4 Ağustos 2011 Perşembe
SADECE TÜRKÇE, BİR SÜRE... BODRUM'DAYIM
24 Haziran 2011 Cuma
Dairy/ Diary: Tough working conditions (or so called, busy)
I've been working since last December. I'm a teacher trainee at a private high school. I try to teach english to high school guys. It is hard... So hard to think...
I'm at school now. I'm gonna be in class in a few minutes. These are why I'm writing short sentences. I'll finish writing on this post this evening and you'll see what I've done so far.
Be sure, I'm fine. I'm gonna be well on July 2. Wish me luck...
Hiya folks! I'm on vacation FINALLLLLLYYYYYYYYY! I'm so glad to choose teaching career as I have two month- summer vacations every year. Who has such comfortable situations? On the other hand, life is too short to be so idle. I'm swimming in the day time, reading "Cannery Row" by Steinback. Meanwhile, I study on ALES Mathematics regularly. I admit that my studying is not very efficient under these sunny shiny summer time circumstances. Besides, I never cope with maths. I hate maths. Though, I give a chance in order to get well with it at the age of 25. Yeah, I think it will worth when I get the point I need from ALES. After that, I will re-start my learning career. Enough of teaching... It seems so though and sometimes seems phony.
I hope I'll publish my holiday photos on next post. See you, till then.
14 Aralık 2010 Salı
Dairy/ Diary: Darlin' I'll kiss your eyes...

12 Kasım 2010 Cuma
Dairy/ Diary: Bad Bad News...
Enough!... I really got bored with all these examinations. Yet, there's another test I will have in December: ALES. I don't know, I can't think about it. Solving the previous ALES tests is good way. This gives me a few clues about the form of the test and about the questions, subjects. I don't know how... Anyway, life still goes on and... Just ENOUGH!
Second bad news is sad, mad and dangerous (for mum) to know. Mum's 30- year- old mixer is broken! She has mourned for a week and after that we began a search for a new, good, well qualified, ergonomic, economic and easy to use mixer. Though, mum is reluctant as she couldn't find any of these qualifications in the mixers which she tested in shops. There's one she liked in fact; a multi- usable thing: Kenwood Chef, a kitchen aid. But... I'll mention it later.
Methinks, mourning for a kitchen utensil is very bizzare. Probably, the mixer meant much to mum. Otherwise, this isn't the mood of our mum.
There's a good news apart from the other boring ones: Mum has a job! Instead, I was looking for a job and... :p I'm kidding. On December, mum is gonna start working in a bistro- cafe's as a chef, in Cihangir. That's why she's looking for such a perfect kitchen aid, to use at work!
Mum seems happy as she met the lady who is responsible with the cafe last week. She and mum are gonna work together in the kitchen. Well, mum keeps the details of the job for herself and I respect her "not telling to anybody now" tempt. I'm as happier as she is because I know how she got bored with staying at home and cleaning our mess. Additionally, she is an expert in cooking and she always prefers natural and healthy things in the kitchen. All these make her preferable. I can't think of anybody replaced by mum in this world. Meanwhile, I must learn how to cook some practical things because mum won't be at home.
Nowadays, there's a rush in home. Mum and I are doing preparation for Kurban Bayramı (Festival of Sacrifices: a traditional feast which is celebrated by sacrificing a cow, a calf, a sheep or a goat to God in order to thank for the goods He has given) We're cleaning every corner of the house. It's injustice, a cruelty to do all stuff and be tired when dad is peacefully sitting at his office and my brother is studying for university entrance exam and going out with his friends to courses. Such work isn't good for me as it gives me a spine ache!
That's all for this week. Me?... Well, as I said, I'm broken and I missed old school days and friends. Hope I'll see them soon.
10 Kasım 2010 Çarşamba
ATATÜRK, ATA'M


16 Ekim 2010 Cumartesi
Dairy/ Diary. A good day...

Winter's comin' huh? I've been dealing with flu for a week. Be careful with your health!
29 Eylül 2010 Çarşamba
Hey Everyone, DUYDUK DUYMADIK DEMEYİN!!!
