Monday, March 31, 2008

Rotary, Dolmabache, and Sevgi!


My favorite Rotary Club had a Fireside Chat that I was invited to and it was so so much fun! The president of the club is in black and the other member is Volkan, who's house it was at. They are Turkish dancing! It was hilarious! This is the youngest Rotary Club in the world, their average age is 30! Pretty awesome!

My friends Will and Emiel at Dolmabache Palace...I guess Dutch boys don't smile.

All of our friends were invited to Sevgi's grandma's home for a warm Turkish home...it was soooo wonderful! Maybe even my favorite one yet because they were so so sweet and her aunt gave me a beautiful necklace too! The food was amazing and her little cousins were there! They were adorable!!!!!!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008


This is the best picture from when Dana was here. We took a walk after dinner at Boluca and there was a great view of the bridge. =)

Monday, March 24, 2008

Andrea's Sun is in Gemini and Jupiter is in Aquarius

So if you know me, you know I love reading my horoscope, so this one website has a free birth chart thing and of course I did it. If you want to read all about my great personality...read below. =)

When it comes to attaining prosperity, our mind ranges far and wide, gathering ideas like flowers from an endless garden. You see colors no one else notices and then you show them, awakening their hearts with your beautiful vision. Your financial success comes from teaching and learning, discovering new worlds and ideas that few people can imagine.

You're ahead of your time, with a sense of what's coming next that gives you an edge in almost any situation. No concept is beyond your comprehension because no matter how much you know, you're willing to keep exploring. In fact, it's this intellectual curiosity that lifts you above the crowd. Yet you don't lord your sharp intellect over others because playing fair and respecting each individual is vital for you.

Clearly, you're happiest when you're looking forward, planning a future filled with joy, hope and possibilities. Once you attain this lofty objective, you always share your wealth with the rest of the group.

Andrea's Neptune is in Capricorn and Mercury is in Cancer

Your most powerful psychic impressions come when you're ministering to other people's needs. Somehow, you're able to glean extra information when you're exercising your nurturing talent. If you're unsure about how to proceed with a particular situation, do something nice for somebody else. Within minutes, the answer will occur to you. Expressing compassion always opens your third eye; it gives you insights that you wouldn't otherwise have. Fortunately, your Neptune in Capricorn demands that you are rewarded for your services. Otherwise, you might be prone to do all the giving in relationships, without receiving a thing in return.

You use your intuition to build lasting things of value, whether it's relationships or community services or physical structures. Your intuitive process is gradual, deliberative, and caring. You use the information you receive to mitigate stress, rather than generate more of it.

Being around children can also heighten your powers of awareness, as their youthful energy helps you to see the world from an optimistic perspective. Pessimism definitely dulls your sixth sense.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Dana!

Dana has been here since Sunday morning! So we have been running around like crazy to get in all of Istanbul, it's an impossible task though! Plus, yesterday it was pouring down rain at night, which is never fun. But we went to Bryce's 23rd birthday in Taksim at a Meyhane. It was so much fun, mostly because all of our friends were there!

More to come! =)

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Birthdays!

Yesterday was Katie's birthday and tomorrow is Rick's. Then the 20th is my mom's. March is always big in our family. I am sad that I can't be there. I know it's just part of traveling, but I wish I could celebrate with them.

Anyways, happy birthday to my family! Miss you all.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

My 1st earthquake!

4.8-Magnitude Quake Shakes Turkey

12 hours ago

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A moderate earthquake shook a small Turkish town near Istanbul but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The quake on Wednesday had a preliminary magnitude of 4.8 and was felt in Istanbul and other nearby towns.

The Kandilli Observatory's seismology center said the quake was centered in the town of Cinarcik, some 30 miles across the Sea of Marmara from Istanbul.

Cinarcik was among the areas devastated when two earthquakes hit northwestern Turkey in 1999, killing about 18,000 people.

Earthquakes are frequent in Turkey, much of which lies atop the active North Anatolian fault.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

My mom!

My mom is in the paper!
http://www.nwi.com/articles/2008/03/12/news/porter_county/doc4
eb08676f1237c4e8625740a0003df75.txt?

