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Yesterday, for the first time ever, I visited the Mersin Free Trade Zone. The free trade zone is located to the west of the port and consists largely of warehouses and offices where many companies do their trading. The advantage of a free trade zone is that companies can import product into the zone and re-export it without paying import duties or taxes.

Yesterday the entry to the zone was blocked by many cars and trucks. Ahmet (boss) said it was the busiest he seen in 200 visits!

Let’s hope it is a sign of the improving local economy – Inshallah!

Fresh snow could be seen on the 2nd row of hills in the northern background. I was excited to see snow again – even from a distance. I don’t really know why though.

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My pre-awakening hours this morning were very unusual and entertaining, although for the wrong reasons.

As well as hearing the drumming (even after putting my earplugs on), I also felt the chill of the coldest night since summer. Tonight I will remove the heavy blanket from its summer hibernation in the wardrobe.

Mixed in with the cold and the drumming were a dream I can’t remember and a separate, rather tortuous nightmare involving the torture of slaves and the like. This was my first real nightmare for a long time, although I did not wake up from it.

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I know this because a few minutes ago Asli turned off the radio and opened the front door even though it is cold today. At 9:05 am on November 10 1938 Mustafa Kemal Ataturk passed away. His cause of death was cirrhosis of the liver.

At 9:05 am today, many people in Turkey stood still for one minute’s silence in rememberance. Apparently, even the Istanbul ferries turn off their motors and float unassisted for 1 minute!

The moment has passed and now the music is back on!

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For at least the past week, I have had an uninvited guest. He did not notify me he was coming beforehand, nor did he knock on the door. Having said that, he has been very quiet and virtually maintanance-free, although I have had to be more careful when hanging out the washing. Almost lifeless, I have sometimes worried about his future and what is he to do with it. Some are very fortunate, not him. Then, life could be worse – he could be on the street or crushed alive long ago by a vehicle. I am not sure what I should do – leave him be, report him to the authorities or put him out of any worries he may have. I have chosen the first option of the three.

The Grasshopper

The week before last I saw this 5-6 cm grey (or gray, for the illiterate), camouflage-like grasshopper clinging to the top of a hand towel drying on my balcony’ washing line. For days he stayed there, hardly moving. I picked in the rest of the laundry, however I left his home, the hand towel, still hanging. After another washing load was dry I decided to finally pick in the towel and banish the grasshopper from the line. I thought I had seen the end…then later I notice him wearing my clothes on the bed – out again he was compulsorally placed. I did not want to harm him but I also did not want him checking out my wardrobe.

After a day or two of nonexistance I again believed he had vanished and was banished. Lo and behold, 2 days ago he turns up again. This time he is clinging onto a peg. Today, when hanging further load of washing, I deliberately did not modify his peg for, as long he likes, the grasshopper can stay.

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…for giving me a plug on his An Irish Experience blog. Tom, originally from Adelaide, is now on the Irish AIESEC national committee and having a ball from the look of it. His blog is a touch more controversial than so go there for cause-bashing but not warm and fuzzy stories like mine.

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The lack of recent postings is a reflection of my recent busyness – if that is a word.

The main tasks at work keeping me busy have been:

-Finalising the workshop details and appointment schedule for IES’s Director of Education, Sevil. She arrived in Berlin today for the ICEF Berlin Workshop. On Monday and Tuesday she will meet with many education providers from around the world in the hope of forming partnerships with providers that meet the needs of Turkish students. This is the 4th consecutive ICEF Berlin Workshop IES has attended.

-Filling the Santa Monica College application forms for two studentts, a brother and sister, who are currently already in Los Angeles. Documents were couriered back and forth across the world, academic transcripts were translated, financial statements taken and a whole lot more.

-Searching out sesame seed suppliers from Burkina Faso and other parts of the world. International trade is a risky business and obtaining a good offer is only a fraction of the work. The supplier not having the product, the product differing from the offer and an unreliable supplier are some of the countless risks.

-Completing and uploading the ‘Intervega Marine & Trade’ website: marineandtrade.com. The website is very basic at the moment and is sure to be updated soon.

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Every now and then I will post a favourite photo of mine and accompany it with a description.

This photo is from the Northern Cyprus side of the only remaining divided capital in the world: Lefkosa/Nicosia. Berlin was the other previously divided capital.

I took the photo in July 2002 when I visited Northern Cyprus with friends Umut and Beysun and cousin Cara. The political history and current situation on Cyprus is very complex involving Britain, the UN, the US, Greece and Turkey as well as the Cypriots from both sides! When I visited we could not cross the border to the south. One day I would like to visit the south and hear their side of the story. Looking across the border from the north, the south looks far more developed and richer.

As well as the politics, there are many cultural, historical and geographical highlights of the island. Cyprus is an extremely fascinating place and well worth the visit. Hopefully, soon the political leaders will stop playing politics and become mature enough to get on with life and let Cyprus become the place it deserves to be. Signs like the one illustrated in the photo will then become a relic of the past.

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Last night at 9pm I received a call from Kadriye from AIESEC Adana to help help her at lunchtime today. AIESEC members Kadriye, Murat and Deniz were visiting Mersin University’s Ciflikkoy campus to recruit new trainees for their outgoing exchange program. For a presentation they required a trainee to speak. As all of the 6 current trainees in Adana were either unavailable or sick (3 had stomach problems!) I was called in to rescue the situation. I enjoyed having the opportunity once again to speak about my experiences and to inspire (I hope) new leaders.

No Drumming Heard this Morning!!!! 🙂