New Favorite

Holy smokes! I just noticed that I haven't added a blog entry here in a year! Very long time indeed. The reason is simple—I've been heavily invested in my new job.

Ironically, I started on the very day the market imploded. Over the following months, with millions losing their jobs, I was naturally working harder than normal to hang onto what I had.

I've also been gaining skills for growing vegetables and looking at small scale farming, among other skills. Yes, with things looking grim, I'm looking at how to live off the land. Besides, these are good skills to possess even in the best of times. I love being outside and shaping the land to suit my purposes.

Meanwhile, my interest in Turkish has not waned. In fact, I regard it as a practical skill to add to my "toolbelt"—e.g., who knows, I may end up in Turkey to make do if the dollar collapses.

That said, I've added this site—http://turkish.pgeorgalas.gr/indexEn.htm to my favorites. Thanks go to Jenny Lewis for bringing it to my attention.

www.exploreturkish.com has closed

A visitor posted a comment to let me know that www.exploreturkish.com has closed.

If it has moved to a new location, no information to that end is available in the advertising that now appears in its place. If anyone has any information on its fate, please post a comment and let me know.

In any event, I've removed the ExploreTurkish link from my links (on left side of this page). Sigh.

Update 11/06/08

Victoria asked in a comment to my Manisa Turkish post if I will be posting any more. Yes, I will continue. And I apologize for the long dry spell in my posts.

The reason for the dry spell is that I have been happily focussed on a new job. At the same time, my residence has been in happy flux. Now, I'm finally nearing the point where I can get back into some kind of steady routine.

During this long process, I've been doing two things related to my ever intensifying interest in Turkey.

• Finished reading Andrew Mango's biography of Atatürk
• Listening to Pimsleur's Turkish language tapes on my way to and from work

I stopped writing (for now) in my blog about what I was learning in Mr. Mango's (or Andrew Bey's, to use the Turkish form) biography of Atatürk because of time constraints, especially since so much to me was both new and fascinating.

Contributing to my time constraints has been a much longer commute to work. However, I've been using that to my advantage. Specifically, this is where the Pimsleur tapes come in. Since the road has me, in effect, as a captive audience, I'm making the most of it—listening and repeating the Turkish phrases of each lesson.

Initially, I felt a bit robotic, listening and repeating and replaying entire lessons as needed. However, I've been making a point of stopping the tapes at times and testing myself—e.g., asking myself what's the difference between "what would you like to eat?" and "would you like something to eat?" in terms of how it's said in Turkish. In this sense, my listening skills a being seriously challenged, which I welcome.

Of course, at the same time, I'm being very careful not to get myself killed on the highway! Hmm, perhaps I should learn to swear in Turkish. With that thought, I found Allah kahretsin or simply kahretsin (both of which apparently mean "Damn!") at my favorite online Turkish-English dictionary. I need to start bellowing out such words more when I get cut off. Apart from being good practice, it may also keep me out of trouble when English speakers overhear me. ;^)

On all this, I must thank and commend my Egyptian visitor, moro85, for his/her comment to my Turkish grammar on the web post. So, you're Egyptian and have learned some English and now wish to learn Turkish too? Wow. Go for it!

As far as tips, I can only offer what I've already posted here so far. Personally, I've been enjoying the Pimsleur tapes (really CDs, but you know what I mean). My goal is to be able to speak Turkish intelligibly as well as understand my Turkish hosts and I find Pimsleur very practical when you are pressed for time. And popping my Pimsleur CD into my car stero during drive time is an ideal time for me to practice and talk to myself [I'm quite a good listener, if I say so myself :^) ].

Manisa Turkish

A friendly visitor (thank you! teşekkür ederim!) commented on one of my blog entries, referencing this site as another online resource to check out. After a short review, I like what I see enough to add it to my blog's favorite links (look to your left under the picture of Turkey's flag.

Scroll down the home page to learn a little about Manisa.

The importance of independent thought

Andrew Mango's exhaustive review of the events leading to the establishment of modern Turkey makes clear why its capital ended up in Ankara, far from Istanbul. In the post World War I era, it was hard (poor roads) and dangerous (bandits) to get to. Istanbul was occupied by the Allies.

With hundreds of years of Ottoman roots planted in Istanbul, it's understandable why Atatürk would want to make some other city the new seat of government even after independence was one. It was an effective way of marking the start of a new era.

Speaking of independence, Atatürk said in a speech in Ankara 1920 "that while one had to work form the roots upwards to build a solid organization, at the start one had no choice but to work from the top downwards, since until individuals had learnt to think for themselves, masses could be manipulated."

Quite true.

A National Secret

I'm taking a break from the tedious work of tiling a closet. Technically, this kind of tiling—peel and stick—is easy. However...the closet is not a perfect square or rectangle. Plus, the threshold from the living room threw off my line of attack, forcing an additional set of cut tiles to fit neatly along the wall. Then there was the chore of cutting pieces to fit around a hot water tank.

All that in a tight, cramped space. It made me feel better about the good money I paid professionals to tile my kitchen and bathroom. Well worth it!

Anyway, on to my topic tonight.

Andrew Bey reports...

Mustafa Kemal said in 1927 that it was immediately clear to him that the monarchy would be the relentless enemy of the national will. But to spell out the...inevitability of a republic...would frighten people who found the prospect contrary to their traditions, their mental capacity and their mentality. In order to preserve unity in the struggle for independence, Mustafa Kemal was obliged to keep to himself as 'a national secret the great capacity for development which I discerned in the nation's conscience and future.'

The philosopher-king idea and its problems come to mind. The report continues...

In a conversation which occupied the night of 7/8 July (1919), Mustafa Kema is said to have allowed Mazah Müfit to note down five long-term objectives:

• the proclamation of a republic
• 'appropriate treament' of the dynasty
• abolition of Islamic dress for women
• and a ban on wearing of the fez by men,
• and the introduction of the Latin alphabet

Personally, I appreciate the last item. At the same time, I look forward to learning about what must have been a tumultuous period while the nation's language was changed!

Mobilizing Resistance

In 1919, Mustafa Kemal faced a number of obstacles to building resistance. At the same time, he also had some opportune factors. Andrew Bey reports...

The army had a cadre of patriotic officers ready to defend the country. But although they were united by a common ideal, they were divided by personal and professional jealousies. The forces at their disposal were woefully weak and ill-equipped. What is more, officers were conditioned to obey orders, ultimately from Istanbul. Fortunately, the general staff was sympathetic to the national cause. Fortunately also, the best officers had developed a spirit of initiative, first in the revolutionary struggle against Abdülhamit and then in foreign wars. The civil service too did not lack patriotic officials, but initiative had been sapped out of them. To survive, they had to lie low and do as they were told.

There is much more to the report, of course. I highlight this passage because the part about initiative being sapped out of a group of people, of lying low and doing as they're told echoes what I see too often in the modern American workplace. It takes a special effort to maintain a spirit of initiative, to stand up to the forces that seek to stifle that spirit. It's difficult but well worth the effort.

Now, that's on the tiny scale of my particular career experience. When I pause to think about it on the historic scale of Mustafa Kemal's effort for Turkey, I am in awe.