Life

Photos: 1.) Group L-R, Emrah, Jim, Cengiz, Ange, Murat, me.  2.) Ange and Cengiz 3.) Me and Leen 4.) Emrah and Galip 



Since it has been a week, I thought it may be time to write another update and post some photos of my friends.  The problem is that life here is pretty simple, and everyday is similar.  It's like living the the movie Groundhog's Day, where Bill Murray wakes up every morning to the same day all over again.  Since i went to Abant last weekend, I have had many hockey practices, two games, and a birthday celebration.  

First, practices.   My girls team has ice three times a week, and two weeks ago I coached two of those practices, yet this last week, I only got to do one practice.  Too bad, since the girls like my practices better, as they at least learn something and skate a lot.  But one is better than none, and we played better in the game the day after my practice, as they are slowly understanding a bit more about hockey.  Last week I also practiced twice with my men's team, which even though it's horrible hockey, allows me to skate fast and work hard.  Then, last Friday night, I went to another men's team ice time, but it was at 1:30am, so it was just me and a bunch of the best men's players, who are my buddies, and we just played pick up hockey til 3:30am!  Its hard to get a nights sleep here anyways, so why not just play hockey all night?!

Last weekend we had a game against a weak team, and won 18-1.  This Saturday, we played another weak team, and won 12-0.  So far this season, our team has played 7 games, and we have scored an obscene 100 goals!  The people here still don't understand that good hockey is not just about how may goals are scored.  Our next game night be this next weekend, but that is not for sure as it is a make-up game, and still needs to be approved.  If we play, it will be against the next best team in our league, the team that won the championship last season.  There has been ton of talk about who will win, even bets made, etc..  I am pretty confident that my team will win, but who knows. 

So on to life outside of hockey... Well, kind of life outside of hockey, since all of my friends are hockey players.  We often hang out at the ice rink, if someone has practice or a game.  Saturday night, my team had a game, and then there was a men's league game, and so we all went out afterwards.  It's always fun and the guys are really good company.  Most of them speak a lot of english, and the guys that don't speak much try, or else they are good to try to talk to for me to practice my Turkish.  Sunday night, we went out after a game to celebrate Angelique's birthday.  It was the same old group of friends.  Me, Leen the Estonian, Angelique the Kiwi, her Turkish boyfriend Cengiz, Jim the Canadian, and Emrah, Burc, Galip, Baris, and Murat, the Turkish guys.  We went to the bar called 'Last Stop', where we have been regulars lately, to have some beers and stayed until they kicked us out at 3am.  It was a fun but long weekend, as going to bed at 6am leads to sleeping until 3pm, as i did today!

This week will be more of the same, but i will try to get back into more of a regular schedule.  I have to sleep more and feel good, in case we have to play the big game on Saturday.  Also, I hope to move to a different apartment at the end of this week!  The one bedroom apartment I currently live in is just too small for two people...