Life Lately

Many of our days are spent communicating with people in our 2nd language (Turkish). I'm not gonna lie, a lot gets lost in translation. What's even more difficult, however, is when we're communicating with friends in our 2nd language and it's also their 2nd language (or in the case of many Europeans 3rd, or 4th, or 5th). A couple weekends ago we got an invite to a wedding from our Russian/Vietnemese friend who was marrying an Iranian woman. Zach did all the communicating and all I was told was that we had to be at a certain restaurant at 9pm on a Friday night. As we drove to the restaurant that night our conversation went like this: 

Me: "So they're getting married at the restaurant?" 

Zach: "I don't know exactly what is happening."

Me: "Is it going to be a big party?"

Zach: "I have no idea. I'm just doing what Dimitri (the groom) told me to do."

So, we showed up at the restaurant at 9pm (like typical time-driven Americans). No one else from our party was there. After about a 15 min. wait, the groom, the bride, and four other friends showed up. That was the entire wedding celebration. Turns out, they had already gotten married earlier that day (by someone like the Justice of the Peace), and were ready to celebrate. The nine of us conversed in Russian (not us), English, and Turkish throughout the night. Despite much being lost in translation we had a nice (kid-free) time and were out later than we had been in a long time! 

What else have we been up to?

Praise and worship on the terrace 

Little brother's turn

Hiking through a very man-made forest

Torturing turtles while leaving little brother stuck in a backpack

One advantage that we have to living in the capitol city is access to the programs that the American military base offers to expats (soccer and basketball leagues, boy and girl scouts, etc.). Eli is finally old enough to play in the soccer league this year. He is very excited about it. Zach might possibly be more excited about it. Today we headed out to "soccer camp."

paying close attention to the coach