This is the article's link on an online newspaper:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=young-european-filmmakers-on-roads-with-istanbul-express-2010-09-28
And this one is the project's actual link:
http://www.nisimasa.com/istanbulexpress/
On Oct. 10, the filmmakers are to be arrived in Istanbul.
28 Eylül 2010 Salı
Dairy/ Diary: KPSS Again?
On the other hand, it's a big chance, an advantage for me to increase my grade to be appointed. I believe, I can do it well in the next examination. This is not only studying; but also thinking positive. Wanting is the half of achieving! Yes, I can do well...
As you guess, I've begun studying to make my lacks up. I'm doing tests, reading all day. Luckily, I have nothing else to do. Or... Do I? I prefer spending some days with some friends, shopping and going to a theatre to watch a movie or even reading. However, I'm cancelling them all till November 1. As soon as I heard the news, I knew I would cancel my entire social life! And it makes me sad sometimes. :(((
Wish me luck, everyone!
31 Ağustos 2010 Salı
PODCASTING...
This new idea has struck me since I've been thinking about watching, listening, reading in English. And maybe dreaming... I've just registered to BBC Podcasts and chosen this for you. Please, leave a comment after watching.
This is the first podcast I've published; but I've a plan: I'm planning to do an online- listening activity. (or so- called a listening lesson) I'll select a podcast each month and publish it on my blog by giving a hyperlink on the title. You can leave your comments or ask questions when you couldn't understand something. Or, simply, you can ask some basic listen& understand questions. For instance, who is speaking?, who is the story about?, what happens when...? English Language Teachers!!!! This is for you also.
Have a nice week.
24 Ağustos 2010 Salı
Dairy/Diary
Mum& Dad are coming back today. I cleaned and tidied the house yesterday. Today, I'm baking a cake for my parents so that they will eat in the afternoon, when they come. I'm planning to make the cake with youghurt as there's no milk left and I've googled a bit. I'm gonna try one of mum's blogger friends receipt: Hünerli Bayanlar I'll publish the cake's photos on this post later; of course, if it will be accomplished.
Thank you for the receipt, Hünerli Bayanlar!
Here are the photos and the receipt of the cake! As I promised...
Ingredients:
1) 4 eggs
2) a pinch of salt
3) 2 cups of sugar (I used glasses, to measure each liquid ingredient, instead of cups.)*
4) a half cup of oil ( I used olive oil)
5) a cup of yoghourt
6) 3 cups of flour (the receipt says 2.5 cups but I preferred 3 cups as the yoghourt was a bit juicy, saucy or watery, whatever you call it.)
7) some lemon zest (it gives both good smell and good taste.)
8) a packet of baking powder and a packet of powdered vanilla
9) a half table spoon of nescafe (a half of it is enough. The receipt says 80 gr. bitter sweet chocolate. Yet, I also like nescafe in the cake.)
Method:
Beat the eggs with a pinch of salt and then add the sugar. Continue beating until the sugar is mixed well in the mixture. It takes 5 or 10 minutes.
(You must be sure whether it is mixed well. So, dip your index finger's tip and take a little mixture. Then rub it with the index finger and thumb. There mustn't be any crystall of sugar.)*
Add the olive oil, a little lemon zest and a half spoon of nescafe. In this step, you must take a risk: do you want a very sweet cake? Or do you prefer the sugar amount in this receipt? Just give it a try and taste the mixture. If you think it is so bitter, add a bit sugar.
After that, prepare the granulated mixture (flour, powdered vanilla and baking powder) by sifting them together. Sifted flour always puffs the cake up. Add this dry mixture to the one you make before. (eggs, sugar, oil,nescafe mixture) Pour the hole mixture into a baking pan or a cake mold.
(Mum has an old sheet iron mold which she prefers to bake cakes. I didn't give up this tradition and I used this same old sheet iron mold. I applied some butter inside of this mold before I pured the mixture into it. Butter or oil, it doesn't make any difference; but each of them prevents the mixture to stick on the mold. If you prefer to use silicone molds, then you're lucky.)*
Preheat the oven 180 Centigrate and bake the cake in 45/ 50 minutes.
