Ankara

  • Goodbye Ankara, but hello Istanbul, or Constantinople?

    Goodbye Ankara, but hello Istanbul, or Constantinople?

    After an amazing farewell Turkish dinner with Elia, this morning we got up, packed our luggage, cleaned our apartment and took a cab to the huge Ankara train station.  After going through security, we had a nice cup of coffee and a muffin, and made our way to the express…

  • Living in Ankara

    Living in Ankara

    As we planned this grand adventure there were several things going through my mind.  The overarching rationale was to train teachers and guest conduct music festivals in schools and regions that often lack the type of musical and educational opportunities more easily accessible in the United States.  However, we also…

  • We Are Teaching Kids!

    We Are Teaching Kids!

    The reason we have been in Ankara is to help a young high school band/orchestra teacher transition into her requirement to teach Choir, General Music, and Pre-K on top of her high school work.  I guess life in foreign schools is no different than the music education world in the…

  • Freedom of the Press; National Monuments; Ancient History

    Freedom of the Press; National Monuments; Ancient History

    It seems bizarre, but the two-hour time difference between Munich and Ankara seems worse than longer time differences I have experienced.  We did not get going until late and the day’s planning was also affected by the fact that I have to be back to the apartment and ready for…

  • Turkey – Is that Asia?

    Turkey – Is that Asia?

    Today, after about a month of traveling, we finally get on an airplane! Since January 2nd it has only been Uber, Trains, Boats, and Busses. We leave Munich and head for Istanbul and finally Ankara, Turkey! Home to the school for American Military children as well as the children of…