1. The kindness of a complete stranger - The other day I was at the market with Noah. We went by car because we stopped there after dropping Eli off from school. As we exited the store I held Noah with one arm and two bags of groceries with the other. Just as we were approaching the car, a covered woman (the term "covered" refers to a woman who adheres to the Islamic dress code) approached me and asked me if she could help me get home with my son and groceries. Since most people walk to the store, she assumed that I was also walking. Wow. I was struck by her kindness and her lack of bias, as she, a covered woman, was going to help me, a stranger and non-covered woman, get all the way to my house with my things.
2. The kindness of neighbors -
A.) There is a retired gentleman in our building who's apartment faces the building's parking area. We often joke about his nosiness because he keeps track of everyone's coming and going. But, you know what? Almost every time I pull up to the lot with two kids and the "stuff" (bags, trash, toys, etc.) that comes along with them, he hangs his head out the window and asks if he can come down and help me carry things.
B.) We took plates of Christmas cookies around to many of our neighbors. Of course, going along with Turkish culture, that meant that we stayed for a visit, and then we expected an unannounced visit from them several days later along with food that they had put back on our plate and returned to us. When one family came for a visit they brought our children a Christmas gift. Their kindness struck me as they didn't even know when Christmas was (until we brought cookies- Christmas isn't celebrated here), nor did they really understand what happens at Christmas. They were simply trying to do something according to our culture to make our celebration even better.
3. While I don't think this culture, as a whole, does a good job of catering to mothers, with infants, who want to get out and about (good luck finding a changing table in any restroom, big strollers can't fit in most elevators, and highchairs are only now becoming more available) every once in awhile we find a gem of a place. The other night we went for a "goodbye dinner" with some Turkish friends who are moving to Paris. We went to a nice restaurant; the kind that has table cloths and wine glasses for water. In the corner of the restaurant they have a glassed in playroom with slides, tables for coloring, playhouse, etc. It's glassed in so you can see the kids, but you can't hear them. But here's the best part: There is a babysitter in there! A nice adult, Turkish woman (in a uniform) who stays with the kids for no charge. Is that not brilliant?
And here are a couple recent pictures of the other "little things" that make me feel so blessed:
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| crazy boys |
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| Always eating snow |
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| A newly built catapult |
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| A baby who never stops moving |
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| Father and son |
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