while the adults remained inside, socializing.   Between the costumes and the anticipation of candy, it got a little crazy out there. I had given my camera to Devlin, and later, laughed at the shots of what was happening outside, while we adults mingled.

As the party grew larger, the excitement of the children grew palpable. Having given many a birthday party in the past, it was clear there needed to be some direction given. It fell upon me to try to round them up for group photos, and lead a parade around the pool, so parents could get individual shots. 

Lining them up for the parade, beer in hand

 

Once the parade was over, they set off with their parents to begin trick or treating. I had brought a bag of American candy back with me, containing 105 pieces of Snickers, Mars bars and M and M's. I never expected to go through the entire bag, but at 8:00p.m., it was gone, and I had to turn out the lights, just like Pecan Grove.
The best part, was that the Turkish kids came out in droves! Istinye Park Management was very happy with us the next day. They thought it was a wonderful event, that brought everyone together for fun and laughter. They even asked us to consider planning a monthly event! Hmm. That will take some thought. Over the course of the following week, I got thank you emails and phone calls--one mom said that she has lived in Istanbul for 13 years, and this was by far the best Halloween her children have ever had. She said it was just like being back in America!

So, Thanks, Tara, for letting last year's disappointment turn into this year's biggest success! A real American Halloween, was enjoyed by children and adults alike, in a county far, far from home.