Week 24 - Summer is winding down in Turkey

 Edited BY


G P Kennedy


Gul - Istanbul, Turkey

INDIAN SUMMER

 Indian Summer here we go. The days are a little windy but the sea water is still warm enough to swim. However, some evenings are too cool to sit outside and in some homes the shutters are already closed.

 

 The daily temperature is 30s (90s F) but nights in the 20s (68 F). We picked up some silverberries/autumn -berries this afternoon.  It’s fig season as well. We’ve put some figs to dry up to make some pestils (dried fruit purees) the first time in our lives. Turkish people always evaluate what the season brings.



We’ve been here for more than 3 months now and we hope we will have a chance for two more months if we’re lucky. Then Istanbul, we’ll be stuck in our apartment till when - we don’t know. Some of our neighbors have decided to stay here during the winter as well, they will use wood stoves to warm up.

 

FEAR, FEAR, FEAR

 Many of us just want life to go back to the way it was when could freely visit and socialise with friends & family and enjoy our lives without any fear. The other day, we invited our neighbors to an afternoon tea. There were eight people in our garden that felt very crowded. I’m sure we all had the fear of infecting or being infected in our minds. Not being feel guilty for a normal human behaviour is not going to happen soon.



ALARM BELLS

 My country is starting to struggle with rising COVID -19 cases, alarm bells ringing again. The Turkish economy continues to take a hit too. Official daily cases are reported as 1600s, and daily death rate as 60s. We don’t even look at the numbers any more, we know there are many more. The virus is everywhere and the circle is narrowing.

 

 We hear that cases are now close to us. And, blame culture is on. People are blamed for being too relaxed while they have to go to work and use crowded public transport. Nobody in government ever accepts any responsibility for anything at all. Thousands of sick people were found to be wandering outside. To avoid this, if people with positive test result do not quarantine at home, they will be quarantined in student dormitories and they will cover the cost themselves.

 

 Some stupid decisions are also made by the authorities. For example, people who didn’t wear facemasks in Sakarya province are not only fined and quarantined but they have been obliged to read 10 books. It’s sad that they see reading as a punishment.

 

 All public gatherings both indoors and outdoors are banned, including concerts, plays, fairs, and festivals. I feel sorry for the entertainment industry as the sector is now struggling to get by as they find themselves with no income. Our social media profile is all red to stand in solidarity with the music and entertainment industry.

 

 The academic year is starting soon but universities are opening with distance learning only.  Schools are supposed to be open on 21st Sept just for Year 1 once a week then they’ll decide what to do next.


It’s been a great week for us. Hope that your week has been well too. Stay safe and take care!

 

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