I find out yesterday the Izmir plan fell through. Instead there is talk now of leaving tomorrow, Saturday, to another beach place ~2 hours from here. By now I don't know what to think. Whatever happens, happens.
Yesterday we visited the Bayer factory in a section of Instanbul called Capa. We are invited by Pelin, a student who is on intern there. It's a typical factory. We have a presentation on the overview of all operations followed by a tour and then complimentary lunch.
During the presentation I'm interested to hear there are very little positions, which we were told about, actually held by pharmacists or had to do with pharmacy. I think the positions that did have to do with a pharmacy education were with marketing and product development. The building is big. There are many spacious offices and meeting rooms connected through hallways to the operations areas. Bayer is a German company and we learn, at this particular plant the common medicines produced are - among others - aspirin, cough/cold syrups, and hormone-products like birth control.
As we move from the presentation to the tour... the more I can tell that industrial pharmacy is not for me. After being there I have to say, and this is my opinion, but I just think the pharmacist doesn't belong much in the factory. They have plenty of business people, marketing, and engineers to do the job they need. In fact most, if not all, were chemical engineers. Certainly it's not a place most of us should be if we wish to develop the scope of the profession. It's not a place of influence for pharmacists. Much more so engineers.
But whatever my thoughts I had a great time experiencing this place, met the chief of operations - a nice man - and more friends/interns. Before today I had no idea how a factory goes about producing the medicines we dispense for granted everyday.
It's almost lunchtime. Erdem has promised to find me a place, with a friend, specializing in organ meats and I will hold him to it.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday 8/12
Today Erdem asks me a favor.
He has only asked a few since I've been here and they have all been menial and random even though he says it as if he wants my firstborn child.
"Mike", he says, "I have a favor to ask of you... I notice this gold button on your coat of the American Pharmacists... and I wish to have it."
A small token to represent volumes. I am happy to oblige.
Tonight I find out the plan to go to Izmir, to stay at one of the student's summer house.
I'm conflicted about this. All I hear about is how beautiful it is, a good time, and relaxing etc etc. But there's a couple of things that don't sit well with me. I only find out about this second-hand from a friend of a friend of the student - and she's not even going. In fact she only mentioned the plan in an off-handed manner, by the way, we are to leave Friday morning. What's more is this is over a 6 hour drive with the student's brothers, people I don't even know.
Earlier in the week, Tuesday, I had made plans with Erdem to go out Friday. I've taken a liking to his friends and we always have fun going out.
On top of that this is the last week I will see the guys ('the guys' hereon in will simply refer to the guys at the dorm). By now we have become as close friends as anyone I've met since I have been here.
Even though this was brought up this past Sunday when we went to the Asian side I am put off by the fact that there was no invitation from either the student who has the house or the student coordinator Sheyma.
I've come to find Istanbul pharmacy students may not be the best of planners.
In short, all of this is adding up to bad timing. As much as I'm crazy about the beach - and not just the beach, the aegean sea! - I've come to the conclusion that I want to spend my final days here with the people who have mattered to me most. That makes sense.
Erdem has plans to start a facebook group of pharmacists and pharmacy students from different countries to share information. I have to think it's already been done before but, why not? It's a great idea.
Need to get lokum (Turkish Delight), halva, apricots, for back home. Maybe chocolates but they melt.
I wonder sometimes if someone else had had the same opportunity here would they make for a better experience.
Would they have seen more? done more? met different people?
Ultimately I think this question doesn't matter. What matters is, of the time you were given, did you make it personal? Did you take in the people, places, environment, sounds into your consciousness and make them a part of yourself?
He has only asked a few since I've been here and they have all been menial and random even though he says it as if he wants my firstborn child.
"Mike", he says, "I have a favor to ask of you... I notice this gold button on your coat of the American Pharmacists... and I wish to have it."
A small token to represent volumes. I am happy to oblige.
Tonight I find out the plan to go to Izmir, to stay at one of the student's summer house.