(Observe whether the cake is puffed and becomes brown a bit or not. Do not open the oven before 45th minute. After this period, you can check it by sticking a knife. If the knife is clean when it comes out of the cake, it means the cake is baked.)*
Well... Bonne Appetite!
20 Ağustos 2010 Cuma
Back to seeking job!
I've been in Istanbul since last week and looking for some job again. :) My parents are still on vacation. I'm with my brother and my grandmother who fasts this month.
To be honest, I don't have any vacation photos. 'Cause no photos were taken! Why? Well... I'll tell why.
On my last post, I mentioned I was going to a summer vacation. There's a house which me and my big big family (including mine, grandma, my aunts, cousins atc.) have stayed in summers, for twenty years. It is old and according to my eldest aunt, it is a bit small for us. She wanted it to be restored a bit this winter. The front balcony has been enlarged, the building has been whitewashed before the vacation season. Some Turkish readers may consider what a mess to restore their houses and to deal with repairmen, especially in summer resorts, in country. It is also important in summer places to have a grand balcony or a terrace since you spend the whole day there. However, when we came (me, mum, dad and brof.) there were some additional things to do. We needed to buy a new table, some chairs and a small garden sofa set within its' armchairs to place all them in the balcony. Sure, we had to buy somethings to eat. That was why poor dad spent his worthly vacation days in supermarkets. We bought a new fridge, stopped by the bazaar and bought lots of vegetable and fruit and many things. When we were home, we went to the plage, swim in mornings and lateron we came back and clean the house. Mum searched for the towels which had been there always and it took quite long time. ( two weeks, I guess) Hahaha! I remember she was murmuring: "Oooyyy! Where are our towels gone? They aren't in their usual place. Did the cleaning women stick them another place? I can't find anything I want! Did Yüksel stick them somewhere?" (Yüksel is my eldest aunt)
Anyway... Suddenly I began to think about the days I had spent so far and realised that I had been doing all the cleaning, washing (the dishes), watering things for whole a week! Man, was I tired. Mum was tired too. A week later, dad returned to Istanbul, to his work. Things were going to be harder because mum needed a car to go to the bazaar and to come back. There were still somethings to buy and somethings to fix. If you had ever stayed in the country without a vehicle, you would have known about the difficulties of it. Or, If you ever stayed in the country without a vehicle you should know about the difficulties of it. I know these two sentences are read nearly similar and they sound similar. You'd better study on "If Clause" of your grammar books.
We hosted our guests. One of them was Serkan, our "atomic boy" from France. He and his parents are like our relatives. He is a brother to me and my brother. Brof. came with some of his school friends sometimes and mum cooked, washed and tidied up for many times. I tried to help her. By the time, I read education columns of the newspaper every day, to learn whether there were any news about KPSS exam results. Waiting was so hard to me. Meanwhile, I swam and have fun with a childhood friend. He was as funnier as Ata Demirer and thanks to him, I could enjoy going to the city center (Bodrum) one night. He took us there with his car.
Uooh! I haven't mentioned what a harder situation I was in yet. There wasn't Internet connection in the house we stayed in. I had to find a laptop first; and then I had to go to the cafe next to the market or to the cafe near to the plage. I could only manage to do this for twice under the blue sky and a brain melter sun's rays! Besides, I received a telephone call, saying they could offer me a job in Istanbul. It was from a well known SBS preparation course. I told them I was in a village in the south of Turkey where there was no Internet, no TV etc. However, they asked me to send my CV via e-mail and I did. Later on, they wanted to have a conversation with me and asked me to come back to Istanbul, twice. I couldn't ignore this offer. So, I got a bus ticket to go to Istanbul, thinking about returning to Bodrum after the application meeting.
