Welcome To Be Champion

This morning I arrived back in Mersin from Istanbul via an overnight Varan Turizm bus ride.

Umut and Beysun’s wedding and the rest of my time in Istanbul was wonderful and I will write more and upload photos later.

Istanbul is preparing for soccer’s European Champions League final to be held this Wednesday (25th). There are many official sponsor signs and advertisements promoting the event.

On the way to the main airport is the following large banner, featuring “Civil Engineer Aziz Yeniay, Mayor of Kucukcekmece” and “Dr. Architect Kadir Topbas, Mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality”, each holding the Champions League trophy:

Can anyone please tell me what “Welcome To Be Champion” means? Is it even English? How crazy for such a high profile sign to be incoherent. I guess it is the thought that counts.

Off To Istanbul For Umut and Beysun’s Wedding

Tonight I’m jumping on the bus to Istanbul for my former flatmate and good friend, Umut’s wedding to his long-time sweetheart, Beysun. Umut and I shared a flat in Mezitli, a coastal outer suburb of Mersin for nine months in 2001-2002.

Umut comes from Fenerbahce territory in Asian Istanbul but studied at Mersin University where he was top of the class (and faculty?) for his year. Studying 20 hours a day does get places.

Umut and Beysun met at tourism and hospitality high school in Alanya, southern Turkey. They remained together, even when they were physically apart, studying at university in different cities.

Umut is a kind and hard working person. I wish Umut and Beysun a great wedding and wonderful marriage.

This quote in a recent email from Mum, sums Umut up well:

Have a good weekend and wish Umut all the best for us. He is a great fellow and we will always remember his generosity to us when we were in Istanbul.

Mallee Park Football Club

The Age, an Australian newspaper, has an interesting article on the Mallee Park Football Club, a largely Aboriginal sporting club from my high school town of Port Lincoln.

Dad used to play cricket for Lincoln South, so I supported Souths in the footy. Mallee Park was always the most talented side and it shows: they have produced 8 current AFL players. My brother, Liam, umpired some of the current AFL players.

Every night after school as many as 60 kids play what Jack Johncock calls rough and ready on the Mallee Park Oval. There is one football, no teams, no rules and the objective for the five-year-olds is not to get bashed.

So they learn how to dodge their 59 opponents. The eight-year-olds work on quick disposals before they’re tackled, and the 12-year-olds do all of the above, plus kick the goals. But then they, too, get bruised when they train with the A-grade side twice a week.

Then on Saturdays those five-year-olds play against kids twice their age, and by the time they turn 12 they have played 100 games.

According to Johncock, it is why this amazing club at Port Lincoln on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula has produced so many champions.

Read the full article here. If you are asked to register to read the article, go to BugMeNot.

As an aside, the Aboriginals (or “Aborjin” in Turkish) are one of the top subjects brought up when Turkish people (particularly the young) find out I’m Australian. I believe a book about Aboriginals is part of the Turkish school curriculum.

Terms And Conditions Galore

One could almost make a separate newsletter out of the terms and conditions at the bottom of my latest QANTAS frequent flyer newsletter.