I'm conflicted about this. All I hear about is how beautiful it is, a good time, and relaxing etc etc. But there's a couple of things that don't sit well with me. I only find out about this second-hand from a friend of a friend of the student - and she's not even going. In fact she only mentioned the plan in an off-handed manner, by the way, we are to leave Friday morning. What's more is this is over a 6 hour drive with the student's brothers, people I don't even know.
Earlier in the week, Tuesday, I had made plans with Erdem to go out Friday. I've taken a liking to his friends and we always have fun going out.
On top of that this is the last week I will see the guys ('the guys' hereon in will simply refer to the guys at the dorm). By now we have become as close friends as anyone I've met since I have been here.
Even though this was brought up this past Sunday when we went to the Asian side I am put off by the fact that there was no invitation from either the student who has the house or the student coordinator Sheyma.
I've come to find Istanbul pharmacy students may not be the best of planners.
In short, all of this is adding up to bad timing. As much as I'm crazy about the beach - and not just the beach, the aegean sea! - I've come to the conclusion that I want to spend my final days here with the people who have mattered to me most. That makes sense.
Erdem has plans to start a facebook group of pharmacists and pharmacy students from different countries to share information. I have to think it's already been done before but, why not? It's a great idea.
Need to get lokum (Turkish Delight), halva, apricots, for back home. Maybe chocolates but they melt.
I wonder sometimes if someone else had had the same opportunity here would they make for a better experience.
Would they have seen more? done more? met different people?
Ultimately I think this question doesn't matter. What matters is, of the time you were given, did you make it personal? Did you take in the people, places, environment, sounds into your consciousness and make them a part of yourself?
Wednesday 8/11, continued
Today I think to purchase the little bulbous tea glasses - those same glasses I've drank from on countless occasions during my stay - to bring home as mementos but then I wonder if it would be the same. I think this touches nicely on the idea of what's culturally appropriate.
Not to mention I'd love to bring back a nargile pipe but who am I kidding?
Maybe (maybe) by the time I'm 40 I could finally afford a house with a smoking room, but then how would I maintain such a device? Who would I share it with?
Some things you need to appreciate in the time and space meant for them.
Would I ever sit down one morning someday a month from now with a cup of Turkish tea and reflect back on the times I've had - remembering the intense heat, the bustling streets, the old gray and pastel buildings, Erdem's daily anecdotes?
Maybe.
But I know the reality is this entire experience I've created is complete to the time and space I make of it. When I leaves, it leaves with me. The rest are memories, gifts, photos, the act of recall. I'm happy with that.
Not to mention I'd love to bring back a nargile pipe but who am I kidding?
Maybe (maybe) by the time I'm 40 I could finally afford a house with a smoking room, but then how would I maintain such a device? Who would I share it with?
Some things you need to appreciate in the time and space meant for them.
Would I ever sit down one morning someday a month from now with a cup of Turkish tea and reflect back on the times I've had - remembering the intense heat, the bustling streets, the old gray and pastel buildings, Erdem's daily anecdotes?
Maybe.
But I know the reality is this entire experience I've created is complete to the time and space I make of it. When I leaves, it leaves with me. The rest are memories, gifts, photos, the act of recall. I'm happy with that.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wednesday 8/11
Last night me and the guys go out for Çiğ köfte. I defer to Wikipedia to help us with this one... "is a raw meat dish in Turkish, very similar to kibbeh nayyeh and to a lesser extent to steak tartare." I would add to that it being ground to a mush, with spices, so you can shape it like dough. It was served beside a plate of lettuce and parsely. Wrap the köfte in a sheath of lettuce, add a few sprigs of parsely, drizzle with lemon, and dip in a chili sauce.
I insist to try a cow brain salad once before I leave, something fairly common but you have to know where to find it.
A few ideas are getting kicked around for the weekend, I think the theme being to get to a beach. One is travel to a student's summer home. The other: There is a small island called Avsa about 4 hours away, where Erdem has offered to coordinate my stay if I wish.
After today I think I will have a better idea how this will play out.
