Current events from the country we love

Thanks to Facebook, and the a few Global News podcasts, we have been alerted to the chaos in Turkey. Don't be alarmed.  The reason we found out through social media sights is because we are so far removed from the "action" that we had no way of knowing.  Thank you for your concern, though. 

If I was really cool I would figure out how to add arrows, but I'm not.  See Antalya? It's pale blue and its at the bottom left.  That's where we live.  See Van?  It's yellow, on the east.   That's where the Earthquake hit. See Hakkari? Right below Van? That's where the terrorist attacks were.

Only days away from Cumhuriet (Turkish Republic Day: October 29th), Kurban Bayram (the sacrifice holiday), and the much honored Atatürk Death Day commemoration, Turkey has been struck with some devastating events.

Last week a series of attacks in the Eastern side of Turkey's Hakkari's Çukurca district killed 24 Turkish soldiers.  The group responsible is the illegal terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).  The U.S. is giving this more press than it usually would because it happened near the border of Iraq right around the same time Obama decided to bring troops home.  I don't think the two have anything to do with each other, but it makes good news I guess. I wont pretend to know anywhere near enough about Kurdish/Turkish relations, but I do know that while enemy groups are in constant battle in the far East, Turkish and Kurdish people live happily among each other here in Alanya.  To avoid making an ass of myself, I'll link to the always true Wikipedia to give you some history, rather than trying to tell you what I've learned myself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurds_in_Turkey

This patriotic picture is of one of many anti-terrorism protests held around Turkey on Sunday.

Sunday afternoon a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the eastern provence of Van.  The death toll currently hovers around 300, with estimates as high as 1000.  One of our partner schools collapsed; luckily Sunday is the only day in Turkey where students and teachers don't attend school.  Many of the teachers we work with found out today that their friends have died. It was a tearful and somber day.  I've just never figured out the right words to express sorrow to someone dealing with the loss of a loved one. The Aljazeera article I've linked to may give you some more information.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/10/20111024103643494261.html

Baçh

eşehir Koleji: Van

We are safe. Our home is intact. Our food is plentiful. The children at our school are happy and healthy.  And our Turkish friends are all alive.  Unfortunately not everyone is as lucky.  Whoever you pray to, if you feel comfortable praying send some in the direction of Turkey.  Perhaps if you spread them wide enough they may hit the people in Libya and Iraq that need them too.  If you're not a prayer, we could always use your good thoughts.

Thank you friends.