I SAY THAT BECAUSE I AM YOUNG

i will never be a fan of turkish pop, i am afraid. to me it all sounds the same. and the music videos? oh well, if the singer is a guy - the scene is always the same. his beardy, manly face appears in between two women (both with super long hair, both dressed up to the nines) fiercely fighting to get him. he turns his face to the left, he turns his face to the right...with the pained expression of somebody experiencing extreme sea sickness. and somehow never manages to make up his mind.

it seems that the only up to date (and actually nice) international music is played in the "all american" outlets like gap, starbucks or burger king. i was recently almost moved to tears when i overheard "watching the wheels" by john lennon coming from one store. however -- starbucks did fail me yesterday. "frosty the snowman" - was the poor (seasonal!) musical choice...and (in line with the despair xmas prompts me) i could not help but cringe and duck my head down.

some of my students quotes kind of stick with me. two from last week are:

1. (one guy in one essay): "i think that the women who work are only those who lack self esteem. only women who do not have enough self esteem NEED to work. i also think that women, if they work...they should only decide to do USEFUL jobs. like doctor or teacher".

2. "my teacher, sometimes i feel I LOVE YOU ALL OF A SUDDEN..." a girl in one of my weekend classes said, enthusiastically.

so i kind of try to reply... "...right, i might get embaressed here..."

and she concluded "you should not. nothing to worry. i say that because i am young, you know".

(genius!)

listening to people

1. THE ONLY FOREIGN FOOD I HAVE TRIED IS CHOCOLATE. FROM SWITZERLAND.

2. I LOVE CHEESECAKE. MY FRIEND SAYS IT IS FROM FRANCE.

3."My father used to say LOVE MANY. TRUST FEW. PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE"

4. The expression "to look forward to something" gets translated in turkish as "TO WAIT WITH FOUR EYES".

5. THE OLYMPIC GAMES ARE A BAD IDEA. INTERNATIONAL EVENTS CREATE A LOT OF TRAFFIC.

6. THEY REJECTED MY VISA APPLICATION TO GO TO THE STATES BECAUSE THEY SAY I AM YOUNG AND IF I GO THERE I WILL NEVER COME BACK. AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY VERY RIGHT.

7. MY SISTER IS VERY OLD. SHE IS ALREADY 34.

8. CHINESE FOOD IS VERY TERRIBLE. AND FULL OF THAT GREEN WASABI SPICY THING.

9. I THINK HERE WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST ANY COUNTRY. PEOPLE HERE ARE GOOD AND WARM. BUT I HATE ISRAEL.

10. AMERICAN MOVIES USE VERY STRANGE SENSE OF HUMOUR. THEY JOKE ABOUT RACE; APPEARANCE AND MAYBE SEX. IT IS ALWAYS THE SAME. NOT FUNNY.

11. I WANT TO RETIRE WHEN I AM FIFTY OR SO. SO I WILL ENJOY MY GRANDCHILDREN.

12. I LOVE TO TRAVEL. BUT MY FATHER IS JEALOUS - SO I NEVER GO.

13. OUR DRIVING TEST IS EASY. THEY TAKE YOU TO AN EMPTY ROAD AND TELL YOU "GO STRAIGHT".

14. THIS WEEK I HAVE MANY EXAMS. I STUDY ALL DAY. WHEN I HAVE FREE TIME I JUST SQUEEZE MY PIMPLES.

15. I COME FROM THE BLACK SEA. PEOPLE THERE LOVE GUNS AND USE THEM A LOT. THEY LOVE TOURISTS. BUT THEY DO NOT LIKE FOREIGN PEOPLE WHO VISIT TO STAY.