No matter what happens I am ready for a good time and to make the most of it, that much is clear.
I ask Erdem about vacation time. This year he has none. In previous years he will take maybe a few weeks with Mustafa in control while he is away. But I get the feeling it is more a personal choice depending on how the business is performing. Right now he is in the middle of negotiations with the property manager, the possibility of re-locating, finances, etc.
Ramadan has begun. There are mixed feelings on this. Obviously, there are plenty of followers who practice the tradition of fasting, 4 in the morning to 8 at night. These people take it very seriously. For the guys at my dorm it is as if it's a personal challenge like pride, almost like a cool thing to do. When I ask Erdem he kind of sighs. His view is certainly non-religious but what I find interesting, during this time, are the social vices he mentions - increasing cases of heartburn, diabetes complications, fainting, increased hospitalizations, and decreased productivity.
As I have seen time and again , with a lot of things in Istanubl, there is always this bittersweet discord between the old and the new.
More than a few people have asked me if I will "take part" in the practice and with all respect, for the record, I have no intention to go without eating for 16 hours.
That being said, you can imagine I am very interested to see just what the food is like after a day of not eating. I hear it is somehow different and there is the occasion of a feast involved, which is always exciting to me.
The blog is nearing its final stages... I do hope people have found it both informational and entertaining. It has been more than my pleasure to share with everyone, hopefully some good stories coming to end with, keep posted!
I insist to try a cow brain salad once before I leave, something fairly common but you have to know where to find it.
A few ideas are getting kicked around for the weekend, I think the theme being to get to a beach. One is travel to a student's summer home. The other: There is a small island called Avsa about 4 hours away, where Erdem has offered to coordinate my stay if I wish.
After today I think I will have a better idea how this will play out.
No matter what happens I am ready for a good time and to make the most of it, that much is clear.
I ask Erdem about vacation time. This year he has none. In previous years he will take maybe a few weeks with Mustafa in control while he is away. But I get the feeling it is more a personal choice depending on how the business is performing. Right now he is in the middle of negotiations with the property manager, the possibility of re-locating, finances, etc.
Ramadan has begun. There are mixed feelings on this. Obviously, there are plenty of followers who practice the tradition of fasting, 4 in the morning to 8 at night. These people take it very seriously. For the guys at my dorm it is as if it's a personal challenge like pride, almost like a cool thing to do. When I ask Erdem he kind of sighs. His view is certainly non-religious but what I find interesting, during this time, are the social vices he mentions - increasing cases of heartburn, diabetes complications, fainting, increased hospitalizations, and decreased productivity.
As I have seen time and again , with a lot of things in Istanubl, there is always this bittersweet discord between the old and the new.
More than a few people have asked me if I will "take part" in the practice and with all respect, for the record, I have no intention to go without eating for 16 hours.
That being said, you can imagine I am very interested to see just what the food is like after a day of not eating. I hear it is somehow different and there is the occasion of a feast involved, which is always exciting to me.
The blog is nearing its final stages... I do hope people have found it both informational and entertaining. It has been more than my pleasure to share with everyone, hopefully some good stories coming to end with, keep posted!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tuesday 8/10
This morning I go to plug in the iron and the power goes out in the entire floor.
In disbelief I reset the electrical breakers (the box is open) and try again only to find my suspicion confirmed. This unassuming iron is enough to wipe out the entire electricity on our floor - how that's possible I have no idea. A minute later one of the attendants comes up, lectures me in Turkish, and calmly takes the iron. We go to the room where the guys are so they can translate but it's pretty much what I had guessed - by some mechanism it uses too much wattage.
The funny thing is I have been using it all this time and only now there is a problem.
The showers on our floor are missing faucets and there's no hot water so everyone is re-directed to the second floor. There is a line of at least 5 guys reading newspapers.
I came in to the pharmacy yesterday about 10:30 am and Erdem is asleep on the back couch. He had been visiting his cousin in their summer home for the weekend.