On the August 11, I was in Istanbul. Mum stayed in Bodrum. On the 12th, I visit the course. The principle was very kind to me and he asked me to present a demo lesson on the 13th. I spent two days by going to Beşiktaş. On the 13th, after I presented my lesson I was told that I wouldn't directly teach to a class; but I would take part in remedial lectures to answer students' questions. I would work six days for 11 hours per a day. Additionally, I would get assurance and my teaching trainee session would be over. Although these additions were advantageous; it was hard for me. I wouldn't be able to study for ALES, UDS and KPSS if I started to work in that course. Besides, I couldn't be anything more than a course teacher. So, I resigned.
Well... Here I am... I've been in Istanbul since August 11 and I'm stucked in home because of humid and hot. God, it's so hot. I regret to be here earlier than I expected. Dad and my youngest aunt went back to Bodrum and my eldest aunt and my cousin are there too. They had birthday parties. On the other hand, I preferred to stay here to apply for some jobs and deal with KPSS issues. Two days ago, I checked on the Internet and found out I got a very low point and I will not be attended this year. I will give a try to "ücretli öğretmenlik" on September. Though, I can't say easily that I will work as an "ücretli öğretmen". This is why, I'm filling the online application forms, e-mailing CVs to lots of kindergardens, courses near Kadıköy. I'm thinking about writing down about my experiences in job application. I don't know whether it would be educational, but I'm sure it would make someone laugh.
I wish I published few photos within this post. Yet, I remind you that, I had none as we all had forgotten to take photo while dealing with decorating a summer house and buying many necessary things. It's 02.35 am and I don't even have a song to gift you. I'm sorry. I'm totally sorry...
16 Temmuz 2010 Cuma
8 Haziran 2010 Salı
Not Titled yet!!!
I'm nowhere! I'm lost! I feel a bit dizzy and I need to study more just before the exam. So dear followers, I'm sorry to tell you that you need to wait to read about my adventures.
In short, I had an interview with a foreign language course. It was a job application. Yet, later, I refused and I still question why I did such a thing. There was Film festivals in Istanbul and I watched few films. I joined in my friends from university club and went to Spil Mount, Manisa to practise on rock climbing on May. (I don't remember the exact date now) I've been attending to KPSS courses and I will until July 21. Then, on April, I& my family celebrated my brother's birthday. It was lovely. I went to Kuşadası to celebrate my cousin's engagement. I did pretty good things but I can only remember them when I look at the photos. I will publish them too. Don't worry. By the way, unlike someone commented on my previous post; I didn't find the ship of Noah! I'm sorry. It has already been discovered. However, I may do some kind of new explorations in the very next future. Who knows?...
02. 10. 2010
FINAL COUNTDOWN! The examination is on 10th. Going to bed at 01.30am on nights and waking up at 7.30 am... Well, that's enough for a good sleep though I feel sleepy in the mornings. Listening to the radio (mostly, to get mood) while doing tests of maths, history, Turkish and Law& Citizenship.
My eldest aunt and my cousin were in Istanbul last week. They just wanted to visit us when the schools ended and they spent two weeks with us. I always enjoy to be with my "over"-crowded family and these two weeks were the times I gave a break for studying. Happy, sweet days...
10 Mart 2010 Çarşamba
Athelien "the" ev kedisi...
Artık Athelien her şeye "hayırlısı" diyor. İş yok hala. Kısmet... Aşk yok; meşk yok. Evlilik hiiiiç yok! O olmasın da zaten. Bu konuya soran olursa değineceğim; zira kendi şahsi ve de tehlikeli görüşüm. Ben en iyisi bir süredir neler düşündüğümü dökeyim buraya.
Kendimi geliştirmek, KPSS sınavında başarılı olmak adına Aralık ayında bir dersaneye gitmeye başladım. Çalışabildiğim kadar ders çalışıyorum. Fakat üniversiteden yeni çıkmışken zor da oluyor tekrar masa başına geçip ders çalışmak. Hele başımda öyle bir bela var ki sormayın: Matematik...