I'm really proud of her! =)

BP grant fuels the creation of water fountains at PHS
PORTAGE | There won't be water in Kristin Clem's elaborate white clay fountain for at least a few weeks, but when it starts to trickle down the fountain's five tiers, it'll be doing it through natural energy.

The Portage High School senior and her upper-level ceramics classmates are creating tabletop fountains that will run with solar-powered pumps. Paula Wiese, their teacher, received a $10,000 grant for the project through BP's A+ for Energy program, which helps teachers fund projects promoting energy education and conservation in the classroom.

Combining knowledge of other academic areas to their artwork, Wiese said students had to study biomes, natural groupings of plants and animals found in a geographically-specific area, to give their fountains a sense of realism.

Senior Alyssa Mayerik, who plans on studying interior design after high school, said some of what she learned in the art department's jewelry making class also will come in handy when she welds copper pipes to get water flowing through her fountain.

"I've taken every art class possible. It all helps," she said.

Wiese said she hopes to continue the project with students next year. She submitted a sustainability proposal for the grant and hopes to know if it's been approved before the end of the school year. If it gets the green light, it'll expand to include solar-powered garden lanterns.

"We'll have to design them. They're a little different because you have to have a stored energy source," Wiese said.

Students have a little more than a week left before spring break, when the fountains will dry and be ready for testing. Water hopefully will flow down from the top of senior Dillon Albee's white clay Zen fountain, which has a relief of Buddha and a tree. Albee said using the white clay, which is gray before it dries, will help add color to his creation.

"When it's finished it turns white. You paint over that," Albee said. "White is usually better for making your paint stick out, where red's basically more natural looking."

Senior Craig Summers chose to design his red clay fountain using clean lines and smooth surfaces. When finished, water should flow down its prairie school-style tiers.

"Artists are original design people," Wiese said. "Every one of them is different."

Aside from designing the fountains, there are other challenges students face. Their classroom is in an interior section of the school, so they'll have to move elsewhere to get them going.

When the fountains are completed, Wiese will report to BP on the program's success, and students will have their projects on display in the school before taking them home.

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Florence with the B-town kids!


Baumholder kids in Florence!!!!!

My mom has a flip book of a merry-go-round and this reminded me of her. =)

He is completely not overrated...he is absolutely beautiful. I don't know how Michelangelo didn't accidentally chisel off a nipple or something though. He is worth the trip to Florence!

Sometimes it's horrible being a tourist...but there are some things you just have to do! Although Elisa was quite embarrassed, she put up with me!

Cute, huh????

Rotary in PISA!!! I LOVE trading banners!!!

Thursday, March 06, 2008

The Year of Living Biblically

I finally finished The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. I loved it. It was so well written and very insightful and besides that he is a liberal agnostic, the book was very unbiased. He really does present many sides to numerous arguements. Plus, I like his writing so much, I bought Rick his other book for his birthday, so hopefully I can borrow it when I get home in June. =)

http://www.amazon.com/Year-Living-Biblically-Literally-Possible/dp/0743291476

PS - Rick's gift wasn't selfish, I really think/hope he'll enjoy it!!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

A few Rome pictures!

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Our group! I hope you can guess where!!!

With some great ruins in the background!!

On top of St. Peter's!

In front of Trevi Fountain! I threw in Turkish coins!! I hope the YTL work!!

Me with Elis's mom and her friend in front of the caste in Rome.

THE POPE!!

In St. Peter's Basilica...a little bright, eh? That's what I get for taking a picture with the timer from the ground! But I like it!

Me at the Vatican!

Not in Istanbul

When I got to the Amsterdam airport..I knew I wasn't in Turkey...the few reasons I could really tell are as follow:

1.) TOILETSSSS - everywhere! With toilet paper...it was a beautiful thing!
2.) No one stared at me for being foreign, Dutch people have blue eyes too! (And one cashier started speaking to me in German.)
3.) Crosses (mostly on necklaces. I haven't seen any in Istanbul except on my American friends)
4.) Drinking fountains..........I really miss them!!!!

I will post Rome pictures soon, it was so beautiful and the weather was terrific! Plus, I saw the Pope and all the sites. Being with Elisa, who is Italian is wonderful, we don't get lost and she can ask questions, and she is great company!

I am in Pisa now and saw the leaning tower tonight!!

I am going to Florence tomorrow...with Joy and the Baumholder crew!