Now that I think of it I'm not so sure he has what we think of as "vacation time". I will have to ask... When he awakes I can tell from his voice he is tired. I leave early that day, about 4, and meet up with Pelin and Serkan at a restaurant. The students are gathered there, 8 all together, having a meeting of sorts which has to do with IPSF (international pharmaceutical students federation) and SEP (student exchange program) issues. It's all in Turkish so I don't understand but later Serkan tells me another group in Turkey wants to assume responsibilities of the SEP program and there is some debate on the direction it will go - something along those lines. Just like our APhA organization back home, they also talk about the outlook of funding and activities.
Afterward, I'm tired but we agree to go out for 1 beer. I have been running a fever in the past 3 days. Nothing too serious. It's more bothersome the idea that of any time in the year this has to happen now but it's getting better I think.
A couple of friends have burned me traditional Turkish music. I like the rhythm.
Downstairs in the study where I prepare the blog it's quiet except for the swooshing sound of running water in the exposed domestic pipes. I keep thinking there must be rain outside. It relaxes me.
In disbelief I reset the electrical breakers (the box is open) and try again only to find my suspicion confirmed. This unassuming iron is enough to wipe out the entire electricity on our floor - how that's possible I have no idea. A minute later one of the attendants comes up, lectures me in Turkish, and calmly takes the iron. We go to the room where the guys are so they can translate but it's pretty much what I had guessed - by some mechanism it uses too much wattage.
The funny thing is I have been using it all this time and only now there is a problem.
The showers on our floor are missing faucets and there's no hot water so everyone is re-directed to the second floor. There is a line of at least 5 guys reading newspapers.
I came in to the pharmacy yesterday about 10:30 am and Erdem is asleep on the back couch. He had been visiting his cousin in their summer home for the weekend.
Now that I think of it I'm not so sure he has what we think of as "vacation time". I will have to ask... When he awakes I can tell from his voice he is tired. I leave early that day, about 4, and meet up with Pelin and Serkan at a restaurant. The students are gathered there, 8 all together, having a meeting of sorts which has to do with IPSF (international pharmaceutical students federation) and SEP (student exchange program) issues. It's all in Turkish so I don't understand but later Serkan tells me another group in Turkey wants to assume responsibilities of the SEP program and there is some debate on the direction it will go - something along those lines. Just like our APhA organization back home, they also talk about the outlook of funding and activities.
Afterward, I'm tired but we agree to go out for 1 beer. I have been running a fever in the past 3 days. Nothing too serious. It's more bothersome the idea that of any time in the year this has to happen now but it's getting better I think.
A couple of friends have burned me traditional Turkish music. I like the rhythm.
Downstairs in the study where I prepare the blog it's quiet except for the swooshing sound of running water in the exposed domestic pipes. I keep thinking there must be rain outside. It relaxes me.
Monday, August 9, 2010
photos from the weekend 8/09
Top, midye ("mussels") last night. Simply the best after rounds of beer. Sellers like this one dot the streets in Taksim every 100 yards or so. You can negotiate the price, the Turksih students tell me, and almost always get what you want. Last night we had 10 for 5 TL. Inside is the mussel stuffed with spiced rice. The guy peels back the shell to drizzle a fresh cut lemon. Typically you do this with a group of people. He will pass them out, one after another. I can take back 20 of these things easily... they are delicious.
Second from top, good picture of the Istanbul students. The girl on the right is a new one to me. She's very friendly and bubbly and fun to talk to. Sheyma is to the left. She does most of the unofficial coordinating for our little weekend trips.
Third from top, this is at a Nargile cafe, his name is Zito. I don't know what kind of face he's making but it makes me laugh every time I see it. We made random friends with him. He's from Malaysia spending time in Istanbul doing some international student congress thing. I guess they discuss issues like politics and the environment. Fun guy.
Fourth from top, I like this photo of us guys. This was last Friday night. It was the first time Erdem had met the Egyptians. He was fascinated with them. We ended up having a lot of good pharmacy discussions. He gets their contact info and has these ideas to buy medicines from Egypt - apparently a lot of items are very cheaply produced.