Ne tuhaf bir beladır, nasıl bir kavram, bir bilimdir ki ben buna sıradan bir "bela" diyemiyor, anlatamıyorum. Çocukluğumdan beri nefret ettiğim matematik dersini; her ne kadar bu konuda henüz aşama kaydedemesem de; bir anda az da olsa sevmeye başladım. Bunun nedeni öğreten kişi (benim deyimimle "hoca") mi? Tabii ki. Ancak hocanın fiziksel hoşluğuymuş, jestleriymiş vs. si umrumda değil. Dersi anlatışıyla beğeniyorum ben hocayı. Artık bulmaca çözer gibi mateamtik sorularını çözüyorum. Zevk için sanki... Başarılı olamıyorum; yirmi soruluk bir testi çözmeye çalışırken tüm günümü harcıyorum. Olsun; ilk defa matematik çalışırken bundan keyif alıyorum.
Benim de sınıftaki herkes gibi matematikte 0 (sıfır, tabula rasa-boş levha) bilgi ile geldiğimi kabul edip sabırla, en kolay konudan başlayıp en zoruna doğru yavaş geçiş yapan; verdiği örnek ve ödev testlerin haddi hesabı olmayan matematik hocama teşekkürler. İnsanın öğrenirken en çok yararını gördüğü ders materyalleri bol örnek ve öğrenilen bilgiyi hayata geçirmek (miş; ben de bunu fakültede okurken, ve hatta bu dersanede eğitim bilimleri derslerinde öğrendim.)

Soranlara "Hala öğrenciyim" derken bundan hiç gocunmuyorum. Üniversitede, zorunlu staj dersimiz vardı. Gittiğim okulda, dersine girip gözlem yaptığım hocalardan biri bana "En iyi öğrenci, tahtanın önündeki öğrencidir." demişti; hakikaten de öyleymiş. Bir öğretmen, kendini her zaman bir öğrenci gibi hissetmeli. Çünkü, öğretmenin en büyük işlevi, bilgisini başkalarına aktarabilmesidir. Bunun için de
1) Öğretmen, bilgiye sahip olmalı,
2) Öğretmen, bilgiyi aktarma yöntem ve tekniklerine hakim olmalı.
Bunlar için de öğretmenin daima öğrenme işini yapıyor olması gerekir kanısındayım.
Dört yıl boyunca eğitim fakültesinden mezun olmak için canla başla çalışıp, öğretmenlik diploması aldığım halde KPSS engeline takılmış olmak beni her ne kadar bunaltsa da şu sıralar bir dersanede, öğrendiklerimi tekrar etmek, başkalarından öğrenmek ve onların öğretim yöntemlerine eleştirel gözle bakmak benim için çok iyi oluyor.
Evet, zaten yazılarının çoğunluğu İngilizce olan bloğumda belki de bir seneden beri ilk defa Türkçe yazı görüyorsunuz ve o da kısa oluyor. Ancak düşündüğüm, icat ettiğim, oynadığım, izlediğim, etkilendiğim, zırıl zırıl ağladığım o kadar yoğun şey var ki... Hepsini de yazmak görüntü kirliliği! Bu nedenle uzun zamandır ne yazarım, nasıl yazarım, yazmam şart mıdır diye kara kara düşündüm durdum. Biyonik Kedi ve Pelince'ye buradan çooook teşekkürler; uzun zamandır unuttuğum bloğumun varlığından beni haberdar ettikleri için. Onlar yorum göndermeseydi peeeeeeehhh... Blogmuş, yazıymış... Neeeymiiş? Bu vesilede hatırlatmada bulunan bu pek muhterem iki kişinin de neler yaptığına göz atma fırsatım oldu. Sevindim :)
NOT: Gecenin sürprizi (çünkü saat 01. 50 ve yazı ancak bitti)... Damien Rice'tan güzel bir şarkı armağan ediyorum: Amie. Bu şarkıyı linkte çıkan listede bulup üstüne tıklamanız yeterli. Elbette, listedeki diğer şarkılara da bakabilirsiniz.

En rüyası bol geceler sizlerin olsun!
11 Kasım 2009 Çarşamba
HOWDY FRIENDS!
And... Here is my number one addiction: watching the Big Bang Theory on cnbc- e. Especially, I love Sheldon! He is out of the world!! he's just like a small star between two planet! He's different; that's why he's so funny. His unusual habits like knocking on the door for three times make me laugh laugh and imagine how would I seem if I imitated him.
