IyI Bayramlar

Well today this week the Moslem's are celebrating Byram which literally means festival but this festival is Seker (Shey-ker) festival. Sounds like sugar doesn't it...well it is. The festival celebrates the end of the Ramazan fast with the day that Muhammad received the Koran. So yesterday at 7:34am for our big mosque, the men went to the mosque to pray and then back to their homes where lots of traditions start to unwind.

The day before the women were crazy busy cleaning their house from top to bottom and buying lots of sweets, mainly chocolates and other yummy food. They have bought themselves new clothes and yesterday they were all dressed up in their best. First they go to their oldest relatives home and they greet their relatives by kissing their hand and then pressing the hand to their forehead to show they respect them highly. The older person will in turn give pocket money to the young children. The visits only last at max 30 minutes which is unreal for middle eastern visiting but their are many more homes they must go to. So the day is spent visiting and then they return home and get ready for the visitors that come to THEIR house. CRAZY.

So yesterday i went to our next door neighbors house (Tuba and Tonsil) to wish them Iyi Bayramlar. I also put together a little gift bag for Mert their 4 year old and their was pocket change inside!!!.

They opened the door and I think they were surprised that I was there but Mert saw the present and was like SUPER excited. Their family was visiting them so I was introduced to the family from Istanbul. Mert came over and kissed my hand and put it on his little cutness of a head. He's seriously one of the cutest kids i've ever seen. So, now the next three days, there's visiting and sweets, and chai and yeah. Iyi Bayramlar!

The Ball

It's two weeks late but Eric and I attended the Air Force Ball on base along with 500 other people. They were trying something new this year and decided instead of a sit down meal we would all stand around and enjoy the 4 hour evening that way. Well it was a insanely stupid idea. Once we got a drink in our hand there was no way you can eat because one hand holds the drink and the other the plate so how are you supposed to get the food from the plate into your mouth???!!! So everyone started walking around the club trying to find somewhere to sit. 500 places to sit exactally. One friend suggested we all lay down around the commander's table and eat off our cheasts. That would have been something.

Katie was so gracious to come over and do my hair so i wouldn't have to worry about it and then Shannon from across the street took our picture. Here they are!