As many of you know, Tyler and I have been back in the states for a week to see our friends and family. We have also stocked up on all of the things we can't get or can't get at a good price in Turkey. I have brownie mixes, m&ms, and a keyboard with drum pads. The necessities of life.

For those of you who can't picture what 'home' means to us here are a couple of pictures to help.

On our last day in Munich, we visited the first concentration camp at Dachau.

It was very cold, and very lonely, but we at least had breakfast, shoes, and coats with us. It was not in any way glorious or pleasing, but it was truly awesome to behold.

Hey loyal readers.

Sorry about last month.

You how how it is, what with Istanbul and Germany and Austria and Christmas and New Years and all.

"Germany and Austria" you say?

Yeah, we went even more international for the holidays this year, courtesy of Ann Marie's wonderful parents. If it was alright with all of you, I'd like to start off what will no doubt be a long, fruitful period of blogging with a little entry about our "Christmas" in Western Europe ... so here goes!

I have been busy all weekend to make our house ready for Christmas and I want to show off all of my work.

Ceci, our little frind from upstairs helped me pick berries and cut the evergreen branches.  Below is the cabnent in our living room with Tyler's Saz on top.

For the past few months all of you have had the chance to see where we've been, but you've never really seen where we live. We've spent the last two days cleaning, decorating, and reorganizing so now seems like as good a time as ever to show you a little Expatriate Living (tm).

First is, simply, the view from our hill on any given day. We live at the very top of a long, long hill. That makes for long walk home, but also a very nice view. You can get a glimpse of the view without the walk, thanks to technology.

I just wanted to post wishing the two of you a very happy Thanksgiving. Right about now you are probably sitting around having the potluck and enjoying an American tradition in Turkey. Miss you both, See you in a month.

After illness, picture issues, laziness, parent teacher meetings and the lack of internet, I give you Istanbul:

... and how we're guilty of it. (a story in two parts, by beeboutlar)

Basically, we're bums.

First, I got sick. It was just a cold, but it laid me up pretty good. Then, we figured out how to download American TV and promptly lost five days of our lives. They were already lost to sickness, though, right? Anyways, after that our internet must have won some sort of EU visa lottery, because it is nowhere to be found. I heard Germany's internet is working well, so I assume that's where it went to.

I know that you all have been waiting for our Istanbul update with bated breath, but you will have to wait a bit longer. This week has been filled with lots of fun things, although less photogenic than Istanbul. The other instructors got their new housing and it is beautiful. We have been there nearly every night for dinner and Halo. Yes, one boy bought and XBox and now every boy is in that room while the girls watch Grey's Anatomy. We also had a garage sale near our place this weekend, drawing a crowd from the newly housed interns.