What can a job-less girl do all day? She can wake up late. She can go for a walk or shopping, with her mother, she can study on the KPSS examination and have a cup of coffee as a motivation and as a reinforcement of her dreams in the night. She can look outside in rainy days or she can't decide what to wear on sunny, hot November days. She may be frightened of catching flue and H1N1 virus. Yeah, yeah... All of these are inclusive; but what else? Aren't there any things to do at home apart from these? Sure there is... Internet access!! My number two addiction is an online game; so it's totally related with the Internet: Farmville! I really enjoy harvesting. Imaginary visuals of seeds, crops give me some idea about their actual appearance. Besides, even if it's imaginary situation, I can gain imaginary money which motivates me in the game. I love online profit!! I love Farmville!!!
I'm attending on a seminar which is organised by ÇDD (Çağdaş Drama Derneği- Creative Drama Association) on Thursday. Will be back on Sunday night. Till then, have a nice time.
14 Eylül 2009 Pazartesi
Which Austen Heroine Are You?

11 Eylül 2009 Cuma
Vacation, Location location...
It was fun at the beginning. Later, some expected but unfortunate things happened. Still I try to enjoy. I'll back to İstanbul tomorrow. Gonna write about my vacation in details later. This is my brother's Mac- Apple, I'm using now. Hopefully there's wireless connection.
Hope to write soon.
19 Ağustos 2009 Çarşamba
AUTHENTIC MOVEMENT: What is it?
14 Ağustos 2009 Cuma
GRADUATION!!!! Graduation from everything?
And the photos below are just exemplify what we do on school walls... Of course, these are some scenes from an application, a part of our education in school club and the necessary precautions and permissons were taken from the authorities. I have attended to Authentic Movement lectures in ÇDD (Çağdaş Drama Derneği/ Creative Drama Association) where I also had my drama courses in Üsküdar. The lecturer was a very pretty, friendly Finnish lady, Sanna. She became a close friend for me during six weeks. Well... What is this Authentic Movement, then? I can't tell... I still have lots of things to learn about it. Besides, I don't have any photos to describe it. Then, you have to google it, I suppose. :)) But let me give you a clue: it's a sort of dance. But it's different from other dance categories. It is usually taught to students who are to become performers, actors/ actresses. It's about discovering the movements and movement resources of your body. In a way, it's a good way of relaxation. That's all.
By the way, Sanna, together with her friends, is on a project and you can follow it from this link:
http://www.vaellalaella.net/blogi/ossiblogi/
Both the lessons at university and drama course made me so busy. I haven't complained about my teaching trainee sessions in Kadıköy Anatolian High School. Yet honestly, I've gained some experiences there about teaching. Most of my students were having enjoyable time when I was teaching. I may think about subscribing the video of my teaching day. (Ohhh, a disaster as I was ill and can't properly talk because of my coughs)
Anyway, the graduation party times come so soon. First, we had a ball together our lecturers in Sabancı Öğretmenevi. It was a lovely place. Then, we did have another ball (without teachers hihihihiiii) in Suada (Galatasaray Island) which was quite luxurious place. In fact, you can see all the photos by clicking on my profile on facebook. I'm publishing only fews here.



I still can't believe how time has passed. Those nights we had our graduation balls were unforgettable. My dresses, make- ups... Everything was on the way. By the way, I was e- mailing my CV to various private schools but receiving no reply. I took lots of examinations which are necessary for my career such as UDS, KPDS, ALES (these are necessary for attending to a master program) and finally KPSS (this one is for proving my proficiency in teaching. Ohh noo! Why did I study hard to get my diploma then if the government hesitates to employ me without this proficiency certificate?). I took all these exams without studying of course. Did I have any time to study? This term was good for me to be familiarized with all these examinations. Next year I will be attending on same exams again. So... Was everything finished? Not yet... There came the "major" day! The real and the only one graduation day! The others were just balls, parties. But, as you see below, on 8th of July, I was offcially a graduated girl!.