I told Erdem, earlier that night, the Egyptians don't drink alcohol. He jokingly, as if it was his personal challenge, does his best to coerce them but it's to avail. We had a fun night.
Bottom, last week Erdem had been in negotiations with the property manager about posting this sign to put on a gate to the next door parking garage. As usual, Erdem is a very business-savvy man and had a close friend in advertising to print the material. I had seen him fiddling with this design on his Mac only 2 days before. He asked me what I thought about the orange and I agree it's refreshing and something different from the ubiquitous red and white we see everywhere.
Last night I get into a brief yelling match with a taksi driver.
He wants to charge me 43 TL for a ride from Taksim and I make it very clear in tone and body language, he is not getting it. Unfortunately when it's late, past midnight, buses stop and the only option you have is the taksi. I've had them a few times so far - it's never been more than 12 TL.
So I hand him 12 TL. I get out of the car, walk straight to the dorm where my friends are outside and I tell them what's going on.
He's trying to rip me off plain and simple. The driver follows a minute later. The guys exchange words, calling his bluff and a little while later he leaves. We're safe at the dorm, it's gated all around and there are guards 24/7. Come to find out, the guys tell me this kind of thing happens all the time - the drivers know by the look and sound if you're a tourist and they jack up the fares intentionally.
But this proves a point about some of the life in Istanbul. You really have to be careful when it comes to buying things or requesting services. It's fair to say, and I think it's true of course of any major city, you come across the best and worst in people.
There's no avoiding the cliche time goes by so fast. Starting to think about how to wrap everything up, what is left to see, what gifts to get for the family, how to say goodbyes etc etc.
I'm not about to start getting all emotional but I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to these people. I can see it won't be easy. I've made some very very close friendships here.
Yesterday we visit the Asian side. The ferry is about 20 minutes. Not much going on to be honest. I read in the travel books about markets here and there but we were a large group and simply had some casual walks. It's less crowded here, more residential, much less tourists. We stopped by the water for drinks, went into town for dinner and afterward down by the sea for some photos and enjoying the sunset.
It was the Egyptian guys' last night. I'll miss them. We had good discussions. For some reason I make them laugh a lot, I guess something about my mannerisms, or maybe it's the whole American thing. We had fun.
He wants to charge me 43 TL for a ride from Taksim and I make it very clear in tone and body language, he is not getting it. Unfortunately when it's late, past midnight, buses stop and the only option you have is the taksi. I've had them a few times so far - it's never been more than 12 TL.
So I hand him 12 TL. I get out of the car, walk straight to the dorm where my friends are outside and I tell them what's going on.
He's trying to rip me off plain and simple. The driver follows a minute later. The guys exchange words, calling his bluff and a little while later he leaves. We're safe at the dorm, it's gated all around and there are guards 24/7. Come to find out, the guys tell me this kind of thing happens all the time - the drivers know by the look and sound if you're a tourist and they jack up the fares intentionally.
But this proves a point about some of the life in Istanbul. You really have to be careful when it comes to buying things or requesting services. It's fair to say, and I think it's true of course of any major city, you come across the best and worst in people.
There's no avoiding the cliche time goes by so fast. Starting to think about how to wrap everything up, what is left to see, what gifts to get for the family, how to say goodbyes etc etc.
I'm not about to start getting all emotional but I'm not looking forward to saying goodbye to these people. I can see it won't be easy. I've made some very very close friendships here.
Yesterday we visit the Asian side. The ferry is about 20 minutes. Not much going on to be honest. I read in the travel books about markets here and there but we were a large group and simply had some casual walks. It's less crowded here, more residential, much less tourists. We stopped by the water for drinks, went into town for dinner and afterward down by the sea for some photos and enjoying the sunset.
It was the Egyptian guys' last night. I'll miss them. We had good discussions. For some reason I make them laugh a lot, I guess something about my mannerisms, or maybe it's the whole American thing. We had fun.
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