Work and Play

We started the paperwork (it is voluminous) to get official with the University and with the Turkish government.  It looks to be a long process but Bilkent is handling most of it.  My office at the department is pretty big with a great view (it is on the 5th floor).  The computer and furniture are dated (and actually the computer doesn't work at all right now) but no worries there.  At the ground floor of the building (which also houses the Rector, the mechanical engineering department and the computer science department) is a nice cafeteria with a good assortment of hot dishes and salads.  I am supposed to get a "lunch card" which if I understand it right will provide free lunches on campus for me.

The International Office lady also shared some information with us to help us settle in.  Most notably was how to walk from the apartment to the department. We took the long way (and in the snow) the first time which involved a steep downhill and uphill climb and took a good 30 to 40 minutes.  But there are a set of stairs that go down to a ravine and then up again which makes the trip less than 15 minutes and not so grueling.  These stairs also run near an on campus grocery store which stocks our favorite English paper - the Daily News - yeah!

We have shopped at a number of the stores nearby including the big one near us - Real at the Bilkent Center.  Real is basically a Turkish version of Walmart and we have bought food, household goods, etc. there.  They also take American Express (which is not common in Turkey). 

Friday night we went out with Mehmet Gulsen, my student from Pittsburgh who is now on the faculty at nearby Baskent University.  Mehmet helped us get some stuff from a hardware store and get extra keys cut to our apartment (we only got one set).  We ate on campus at the nice restaurant - the Forty Nine (I have no idea about the name!).  This gives a 25% discount to faculty so it was especially reasonable.  Randy and I had manti (a Turkish noodle dish) while Mehmet opted for the fish.  We also met Mehmet's friends, a Turkish/American couple who live in the building next to ours.

Saturday we completed the car paperwork (challenging because the car owner spoke almost no English) and got a loaner TV from my student Eren's father (who also arranged the car).  We shopped at Real (of course!) and ate leftovers at home.  That night we trudged up the hill (in windy cold) to the Bilkent Performance Hall where the orchestra performs.  The Bilkent Orchestra is quite well known and it did not disappoint.  The program was by composers that were unknown to us but the music was good and nicely performed.  The hall is comfortable and the price was not too bad (15 lira a ticket).  We will undoubtedly go again as they play each week and it is a short walk from our apartment. 

Alice at new office at Bilkent Industrial Engineering Department.  I guess I am official!

Friday morning we woke up to snow!!  View from our living room.

Snow view from one way in our bedroom.

Snow view from the other way in our bedroom.

Alice and Mehmet Gulsen at the Forty Nine Restaurant at the Bilkent campus.  No booze served anymore (new government regulations which say that alcohol and campuses do not mix) but plenty of yummy food.