Terms and Conditions:
* On-road costs will be included in the prize. On-road costs
for each prize vehicle means dealer delivery costs,
compulsory on-road costs, stamp duty, compulsory third party
insurance and registration for 1 year in the winner’s State
or Territory. Valued at $5,000.
^ For full terms and conditions visit qantas.com/winalexus.
Entry is open to Australian resident Qantas Frequent Flyers
aged 18 years and over. Promotion commences 1/04/05 and
closes 11.59pm 30/06/05. 2 vehicle prizes drawn each month
with 3 draws in total. Each point credited to a member’s
Qantas Frequent Flyer account and listed in their Activity
Statement during April 2005 results in an entry into Draw 1,
during May 2005 results in an entry into Draw 2 and during
June 2005 results in an entry into Draw 3. Draws take place
at 4pm at 15 Grosvenor St, Neutral Bay, NSW, 2089 on 10/05/05
(Draw 1), 10/06/05 (Draw 2) and 8/07/05 (Draw 3). Winners
notified by mail and names published in “The Australian” on
17/05/05 (Draw 1), 17/06/05 (Draw 2) and 15/07/05 (Draw 3).
Max total prize value $682,800. Prize excludes optional
extras and accessories not stated, comprehensive insurance,
fuel, personal, ancillary and related costs. Winners take
delivery of prize vehicle from nearest authorised Lexus
dealership. Promoter is Qantas Airways Ltd ABN 16 009 661
901, 203 Coward St Mascot, NSW 2020. Authorised under NSW
Permit No. TPL05/02200 VIC Permit No. 05/650 SA Licence No.
T05/824 ACT TP05/0841 NT 05/672.
***** Valid only for new bookings made by Qantas Frequent
Flyers in conjunction with this offer. Packages must be
booked directly with Skimax, and paid for within seven days
of booking. Prices are per person based on two people
travelling and staying together. Car hire does not include
optional insurance excess waiver of NZ$19 plus GST per day.
Car hire includes LDW insurance, chains and racks, unlimited
kilometres and GST. Offer does not include airfares. Standard
conditions of the supplier apply. Please enquire for prices
outside these dates.
*** Based on two adults sharing a room. Availability is
limited. A non-refundable booking fee of $4 applies to each
booking. To be sure of earning your Qantas Frequent Flyer
points, always remember to quote your membership number when
making a booking and at hotel check-in. A maximum of one room
per member applies to earning of points. Consecutive stays at
the same hotel will be considered as one stay, regardless of
the number of check-ins. Points cannot be split between two
or more members occupying the same room. Ready Rooms is
operated by Qantas Holidays, ABN 24 003 836 459, Licence No
2TA 003 004.
# Triple points will be awarded on a two-night minimum stay
at qualifying rates. A maximum of 1,800 points will be
awarded per stay. A maximum of one room per member applies to
earning of points. Consecutive nights at the same hotel will
be considered as one stay, regardless of the number of
check-ins. Points cannot be split between two or more members
occupying the same room.
^^^ Offer subject to availability. Not available in
conjunction with any other promotional offers.
~ Requires 4 AA batteries which are not included.
~~~~ To be sure of earning your Qantas Frequent Flyer points,
always remember to quote your membership number when making a
booking and at rental pick up. Points are not awarded on tour
rates – retail and wholesale, government rates, travel
industry rates and some corporate rates. Minimum of one day
rental. Points are earned on time and kilometre, excluding
GST, insurance and any other miscellaneous charges.
#### The promoter is WTH Pty Limited (ABN 15 000 165 855)
trading as Avis Australia, Level 2, 15 Bourke Road, Mascot
NSW 2020. The draw will be held at 10am on 26 August 2005 at
Legion Interactive, Level 9, 100 William St, East Sydney NSW
2020, and the winner will be published in The Australian
newspaper on 2 September 2005. Total maximum prize value
$46,045. For full terms and conditions call 136 333.
Authorised under NSW permit number TPL 05/01761, VIC permit
number 05/453, ACT permit number TP05/0718, SA permit number
T05/829, NT permit number NT05/545
~~ Allow up to 30 days for points to be allocated to your
account.
** For full terms and conditions visit
3pmarketing.com.au/qantas. The Promoter is Smartpack
International, trading as 3P Marketing (ABN 75 102 583 399).
The promotion commences at 12:01am on 4/3/05 and closes at
11:59pm on 27/2/06. Only Australian resident Qantas Frequent
Flyers aged 18 years and over are eligible to enter. During
the Promotional Period, there will be 4 ‘Draw Periods’ with
one ‘Draw’ for each Draw Period. There will be a total of 1
prize in each Draw. The first valid entry drawn in each Draw
will win 100,000 Qantas Frequent Flyer points. Maximum total
nominal prize value is A$6,400. The Draws for each Draw
Period will take place at 4pm on 01/06/05, 01/09/05, 01/12/05
and 28/02/06 at 15 Grosvenor Street, Neutral Bay, NSW 2089.
The winners will be notified by mail and their names
published in The Australian on 10/06/05, 09/09/05, 09/12/05
and 19/03/06 respectively. Authorised under NSW Permit No.
TPL05/01926, Vic Permit No. 05/553, SA Licence No. T05/747,
ACT TP05/0740, NT05/602.
## Each voucher is redeemable for one piece of Netball
Australia merchandise only, at the official merchandise
outlet of Netball Australia at the venue on 29 June 2005 (to
a maximum value of $50). No change or credit provided for any
unused value. A payment can be made when selecting
merchandise valued at more than $50. Vouchers cannot be
combined with other vouchers towards an item costing more
than $50. Merchandise choice subject to availability. Voucher
cannot be used at the conclusion of the event.
~~~ Plus $5.50 transaction fee per booking.
~~~~~ You can only book Award seats on Jetstar services with
a ‘QF’ flight number QF5000 – QF5995.

Kamber Dede

On Sunday I met Kamber dede (Father’s Father) my friend Orhan’s grandfather. Kamber dede usually resides in Adana although, recently, due to poor health, he has stayed with Orhan’s family in Mersin.

Kamber dede is 83 years old, making him one of the last people born in the Ottoman Empire, prior to the formation of the Turkish Republic in 1923.

Kamber dede’s daughter’s grandchild is 23 (older than Orhan, his grandchild) and will probably become a parent in the next few years. If Kamber dede is still alive then, he will have the opportunity to see his grandchild’s grandchild. How many people have that opportunity?

I wish Kamber dede the best of health!

UPDATE (2007-07-24): Sadly, but not before time, Kamber Dede passed away earlier this month. Basina sagolsun!

New Feature: Ataturk Picture Of The Week

Inspired by Jeff, each week from now on I’ll have an “Ataturk Picture Of The Week”.

Even though he died several decades ago, the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is loved and adored in Turkey. There are statues and pictures of him everywhere.

The following picture is from my friend, Orhan’s calendar. The 2005 Turkish Notary Association calendar has a different picture of Ataturk for every month.

May’s picture features Ataturk (second row, third from left) with the teachers and students of Ankara Girl’s High School after their final examination on 24 June 1933.

19 May is in red as the day is an official public holiday called National Youth and Sports Day. Although it is a holiday, most private businesses will remain open.

National Youth and Sports Day

During breakfast this morning, Dragos and I heard the sound of a marching band approaching. The band lead a long parade of youth celebrating Turkey’s National Youth and Sports Day.

The actual day is 19 May (Thursday). The council must have sensibly decided to hold the march today to minimise traffic disruptions.

It was on 19 May, 1919 when Ataturk arrived in Samsun (northern Turkey) during the war of independence.

The band:

Flag carriers:

Young martial arts participants with their mothers walking on each side: