Alan & Brenda Leonard

> So, we'll be living on a military base. It's in the southern part of
> Turkey, close to the Mediterranean (the hottest part). I hope that
> it will be safe enough for us to do some traveling. The area right
> around the base is very dependant on Americans spending money there,
> so they'll probably be pretty nice, at least on the surface. I am
> looking forward getting there, but I'm just not excited about the
> whole moving thing without my husband's help! I have 2 daughters - 8
> & 3 years old.

Christy,

Sounds like quite the adventure. My husband is army, and I've done moves
without him, too. It's not exciting, but it is doable. You'll be fine!

We're currently stationed in Germany, though my dh is in Iraq now. I'm
currently dreaming of a trip to Istanbul, but my son (6) is pushing for
Egypt. We'll have to see. I haven't been out of Europe yet in my travels,
but friends who've been to North Africa and the more tourist-friendly parts
of the Middle East tell us that the locals have been very kind to them. All
the instability in that part of the world has been so hard on the people
that make their living from tourist money, and they are happy to see
Americans and Westerners in general. And most people do seem to grasp that
not every American agrees with every American foreign policy!

Hop a space-A flight and come see us up in Germany when you need a break
from the heat. It's cold and rainy here these days! I hope that it all
goes smoothly for you.

brenda

Kate Green

>> So, we'll be living on a military base. It's in the southern part of
>> Turkey, close to the Mediterranean (the hottest part). I hope that
>> it will be safe enough for us to do some traveling.

That sounds lovely and I'm sure you'll all have tons of fun. There might be
some restrictions from safety issues plus of course Islamic values but I'm
sure you'll have a great time. Turkish people are really nice (my mom was
engaged to a Turkish army general when I was 10:) and very welcoming.

The area right
>> around the base is very dependant on Americans spending money there,
>> so they'll probably be pretty nice, at least on the surface.

Well from our experience sometimes this works both ways. Yes they are
dependant on the money but it makes for a resentful attitude. One of the
biggest problems is when Americans go in assuming everyone will love them
and need them to be there:) It's sometimes a shock when those dreams don't
come to fruition!

I am
>> looking forward getting there, but I'm just not excited about the
>> whole moving thing without my husband's help! I have 2 daughters - 8
>> & 3 years old.

Good ages to move with as they can be involved and helpful. Have you
contacted the Family Support Center over there? They probably have programs
that will help in relocation issues with kids (like penpals etc.)


I haven't been out of Europe yet in my travels,
>but friends who've been to North Africa and the more tourist-friendly parts
>of the Middle East tell us that the locals have been very kind to them.

Think seriously about Dubai or Abu Dhabi as they are both top tourist spots
for Europeans and there are some good deals flying out of there. It's
really nice here and the people are very friendly. No signs of any trouble
either and I don't think we are on Bin Laden's list!

We've got tons of great beaches (snorkeling and diving), dune and wadi
bashing and camping, big 5-star fancy hotels that cater to every need, and
of course lots of camels:) Lots more but you get the idea.

Kate

[email protected]

In a message dated 5/22/03 2:49:53 AM, karegree@... writes:

<< wadi
bashing >>

Is that like whack a mole?

Sandra

unschooling1

Hi Brenda. I remember those chilly, rainy days in Germany. We were
there before we came to Florida, and I miss it sometimes. That's
funny about your son as my dd is DYING to go to Egypt. I told her
that we would check it out after we've paid off some bills. I have
no idea how feasible it is. It's really not that far at all from
where we'll be.

Kate, are you in Dubai? Wow! We certainly won't be in a desert
climate - more tropical. But I've read that there are lots of really
great deals for travel in Turkey too. So I am hoping we can do some
cool stuff with our limited funds.

I am not going with a cocky superior American attitude, but I do know
some people who have that! There are a lot of rumors about the base
closing soon. The main purpose of the base for the past 10 years has
been keeping an eye on Saddam. These things always take a long time
though.

My daughter is really excited. She is so fascinated with other
cultures, especially things that seem exotic where people where robes
& head coverings, LOL. She loves reading about Egypt, India, and
Japan particularly. My two dds often drape each other with scarves
that I have from when I worked at Pier 1 and dance around to belly
dancing music.

Once we get settled and all, I could probably get some coins or other
little Turkish doodads that are cheap and send them out to anyone
who's interested. Since we're on a base, we have American postage.

-Christy

--- In [email protected], Kate Green <karegree@e...>
wrote:
> >> So, we'll be living on a military base. It's in the southern
part of
> >> Turkey, close to the Mediterranean (the hottest part). I hope
that
> >> it will be safe enough for us to do some traveling.
>
> That sounds lovely and I'm sure you'll all have tons of fun. There
might be
> some restrictions from safety issues plus of course Islamic values
but I'm
> sure you'll have a great time. Turkish people are really nice (my
mom was
> engaged to a Turkish army general when I was 10:) and very
welcoming.
>
> The area right
> >> around the base is very dependant on Americans spending money
there,
> >> so they'll probably be pretty nice, at least on the surface.
>
> Well from our experience sometimes this works both ways. Yes they
are
> dependant on the money but it makes for a resentful attitude. One
of the
> biggest problems is when Americans go in assuming everyone will
love them
> and need them to be there:) It's sometimes a shock when those
dreams don't
> come to fruition!
>
> I am
> >> looking forward getting there, but I'm just not excited about the
> >> whole moving thing without my husband's help! I have 2
daughters - 8
> >> & 3 years old.
>
> Good ages to move with as they can be involved and helpful. Have you
> contacted the Family Support Center over there? They probably have
programs
> that will help in relocation issues with kids (like penpals etc.)
>
>
> I haven't been out of Europe yet in my travels,
> >but friends who've been to North Africa and the more tourist-
friendly parts
> >of the Middle East tell us that the locals have been very kind to
them.
>
> Think seriously about Dubai or Abu Dhabi as they are both top
tourist spots
> for Europeans and there are some good deals flying out of there.
It's
> really nice here and the people are very friendly. No signs of any
trouble
> either and I don't think we are on Bin Laden's list!
>
> We've got tons of great beaches (snorkeling and diving), dune and
wadi
> bashing and camping, big 5-star fancy hotels that cater to every
need, and
> of course lots of camels:) Lots more but you get the idea.
>
> Kate

Kate Green

>In a message dated 5/22/03 2:49:53 AM, karegree@... writes:
>
><< wadi
>bashing >>
>
>Is that like whack a mole?
>
>Sandra
>

LOL not quite (don't think moles could travel thru this sand:) It's
4-wheeling out in the desert. Wadis are a gully or water run off area (dry
stream kinda thing) and people drive over the dunes and bounce across those
areas. It's wild and fun but very hair raising.

Kate

Kate Green

>Hi Brenda. I remember those chilly, rainy days in Germany. We were
>there before we came to Florida, and I miss it sometimes. That's
>funny about your son as my dd is DYING to go to Egypt. I told her
>that we would check it out after we've paid off some bills. I have
>no idea how feasible it is. It's really not that far at all from
>where we'll be.

Pretty cheap deals to travel in Europe and Turkey may become part of the EU
soon so should get cheaper I would guess.

>
>Kate, are you in Dubai? Wow! We certainly won't be in a desert
>climate - more tropical.

We are in Abu Dhabi which is more conservative and traditional. I like it
here better than Dubai but Dubai is more touristy and has more western
stuff to do. You can also drink in more places and there are less
restrictions there on clothing etc. than we find.

But I've read that there are lots of really
>great deals for travel in Turkey too. So I am hoping we can do some
>cool stuff with our limited funds.

Oh yes I remember those days:) DH retired from the Air Force 3 years ago so
limited fund traveling has been our lifestyle! I don't use Space-A either
as it' just always been too damn tricky to get a family of 5 or 6 on.

Kate
>

Alan & Brenda Leonard

5/22/03 15:49:

> Hi Brenda. I remember those chilly, rainy days in Germany. We were
> there before we came to Florida, and I miss it sometimes.

Where were you stationed in Germany? I'm in Friedberg, north of Frankfurt.

> That's
> funny about your son as my dd is DYING to go to Egypt. I told her
> that we would check it out after we've paid off some bills. I have
> no idea how feasible it is. It's really not that far at all from
> where we'll be.

Very feasible, even from Germany. And you're right, you'll be much closer.

> There are a lot of rumors about the base
> closing soon.

They're just rumors. There were rumors that my base would be closing soon,
too, and everyone was all panicky and wierd about it. They just put out the
timeline; Friedberg is closing in 2006. I'll be long gone by then, as will
everybody else that's currently here.

> Once we get settled and all, I could probably get some coins or other
> little Turkish doodads that are cheap and send them out to anyone
> who's interested. Since we're on a base, we have American postage.

I'll sign up for that -- my son collects coins. And it's FREE for you to
mail to me, since I'm at another CMR! Ha!

I hope that the move goes smoothly. Moving is just a pain.

brenda

Kate Green

>
>> Once we get settled and all, I could probably get some coins or other
>> little Turkish doodads that are cheap and send them out to anyone
>> Since we're on a base, we have American postage.

Our souks here have all kinds of money for sale. The Iraqi bills are now
about $100 a piece -- crazy! We've got neat ones from Iran and Libya though.

> Moving is just a pain.

Isn't it though. I just had a bunch of boxes delivered so I can start
sorting stuff out. It's amazing how much you can accumulate in 3 years. I
keep swearing I will NOT move again but every 2 or 3 years I start to get
itchy feet:)


Kate
>
> brenda
>
>

unschooling1

<Where were you stationed in Germany? I'm in Friedberg, north of
Frankfurt.>

Brenda, we were at Vogelweh, a combined Army/Air Force base south of
Frankfurt.

<I keep swearing I will NOT move again but every 2 or 3 years I
start to get
> itchy feet:)

I know exactly what you mean, Kate. We have been here for over 4
years! Seems like forever! This past year I have been so restless.
This time last year we had orders to go to Colorado, which I was very
happy about, and that fell through. Then in the fall, we thought we
were going to Washington state, also great to me. That didn't happen
either. I am really ready for somewhere new.

-Christy

Kate Green

At 02:02 PM 5/23/03 +0000, you wrote:
>
><Where were you stationed in Germany? I'm in Friedberg, north of
>>
>
> Brenda, we were at Vogelweh, a combined Army/Air Force base south of
> Frankfurt.

I went to high school in Frankfurt. That's when it was packed full of Army
but I've heard it's very different now.

> We have been here for over 4
>
> This time last year we had orders to go to Colorado,

Our last assignment was at the AF Acadamy. It's really lovely there and I
could have stayed longer than our 2 years. Unfortunately the job sucked so
he was eager to leave.
When will you guys get orders?

Kate


which I was very
> Then in the fall, we thought we
> That didn't happen
> I am really ready for somewhere new.
>
> -Christy
>
>
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Alan & Brenda Leonard

5/23/03 19:13:

> Brenda, we were at Vogelweh, a combined Army/Air Force base south of
> Frankfurt.
>
I know that base. We go down to K-town to shop when we want American stuff.
Friedberg has a PX the size of 7-11. Hopeless.

> This time last year we had orders to go to Colorado, which I was very
> happy about, and that fell through. Then in the fall, we thought we
> were going to Washington state, also great to me. That didn't happen
> either. I am really ready for somewhere new.

I hate that mess. I start saying don't tell me until it's really happening,
OK?

Now I just want to live somewhere for more than three years. (Somewhere *I*
choose!). Dream on.

brenda

[email protected]

In a message dated 5/23/03 12:09:02 PM, karegree@... writes:

<< Our last assignment was at the AF Acadamy. It's really lovely there and I
could have stayed longer than our 2 years. Unfortunately the job sucked so
he was eager to leave. >>

But there are so many **homeschoolers** in Colorado Springs! It must have
been just lovely.


Sandra, not so far south of there